The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-12-06
MOTHER M'KINLEY SINKING
HER CONSTITUTION GROWS WEAK
ERHOUR HOUR.

The Family Sometimes Felt That the End
Had Come-Sinking Spells Which Lasted
Thirty Minutes at Time-Dr. Phillips
Thought His Patient Would Not Sur
! vive the Night.
Canton, o., Dec. 5.-Mother Mckinley
passed the fourth day of her illness and
entered upon the fourth night with the
spark of life still dimly burning. There
has not been any material development
in her condition to-day. Her condition
has continued one of steadily wasting
away, the constitution growing weaker
hour by hour under the assault Of the
disease The family watched by the
bedside all day, prepared for the end at
any moment and sometimes feeling that
| it had come, as the patient was seized
with sinking spells such as they yester-
day mistook for a second stroke of par
alysis.
During these attacks she would per-
ceptibly weaken, almost cease to breathe
and show scarcely sign of animation.
For the most part these spells were
limited to half an hour and when they
We're over she would resume the quiet
repose characteristic of the entire ill
ness. About the middle of the after
| neon, however, more serious sinking
spell occurred and lasted for several
hours. Several times those keeping the
vigilant watch thought that the time
had come. The attack passed away at
last, leaving the patient almost the
same as before it occurred. There is a
possibility that she may survive the
night or longer, but those at the bed
side have no hope Of such result.
| Communication was established with
the white house as soon as the oreel-
dent arrived there this morning, and a
telegraph wire is constantly open to
Washington to advise the president Of
every occurrence in the sick room. Be-
sides this he has several times talked
with his brother Abner by telephone.
DR.. Phillips, the attending physician
has made a number of calls during the
day This evening he said he could re-
port nothing particularly new There
had been no notable change in the pa
tient during the day. She had contin-
ued to grow weaker in the same manner
at about the same rate as during the
past few days.
He was satisfied that this condi-
ton would prevail to the end. Asked
as to the prospect of her surviving the
night he said: There Is possibility
of her living until morning. Indeed, ]
am inclined to think that she WILL But
she has been weakening so long that NO
one can make a. prediction for the fu-
ture with any assurance Of certainty.
The case is one in which we must be
prepared for the end at any moment.
When the end comes it will merely be
the passing out of the comatose condi-
tion in which she now rests into the
sleep Of death. There will be no rally,
no conscious period no final struggle y
The patient has taken no nourishment
since Thursday. 1t cannot be admins
tered by ordinary methods, and the
case is one in which heroic methods of
administering food are not regarded
justifiable. They could not restore
health, would be distressing and an
noying and might hasten the end. AT
a late hour tonight DR.. Phillips left
Mrs. Mckinley. He said she was
growing weaker rapidly, and that he
scarcely thought she would survive the
night She is in no distress; simply
passing away.