Francis Xavier Dercum to Cary T. Grayson
Title
Francis Xavier Dercum to Cary T. Grayson
Creator
Dercum, Francis X. (Francis Xavier), 1856-1931
Identifier
WWP16222
Date
1920 March 16
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
Dear Dr. Grayson
After I left you on Saturday, I spent some time in coming up on the train in thinking over the President’s case. Some of the things that Mrs. Wilson said made quite an impression upon me. I think it is most important that we should not allow the treatment to become “stale” to the President. The leg has improved marvelously and the limit of improvement has not yet been reached; the arm also will still further improve. To my personal observation the President did not seem to be discouraged. Of course Mrs. Wilson is the better judge as she is with him so much. It is wonderful, however, that he has been able to do the amount of work that he has and has at the same time made such good progress.
It is most important to keep on encouraging him as much as possible. I believe that exactly the right things are being done. Of course the slowly interrupted galvanic or faradic current to the extensors of the arm, forearm and hand should be steadily persisted in even if it causes the President some discomfort. Your are the best judge as to whether high frequency should be from time to time resorted to for its stimulating and psychic effect. Your past experience enables you to be the best judge as to this.
I am very glad that the President has begun going out in the automobile. This will give him both mental and physical change. The mental change is especially desirable in a patient who has been confined to his room and house for such a protracted period.
Whether or not he should see a larger number of persons is a question which must be left to the judgment of yourself and Mrs. Wilson. Of course if his contact with other persons is increased, it should, other things equal, be only with close personal friends.
I know of course that you have already considered all of the points in this letter and it is only my anxiety that the best possible results should be achieved that prompts me to write you. I cannot help but feel that the degree of improvement that has been attained, considering the stress under which the President must live, is very great indeed. I know how much this has been the result of your own careful watchfulness and that of Mrs. Wilson.
Very Sincerely Yours,
FX Dercum
To Rear-Admiral Cary T. Grayson,
The White House,
Washington, DC
After I left you on Saturday, I spent some time in coming up on the train in thinking over the President’s case. Some of the things that Mrs. Wilson said made quite an impression upon me. I think it is most important that we should not allow the treatment to become “stale” to the President. The leg has improved marvelously and the limit of improvement has not yet been reached; the arm also will still further improve. To my personal observation the President did not seem to be discouraged. Of course Mrs. Wilson is the better judge as she is with him so much. It is wonderful, however, that he has been able to do the amount of work that he has and has at the same time made such good progress.
It is most important to keep on encouraging him as much as possible. I believe that exactly the right things are being done. Of course the slowly interrupted galvanic or faradic current to the extensors of the arm, forearm and hand should be steadily persisted in even if it causes the President some discomfort. Your are the best judge as to whether high frequency should be from time to time resorted to for its stimulating and psychic effect. Your past experience enables you to be the best judge as to this.
I am very glad that the President has begun going out in the automobile. This will give him both mental and physical change. The mental change is especially desirable in a patient who has been confined to his room and house for such a protracted period.
Whether or not he should see a larger number of persons is a question which must be left to the judgment of yourself and Mrs. Wilson. Of course if his contact with other persons is increased, it should, other things equal, be only with close personal friends.
I know of course that you have already considered all of the points in this letter and it is only my anxiety that the best possible results should be achieved that prompts me to write you. I cannot help but feel that the degree of improvement that has been attained, considering the stress under which the President must live, is very great indeed. I know how much this has been the result of your own careful watchfulness and that of Mrs. Wilson.
Very Sincerely Yours,
FX Dercum
To Rear-Admiral Cary T. Grayson,
The White House,
Washington, DC
Original Format
Letter
To
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Files
Collection
Citation
Dercum, Francis X. (Francis Xavier), 1856-1931, “Francis Xavier Dercum to Cary T. Grayson,” 1920 March 16, WWP16222, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.