The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1928-08-09
Es;:.SszOhe Road 90 M, s<.'.,,
EIBettersssI
NHeaIthSSS i
by DR.. ARTHUR L. FORSTER
tSopyright 1877, Bonnet Brown Corp.)
Napoleon's Last DAVIS


AT the age of 35, Napoleon foretold
that, like his father, he would die of
liver trouble. He died of cancer of
the stomach and liver.
His last weeks were spent in agony.
lie says his stomach burns like fire.
Although burning within, he shivers
with cold. The hot congresses are
never too hot.
He analyses his various symptoms.
lie refuses to take any medicine un-
til its action is explained to him.
Mournfully he says, 81 have got so
fond of my bed l would not exchange
it now for throne"
His doctor is a young Corsican
named Antommarchi, inexperienced
but pretentious. The doctor has little
sympathy with the emperor. He
thinks Napoleon is exaggerating his
pain, for political purposes. He is
not available when the patient is in
the most violent paroxysms of suffer-
ing. Napoleon tries to have him dis
missed.
One by one those who had come to
st. Helena have left. The only one
who never thought of leaving is his
faithful valet, Marchand. Napoleon
says to him, IF this goes on much
longer, no one will be left here but
you and me. But you will look after
me till the end, and will close my
eyes for me-"
Dictates His Will
In the middle of April, three weeks
before the end, he dictates his will.
For five hours he sits in cold
sweat, writing a copy in his own
hand What he wrote there was in
tended to instruct his son, but it
serves as instruction for Europe a
century afterward. The document
ends in the middle of a sentence-he
has reached the end of his power.
The following day, April q, Napo-
leon sends for the Corsican priest, but
he does not receive the sacraments of
the church. He instructs him to erect
an altar at his bedside and "say mass
with the usual ceremonies until | am
under ground"
The patient is greatly emaciated, he
has not been shaved for several days;
his face is of copper hue, the features
sunken. His bed is taken into the
drawing room, as he finds the bed |
room too confirming. He suffers tor
lures from the pains in his stomach.
In the intervals between these
spasms he drops off into semi-de-
lirious sleep. When he feels a little
refreshed he has various valuable pa
pers arranged and placed in envelopes
on which he writes the inscriptions.
Insists on Post-Mortem
On the 28th, he tells the doctor that
he insists on a post-mortem examina-
ton, especially of the stomach. Then
he dictates report of his own death,
the date left blank, and instructs
Count Montholon, one of the few left
with him, to sign it.
On the 10Th, after feverish night,
he dictates two communications Then
he says, 81 feel so wonderfully we'll
now; | could go for 30-mile ride"
The next day he becomes cold and
sinks into a delirium which lasts five
days. Once during this time he re-
gains consciousness and issues some
orders.
The following day he babbles about
Corsica and his youth. He bequeaths
his son house he does not own
this man who has won and lost half
the earth. And now he again becomes
the soldier. He is on his first cam
paign in Italy. The ghosts Of his
come before him.
Desaix! Massenal Victory is oursl
Quick Forward! We have them. !"
The last night is one of horror. AS
lawn breaks he murmurs in his delir-
um France! Armee! Tete d'armee!
The next instant he springs out of
'ed and overpowers Montholon who
S alone with him. The doctor hears
he struggle and releases Montholon.
The balance of the day he lies
uietly. The driving rain is beating
gainst the windows. At 5 o'clock