The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-07
STRICKEN WHILE AT WORK.
Secretary Blaine suddenly Attacked w
Nausea and Sayare Vomiting

Nausea ana severe SOmlt1ng.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-Secretary Blaine
was taken with an attack of acute indiges-
tion while in his Office at the State Depart
ment about IL o'clock this morning. and
was compelled to suspend work for the
day. He was engaged in q consultation
with General Foster on reciprocity matters
at the time. He told General Foster he was
feeling badly, and, at the latter's sugges-
ton. DR.. st. Clair. Chief of the Consular
Bureau. was called in to see him. The
latter found that he was suffering
from Indigestion. and, with General
Fosters assistance. placed him on a sofa.
A light emetIo was gwen with favorable
results and soon after the Secretary said he
felt very much relieved. In the meantime
the news of his illness spread through the
departments and caused considerable ex-
cltement. and as q matter of prudence
Chief Clerk Brown summoned Medical
Director Van Reypen, of the Navy. whose
Office is on the floor below the Secretary's
Office, and sent word to Miss Blaine to
come to the department. DIR. Van Reypen
responded Immediately and Miss Blame
was soon at her fathers side. Assistant
also entered the room for the purpose of
rendering any possible assistance.
DR.. Van Reypen was accompanied by
Surgeon McClurg. of the navy. who hap
pened to be in his Office when the summons
came. They made an examination, and
found that there was little need of their
attention. DR.. ST. Clair having done all the
case required. but. in order to allay any
possible irritation of the stomach resulting
from excessive vomiting. it was thought
best to apply a mustard plaster for a short
time. The Secretary rallied rapidly and
completely. and when DR.. Hyatt, his fam
lily physician, arrived. was strong enough
to put on his overcoat and gloves. walk to
the elevator and go in his carriage. as
il nothing had happened. While he
was lying on the sofa, suffering from the
prostration that followed the vomiting his
daughter became somewhat alarmed, and
appealed TO DR.. Van Reypen to know if she
had not better send for her mother. The
physician assured her, frankly and conf
IDENTIFY. that there was not the slightest oc-
casion for alarm, and that Mr.. Blaine
would be able to walk home. if 1T were
necessary, after he had taken little rest.
no CAUSE FOR ALARM.
When the Secretary left his carriage and
walked into the house his family was salts
fed that the rumors that had just reached
them of his illness were very much exag-
gerated. and his son, who was at the time
making preparations for q visit to
Philadelphia, realized that there was
nothing in his fathers condition to
cause any change in his plans, and
he started for the station accordingly. As
he was leaving the house he informed a
reporter that his fathers attack was very
trifiing and that he expected that he would
be down stairs to luncheon later in the
day. The physioian. he added. had given
it as his opinion that the Secretary had
rather overeaten of late and had taken too
little exercise. This. in his opinion. had
caused the nausea which had so startled
the officials at the State Department..
So little Importance was attached to the
incident that the Presiden: was not notified
of 1T until late in the afternoon. He then
walked over to Mr.. Blaine's house but did
not see him, as he was asleep. He was in
formed by Mrs Blaine however, that the
Secretary's illness was only temporary, and
that he would probably be able to return
his call tomorrow.
All sorts of rumors were afoat tonight
in regard to MIR. Blaine's condition. The
majority were of a most sensational char
acter, being to the effecttiat he had broken
down completely and wasln most critical
condition. Some of them went so far as to
assert that he could not possibly recover.
In order to ascertain the facts, represent ia
tives of the Associated Press tonight in
terrOgated the ply sicians connected with
the case. They were interviewed separate
ly, and each of them, without knowing
what the other said. asserted positively
and without qualification of any kind, that
Mr.. Blaine was suffering from indigestion,
caused by overeatlng, aud from nothing
else.
DR.. st. Clair who was the first ply scian
in attendance on Mr.. Blaine, and who was
with HIM nearly an hour before the other
physicians arrived. made the following
statement of the case: Last night Mr..
Blaine complained slightly of sense OF
uneasiness In his stomach. 1t was not
sufficient, however, in his opinion. nor In
the opinion of DR.. Hyatt. his family ply
been called to see Mrs. Blaine. to require
any medical attention. He arose as usual
this morning. feeling quite well, ate an un-
usually hearty breakfast. came to the de-
Bssan the at uss sns of nsTa sbs dH sme and
usual manner Shortly after this he began
to feel nauseated. He called General Eos
ter's attention to his condition and General
fOster sent Tor me. i reached the side of
the Secretary inside of two. minutes It
was then about quarter after IL o'clock.
The Secretary was suffering from extreme
nausea.
TOO MUCH RICH FOOD.
with Mr.. Fosters assistance / helped
him to the sofa. The nausea became more
and moro pressing unsil finally vomiting
commenced. 1t was easy and natural, and
the Secretary succeeded in ejecting large
quantity of mixed and rich food. Think
ing il advisable that his stomach should
be thoroughly emptied. ordered tumbler
of tepid water. and added little
salt. in order that the dose might
be thoroughly nauseating. and induced the
Secretary to drink 1T. Copious vomiting
followed. the last of the matter discharged
indicating that the stomach was then empty
and clean. Within few minutes the Sec
retary's pulse began TO rise until it was alb
solutely regular and normal. and he was,
barring the natural prostration which al
ways attends extreme nausea. as we'll q
man as be had been for many months. His
eyes were bright and his coio- good. DR..
Van Reype who came in about this time,
applied O single mustard-leaf over the
larger curvature of the stomach to aliay
any irritation which might possibly remain
after the vomiting. No further contraction
of the stomach occurred. nor was there any
indication that II was likely to occur. A
short time after this DIR. Hyatt arrived