Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1900-02-14

Had He Lived To-Day Washington
CouiS HAVE 6aan Ssved

Had He Lived To-Day Washington
colid Have Seen ssvSa
Col Lear's story Of the last illness
OF Washington and the medical treat
ment he received is absorbing 10 US
OF the present day as 1t shows, by
contrast with modern methods, that,
had the general lived one hundred
years later in life might easily have
been saved, scarcely beyond doubt.
Tho cause Of his death was stated
10 be "oodematous affection OF the
windpipe." or, in layman's phrase,
watery swelling of the windpipe. Tho
trouble at first was ordinary quinsy
sore throat which by the second day
had developed into membranous
Group. which. however, is rarely fatal
except to children.
Those were the days OF cupping and
bleeding. and Washington not only
placed himself in the hands OF his
doctors, but insisted, rather against
the judgment OF his wife, that he be.
bled Within twenty-four hours he
bled four times. losing the first time
only about half pint OF blood" ac'
cording to the statement Of Col. Lear.
Washington exposed himself on
Thursday. December y, to the inclem-
ency OF the weather, and the next day
was taken sick. Between 2 and
o'clock on Saturday morning he was
seized with chill, and asked that
MIR. hawlins. the overseer, be sent for
to bleed him, before DR.. Cralk, whom
he asked to be summoned, could ar
rive. After day broke he was bled
IN the arm. Watching the process
Washington said: THE orifice is not
large enough" Mrs. Washington
begged that much blood might not be
taken, but Washington said, More!
More!" Mrs. Washington, being still
uneasy, the process was stopped after
the loss of about half pint. In the
meantime DR.. Brown, of Port Tobac-
co, was sent for. BETWEEN and 3
o'clock DR.. Craik, who had arrived.
hled the patient. and again at II
o'clock DR. Dick came at O'Clock
and Dr. Brown soon after. DIR. Dick
consulted with DR.. Craik, and for the
fourth time the patient was bled.
The last hours Of Washington are
described by Col. Lear in these words.
About 10 o'clock he made several
attempts to speak to me before he
could affect il. At length he said i
am Just going; have me decently
buried aud do not let my body be put
into the vault In less than three days
after | am dead
Il bowed assent, for | could not
speak. He then looked at me again
and said. DO you understand meg
replied, Yes TITS WELL said he.
About 10 minutes before he ey
plred (which was between 10 and Al
o'clock his breathing became easier
/ he lay quietly; he withdrew his hand
from mine and felt his own pulse.
Il saw his countenance change.
spoke to DR.. Craik. who sat by the
Are. lie came to the bedside. The
generals hand fell from his wrist.
took it In mine and put 1t in my Dos
ON. DR.. Craik put his hands over hi!
eyes and he expired without a strug
gle or a sigh"
In the room in which Washington
died in the second story of the man
sion at Mount Vernon is the bed OF
which he lay and nearly all the arti
cles which were there at the las
1cene. The bedstead is six fee
square with big mahogany posts.
was made in New York zen years be
fore The only article belonging 4
the bed which the Mount Vernon As
sociation has not recovered for pres
ervation in the mansion Is the be-
quilt or comfortable which covere
his dying body. This is in the posses
sion of Mrs. Eyre who, as told {
the owner OF the diary OF Tobias Leal
her grandfather. The quilt was mad
by Mira. Washington. In the centre
a representation OF PENIS treaty wit
the Indians. and at each corner sec
ton of some colonial print illustratin
an incident in the life OF the youn
nation.