Mower County transcript., 1902-12-10
THOMAS b. REED.

resulting from uraemic poisoning, was
the immediate cause of death, but Mr..
Reeds illness was traceable to chronic
Bright's disease, which was brought
to the surface by an attack Of appen-
dicitis Tuesday night, and which later
became acute.
Mr.. Reed came to Washington
week ago Sunday evening, after at
tending the banquet in New York the
night before in honor of Mark Twafn's
birthday. On Monday he appeared
tion in an admiralty case, (which
clined to grant writ of certiOrari.
This was his last appearance In public.
He went to his hotel and remained in
his room Tuesday. He complained OF
indigestion and summoned his physi-
clans. DR.. P. A. Gardner and DR.. F.
A. Mcdonald responded and an
noupced that Mr.. Reed was suffering
from gastritis. After a consultation
the next morning they discovered evil
dence of catarrhal appendicitis and SO
diagnosed Mr.. Reeds complaint. The
serious nature of his illness was then
apparent and Mrs. Reed and Miss
Reed were notified and they hurried
to Washington.
Kidney Complications Set In.
The symptoms of appendicitis had
abated by Thursday morning, but Sc
rious kidney complications were man.
ifested and there were some signs OF
uraemic poisoning. It was then that
Dr.. w. G. Goodnow of Philadelphia,
an expert in uraemia, was summoned.
After consultation with DR.. Gardner
and DR.. Mcdonald he stated that all
was being done for Mr.. Reed that
could be and recommended continue
tion Of the treatment. BY this time
1t was evident that the real danger
was from uraemfc poisoning and not
appendicitis, which had merely
brought to the surface an acute at
tack Of kidney trouble from which Mr..
Reed has suffered In the past. With
the appearance of uraemic acid lin the
blood Mr.. Reed began to show signs
of uraemfc coma, and as early az Fri
day he became unconscious. but per.
ceptibly improved during the day and
his mind became clear. His tempera.
ture decreased and his general condi:
,tion indicated an: improvement
The physicians recognized Saturday
night, however, that Mr.. Reed 8 scondi
tion was critical and they prepared
to administer oxygen gas and saline
infusions. He became worse. s The
uraemia symptoms became & very
marked about 8 o'clock, at which time
he was given q saline injection for the
purpose Of stimulating the kidneys to
action. A second injection wassgiven
within an hour. and during the day oxy.
gen gas was constantly administe tered.
He continued to grow worse during
the afternoon and about 5 o'clock two
more transfustons of salt were given,
making In all about three quarts that
was administered during the day..
His heart became weaker and weak
o., netwith the treatment, and
It was at this hour that the physicians
told Mrs. Reed that they feared that
!. Mr. Reed could not recover. They
summoned Dr. Goodnow by telegraph
and continued the application OF oxy.
gen gas. 81. Y y.#r: n 81 81 +:
Shortly after 9 o'clock Dr.. Goodnow
Reed was conscious at this time he
WAS nOI aware Ol LIS $COnQlIlOu. ~
was the opinion Of the physicians that
the end was but few hours Oh.
AT 10:30 the patient became nncon.
scious and this condition was imme-
diately olloWed by q pronounced form
[7of uraemic coma. The coma lasted
from u o' clock until midnight when
Mr.. Reed. died. The usual uraemtc
commissions were absent. Mrs Reed
and Miss Katharine Reed were &C his
bedside at the time.