President Will Never Recover, Is View of Dr. Bevan
Title
President Will Never Recover, Is View of Dr. Bevan
Creator
Dercum, Francis X. (Francis Xavier), 1856-1931
Philadelphia Press
Identifier
WWP16188
Date
1920 February 16
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Relation
WWP16189
Language
English
Text
Dr. FX Dercum
179 Walnut St.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia Free Press
[Enclosed Article]
DOCTOR DERCUM DECLARES MIND OF PRESIDENT WILSON IS KEEN, DENYING RELAPSE
______________
Says He Breaks Rule Not to Dis-cuss Case in Order to Allay Fears.
______________
“The President’s mentality is today keen,” declared Dr. Francis X. Dercum, 1719 Walnut Street, the noted alienist, who has been treating the President for the past six months.
This statement was in contradiction of the rumor that the President had suffered more or less of a relapse, and that his controversy with Mr. Lansing, which ended in his asking for the Secretary of State’s resignation, had arisen through Mr. Wilson’s condition.
“Should I follow my inclination and habit of not discussing Mr. Wilson’s condition,” explained Dr. Dercum, when he was requested to give an opinion of the President’s condition, “it would be immediately concluded that his condition is not satisfactory. That is just the impression I do not wish to create. You force me to say that the President’s mentality is today keen.”
When further information regarding the health of the President was requested, Dr. Dercum said, “Ask Dr. Grayson he is the man to talk about the President.”
Dr. Dercum was called into consultation soon after the President was taken ill and has made numerous trips to the White House since. He has always been decidedly optimistic in his meagre discussions of Mr. Wilson’s condition.
______________
PRESIDENT WILL
NEVER RECOVER, IS
VIEW OF DR. BEVAN
______________
Ex-President of American Medi-cal Association Declares Brain
Will Always be Affected.
_______________
SHOULD RESIGN, HE FEELS
_______________
‘Not Competent to Act as Na-tion’s Executive and Headof Defenses.’
_______________
Special Dispatch to “The Press.”
Chicago — The universal interest in the condition of President Wilson, revived by the publication of his correspondence with Secretary Lansing and his curt dismissal of his first aid in the Cabinet, prompted an inquiry today for an authentic medical opinion on the subject.
Dr. Hugh Young, a few days ago, as a consultant in the President’s case, gave out for the first time during Mr. Wilson’s five months’ illness a frank but guarded statement of the fact that a blood clot in the brain has caused a paralysis of the left arm and leg, but added that the condition was improving satisfactorily.
Dr. Arthur Dean Bevan, ex-president of the American Medical Association, professor of surgery at Rush Medical College, and recognized throughout the world as one of the leaders in his profession, was asked to make a statement based on the known and officially acknowledged facts.
In accordance with this request, Dr. Bevan said:—
“President Wilson about five months ago, while on a speaking tour, was taken suddenly ill. He was at once taken back to Washington, and his personal physician called into consultation noted specialists. These medical men issued bulletins, giving to the public the impression that the President was suffering from nervous breakdown, but that he had no serious illness. It soon became fairly widely known, in spite of every effort at secrecy, that the President had suffered a stroke, with resulting paralysis of one arm and leg. But it has not been until recently that this fact has been publicly admitted by one of his medical consultants.
“From a scientific medical standpoint what does the President’s illness mean to both himself and the country? The President’s stroke, with the resulting paralysis of one side of his body, is due to a disease of the arteries of the brain, with a plugging up of the arteries which supply that part of the right side of the brain which controls his left arm and leg.
“The disease of the arteries is permanent, and not a temporary condition. In other words, the President has a permanently damaged brain.
“He is evidently slowly recovering from the paralysis of his arm and leg and may recover fairly well, although never completely, the use of his limbs. But the diseased arteries, which were responsible for the stroke and the damaged brain, remain and will not be recovered from.
“What advice would be the most scientific medical authority, uncontrolled by personal or partisan reasons, given in the President’s case, both for his own personal interests and the interests of the country? Let us consider this latter first from the standpoint of the President’s own interest.
“A patient who is suffering as the President is, from diseased arteries of his brain, and where the disease has progressed to such a point as to produce paralysis of one side of the body, should under no circumstances be permitted to resume the work of such a strenuous position as that of President of the United States. The strain and responsibility of such a position would bring with them the danger of a recurrence of such attacks, and might hasten a fatal termination.
“The second matter to consider, and one which naturally overshadows the first, is the relation of the President’s illness to the interest of our country. Technically, we are still at war. The President is the commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the United States. As such, if he were called before a non-partisan medical board, he would be at once retired as physically incapacitated to perform the duties of the position.
“The present situation is an impossible one, and should be remedied at the earliest possible moment. The proper and normal course of action would be for the President to retire from office under the advice of his physicians and family and friends.”
