Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-01
HIS CONDITION BETTER
Mr.. Payne's Heart Action
Declared Much ImproVed.
h AD A GOOD SLEEP
DIR. oSLER NOT TO RETURN UNTIL
TOMORROW MORNING.
Encouraging Bulletin Issued After thg
Consultation of the Attend
ing Physicians.
HAD A GOOD SLEEP

Postmaster General Payne's physical
condition remained almost unchanged
throughout the day, and his physicians
were unanimous in their prognosis that
any unusual alteration in the character
of the illness with which their patient
has been stricken might have a fatal re-
suit According to information coming
from the sick room this morning early
as o'clock Mr. Payne gained more rest
last night than during the two previous
nights, but his sleep in the early hours
of the morning was interrupted by weak
ening spells. The most severe of these
occurred at o'clock. DIR. Grayson. who
remained through the night, Immediately
administered moderate doses of stimulants
and restoratives, and these sufficed to bring
about a prompt rally.
The O'Clock Consultation.
At o'clock there was a consultation in
which the participants were Drs. Magruder,
Rixey, Osler and Grayson. DR.. Osler's
word. when he left the room, was that Mr..
Payne had passed a better night and was
distinctly better this morning than at any
time since he was laid low with this illness
He admitted however that the Illness was
even then, of the gravest character, and that
IL WOulG not De proper IOT MIN OF any olLeT
diagncstician to presume to pTophesy Its
termination.
At $3.50 the following bulletin was issued:
Mr.. Payne passed much better night;
slept well for number of hours. Heart
action much improved. General condition
more fayoraDle.
"OSLER.
"RIXEY."
When DR. Osler left the hotel after the
consultation, he said he would not come
back until tomorrow morning unless tho
patients condition grew very much worse
On awakening this morning Mr.. Payne
asked for the time, and when informed said
he thought it must be much later. His
sleep had been long one
Anxious Inquiries.
Many kilograms have been received at the
residence OF the Postmaster General to all
of which it has been the effort of Private
Secretary Whitney TO respond Callers at
the house have been in streams, and frefn
the wife of the President of the United
States to members of the cabinet and other
prominent political men expressions of re-
gret have been forthcoming at the misfor-
tune which has befallen not only the family
of the sick man. but the entire American
people. Mrs. Payne, who Is bearing up well
under the strain, last night was fortunate
to obtain a refreshing sleep.
President Roosevelt called at the hotel
shortly before II o'clock this forenoon and
remained a few moments In the private
felt much encouraged regarding Mr.. Payne's
condition.
Mrs Shaw, wife of the Secretary Of the
Treasury, called, and Admiral Dewey sent
aid to obtain the latest news from the
sick rI om
Last Nights Experience.
Mr. Payne fell asleep at o'clock last
evening and an hour and half later was
reported as still resting quietly. The phys
10
fact and it was then announced that unless
some unexpected developments should oc-
cur no further bulletin would be issued by
them last night.
There were times when the attending
physicians believed the end was near at
hand, but the patient responded to the
heroic remedies applied and seemed to re-
gain some of the lost ground. Last night at
about o'clock, Mr.. Payne fell into a rest
full Sleep which continued for some time.
The doctors regarded this encouraging
for peaceful night. All of the bulletins
issued by the physicians during the day
indicated the critical condition OF the pa
tient. The greatest cause of alarm was the
feebleness of the heart action and 1t was
found necessary to administer saline solu-
ton and nitro-gl ycerine to stimulate that
organ. Only moderate sized doses vera
given, however, and in each case the re-
SponSe was gratifying.
The most hopeful sign of the case is the
fact that although his stomach always has
been a weak spot with him, he has been
able to retain the nourishment given HIM.
Except during the sinking spells, several
of which occurred during the day and even-
ing Mr. Payne retained consciousness all
the time and his mind appeared to be activo
and alert. Several times he asked ques-
tions of those about him, indicating his IN
tereSt in what was tranSpring. One OF
more physicians are constantly sat the bed
side, but aside from them and the nurse no
one except Mrs. Payne has been allowed
in the sick room.
Mrs. Payne, although very much over
wrought by her husbands critical condi-
ton, has borne up braVely.
DR.. Osler's Opinion.
Mr.. Payne's physicians determined during
the day to summon DIR. Osler of Baltimore
the expert diagnostician of Johns Hopkins
University, and the latter arrived here
shortly after 6 O'Clock. "A nsultation of
physicians Immediately followed~
The following bulletin sfsubsequently
issued
Seven pm.-The Postmaster Generals
condition still continues to be serious. He
has had several sinking spells during the
day; each time, however, he has responded
to treatment
(Signed) .W. osLER, -
"P. M. RIXEY.
&c. LLOYD MAGRUDER. -
DIR. osler remained for about an hour and
O'Clock bulletin. DIR. Osler said that
while Mr.. Paynes condition was critical,
he had hopes that with a restful night he
would show improvement in the morning.
At the same time, he added, the case was
like a top in the balance-it might go one :
way or the other, Il. -<ssg
: DIR. Osler said he would return this morn
ing. As he wars leaving he said that the
Postmaster Generals condition was critical,
but that he had hopes that Mr.. Payne might
yet pull through.
DIR. Grayson remained at the Payne apart
nents all night DIR. Magruder left for his
home shortly before o'clock this morning.
The latter, on leaving.sai that Mr.. Payne
has been sleeping steadily since $50 O'clock.
The doctor added that Mr.. Payne was then
stiIl in great danger, that his heart action
had improved sonewhet. but that even DUR
ing sleep the heart action was irregular.
= Everywhere In official circles the deepest
concert and soicitudr was manifested in
the outcome.
The President was kept constantly adj
yfsed, and both he and Mrs. Roosevelt
called La persona
Mrs. w. 8. Eameron- of jamestown. N. r,
the only sister OF; the Postmaster General.