Public Diagnosis Vexes President
Title
Public Diagnosis Vexes President
Creator
Dercum, Francis X. (Francis Xavier), 1856-1931
Identifier
WWP16181
Date
1920 February 11
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
Dr. FX Dercum
1719 Walnut St.
Philadelphia
[Enclosed Articles]
PUBLIC DIAGNOSIS
VEXES PRESIDENT
__________
Incensed at Interview Regarding
His Illness Given by Baltimore
Physician
__________
CONFIRMS THROMBOSIS
__________
Washington, .— President Wilson is incensed over the publishing of the diagnosis of his case, it was learned from his intimate friends today.
The diagnosis was given in an interview with Dr. Hugh H. Young, of Johns Hopkins Hospital, who had been one of the physicians in attendance on the President. The interview was contained in a copyrighted despatch from Washington to the Baltimore Sun.
Friends of the President say the publishing of the diagnosis is bound to leave a doubt in the mind of the public as to the President’s future capabilities, which is entirely unfounded. It is understood this is the view the President takes himself.
At no time since his illness, has the President been incapacitated and his friends fear the statements of Dr. Young may arouse new rumors which are baseless. The diagnosis was published without the consent of the President.
Dr. Young was quoted as saying in part:
“From the very beginning the medical men associated with the case have never had anything to conceal. When I first saw the President in October, a crisis had arisen of such gravity owing to the development of prostatic obstruction, an emergency operation to relieve this situation was contemplated, but by a fortuitous and wholly unexpected change in the President’s condition the obstruction began to disappear.“
The improvement in this respect, which has been steady, is now complete.
“The President was organically sound when I saw him first, and I found him not only organically sound when I visited him last week, but, further, all the organs were functioning in a perfectly normal, healthy manner.
The President’s general condition and specifically the slight impairment of his left arm and leg have improved, more slowly, it is true, but surely, steadily. There have been no setbacks, no backward steps and rumors to this effect are rubbish.“
As you know, in October last we diagnosed the President’s illness as cerebral thrombosis, which affected his left arm and leg, but at no time was his brain power, or the extreme vigor and lucidity of his mental processes in the slightest degree abated. This condition has from the very first shown a steady, unwavering tendency toward resolution and complete absorption. The increasing utility of the left arm and leg, greatly impaired at first, have closely followed on this improvement. The President walks sturdily now, without assistance and without fatigue. And he uses the still slightly impaired arm more and more every day.“As to his mental vigor it is simply prodigious. Indeed, I think in many ways the President is in better shape than before the illness came.“You can say the President is able-minded and able-bodied and is giving splendid attention to affairs of state, and we have every assurance he will become progressively more active in these matters with the advent of spring and sunshine, which cannot now be long delayed.”
__________
Dercum won’t talk
_________
Says Statements About President
Should Come From Grayson
Dr. F. X. Dercum, 1719 Walnut st., consulting neurologist to President Wilson, declined today to comment on the President’s condition.
“I have always taken the position all inquiries about the President should be directed to Dr. Grayson, his personal physician,” he said. “He is in constant attendance upon the President and all statements about the President’s condition should properly come from him. Out of consideration for him I must decline to make any comment.”
He said he had read the statement of Dr. Hugh Young, of Baltimore, in which it was said the President, now rapidly recovering, had suffered a cerebral thrombosis, impairing use of his left arm and leg.
_________
1719 Walnut St.
Philadelphia
[Enclosed Articles]
PUBLIC DIAGNOSIS
VEXES PRESIDENT
__________
Incensed at Interview Regarding
His Illness Given by Baltimore
Physician
__________
CONFIRMS THROMBOSIS
__________
Washington, .— President Wilson is incensed over the publishing of the diagnosis of his case, it was learned from his intimate friends today.
The diagnosis was given in an interview with Dr. Hugh H. Young, of Johns Hopkins Hospital, who had been one of the physicians in attendance on the President. The interview was contained in a copyrighted despatch from Washington to the Baltimore Sun.
Friends of the President say the publishing of the diagnosis is bound to leave a doubt in the mind of the public as to the President’s future capabilities, which is entirely unfounded. It is understood this is the view the President takes himself.
At no time since his illness, has the President been incapacitated and his friends fear the statements of Dr. Young may arouse new rumors which are baseless. The diagnosis was published without the consent of the President.
Dr. Young was quoted as saying in part:
“From the very beginning the medical men associated with the case have never had anything to conceal. When I first saw the President in October, a crisis had arisen of such gravity owing to the development of prostatic obstruction, an emergency operation to relieve this situation was contemplated, but by a fortuitous and wholly unexpected change in the President’s condition the obstruction began to disappear.“
The improvement in this respect, which has been steady, is now complete.
“The President was organically sound when I saw him first, and I found him not only organically sound when I visited him last week, but, further, all the organs were functioning in a perfectly normal, healthy manner.
The President’s general condition and specifically the slight impairment of his left arm and leg have improved, more slowly, it is true, but surely, steadily. There have been no setbacks, no backward steps and rumors to this effect are rubbish.“
As you know, in October last we diagnosed the President’s illness as cerebral thrombosis, which affected his left arm and leg, but at no time was his brain power, or the extreme vigor and lucidity of his mental processes in the slightest degree abated. This condition has from the very first shown a steady, unwavering tendency toward resolution and complete absorption. The increasing utility of the left arm and leg, greatly impaired at first, have closely followed on this improvement. The President walks sturdily now, without assistance and without fatigue. And he uses the still slightly impaired arm more and more every day.“As to his mental vigor it is simply prodigious. Indeed, I think in many ways the President is in better shape than before the illness came.“You can say the President is able-minded and able-bodied and is giving splendid attention to affairs of state, and we have every assurance he will become progressively more active in these matters with the advent of spring and sunshine, which cannot now be long delayed.”
__________
Dercum won’t talk
_________
Says Statements About President
Should Come From Grayson
Dr. F. X. Dercum, 1719 Walnut st., consulting neurologist to President Wilson, declined today to comment on the President’s condition.
“I have always taken the position all inquiries about the President should be directed to Dr. Grayson, his personal physician,” he said. “He is in constant attendance upon the President and all statements about the President’s condition should properly come from him. Out of consideration for him I must decline to make any comment.”
He said he had read the statement of Dr. Hugh Young, of Baltimore, in which it was said the President, now rapidly recovering, had suffered a cerebral thrombosis, impairing use of his left arm and leg.
_________
Original Format
Letter
To
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Files
Collection
Citation
Dercum, Francis X. (Francis Xavier), 1856-1931, “Public Diagnosis Vexes President,” 1920 February 11, WWP16181, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.