The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-01
PATIENT RESTS QUIETLY
Change for the Better in Vice
President Hobart's Condition.
HISTORY OF HIS ILLNESS
Complete Statement Given Out by His
Family-Crisis Not Anticipated With
in Next Twelve Hours-Wiu Re-
tire From Public Life.

Paterson, N. j., Nov. l, 2:30 a. M
Vice President Hobart is resting quiet
ly. He has slept since o'clock, and
DIR. Newton reports his condition inn
proving.
relapse or death is not anticipated
within the next u hours.
Vice President Hobart passed n
very comfortable day. He has taken
an interest in affairs. has been very
cheerful and enjoyed natural sleep.
He himself said that it has been one of
| the best days he has passed in a week.
Paterson, N. j., Oct. 3l-The follow
ing statement OF the origin and deveI-
opment of the illness of Vice Presi-
dent Hobart is authorized by his fam
lily and the physicians who have at
tended him:
There are several reasons why the
exact nature of the vice presidents
| malady has been withheld from the
public. In the first place, the family
has desired to reserve to itself the
privilege of retaining such facts as
were of private nature, at the same
time recognizing the right of the public
to accurate information in the case Of
an invalid holding high public office.
! Moreover, there We're reasons connect
ed with the vice presidents relations
with the government which prompted
a similar policy. This was done, how
ever, not for the purpose Of secretion.
but to avoid embarrassment. In ad
diton the effect of publicity upon the
vice presidents health had to be con-
sidered. He was g great reader Of
newspapers. and it was observed that
the alarming reports which crept into
the papers and there met the vice
I11t,f -.
effect For this reason it was deemed
advisable to keep certain facts from
the public. Recently the family and
physicians have decided to place the
facts more clearly before those inter
ested and the statement Is therefore
issued in accordance with the plan.
The illness of the vice president may
be said to date frenl the fall of 1898,
prior to his return to Washington in
November. AT that time his physic-
ians observed symptoms of embarrass-
ed respiration. with frequent attacks
of angina pectoris. This condition re-
sponded readily to treatment, and
when the vice president vent to wash
ington in the latter part of November
he was in good health. He stood re-
narkably well the strain and excite
ment incidental to the opening of con-
sress, and he was making favorable
progress until in January he became
was a return of the heart trouble, ac-
companied with signs of degeneration.
His ailment was diagnosed as dilated
right heart, due to myocarditis. The
recovery from this attack was less
rapid. and on the last day of the ses-
sion the strain and excitement of de-
livering the closing speech was so
great that he was on the verge of a
collapse.
few weeks afterward, toward the
middle of March, the vice president
and his family together with the
presidential party. went to Thomas
vile, Ga, to visit Senator Hanna. The
fatigue OF the trip affected Mr.. IIo-
bart very unfavorably, and his condl-
ton was further impaired by the in
tense heat and humidity then pre-
vailing. AS soon as possible he was
taken to Long Branch, where beneficial
results from the sea air and quiet
were expected. His progress toward
recovery was not made, however, at
the rate that was anticipated, and a
trip to Lake Champlain, with the ia
tigue and exposure incidental thereto,
hastened rather than retarded the
course of his disease. Since then his
istrations of his physicians and the
critical condition of the last few days
has been the result.
1t should be added that ever since
his illness became serious, the vice
president has had the benefit OF the
best medical attendance. His attend
ing and consulting physicians have at
all times agreed upon the nature of
his disease and upon the treatment Of
1t, and the results to be expected.
1t is apparent from this state
ment that the vice president
is in no condition to resume
his political duties at Washington. His
family desires, therefore, to announce
that he will not return to Washington,
nor will he again take part in public
affairs. His condition to-day is such
that a fatal result may ensue at any
moment, or his present condition may
be Indefinitely prolonged.