Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-09-15
HER DEATH BED ,MAYHAP
Mrs. Harrison's Present Illness
May erminate Fatally.
ALL TIE FAMILY AT HER BEDSIDE

The Mistress of the White House Is Too
III to Be- Moved to washington-The
Consultation OF Doctors Gives No Hope
TO the President.
Loon LAKE, N. Y, Sept 15.-Mrs. Har-
rison, the presidents wife. is critically III
and it may even be that she is on her death
bed. The attending physicians had con
sultation at the presidents cottage in re
gard to the condition of their patient, and
the bulletin they afterward issued did not
give any encouragement to the family to
hope for improvement. The doctors taking
part in the consultation were L. E. Gard
ner, Of Washington; f. E. Doughty, of New
York, and &. L. Trudeau, of Saranac. They
made the following statement of Mrs. Har-
rison's condition:
Primary disease, pulmonary tuberculosis Of
right SIDE associated with nervous prostra-
ton. Recent complication, subacute pleurisy
with rapid etfusiOn OF water In the right side
necessitating two tappings with some relief
Present condition, critical, on account Of ten
dency TO reproduction Of fluid. Removal to
Washington at present impossible. Prognosti-
cation rs to immediate future uncertain.
The presidents family take no encourage
ment from their bulletins, and such of them
as have been seen this morning make no
effort to conceal their great alarm at the
situation. The physicians advise them to
hope for the best, but offer no real encour-
agement. They admit that they are I'M
certain as to the result, and have, so it is
said, quietly intimated to the president the
strong probability Of fatal result
Pnipably Discouraged.
The president is a most faithful compan-
ion and rarely leaves Mrs Harrison's bed
side. In fact he really shares the nursing
of the invalid with the professional attend
amt. Mr.. Russell Harrison and Mrs. No
Kee, the presidents son and daughter are
also in constant attendance. The former
was summoned from New York as soon as
the disease took dangerous turn. Mrs.
Russell Harrison VIII also probably be here
in day OF two. Mrs Dimmick and Mrs.
Parker, nieces Of Mrs Harrison, and Lieu
tenant Parker accompanied Mrs Harrison
here and have ever since been unremitting
IN their attention to her. The presidents
grandchildren, Benny and Mary Mckee, are
with their mother, but are purposely kept
In ignorance Of the true situation.
Private Secretary Halford is still here
and will remain with the president until he
goes to Washington. All hope for the best,
but all ltSe palpably discouraged Unless
there should be a decided improvement IN
Mrs. Harrison's condition within the next
few days of which there is very little pros.
pect at present, the president viii not re-
turn to Washington in time for the Grand
Army encampment next week, if indeed
he is not detained here for several weeks
beyond that period.
Lieutenant Parker said, 'eThe president
will remain with Mrs. Harrison until she
! gets better, and has no other plans what
] ever" 1t is therefore apparent that his
stay here and his future movements arc al.
! together contingent and indefinite.
One Of Mrs. Harrison's physicians has au-
! thorized the following statement Of her
case as an explanation.
The First Attack.
''Sho was first taken with a severe attack
Of the grip in Washington in tho winter OF
1890, followed and aggravated by severe
bronchial and pulmonary troubles lasting
some time. While at Cape May in the sum
/ mer of 1891 she again took heavy cold and
the bronchial troubles reappeared. It was
some weeks before this attack yielded tc
treatment Last winter she had second
attack of the grip, which this time was
followed by catarrhal pneumonia, lasting
seven or eight days. After that she wa.
troubled by severe cough, followed il
March last with a slight hemowhage Of the
right lung, followed by a consolidation Of
the right apex.
This consolidation has gradually increased
up to the present time, accompanied
throughout with nervous prostration. TIL,
conditions stated in the bulletin then en-
sued, resulting in the development of eff
fusionsp
In conclusion the physician said that
Loon Lake was selected as the best possibl,
place for the treatment Of her case, bu
that, as a matter of fact, there has been M
real improvenentin her condition since he
arrival here in the early summer.
Dr. Doughty viii remain here a few day
TO assist in the treatment Of the case an,
viii SEQ that nothing IS omitted that car
possibly contribute to her comfort and pos
sible recovery.
Mrs. Harrison realizes her critical condi
ton, and the knowledge has tended TO az
gravate the nervous prostration from which
she has suffered so keenly