60 WESLEY MILLS ON 



Nearly every day she was propped up iu a chair for half an hour. This did not 

 seem to have any effect on her general condition. 



The account of her last days are interesting : Early in Fedruary, 1891, a marked 

 change took place in the patient's condition. Diarrhœa developed, and the woman was 

 evidently suffering pain. On the 4th of February she was undoubtedly awake and in the 

 evening spoke in a hoarse whisper asking for a sour drink. This was the second time 

 she had spoken iu thirteen years. On the morning of the 5th of February again asked 

 for a drink, yawned twice and fell asleep again. In the afternoon was again awake, fed 

 herself in an awkward way and in the evening spoke again in a natural manner. I sent 

 for her friends and they endeavoured to get her to take notice of them, but she did not ap- 

 pear to know them and went to sleep as usual. The trained nurse's notes for the next 

 few days are as follows : — 



February 6th. — Will feed herself with bread or anything dry. Hand shakes too 

 much to use a cup or spoon. Will ask for anything she wants, but will not speak at any 

 other time. Always uses her left hand. 



February Tth — I was called in about 4 a.m., and found her lying on the floor ; she 

 would not speak, but from all appearance no one had touched her ; she had evidently 

 gotten out of bed herself. At 9.30 a.m., she was cold and very white looking; about 

 fifteen minutes later after her face was flushed and moist, body warm, hands, knees and 

 feet cold. This soon passed off, leaving her in her former condition. Temperature was 

 95f, lower than at 8 o'clock. This afternoon asked for a sour drink, and a big cake. 

 Spoke hurriedly, but quite loudly and distinctly. Kissed the nurse twice when asked 

 to do so. 



February 9th. — Has not been well at all to-day. Moaned when disturbed. Has 

 eaten scarcely anything, but has taken more milk than usual. Has had slight diarrhoea 

 since last Tuesday ; worse to-day. 



February 11th.— Asked frequently for drinks to-day, and last night said her throat 

 was burning. Does not appear to recognize any of her friends nor to realize that she is 

 among strangers. So long as her wants are attended to she seems quite unconscious of 

 anything else— not exactly unconscious either, but as though she took no interest iu what 

 went on around her. 



February 12th. — Is better this morning, had no diarrhoea during the night. Has 

 asked three times for something to eat, which sounds like meat, but when I get it for her 

 she won't eat it. 



February 13th. — Diarrhoea much worse to-day. 



February 15th. — Diarrhoea somewhat better. 



On the 16th, she was slightly better and asked for beer and cocoa and said she felt as 

 if she were burning up. From this time she steadily grew worse and died on the 26th. 



Dr. Euttan, Prof, of Chemistry, McGill University, made elaborate analyses of urine 

 sent to Montreal from time to time, and without offering any detailed statement here, 

 I may say that the general conclusions arrived at were as follows: The whole of the 

 urine passed in six days was sent and he says the total amount if representing six 

 days' urine is about one-seventh the normal. This contains all constituents in about nor- 

 mal quantities in relation to the volume of the urine, except the phosphoric acid, which 

 is about one-third what it should be. 



