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NEW YORK TIMES
April 17, 1885

ULYSSES S. GRANT ASTONISHING HIS FAMILY. GENERAL GRANT JOINING THEM AT THE LUNCH TABLE. TAKING HIS OLD PLACE AND EATING WITH RELISH.

While the Grant family were at lunch yesterday the dining room opened and in walked the General. To the astonished greetings of his family, he made no direct response, but, turning to the waiter said: "Inform Dr. Douglas that we are waiting lunch for him." A moment later, the doctor joined the family. The General was seated in his old place at the head of the table. The meal passed in merry fashion, Mrs. Sartoris radiant with bright chat and infectious laughter, while the General, with assumed gravity, helped himself to some macaroni and a slice of cold mutton, which he cut in fine pieces, poured gravy over it, and ate it as naturally as though he had never got out of the way of eating solid food. After lunch we went upstairs in the elevator.

This was the vent of the day at the sick man's house. He had risen early after a good night's rest under a reduced injection of morphine, and moved about the second floor with little apparent effort. His appearance in the dining room was without warning. He merely turned to his body servant and the next Dr. Douglas knew of his whereabouts came from the waiter, who had been sent by the General to summon him to lunch. The improvement of the last three days led Senator Chaffee to venture that the General's ailment might not be cancerous, but ulcerated or malignant throat, in which case there might be hope of complete recovery. Inquiry was made of the doctors this afternoon about the matter. "There can be no mistake about the disease," one of them said. "It is cancer and been so proven both by microscopically examination and by its clinical features. What is the use of flying in the face of victory?The case has been one of ups and downs. The rule in cancer is death. The family knows it is cancer, and the physicians know that it is cancer and all is to be said now is that we are much encouraged by this week's improvement."

Dr. Shrady said at dusk: "I am surprised there should be any questions as to the diagnosis in General Grant's case. The physicians have determined that the disease is cancer and there has been no reason to change that belief." General Grant did not dine with his family last evening, though strong enough to do so. Colonel Grant said that his father had cleared his throat out very well in the past two days and that it was on that account that little danger not exists in a recurrence of the choking symptoms." The General has improved s much that he hoped to go for a ride tomorrow is mild weather should continue.

The Rev. Newman, after spending about two hours with the General in the evening, described him as hopeful, buoyant and thankful. He was so well that Dr. Shrady felt at liberty to devote an hour or so other patients. he expressed much dissatisfaction with the criticisms that have been leveled against him and his colleagues in the paper. "There has never been any disagreement," he continued, "among the doctors regarding the diagnosis of the case. General Grant is suffering from a cancerous ulcer. It is epithelium and nothing else. We are told that we are misrepresenting his condition. People who know nothing about the disease are unable to understand how he can be up and about one day and greatly debilitated the next. It is not at all strange to us physicians." Dr. Shrady displayed considerable wrath on account of having been subject to all manner of criticism by people who do not understand the case.

Colonel Grant surprised his family by taking an evening's walk of half an hour duration, as he has remained at his father's side since the General's condition was supposed to be dangerous. Jesse Grant also went out for a short walk. At 9:30, Dr. Shrady issued the following bulletin: "General Grant retired at 9:30 o'clock and since that time he's been dozing in his chair, occasionally disturbed by coughing."

 

 

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