The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-01-28

being q form OF what is commonly
known as Bright's disease, yet this was
not the sole cause OF death. There
were other consecutive complications
which tended to exhaust him and to
hasten theend. The lapses which he
has had from time to time were due to
heart cxhaustion-that is, ieebleness
and irregularity Of tho action Of the
heart, accompanied by difficult breath
ing"
It was further ascertained from the
physicians that there was nothing
dramatic or sensational in Mr.. Blaine's
last moments. There were no last
words. He simply faded away.
Anticipatory Of their complete path
illogical statement, to be issued later,
the doctors authorize this preliminary
announcement of tho cause of death:
"Chronic' interstitial nephritis Ia
form Of chronic Bright's disease) due to
, and associated with general changes in
the arteries OF the body and with dila.
tion Of tho heart This condition was
complicated with disease Of the lungs
OF q tubercular nature. The immediate
cause Of death was conneated with the
heart"
In their official statement tho ply
sicians say:
The beginning of Mr.. Blalne's illness
dates back some years. Tie earliest
signs of ill.health we're associated with,
and no doubt due to, gouty tendency
which manifested itself in sub.acute at,
tacks OF gout, disturbances of digestion
and progressive innutrition and an.
noemia.
Subsequent events prove that at this
time changes were going on in the arte-
ries Of the body which resulted later in
symptoms OF obliteration Of vessels,
and In chronic disease Of tho kidneys.
The attack OF paralysis in 1887 was con.
nected with similsr alterations in the
blood vessels Of the brain. During the.
summer OF 1902 the evidences Of falling
health were more decided, and in No.
vember after his return to Washington,
his symptoms suddenly assumed an az
graYated form. From this time, al
though there were periods Of apparent
improvement, ho continued to grow
worse from week TO week.
The symptoms were, at first, more
directly connected with the kidneys and
examinations Of the urine showed that
there was a progressive interstitial
change going on In the organ, and that
he had q form OF chronic Bright's dis
ease. December signs OF lung complica-
tion appeared, which were no doubt
connectedwith the general disease but,
as tubercle bacilli were found in tho
sputa, 1t Ia probable that there was
some tubercular infection as woll.
Much OF the distress which Mr.. Blaine
suffered was associated with this dis.
ease Of tho lungs and his death was
certainly hastened by It. Towards tho
end Of December the heart began to
show signs Of usuaual weakness from
cardiac degeneration and dilation, and
on December IS no had an alarming at-
tack OF heart exhaustion; from this he
rallied, but others Of the same nature
recurred on several occasions. From
the middle OF January these attacks
ceased, and tho action Of tho heart was
more uniformly good. There was, how.
ever, q daily loss OF flesh and strength.
For threo days before Mr.. Blaine'a
death there was no marked change In
his condition, each day he seemed
somewhat moro feeble than on the day
before and on tho night before his death
ho did not seem 10 bD in any Immediate
danger Towards the morning OF
the 9th instant, his pulse was observed
to bo very feeblo and his breathing
more embarrassed. As result Of the
failing heart action, ndoma OF tho lungu
occurred and ho died without much
suffering at II o'clock. During tho
whole Of Mr.. Blatne's illnOss tho dl.
gostion was we'll pArformed, and liquid
food (chiOly milk was takon In full
quantities. His mind was generally
clear, except whom clouded with urmmia
and disturbed brain circulation. al.
though unable TO express himself in
words no recognized all the members Of
his family DIP 10 within few moments
Of his death.