Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-04

to take motor ride in Rock Greek
Park and for the next few days Doc
tor Graycon prescribed a routine Of
no work and no worry" The COM
ing visit of the king and queen of
the Belgians to the white house was
postponed and business of all forms
was kept from him.
The regime of rest seemed to be
making good progress and % Sep
TENDER S0th Doctor GraySon an
nounced that the president had pas-
Sed the b.. day since the beginning
Of his breakdown. He was permit
ted to sign some bills and congress
sional resolutions. nominations and
dictate some brief letters. Everytnins
went encouragingly until October
first
On the afternoon of that day Mr..
Wilson went for another motor ride
with his wife and Doctor Grayson.
During the evening all assembled in
one of the large rooms of the cNecu-
tive mansion and enjoyed family
motion picture show. Later in the
evening the president and his doc
tor took turn at billiards but they
di dnot play long. For the first time
since the illness began, Doctor Gray
son did not remain at the White
House but went home. During the
night Mr.. Wilson was up and about
and told Mrs. Wilson he was sleep
less.
About o'clock on the morning
of October fifth Mrs. Wilson heard
the President in the bathroom call
ing in n weak voice. Doctor Gray
son was summoned and to his hor-
ror found Mr.. Wilson FRUSTRATED on
the bathroom floor. In s2mi-con-
scious condition he had fallen as if
wounded in the left leg. with the
member crumpled under him on the
bath mat
Once in bed the President seemed
to regain his senses and murmured
that he felt sleepy. Doctor Gray
son made Il hurried examination Of
pulse and heart and found them
very low. The tell-talc drooliug of
saliva from the Presidents mouth
and the twitching OF the face were
there again. They wrote their own
diagnosis. Woodrow Wilson had
been paralyZed on his left side and
lay in the shadow OF death. With
the first movement of his lips he
extracted n promise from the doc
If serious, must not become known.
Doctor Grayson summoned from
Philadelphia Doctor Francis Y. Dur
com, u foremost specialist and one
of the only two Americans ever re-
Ceivcd into the Societe de Neurolgic
of Paris, the membership of which
is confined to less tlan fifty Of the
worries foremost scientists. He also
called in Rear Admiral T. II. Stitt
of the naval medical corps, dis
tinguishcd diagnoStician and Doctor
Stcrlin EUffin fthis city, Mrs. Will
sons family physician.
y two hour COnSulta tions developed
the agreement that Mir. Wilson had
SUffeted what is medically known as
Il Cereb: thrombosis blood clot
in ono of the blood vessels in the
right side of his brain. An official
pl'loun informed the country of a
serious turn in tho presidents condi-
ton but did not disc Csc the cause.
l. was reported that Mr.. Wilson
lay unconSciOnsciorS for a week.
Truth was that he never was UNI
conscious at any time during that
illness. 1t vas reported that lie had
beCome a maniac. Truth was that
his mind always was active and he
constantly gave directions TO those
about him.
In few DAYS there w&s some res
pOnsc to treatment.
For the next week Mr.. Wilson hn'--
cred between life and death. Every
thing that it was possible To do was
Gone. The county finding for tic
first time that the president was IN
danger of death. fell into gloom.
q lover of music Mr.. Wilson wanted
somc. Doctor Grayson obtained n
talking machine which was supplied
with the latest records Of lively
tunes.
Up to this time Mr.. Wilson, insist
ing that his condition bc kept secret
Lad excluded from his room all hut
members of the family, the doctors
and two trusted nurses from tn" ma
val dispcnsary. The valet who shaved
him was barred and W oodow Wilson
grew beard and moustachc. lie
hadn't worn whiskcrs for thirty years,
not since he was a student at Johns
hopkins. when he wore FURNISHES"
He accounted it rather good joke
and used to carefully brush the
adornmcnt every day.
The agitation in congress finally
came to a head and II was. determined
to find out whether W. have 4 prCsi-
dent or not" az one political leader
expressed it. The Mexican situation
furnished the occasion for passing
resolution which the senate decided
warranted conference Of the FOREIGN
relations committee with the presi-
dent Senator Fall of New Mexico.
Republican. and administration policy
opponent, who became secretary Of
the interior under President Hard
ing, was named as one member Of
special committee 20 go TO the white
house and Senator Hitchcock Of Ne