The Story of our Health Message

CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1 “THE TIMES OF THIS IGNORANCE”

JUST at the turn of the nineteenth century George Washington was stricken with a sickness that in a few days was to prove fatal. As soon as he realized that he was seriously ill, he sent—not for a physician—but for a “bleeder,” who took from his veins about fourteen ounces of blood. The next morning the family physician was called, who, discovering the case to be highly alarming, called two other doctors for consultation. While waiting for them, he directed a second copious bleeding. Upon the arrival of the first of his consultants in the afternoon, it was agreed “to try the result of another bleeding, when about thirty-two ounces of blood were drawn, without the slightest alleviation of the disease.”—Kennebec Intelligencer, January 11, 1800. SHM 13.1

This debilitating treatment was supplemented by the application of blisters, the administration of calomel, repeated doses of tartar emetic, and frequent inhalations of “vapors of vinegar and water.” It is not surprising to learn from a contemporary report that Washington’s last request, understood with great difficulty because of his weakness, was to be permitted to die without further interruption. SHM 13.2

Details of the progress of the illness, and particularly of the methods employed for the relief of the famous patient, were made public, not in any wise as a reflection upon the skill of the attending physicians, but, on the contrary, to give assurance that the beloved leader had received the best of care, and that his untimely death occurred in spite of all that human knowledge and skill could devise to arrest the course of the disease. SHM 13.3