Statement Concerning the President's Health
Title
Statement Concerning the President's Health
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP15983
Date
1919 October 15
Description
Extended statement by Dr. Cary T. Grayson on President Woodrow Wilson’s illness following his stroke.
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
The extended statement concerning the President’s illness was prepared by Admiral Grayson on Wednesday, October 15, 1919.
The continued illness of the President and the natural, rightful and intense interest of the American people in his physical condition suggests the following statement by his medical attendants:
The President has always worked intensely hard. As a student he was assiduous and untiring. During his career at Princeton while engaged in active literary work, in addition to the burden of teaching, he used his physical and mental energies to the utmost. He was always an indefatigable teacher and his lectures were exceedingly popular. At this time he manifested signs of impairment in his general health and muscular power. His lack of muscular development in some respects made necessary a surgical operation, which was entirely successful. His incessant work led to an affection of the eye, which produced injury to one of the retinae. He also developed an obstinate neuritis with persistent pain and loss of muscular power from which he has never entirely recovered. At one time his physical condition was so depleted that specialists in this country were gravely concerned about his health. He went abroad for some time and secured additional advice in Europe. His abstemious habits, and his extraordinary self-possession carried him safely through.
On his election to the Presidency he very cheerfully adopted the regimen suggested by his attending physican, and loyally carried it out whenever possible. He gained ten pounds in weight; his physical functions were well performed; he slept well, and seemed in every way naturally stimulated by the great part which he was called upon to play.
During the first year of his Presidency, before he had become accustomed to his new duties, he had marked indigestion, took colds, frequently had derangement of his elimination, and was seen by specialists, who feared for his general health. Because of his great activity as a speaker and his over-taxed condition at times the President has suffered from a relaxed condition of the mucous membrane of the nose and throat, which has required local treatment.
As soon as he became accustomed to his new duties these symptoms gradually disappeared. He continued in good health during the latter part of his first and the first of his second administrations. He bore the strain of the war crisis admirably, and when he sailed for Europe on the first occasion, he was in very good general health.
In Paris he was subjected to a terrific strain. He was almost entirely deprived of exercise, worked during the day and evening in ill-ventilated rooms, weather conditions were often unfavorable, and as a result of the extradordinary strain to which he was subjected, symptoms of general physical impairment developed, which prevented him from obtaining his usual sleep. On his return sea voyage during the second trip he improved remarkably, and when he finally landed he was again in his accustomed general condition.
The work of last summer was quite well borne, although there never has been a return to the general physical vigor which marked the mid-period of his two administrations. His attending physican, who has followed him closely, was convinced that the Western trip would prove a hazardous experiment and earnestly endeavored to dissuade the President from undertaking it.
During the trip the President worked under the most unfavorable conditions. Again he was deprived of exercise; at times subjected to great and sudden changes of climate and altitude. During long motor processions through cities he was obliged to stand for hours at a time; crowds gathered at every railroad station urging him to speak, and he was obliged at least to stand upon the platform. His rest was repeatedly interrupted night and day, and the strain upon him was beyond human endurance.
His strength progressively failed until he could not sleep, could not eat, could not digest his food, suffered from intense headache, and was rapidly failing in physical and nervous energy until complete nervous exhaustion had developed. In spite of this, it was with the greatest difficulty that his physican could induce him to abandon the trip.
So soon as he began to rest he immediately began slowly to gain. Symptoms, however, of muscular impairment and loss of motion had begun to develop, and after his return to the White House these symptoms increased, and a consultation of physicians was called.
His power of digestion was slowly but steadily improving. The essential functions of the body, while sluggish at times, were yet properly performed. There was ability to speak perfectly with the usual enunciation, good vision, his senses were unimpaired. There was, however, loss of muscular motion on the left side with some disturbances of sensation. As these symptoms in such cases are often transitory and of brief duration, it was hoped that they would speedily disappear and that their appearance was not of essential gravity, and the desire to give the public only accurate information concerning the President led the physicians to place no great stress at that time upon these symptoms.
A thorough physical and neurological examination could find no evidence of a large or serious lesion of any important organ. While it is evident that his body shows the effect of tremendous wear, the essential functions of life are fairly well performded. His recumbent posture in bed and his age have brought about swelling of the prostate gland, very common in men of his years, which leads to retention of urine and impairment in the functions of the bladder. The relief of this condition is often trying for the patient and requires considerable time. There is no evidence of an acute inflammation, the growth of a tumor, or the development of malignant disease in any part of the body, and especially in the prostate gland.
At present the President’s mind, as it has always been, is clear, keen, logical, incisive and at times showing evidence of his accustomed humor. On several occasions within the past few days it has been necessary to submit to him important international questions. Upon these he has passed judgment promptly and with unerring accuracy. He relishes his food and expresses his appreciation of the attentions of those who minister to him.
In such a case it is absolutely imperative that the patient be put at complete muscular and physical rest. Until digestion and assimilation can go on for some little time, it would be dangerous to allow the patient to undergo any considerable exertion. Drugs are of unessential value, except as they abid in the natural functions of the body. He rarely is obliged to take remedies to procure sleep. Mrs. Wilson’s untiring care and the constant attention of his medical attendants, and the fact that the is not allowed to excite or worry himself by a knowledge of minor details, are the essentials in his treatment.
