The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-22
MRS. HARRIsON's CONDITION.
She is Gradually But Surely Growing
Worse.


Washington, oct. 2L-Mrs. Harrison is
gradually growing worse. How long she
will survive is almost too uncertain for
prophecy. Her physician, though ven
turing the opinion that she may possibly
live for several weeks would not be sur
prised If the end should come within a
few days. With the anniversary OF her
marriage came the change for the worse.
Last night DR.. Gardner saw that his pa
tient had gone another step nearer the
dark valley, but he managed TO make her
comfortable for the time being. II was
obvious TO the watchers about the bed
side that she was much weaker, and ii
would have been plain. even TO unprac-
ticed eyes. that the patient was in a
critical condition.
When Or. Gardner called at the White
House at o'clock this moraing ne saw
that what little hope he had for i'm
provement had vanished. His examina-
tion showed that the temperature Of the
invalid was much higher than IL has
been for some time. Her respiration had
also increased to an alarming extent. and
all the signs indicated that Mrs Harri-
son was growing worse. The progress
towards the critical point had been grad
ual. but it had been sure. and each step
nearer the end, once taken, was not re-
trogaded.
The most alarming symptom that con-
fronted DR.. Gardner this morning was
the extremely weak condition OF the In
valid. So weak was she that the physi-
clan decided that any attempt 70 move
her would be dangerous, and he accord
ingly issued directions that she should
not be lifted from the bed under any cir
cumstances. Such removal might bring
on a stoppage of the hearts action from
shock or a ft of coughing that would
prove fatal. An idea Of how narrow is
the thread by which the sufferer holds
to life can be gained when II is under
stood that she is obliged to recline all
the time on her back or partly on her
right side. for with the right lung gone
and the left lung being consumed rapidly
by the disease. great danger would at
tend lying in any other position.
Thro"~- all her Illness Mre Harrison
has displayed a most wonderful vitality
how wonderful only those know who
have witnessed her sufferines.
Combined with the terrible disease
which is gradually sapping away her life
is the aftermath OF nervous prostration.
and these are further complicated by the
constant danger Of a gathering OF watery
matter I'm the cavity OF the pleura. Fall
ure TO remove this fluid would mean
death. for it's accumulation or reproduc-
uOn, 10 use the meulcdl term, threatens
TO bring abnormal pressure TO bear on
the heart, with stoppage OF its action
quickly following" or else to I'LL the
lungs and smother the patient. Three
operations were necessary during the
week before the removal of Mrs. Harri-
son from Loon Lake, TO prevent fatal
termination from the reproduction OF the
fluid, but since her return 10 Washing
ton the accumulation has not thus far
been sufficient to cause great alarm.
LATER-BETTER NEWS.
Washington. Oct. 22.-1:30 A. M.-The
anxiety in the capital as to Mrs. Harri-
sons Illness was increased this evening
by the constant receipt of kilograms from
other cities stating that reports OF her
death were in circulation. These rumors
were. of course, groundless. but they
gave rise 10 many unnecessary inquiries
at the White House, and caused annoy
ance TO the grieved household The ac-
tuai facts are that up to midnight Mrs.
Harrison was easier and better. rather
than worse. At 10 o'clock this evening,
after visiting Mrs. Harrison, DIR. Gard
ner seid that her condition was slightly
improved. so much so that anxiety occa-
stoned by the patients condition to-day
had to some extent been dspelled.
There has been no reason TO change
this favorable bulletin at late hour
when further inquiries were made.