On Wednesday the first food, beef juice, was given by the mouth, and "tasted good." The patient complained of being chilly, but slept more peacefully. Favorable bulletins continued to be issued. But on the seventh day the stimulation of the blood pressure and of the nerve centers by digitalis and strychnine had to be resumed. Some toast and an egg offered were not relished. The patient was quiet and cheerful until at 4:45 his mind began to wander. His skin was moist and cold and the 7:30 bulletin was the first one less favorable. From this time on, conditions grew rapidly worse. Oxygen was used plentifully, but with little effect. Soon there was no response to stimulants. The patient was almost painless, but sinking. The last entry was made at 9 p. m. The use of oxygen was continued until death came, five hours later. The case was a grave one from the start, as such wounds are fatal with few exceptions. The high temperature, the slow respiration and the feeble blood circulation, especially after the first forty-eight hours, were sure signs that the precious life was hanging by a thread. The President's strong constitution and good habits enabled him to combat with the inevitable much longer than would have been possible for one who had led a life of excesses. The physicians, surgeons and nurses, who attended the sick President, were the most skillful, and their duties were performed with conscientiousness and anxious devotion. All the medical science of the world could not have saved the patient's life. The end came, and "He Gave Unto His Beloved Sleep." On September 8, at 12:30 a. m., an alcohol bath to the limbs brought sleep for an hour. At 3:30 a saline enema with somatose was given. The patient was confused and restless from 4:00 to 4:30, talkative and restless from 5 to 6, and at 8 complained of being chilly. There had been frequent eructations (throwing up) of brown fluid and gas. At 9 a. m. digitalis and morphine were injected, followed at 12:30 by strychnine and a saline enema, which was not retained. At 4:45 the President was restless and talkative, and for the first time was given water by the mouth. At 4:55 p. m. an enema of oil, soap and water brought good results, but the patient remained restless. DR. P. M. RIXEY. On the fourth day, Sept. 9th, codeia phos. was injected (hypodermically) inducing an hour's sleep at 7:10 a. m. after which the patient's mind was clear, and he drank small quantities of water frequently. The bulletin issued at 9:20 stated his condition to be growing more and more satisfactory. Beginning at 10 o'clock calomel was administered every hour. Food was given in the shape of an enema of egg, whiskey and water. At 3 p. m. the patient was resting comfortably, free from pain and unfavorable symptoms, bowels and kidneys having their natural functions. The wound was redressed at 4:20 p. m. At 5:50 a greenish bitter fluid was thrown up and at 6:20 hot water was given. The 5:20 a. m. bulletin on Tuesday, Sept. 9, reported the most comfortable night since the assassination, and the one of 9 a. m. predicted a rapid convalescence, unless bad complications should set in. On Wednesday the first food, beef juice, was given by the mouth, and "tasted good." The patient complained of being chilly, but slept more peacefully. Favorable bulletins continued to be issued. But on the seventh day the stimulation of the blood pressure and of the nerve centers by digitalis and strychnine had to be resumed. Some toast and an egg offered were not relished. The patient was quiet and cheerful until at 4:45 his mind began to wander. His skin was moist and cold and the 7:30 bulletin was the first one less favorable. From this time on, conditions grew rapidly worse. Oxygen was used plentifully, but with little effect. Soon there was no response to stimulants. The patient was almost painless, but sinking. The last entry was made at 9 p. m. The use of oxygen was continued until death came, five hours later. The case was a grave one from the start, as such wounds are fatal with few exceptions. The high temperature, the slow respiration and the feeble blood circulation, especially after the first forty-eight hours, were sure signs that the precious life was hanging by a thread. The President's strong constitution and good habits enabled him to combat with the inevitable much longer than would have been possible for one who had led a life of excesses. The physicians, surgeons and nurses, who attended the sick President, were the most skillful, and their duties were performed with conscientiousness and anxious devotion. All the medical science of the world could not have saved the patient's life. The end came, and "He Gave Unto His Beloved Sleep." RELIEVING THE PORTO RICANS FROM THE BURDEN OF SPANISH RULE, 1898. "We come as friends, offering the blessings of peace and order." McKinley. TRIBUTES TO PRESIDENT MCKINLEY THE PRESIDENTS AND VICE-PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES FROM WASHINGTON TO ROOSEVELT THE ATTEMPT ON THE LIFE OF PRESIDENT JACKSON ASSASSINATIONS FAMOUS IN MODERN HISTORY I. TRIBUTES FROM PROMINENT AMERICANS * From Chief Geronimo. Among the many contributions of flowers sent to the City Hall, in Buffalo, where the remains of President McKinley lay in state, was a large wreath of purple asters, with a card on which was written: "Farewell of Chief Geronimo, Blue Horse, Flat Iron and Red Shirt and the 700 braves of the Indian congress. Like Lincoln and Garfield, President McKinley never abused authority except on the side of mercy. The martyred Great White Chief will stand in memory next to the Savior of mankind. We loved him living, we love him still." On the other side of the card was the following: "Geronimo's eulogy. The rainbow of hope is out of the sky. Heavy clouds hang about us. Tears wet the ground of the tepees. The chief of the nation is dead. Farewell." *For tributes by ex-President Cleveland and Archbishop Ireland see pages 9 and 10 of this book. |