The record-union., 1899-11-01
Was Sleeping RastfuIIy at Midnight. With
Prospects Of a Good Night.
Statement Of the Origin and Deve1-
opment Of the Illness of the
Vice President Given Out Under
the Authorization Of the Fam.
lily and the Physicians Who
Have Attended Him.

PATERSON IN. j., Oct. 31.-At mid
night Vice President Hobart was sleep
ing restfully, with every prospect of u
good night. He is weak, but holding
his own. No relapse is anticipated to-
night.
The following statement of the origin
and development of the illness of Vice
President Hobart is authorized by his
family and by the physicians who have
attended him:
There are several reasons why the
exact nature of the Vice Presidents
malady has been withheld from the
public. Inssthe first place, the family
have desired to reserve to itself the
privilege of retaining such facts. as
We're of a private nature, at the same
time recognizing the right Of the pub
lie to accurate information in the case
of an invalid holding high public office.
Moreover, there were reasons connected
with the Vice Presidents relations with
the Government which prompted a SIM
liar policy. This was done, however,
not for the purpose of secrecy, but to
avoid embarrassment. In addition, the
effect of publicity upon the Vice Presi-
dents health had to be considered He
was a diligent reader of the newspa,
pers, and it was observed that the
alarming reports which crept into the
papers and there met the Vice Presi-
dents eye had a most unfavorable ef-
feet. 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 this PLAN.
THE illness of the Vice President
may be said to date from the fall OF
1898, prior to his return to Washing
ton in November. At that time his
physicians observed symptoms of en-
barrassed respiration, with frequent at
lacks of angina pectoris. This condi-
ton responded readily to treatment,
and when the Vice President went to
Washington in the latter part of No
vember he was in good health. He
stood remarkably we'll the strain and
excitement incidental to the opening Of
Congress, and he was making favorable
progress until in January he became a
victim of the grip. Following this there
was a return of heart trouble, accom-
panied 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. session of the SEN
ate the strain and excitement of de-
livering the closing speech were so
great that he was on the verge Of q
collapse
"A few weeks afterwarl, toward the
mid Ia Of AT.v l1x,H
and his family, together with the Pres
idential party, went to Townsville,
Ga, to visit Senator Hanna The IA.
tigue of the trip affected Mr.. Hobart
very unfavorably, and his condition was
further impaired by the intense heat
and humidity then prevailing. 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 Cham
plain, with the fatigue and exposure
incidental thereto, FASTENED rather than
retarded the course of his disease Since
then his system has not responded to
the ministrations 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 and treatment.
His attending and consulting physi-
clans have at all times agreed upon
the nature of his disease and upon the
treatment Of it, and the results to be
expected.
1T is apparent from this statement
that the Vice President is in no con-
dition to resume his political duties at
Washington His family desire, there,
fore, to announce that he will not re.
turn to Washington, nor will he again
take part in public affairs. His condi-
ton to-day is such that fatal result
may ensue at any moment, or his pres
ent condition may be indefinitely pro-
To-