The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-24

lutte conformity 10 the practice OF Dr'
| Rush. / have no hesitation In thus marx
ing with my pen that 7 do seriously pc
lieve that General washington did ex-
pire Under the operation OF that very
practice Of DR.. Rush. which / have on
may occasions plainly rebrobated'
II have inserted at length the report
Of Drs. Craik and Dick from the New
! York Daily Advertiser Of Dec. 80, 1852
The report OF the Rushite doctors. Cralk
and Dick. remains In their own hand
writing. or II they had an arnanuehsls
the said report exists signed individually
by each Of them. The printer was mus
addressed by the blood-lettng disciples
of Rush:
" Presuming that some account OF the
late illness and death Of General WASH
ington will be generally interesting ana
particularly so TO the professors and prac-
titioners OF medicine throughout Amer
ica. We request you 20 publish the fol-
lowing statement.
JAMES cRAlk,
ELISHA &. DICK
should any skeptic doubt the authen-
ticity of the report II may be round IN
print among my papers.
On this report calmly weigh and as n
nOsolOgist consider the pathology or these
Rushite gentlemen. Was General wash
ington's case asphyxia? II was avowed as
an affection of the trachea. NOW what
was that anectiou?1 am bold 90 say that
neither DR.. Craik nor Or. Dick did really
know what the true disease paraiyzlng
the life OF that man who was hrst IN
war first in peace and first I'm the hearts
Of his cOuntrymon' The general had been
exposed to cold from a slight snow "hen
superintending the trimming or trees on
the slope OF the bank between the man
sion house and the river Potomac. On
his return 10 the house he remarked
that he thought De had caught cold as
be felt a degree OF stiffness IN ms neck
and some slight affection OF the throat
Did this observation of the general give
reason TO suspect a lOdgment or lymph
or mucous in the trachea. Who ever heard
or read I'm the annals OF medicine an ac-
count Of man. stout firm, athletic as
was General Washington. ever 70 nave
Group? Much less "a man accustomed 10
the exposure and privatiOns OF the tented
field % be assaulted by the disease or zee
bile and impotent infants and sink under
Group? why. the idea 90 my mind IS weak
and preposterous.
The truth Of the matter is this: The
aforenamed medical gentlemen were call
ed upon 20 attend the greatest character
(viewed IN every respect that the World
could furnish. Staggered by responsible
IT'S. they were certainly paralyZod
as 10 the usual examinations In cases OK
common. plain people. We have no evil
derce that when complaining Of uneasi-
ness and structure OF the throat that
either Dick or Craik ever pressed the
tongue or genera 10 ascertain the condl-
ton of the t0nsillary glands. or other
ocular demonstration 20 inform them
selves OF the state Of every part con-
nected with the trachea and ocsophagus.
All. no, Group was prevalent among the
children of the town OF Alexandra, ana
therefore prma facia. this veteran. this
noble soldier of several wars and num-
bcrlcss campaigns was devoted 10 "A juve-
nile disease by a perfect paralysis OF
medical demonstration.
But let US copy the report. for II VIII
loudly speak for itself from the New
York Daily Advertiser Of the Both Of De-
ccmbcr.
Some time on the night OF Friday.
thethe 18th instant. having been exposed
20 rain on the preceding day. Gen. Wash
ing,on was attacked with an infamma-
tory action OF The upper part Of the
windpipc. ffcaled in technical language.
"cynachi trachaelis." This disease COM
mcnced with a violent ague. accompanied
with "a violent pain i'm the upper and fore
part Of the throat, "a sense 0f structure
in the same part. Group. and a difficult
rather than a painful deglutitiou. which
was soon succeeded by fever and quick
and labOri0us respiration. The necessity
Of blOOd-letting suggesting Itself 10 the
general he procured bleeder I'm the
neighbOrhOOd. who took from the arm
in the night T. or u ounces Of blood.
He would not be prevailed upon 90 send
Obi
lowing morning. who arrived 40 NJ. YER
non about n O'Clock ON Saturday.
" Discovering the case 20 be highly
Alarming. and foreseeing the fatal ten
dency OF the disease. TWO consulting ply
sicians were Immediately sent for. one ar
rived at $3.50 and the other az o'clock in
the afternoon.
In the interim We're employed two
c0pious bloedings a blister WAS applied
10 the part affected. two moderate doses
OF calomei We're given and am injection
was administered. which operated on The
lower intostines But AN without advau-
tage. The respiration becoming more and
more difficult and distressing.
Upon the arriv3. Of the first of the
consulting physicians. Dr. Dick. 80 was
agreed that as there was as get no signs
of accumulation I'm the bronchial vessels
of the lungs 10 Try tho result OK an-
other bleeding. when about Sd ounces OF
blood was drawn without the smallest
apparent alienation OF tine disease. Va
pors of vinegar and water We're frequent
Is inhaled. Ten grains OF calome were
given. succeeded by repeated doses oI
emetic tartar amounting 100 AN 10 five OF
SIX grains. with no other effect than
copi0us discharge from the bowels
" The powers OF life seemed now man
ifestly leaving (strause % say) 10 the
force OF the disorder. Blisters We're APE
Piled 90 the cxtremtios together with
calaplasm of bran and vinegar 20 the
throat
Speaking. which was painful from
the beginning. now became almost I'm
practicable. respiration grew more and
more CONTRACTED and imperfect until II
o'clock Saturday night Retaining full
possession Of his intellect DE expired
without struggle.
lie was fully impressed al the be-
ginning or his complaint as well as
through every succeeding stage of DO.
that its conclusion would be mortal. SUBJ
hitting TO the several eXertions made for
his recovery rather as "a duty than from
any expectation OF their efficacy. Tie con-
sidercd the operation Of death upon his
system as cocval with the disease; and
several hours before his dccease. after
repeated efforts 20 be understood sue
ceeded in expressing desire that be
might be permitted "to die without in
tcrruption.'
During the short period NJ his Illness
he economized his time IN the arrange
u