The New York herald., 1922-05-28

David Baker. post surgeon at Fort Nc
Pherson, Ga. where Morse was re-
moved for treatment on November ~.
1911. Mr.. Meyer on December 2S. 19ii,
reported to the Attorney-General from,
Atlanta by telegraph as follows;
AT HAS this morning Major Baker.
post surgeon at Fort Mcpherson. tele-
phoned the following report to me:
After four weeks observation believe
that this physical condition (Morse's) Is
deteriorating. / regard his condition as
very grave. / believe that further I'M
prisonment will be injurious."'
ION December 2s 1911, Warden Meyer
was Informed of the action OF President
Tart declining to exercise Executive
clemency in the case. On the day fol-
lowing Mr.. Meyer reported to the At
torney-Gsneral by telegraph as follows
Major Baker. surgeon OF the post al
Fort Mcpherson. reports over the phone
at 10:47 A. M. to-day as follows regard.
ing the physical condition OF Charles w
Morse register No. 2Sl4: &c. w. Morse
is weaker
Major Bakers Report.
Under date Of December 30. 1911
Major Baker reported as follows. In
writing. to the commanding officer al
Fort Mcpherson on the physical condi-
ton of the prisoner:
FORT MCPHERSON, Ga. Dec. 80. 1911.
Report OF the physical condition of
federal Prisoner Charles w. Morse:
he was admitted to this hospital the
26th Of last month
He has been examined daily since
that time by the undersigned.
Diagnosis. Arterio- ole u,tth.
(A) Myocarditis. chronic: mitral in
sufriciency relative. used In my report
OF the 18th inst. expresses, in other
words. my opinions.
OBJ Renal sclerosis,
The last two are but phases in the
progress OF the first affection. noted
when the heart and kidneys have be-
come seriously involved.
tA) Myocarditis, chronic, Is an af-
fectlon or the heart muscle in which
actively contracting muscle fibres are
replaced by inert fibrous tissue. The
progress is one of steady deterioration
10 point where the heart is no longer
able to empty itself, when IL fails.
+ either suddenly, with little or no prem
onition, or gradually with accompany.
ing dropsy My statement of a rela-
tive mitral insufficiency in my report
OF the 18th inst. was founded on the
assumption Of myocarditis, chronic,
and was based on the physical signs
which were then, as now, present
namely a soft blowing murmur at the
apex of the heart, which Is displaced
to the left nipple line, and accentuated
aortic second sound and dilatation
with loss OF heart force. Myocarditis,
chronic. is characterized by a higher
percentage Of sudden deaths than is
oil Nrrl
eral appearance Of the patient is not
indicative of the stage OF the disease.
tB) The affection of the kidneys 10
a sclerosis. or contraction of the kid
neys, choking out the normal tissues
and replacing them with fibrous tis-
sue-this Is one of the forms of
"Bright's" disease. 1t Is a constant
danger to the patient. as in this dis
ease not enough solids are excreted
and thus eliminated from the system.
In this case about two-thirds only of
the normal amount has been excreted
daily for a period Of several weeks.
This keeps the patient In danger of
sudden or gradual development Of
uraemia, which carries an enormous
death rate. These dangers-sudden
heart failure, from myocarditis. and
uraemia, from failure Of the kidneys
to eliminate-are constant in this case
and cannot. with due regard for the
medical authorities, be minimized.
The urine OF this patient is not only
decreased but II daily contains blood
and usually casts and albumen.
Other dangers of arterio-sclerosis
are the apoplexies. particularly the
cerebral form.
Present condition.: The patient Is
extremely weak. sitting up in bed only
when propped for a short time. has
not exceeded one and one-half hours
at one time. when he complains OF
vertigo and faintness His heart has
lost force and it's action 10 irregular.
His circulation is poor. His kidneys
do not eliminate sufficiently.
Prognosis: This malady Is incur
albeit is spoken OF In the singular
for the reason that his affections con-
stitute one observation-disclosures
rosis--with special involvement Of the
heart and kidneys. In my opinion ne
has not very long to live. This Is
rather indefinite, realize, but fore
casts of death In chronic disease are at
best only approximations. That death
comes on very suddenly IN large
per cent. of this disease Is OF itself
enough to stamp It as one Of the very
gravest chronic affections known. AS
life insurance risk would not rec
ommend this patient for the short
period of thirty days. His sudden
death Is constantly probable.
Effect OF further imprisonment !:
All authorities are one. In agreement.
that mental strain and worry aggra-
vate this disease. For that reason.
supporting my knowledge of the case.
unhesitatingly state that further
imprisonment will be injurious II not
speedily fatal. i have set forth my
view of this case at some length for
the reason that my previous reports
may not have been full enough, though
thought them clear
DAVID BAKER,
Major, Medical Corps, u. 8. A.