New Britain herald., 1919-01-06
HAD STRENGTH OF
MAN OF 40 YEARS

Blood Pressure Tests Showed That
Patient Was Unusually Strong
Laughed and Jol1cd With Doctor
Only 4s Hours Before He Died
Ate Heartily and Said He Was
Feeling Bully.
New York, Jan. Cool. Roosc-
velts last illness may be said to date
from last February on February five
it was announced that he had been
removed from his home in Oyster
Bay to the Roosevelt hospital in this
city, following an operation IN one
Of his ears. Soon after his arrival at
the hospital he underwent two more
opera tons for the removal Of dis
eased tissue in his infected ear. and
it was admitted at the time that he
was seriously i'll. He remained ut
the hospital until March 5
Health Bad Last Summer
During May and June the colonel
made Il number of addresses, speak
ing at Springfield, Mass, and in New
York. In June he MADE q tour of the
west during which he suffered a
slight attack of erysipelas in one of
his legs, but refused to give up his
enga gemenrs. Early in November the
colonel was taken to RoCEevelt hos
pital III tllis city for trfatment OF
rheumatism and sciatiCA| While he
was in the hospital reports became
Ip oil
seriously i'll than his physicians would
admit. Col. Roosevelt returned to his
hor0e in Oyster Bay on Christmas
Day remarking as he stepped to the
porch that he was feeling bully.
Attended BY Three Doctors.
Three physicians had Been III at
tendance pom the cOlurel since he
was taken TO Roosevelt hospital seven
weeks ago to be treated for what was
believed to be sciattca. The PATIENTS
trouble was later diagnosed is in
f1ammatcry rhouma tj5m which, ac-
cording TO one OF the doctors, had at
fected virtually every joint in his
body.
Tho coloners physicians were Dr.
J. A. FaIIcr. Of Oyster Bay, and DR..
J. Fl. Richards and DR.. John H, Hart
we'll, Of New York city.
Seemed To BE Improving.
Forty-eisht hours Before his death
tho tormer president had been visit
cd by one of his physicians, who
stated he found the colonel apparent-
ly in good condition and spirits. The
colonel, he said, laughed and joked
with him and said he expected soon
to renew his housekeeping expedi-
tions on his Sycamore Hill estate.
On the day before Christmas when
Col Roosevelt left the hospital to
spend the holiday in Oyster Bay Miss
Stricker said he was in slight pain at
intervals but was apparently far from
being seriously i'll. On the Sunday
previous to his departure for his
home, he had dictated articles for the
Kansas City Star ard other publica-
tiors from IL a. N. until p. m. He
ate well and slept like a child.
So marked had been his improve
mcnt under the regimen provided at
the hospital that Mrs. Roosevelt who.
at the beginning, remained with her
husband continuously, was impor-
tuned by him to rest. She went to
oyster Bay, returning two or three
times q week to visit him @od bring
him table delicacies of which he was
especially fond,
Showed RcmarkablH Strength.
Two separate blood tests had been
made at the hospital one by DIR.
Richards and the other by Dr. Hart
we'll, each of which, it was said indi
Gated that the colonel was entirely
free from any organic disease and that
his only trouble was inflamatory rheu~
matism. This ailnent was pronounced
only in his left leg but at times it
affected one of MS hands and arms.
of you could see the troyful of food
that is sent in to Col. ROOseVeitS
room at dinner time" said a friend Of
The family you would think he was
certainly on the mend. FIe has the
appetite Of q vigorous. healthy school
boy"
Blood pressure tests, it was said,
I showed that the patient had arteries
Of q Man Of 40 instead Of 30 years,
SaI~ Ow Weighed HcNi!Y on Him.
One Of the thi',ce that Is Heliuvod
! 70 have contrib ted moro than any
! o1rcr to the co'o~oUs breakdown was
! t'c death last fan Of his son, Lieut..
! Quentin Roosevelt the aviator, in &C
ton in France. Proud Of his heroic
sons achievement, Col. Roosevelt bore
no under the sorrow of his death with
CONTINUED on Seventh Page)