_______________
179 Walnut St.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia Free Press
[Enclosed Article]
DOCTOR DERCUM DECLARES MIND OF PRESIDENT WILSON IS KEEN, DENYING RELAPSE
______________
Says He Breaks Rule Not to Dis-cuss Case in Order to Allay Fears.
______________
“The President’s mentality is today keen,” declared Dr. Francis X. Dercum, 1719 Walnut Street, the noted alienist, who has been treating the President for the past six months.
This statement was in contradiction of the rumor that the President had suffered more or less of a relapse, and that his controversy with Mr. Lansing, which ended in his asking for the Secretary of State’s resignation, had arisen through Mr. Wilson’s condition.
“Should I follow my inclination and habit of not discussing Mr. Wilson’s condition,” explained Dr. Dercum, when he was requested to give an opinion of the President’s condition, “it would be immediately concluded that his condition is not satisfactory. That is just the impression I do not wish to create. You force me to say that the President’s mentality is today keen.”
When further information regarding the health of the President was requested, Dr. Dercum said, “Ask Dr. Grayson he is the man to talk about the President.”
Dr. Dercum was called into consultation soon after the President was taken ill and has made numerous trips to the White House since. He has always been decidedly optimistic in his meagre discussions of Mr. Wilson’s condition.
______________
PRESIDENT WILL
NEVER RECOVER, IS
VIEW OF DR. BEVAN
______________
Ex-President of American Medi-cal Association Declares Brain
Will Always be Affected.
_______________
SHOULD RESIGN, HE FEELS
_______________
‘Not Competent to Act as Na-tion’s Executive and Headof Defenses.’
_______________
Special Dispatch to “The Press.”
Chicago — The universal interest in the condition of President Wilson, revived by the publication of his correspondence with Secretary Lansing and his curt dismissal of his first aid in the Cabinet, prompted an inquiry today for an authentic medical opinion on the subject.
Dr. Hugh Young, a few days ago, as a consultant in the President’s case, gave out for the first time during Mr. Wilson’s five months’ illness a frank but guarded statement of the fact that a blood clot in the brain has caused a paralysis of the left arm and leg, but added that the condition was improving satisfactorily.
Dr. Arthur Dean Bevan, ex-president of the American Medical Association, professor of surgery at Rush Medical College, and recognized throughout the world as one of the leaders in his profession, was asked to make a statement based on the known and officially acknowledged facts.
In accordance with this request, Dr. Bevan said:—
“President Wilson about five months ago, while on a speaking tour, was taken suddenly ill. He was at once taken back to Washington, and his personal physician called into consultation noted specialists. These medical men issued bulletins, giving to the public the impression that the President was suffering from nervous breakdown, but that he had no serious illness. It soon became fairly widely known, in spite of every effort at secrecy, that the President had suffered a stroke, with resulting paralysis of one arm and leg. But it has not been until recently that this fact has been publicly admitted by one of his medical consultants.
“From a scientific medical standpoint what does the President’s illness mean to both himself and the country? The President’s stroke, with the resulting paralysis of one side of his body, is due to a disease of the arteries of the brain, with a plugging up of the arteries which supply that part of the right side of the brain which controls his left arm and leg.
“The disease of the arteries is permanent, and not a temporary condition. In other words, the President has a permanently damaged brain.
“He is evidently slowly recovering from the paralysis of his arm and leg and may recover fairly well, although never completely, the use of his limbs. But the diseased arteries, which were responsible for the stroke and the damaged brain, remain and will not be recovered from.
“What advice would be the most scientific medical authority, uncontrolled by personal or partisan reasons, given in the President’s case, both for his own personal interests and the interests of the country? Let us consider this latter first from the standpoint of the President’s own interest.
“A patient who is suffering as the President is, from diseased arteries of his brain, and where the disease has progressed to such a point as to produce paralysis of one side of the body, should under no circumstances be permitted to resume the work of such a strenuous position as that of President of the United States. The strain and responsibility of such a position would bring with them the danger of a recurrence of such attacks, and might hasten a fatal termination.
“The second matter to consider, and one which naturally overshadows the first, is the relation of the President’s illness to the interest of our country. Technically, we are still at war. The President is the commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the United States. As such, if he were called before a non-partisan medical board, he would be at once retired as physically incapacitated to perform the duties of the position.
“The present situation is an impossible one, and should be remedied at the earliest possible moment. The proper and normal course of action would be for the President to retire from office under the advice of his physicians and family and friends.”
_______________
Original Format
Article
Files
Collection
Citation
Dercum, Francis X. (Francis Xavier), 1856-1931 and Philadelphia Press, “President Will Never Recover, Is View of Dr. Bevan,” 1920 February 16, WWP16188, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.