He is steadily, slowly gaining in the essential functions of life, and as this gain proceeds he will gradually take a more active part in the performance of his official functions. He is at present in a condition where any question of international or national importance could be submitted to him for his counsel, advice and decision.
The continued illness of the President and the natural, rightful and intense interest of the American people in his physical condition suggests the following statement by his medical attendants:
The President has always worked intensely hard. As a student he was assiduous and untiring. During his career at Princeton while engaged in active literary work, in addition to the burden of teaching, he used his physical and mental energies to the utmost. He was always an indefatigable teacher and his lectures were exceedingly popular. At this time he manifested signs of impairment in his general health and muscular power. His lack of muscular development in some respects made necessary a surgical operation, which was entirely successful. His incessant work led to an affection of the eye, which produced injury to one of the retinae. He also developed an obstinate neuritis with persistent pain and loss of muscular power from which he has never entirely recovered. At one time his physical condition was so depleted that specialists in this country were gravely concerned about his health. He went abroad for some time and secured additional advice in Europe. His abstemious habits, and his extraordinary self-possession carried him safely through.
On his election to the Presidency he very cheerfully adopted the regimen suggested by his attending physican, and loyally carried it out whenever possible. He gained ten pounds in weight; his physical functions were well performed; he slept well, and seemed in every way naturally stimulated by the great part which he was called upon to play.
During the first year of his Presidency, before he had become accustomed to his new duties, he had marked indigestion, took colds, frequently had derangement of his elimination, and was seen by specialists, who feared for his general health. Because of his great activity as a speaker and his over-taxed condition at times the President has suffered from a relaxed condition of the mucous membrane of the nose and throat, which has required local treatment.
As soon as he became accustomed to his new duties these symptoms gradually disappeared. He continued in good health during the latter part of his first and the first of his second administrations. He bore the strain of the war crisis admirably, and when he sailed for Europe on the first occasion, he was in very good general health.
In Paris he was subjected to a terrific strain. He was almost entirely deprived of exercise, worked during the day and evening in ill-ventilated rooms, weather conditions were often unfavorable, and as a result of the extradordinary strain to which he was subjected, symptoms of general physical impairment developed, which prevented him from obtaining his usual sleep. On his return sea voyage during the second trip he improved remarkably, and when he finally landed he was again in his accustomed general condition.
The work of last summer was quite well borne, although there never has been a return to the general physical vigor which marked the mid-period of his two administrations. His attending physican, who has followed him closely, was convinced that the Western trip would prove a hazardous experiment and earnestly endeavored to dissuade the President from undertaking it.
During the trip the President worked under the most unfavorable conditions. Again he was deprived of exercise; at times subjected to great and sudden changes of climate and altitude. During long motor processions through cities he was obliged to stand for hours at a time; crowds gathered at every railroad station urging him to speak, and he was obliged at least to stand upon the platform. His rest was repeatedly interrupted night and day, and the strain upon him was beyond human endurance.
His strength progressively failed until he could not sleep, could not eat, could not digest his food, suffered from intense headache, and was rapidly failing in physical and nervous energy until complete nervous exhaustion had developed. In spite of this, it was with the greatest difficulty that his physican could induce him to abandon the trip.
So soon as he began to rest he immediately began slowly to gain. Symptoms, however, of muscular impairment and loss of motion had begun to develop, and after his return to the White House these symptoms increased, and a consultation of physicians was called.
His power of digestion was slowly but steadily improving. The essential functions of the body, while sluggish at times, were yet properly performed. There was ability to speak perfectly with the usual enunciation, good vision, his senses were unimpaired. There was, however, loss of muscular motion on the left side with some disturbances of sensation. As these symptoms in such cases are often transitory and of brief duration, it was hoped that they would speedily disappear and that their appearance was not of essential gravity, and the desire to give the public only accurate information concerning the President led the physicians to place no great stress at that time upon these symptoms.
A thorough physical and neurological examination could find no evidence of a large or serious lesion of any important organ. While it is evident that his body shows the effect of tremendous wear, the essential functions of life are fairly well performded. His recumbent posture in bed and his age have brought about swelling of the prostate gland, very common in men of his years, which leads to retention of urine and impairment in the functions of the bladder. The relief of this condition is often trying for the patient and requires considerable time. There is no evidence of an acute inflammation, the growth of a tumor, or the development of malignant disease in any part of the body, and especially in the prostate gland.
At present the President’s mind, as it has always been, is clear, keen, logical, incisive and at times showing evidence of his accustomed humor. On several occasions within the past few days it has been necessary to submit to him important international questions. Upon these he has passed judgment promptly and with unerring accuracy. He relishes his food and expresses his appreciation of the attentions of those who minister to him.
In such a case it is absolutely imperative that the patient be put at complete muscular and physical rest. Until digestion and assimilation can go on for some little time, it would be dangerous to allow the patient to undergo any considerable exertion. Drugs are of unessential value, except as they abid in the natural functions of the body. He rarely is obliged to take remedies to procure sleep. Mrs. Wilson’s untiring care and the constant attention of his medical attendants, and the fact that the is not allowed to excite or worry himself by a knowledge of minor details, are the essentials in his treatment.
He is steadily, slowly gaining in the essential functions of life, and as this gain proceeds he will gradually take a more active part in the performance of his official functions. He is at present in a condition where any question of international or national importance could be submitted to him for his counsel, advice and decision.
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Statement Concerning the President's Health,” 1919 October 15, WWP15983, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.