Description:

"The Providence Gazette" with Detailed Account of Washington's Death

4pp of a bifolium, measuring 11" x 17.5", Providence, Rhode Island, dated January 4, 1800. An issue of "The Providence Gazette", Volume XXXVII, No. 1879, containing details of the death and funeral of George Washington, along with General Orders for the troops and eulogies/memorials. Published by John Carter. The paper is toned throughout with light foxing. Chipping at the edges and minor loss at the edges. The two leaves have become entirely separated. Overall good.

Highlights include:
"Some time in the night of Friday the 13th inst. Having been exposed to a rain on the preceding day, General Washington was attacked with an inflammatory affection of the upper part of the wind-pipe, called in the technical language Cynache Trachealis. The disease commenced with a violent ague, accompanied with some pain in the upper and fore part of the throat, a sense of stricture in the same part, a cough, and a difficult, rather than a painful deglutition, which were soon succeeded by fever, and a quick and laborious respiration. The necessity of bloodletting suggesting itself to the General, he procured a bleeder in the neighborhood, who took from his arm in the night 12 or 14 ounces of blood. He could not by any means be prevailed on by the family to send for the attending physician till the following morning, who arrived at Mount Vernon at about 11 o'clock on Saturday. Discovering the case to be highly alarming, and foreseeing the fatal tendency of the disease, two consulting physicians were immediately sent for…in the meantime were employed two pretty copious bleedings, a blister was applied to the part affected, two moderate doses of calomel were given, and an injection was administered, which operated on the lower intestines, but all without any perceptible advantage, the respiration becoming still more difficult and distressing. Upon the arrival of the first of the4 consulting physicians, it was agreed…to try the result of another bleeding, when about 32 ounces of blood were drawn, without the smallest apparent alleviation of the disease. Vapours of vinegar and water were frequently inhaled, ten grains of calomel were given, succeeded by repeated doses of emetic tartar, amounting in all to 5 or 6 grains, with no other effect than a copious discharge from the bowels. The power of life seemed now manifestly yielding to the force of the disorder; blisters were applied to the extremities, together with a cataplasm of bran and vinegar to the throat…at half after eleven on Saturday night, retaining the full possession of his intellects-when he expired without a struggle!..."

"Interment of the Body of General Washington. On Wednesday last, the mortal part of Washington the Great - the father of his country, and the friend of man, was consigned to the tomb, with solemn honours and funeral pomp. A multitude of persons assembled, from many miles around, at Mount-Vernon, the chosen abode and last residence of the illustrious chief. There were the groves, the spacious avenues, the beautiful and sublime scenes, the noble mansion - but, alas! the august inhabitant was now no more! the great soul was gone. His mortal part was there indeed; but ah! how affecting! how awful the spectacle of such worth and greatness, thus, to mortal eyes, fallen! - Yes! fallen! fallen!..."

Although modern medicine knows better now, it was believed at the time of Washington's death that bloodletting could reduce inflammation and constrict blood vessels around an infected region. Despite Martha Washington's aversion to it, George himself was a great believer in the practice. In total, Washington's physicians oversaw the removal of more than 80 ounces of his blood (40 percent of his total blood volume) over a 12-hour period. After his death, Washington's friend Dr. William Thornton briefly proposed a scheme to "resurrect" the dead man by giving him a transfusion of lamb's blood. Luckily, this idea was shot down by the other physicians present.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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