Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-06
Seemingly Regards Report of
Surgeons as Humorous.
SAYS HE is FEELING FINE
Medical Men Report Disability Be-
gan Many Years Ago.
USE TECHNICAL EXPRESSIONS
Counsel for Involuntary Army Re
cluse Secures Postponement Of
Hearing Until Next Thursday.

Col William +. Stewart, the involun-
tary army recluse. appeared before the
medical retiring board at Washington
barracks yesterday afternoon to dispute
the decision of the board that he should
he placed on the retired list Of the army
because of heart disease.
The colonel was attired in the khaki
service uniform he wore as the military
hermit while stationed at Fort Grant, in
the desert of Arizona. by order of Presi-
dent Roosevelt He was accompanied by
several friends. AS preface to the &C
ton of the medical board. Col. Stewart
remarked that he never felt better IN
his life physically. and that he was new
er more fitted for the active duties OF
army life-and he looked it.
The report submitted by Col Arthur
and Maj. Edie of the medical department.
L. S. A.. and read to Col. Stewart by
Capt. Rowland of the 21st Infantry. re-
corcer, who represented the office of the
Judge advocate. stated that with great
care and the avoidance of any sudden
and violent exertion. this officer may live
in comfort for years. but 1t would be
dangerous for him to undergo any extra
ordinary exertion."
Disability Began Years Ago.
1t was further reported by the board
that Col. Stewards disability began about
thirty-four years ago, and that the dis
ability is permanent.
The army surgeons gave their technical
observations as follows:
This officer is thin. fairly well nour-
ished man, 80 Alp years of age; height,
feet 81 inches: weight. 12I pounds.
Vision-Left eye. normal: right eye prac-
tically blind. Loss Of vision by the de-
tachment of the retina. Pulse regular
and of good volume, but soft and easily
compresSible.'
AS to Col Stewards heart trouble. the
examinations of she heart show apex
heart, diffuse. extending over an area OF
about two inches square and displaced
downward and to left of its natural po-
normal force. There Is no arhythmia.
There is a murmur. systolic IN time. heart
distantly over the diffuse apex area. not
heard SO well at the base and transmitted
cipally to the right This murmur gives
unmistakaole evidence Of an incompetent
mitral valve. which. when the heart con-
tracts. does not completely close, allow
ing blood to regurgitate into the left ora
Gle and pulmonary veins.
Heart Is Enlarged.
THE heart is enlarged. but there is no
corresponding increase in its force. This
would indicate that the compensating
hypertrophy of the heart muscular over
growth, which always takes place when
q valve does not close properly, and
which in some cases enables the Grip
piled heart to do it's work for years, is
yielding under the strain. and the heart
wall becomes thinner, especially the wall
of the left ventrcle. The stage of ex-
centric hypertrophy or dilation has set
in at this stage. Compensation Is easily
lost. and under extraordinary strain the
heart is liza BILE to give out.
Confronted with the foregoing formi-
dable array of medical diagnoses, Col.
Stewart smiled the smile Of a man who
will fight back when cornered either by
army surgeons or even more formidable
opponents. He said If his alleged heart
disease is matter Of military record
as was claimed, 1t was made so without
the form Of a physical examination. He
active service in the Nez Perces Indian
campaign but once. and that was when
Gen. Howard sent him with a detachment
of prisoners to Walla Walla. Wash.
Indicates Medal Of Honor.
Col Stewards brother pointed to a
medal of honor on the officers coat lapel.
presented as a token of duty we'll per-
formed in Indian campaigns. These
statements were not made before the
board. but to a group of interested per-
the proposed ninety-mile test ride would
be a pastfme for him, as he had fire.
quently ridden that distance for exercise
over the Arizona desert while at his
lonely post in Fort Grant.
Col. Stewards counsel prevailed on the
retiring board to postpone the further
hearing of the matter. Accordingly, a
postponement was taken until O'Clock
next Thursday afternoon, when counsel
for the colonel will cross-examine the
surgeons On their findings