Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 April 1885 — THE NEWS CONDENSED. [ARTICLE]

THE NEWS CONDENSED.

THE STRICKEN SOLDIER. Gen. Grant's Obstinate Battle with'Dentil. f “There has been an extraordinary Improvement in Gen. Grant's condition during the past twenty-four hours, and the physicians and family are now talking of events to happen a month hence," says a New Yorx dispatch of the morning of the 15th lost; “The General was dressed in street attire,, yesterday, and walked about the library, remarking that he felt better than for two weeks. The swelling on his neok was much reduced. Yesterday morning, soon after 6:30, and while Mrs. Grant was in the adjoiniug room, the General . bade the servant bring him a pad of writing paper. On it he wrote a bulletin, as follows: “The doctor tells me I am better this morning. lam better. lam better. 1 am better than I have been in two weeks. U. 8. Grant. “Having so written the General handed his bulletin to the servant and told him he should carry it to Mrs. Grant, who was silting in the library almost in sight of her husband. The servant delivered the message with formality. Mrs. Grant read it, showed it to Dr. Douglas, and both, laughing, entered the sick room, where pleasantries passed, the General joining with a smile. A gentleman who is thoroughly conversant with Gen. Grant's ailment said tonight: The marvelous improvement in the General’s condition is not at all surprising to me. He may live two or three weeks and he may live four months. If he survives until the eariy part of summer he will be taken oht of the city to the mountains, probably, as I do not think the ses air would agree with him. If he had strength enough 1 think he would like to go to California If he improves in the same ratio in the next few days he will be driving in the park this week. He tried three varieties of nourishment to-day. and, being in a facetious mood, referred to them as ’his three courses..’ ” A small Incandescent electric light is u-'ed tajho examination of the ulceration of the General’s throat, and when introduced into the sufferer’s mouth Illuminates the parts effectively. A oontinu&i improvement in the condition of Gen. Grant was noted by the bulletins t-ele-grapbed lrom New York on the morning of April K. He had passed a comfortable night, securing many hours of refreshing sleep, and In the morning chatted pleasantly with members of the lamily and the doctors. “There iB talk of taking the General to the mountains as soon as the weather relaxes somewhat in its severity, provided, of course, that he continues to improve," says one of the dispatches. “The General chafes constantly a: his confinement to the sick room, and longs for a change, and it is thought that if he can be successfully removed to the bracing air of the mountains there •will be more chance, for him to regain his strength. It is also thought that he would be troubled less with the accumulation of mucus In the throat if hooould breathe the dry atmosphere of the inland mountain regiou. Instead of the humid air of the coast.” Rev. J. P, Newman, the General’s pastor, was interviewed toy a reporter. “Gen. Grant is very»much better," said the parson. "He converses readily with those around him, and seems to be quite cheerful and happy. He is sitting partly dressed and In a dressing-gown. There is a great improvement in his condition. The oolor of his akin is dHferect- He looks more like a healthy man. He is buoyed up by faith. The prayers of the people of the whole country have been '.."'offered up for him, and they are being answered. He now believes he will get well He feels and I feel that the supplications of so many millions of people for such a consummation will be answered. There la a grand chance of the General’s getting well again. Bis improvement may be credited particularly to the power of mind over matter. To-day, as I parted from him, he pressed my hand and said: ’Thrice have I been in the shadow of the valley of death, and thrice have I come out again.”’

A continued improvement in Grant’s condition was noted in thy, bulletins issued on the morning of Friday, April 17, and the belief was gaining strength that the illustrious patient might ultimately recover entirely. The General surprised his family and friends by walking down stairs unaided, while the former were ut lunch, and, after taking bis place at the table, ate cold mutton, cut very small, and macaroni. Senator Chaffee, speaking of this surprising evidence of returning strength, remarked, "The familv'were entirely surprised, but highly delighted, and now indulge hopes that he may get well entirely. His throat Is better, less painful, and the doctors say there is an improvement in the disease itself. I am somewhat inclined to think there is something in that. ’’ ’’ That is merely an aggravated case of ulcerated sore throat?” “Yes, somethin! of that kind. I think there is a possibility of it at least. I asked Dr. Bhrady about it, but he does not think so. He says tint some of the little pieces that have been taken from the sore have been subjected to —microscopic examination by other physicians, and they have all agreed that it was epithelioma cancer. He Bays thev oonld not have been mistaken. But it is my opinion that there is at least a clianCe that they were." Mr. Dana said editorially in the Sun, in its issue of April 17: “The improvement in Gen. Grant’s condition steadily continues. It is now ascertained that his disease is not cancer, and there is no reason in his physical organization why he shonld not recover his health entirely." New York dispatches of the morning of Saturday, April 18, reported favorable progress in Gen. Grant's case. The illustrious patient M Friday in a quiet manner, at times paci room, and suffered no pain in swallowlng his food. He talked freely with members of the family. In contradiction of the statements Bent out that the General’s malady was not cancerous, but only an aggravated sore throat, the doctors want the public to understand that “he is. suffering from epithelial cancer of a mall'enknt form, and incurable. Thgre cannot be the slightest doubt of this. Aside , from the many diagnoses that have been made, the progress and symptoms of the disease have been practically in the line marked out by the highest medical science for its development. Not a physician or expert who has been connected with the case has differed from his colleagues in the resul ts of his investigation.”

The bulletins telegraphed from New York ou the morning of April 20 in regard to Gen. Grant’s condition reported the patient as still on the mend. He had passed two good days and nights resting quietly, sleeping soundly, and taking his nourishment at regular intervals. In the morning he dressed himself and walked about the house during the day. At one time he appeared at the windows and smiled at a number of people who were on the —ntrtet; -an^-ale©-gave them -a -military saluteNot withstanding the improvement in the General's condition, the physicians persisted in their claim that the disease would terminate fatslljvthough death might be delayed for an ’ indefinite period.