Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-07
Conscious Until About an Hour Before De-
mise, When Complete Coma Came.
DID NOT REALIZE NEARNEsS OF THE END.
Was Cheerful and Conversed with Those About His Bedside
Change for Worse in His Condition Began Early
Yesterday yMorning- Passing Away Peaceful
and Without Pan--Mr. Reeds
Career-Eis Czarisr11
Career-His Czarism.

WASHINGTON, December e.-Thomas
Bracket Reed, former speaker of the
House OF Representatives. and for many
years prominent in public life, died here
tonight at 1910 o'clock in his apartment
in the Arlington Hotel The immediate
cause of death was uraeulia-
A change for the worse was noted in
Mr. Reeds condition early this morning.
At 9sO O'Clock he was given subcutane-
Gus saline TRANSMISSION in order to stimu-
late his kidneys, which were falling to
perform their proper function. AT i've
o'clock this afternoon the saline solution
again was administered, about three
quarts of the flutd being used. The heart
became weaker and weaker, but the pa
tient retained consciousness until II
o'clock tonight. when complete coma
came on.
at the bedside when he died We're Mrs
Reed and Miss Catherine Reed, Drs.
Gardner, McDonald Bishop and Goodnow.
and the nurses. DR.. Goodnow. who had
been in consultation with the local ply
sicians Thursday, was again summoned
from Philadelphia this afternoon and ar
rived here at $50 tonight
Cheerful to the End.
Mr. Reeds mind was in such a. state
, during the day that he a. not realize the
seriousness of his condition. He was
cheerful and conversed with those ABOUT
his bedside. When it became apparent
| that he would not survive his illness,
the wife and daughter were notified, and
! they remained constantly at the bedside
until the distinguished patient breathed
his last. With only faint hope OF saw
| ing his life. oxygen was administered con-
| tinuously throughout the day.
It was stated tonight that Mr.. Reed
| had been suffering from Bright's disease
! for some time, which reached the acute
stage to-day and this furnished an adj
ditionaI cause for alarm.
Mr.. Reed passed away peacefully and
without pain
F.! No arrangen,e ents have been made for
| the funeral.
The Turn for the Worse.
The condition of ex-Speaker Thomas B.
! Reed took decided turn for the worse
[ tonight. Continued development Of Sc
| rious urae1ric symptoms was noted In the
| bulletin issued by his physicians at 1886
| O'Clock. which was as follows:
| MT. heSO -COflultiOH HOt 81 idSOIdpic.
Uraemic symptoms becoming more pro-
! nounced Almost total suppression OF kid
ney function.
At midnight, after consultation, par
| ticipated in by Drs. Gardner, MacDon-
aid. Bishop, and Goodnow. DR.. Gardner
| announced that a. complete condition of
| uraeuia existed. and that acute Brishtss s
disease had developed as complication.
| DR.. Gardner further announced that the
| physicians had given up all hope OF Mr..
| Reeds recovery. and that he would prob
| ably die during the night.
Mr.. Reed ut the Capitol.
| Mr.. Reed reached Washington Sunday,
! having come to attend to some matters
! in the United States Supreme Court. He
| was at the Capitol Monday, visiting with
| friends and former associates in Con-
gress, and witnessed the couvening OF
! the second session of the tifty-seventh
Congress Apparently he was enjoying
good health. but later in the day he
! called on DR.. F. A. Gardner and COM
planned of gastric distress. The following
| day his physician compelled him to re-
main in bed while a diagnosis was made
! of his condition. Mr.. Reed was strongly
aversc to staying in bed. but rise In
| temperature made 1t apparent that he
should remain quiet. Symptoms Of ap.
pendicitis appeared. though his condition
| was not considered at that time alarming
f, A trained nurse remained with hin
! throughout Tuesday night. and the pa
: tient showed signs of Improvement
! Mrs. Reed and daughter, Miss Kittie
arrived Wednesday, and have remained
! with Mr.. Reed. at the Arlington Hotel
since. On Thursday the physicians an
nounced that the appendicitis symptoms
i were abating but that kidney trouble
/; had developed. giving more serious as
pect to the case. DR.. ". c. Goodno"
was summoned from Philadelphia foi
j consulta ton. An attack OF nausea Friday
| night distressed the patient considerably
| because of his weakened condition. To,