The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-23
Bismarck's Last DAYS.


Professor DR.. Sehweninger has Just
published the following interesting ac-
count OF the late Prince Bismarck's last
days:
After the appearance and disappearance
OF repeated seizures OF pain in the toes.
heel and instep OF the left foot during the
summer months OF 1897 had served as a
warning Of the illness. and exceptionally
violent pam in the left leg and foot made
Itself felt on October i, 1897. the sudden
attack and great violence OF which could
not well be accounted for This pain, IN
its manifold degrees, shades and com
binations. lasted from then 10 the end of
his life. and was often very severe, and at
times well nigh unbearabte. These SymP-
toms in the condition OF things, had 70
= regarded as the setting in Of NORTH
cation; 6iagnosiS-how often did the
doctor wish n the succeeding months that
il might prove to be a mistaken Onei-
which was 70 be only TOO fully borne our
by the inexorably painful lapse OF time.
And 50 began the steady struggle against
the evil--a struggle under circumstances
rendered al TOO tragic. even 70 the doc
tors (Schweninger and ChryS7ndcrf. by
the love. trust and attachment felt for the
great sufferer. and by their feeling of hu-
manity-a fight in which all means were
employed within reach OF science and
art.
The pain. which often attained excep-
tional proportions and ar first made even
the bed unbearable-'m bed. my best
friend. Will not have any more 20 do with
me- his highness used 10 complain-was
rendered comparatively endurable. and
more and more reduced. by exercise and
standing up at the unavoidable moments
of seizure.
The soundness OF his mind and his gen
ira ~ mir r~a3 ~.
| last. The modification remained up 20
the last OF the dry type (gangraena sic
car, and even after the space Of a ten
months very varying course in subjective
and objective respects. had not spread
more than hands breadth over the back
Of the foot and instep and about the size
/ Of a ducks egg over the heel. The
end was caused not BY the process OF
modification and its results. but by eO-
observation-disclosures in heart and lungs
with consequent oedema and paralysis or
the heart. The secret was strictly kept
from the outside world and the patient.
1t was not very easy TO prepare the ex-
pectant world for a change in the health
or the Prince without allowing the actual
/ nature and intensity of the illness 20 be
seen through; the Prince had 20 be pre-
vented from learning the real nature Of
his complaint from the papers, or from
being acquainted with. and rendered un-
easy about. his state Of health by lnnum-
cradle well-meant but stiu inOpportune,
questions and unnecessary suggestions
and counsels. Thanks 10 the faithful CO.
operation Of those in the secret. this pUr-
pose was attained, and the brave hero
was spared the details Of the exact nature
OF his complaint. He laid no very. great
stress, however, on this point He used
to give very clear reports OF the nature q
his pain, with his accustomed kindly orr
ginality. For instance he once remarked:
''One must be able 10 distinguish between
the various kinds of pain as one does with
colors" and used to wish that he might
pass the day with less pain. without trOu-
bling his head at all about tomorrow. In
this respect he was quite calm. and when
he found himself more confined TO his bath
chair. declared iokingly, Really. / have
been a diplomat long enough % be able %
allow myself the diplomats Illness par ex-
cellence (gOuO TO a somewhat greater de-
gree" He no longer expected anything
essential. He repeatedly declared himself
to be completely satisfied with life.
It was not TIL his last days that he
had fits OF unconsciOusness from time 70
time. But even then he mastered his pain
to a certain degree. He spoke about IT,
recognized that something strange had
hammered. and described II IN the follow
ing words: This afternoon I was partly
unconscious; now ! am myself again.
Such deran gements only occurred at in
tervals. and two days before mis- death,
after long hours of considerable pain. be
appeared among his family at the supper
table as If cured by a miracle. as though
nothing were changed. Once more were
his classic features. enshriued In the
hearts Of hundreds of thousands OF his
fellow-countrymen and familiar in the
most distant lands. seen In their fun
freshness Once again he delighted al
present with his graceful. clever witty.
charming conversation. Once more ne
drank as though rejuvenated. the favor
ire sparkling wine, with complete enjoy
rnent Once more. after dinner, he SAT
in the old way, smoking bis pipe al the
accustomed historical place And so ne
stands in his freshness and strength even
in the twilight Of the waning day-onee
moro a c0nnuerer. before all those VINO
have experienced the good fortune ana
a the same time. the pain Of being VII
nesses Of his end. All that human care
had been able 10 do had been done
rims death met him. and, Ike a redeArn-
inc friend took him from our midst
London Standard Berlin Correspondence
April 3