The Portland Daily Press

GENERAL GRANT.

The Great Soldier Yet Alive Though Slowly Sinking.

He Was Breathing Free from Distress at Midnight.

New York, March 31.-A consultation of Gen. Grant's physicians was held at 2 o'clock and at that hour he was reported up and dressed and feeling better than at any time since Sunday.

The Commercial Advertiser says: The fear now is that the patient's strength is so far exhausted that he will not be able to pass through a recurrence of the trouble of Saturday night. Every effort is being made to recuperate him so that he may resist any similar attack. He has no appetite whatever, but eats when food is placed before him. Notwithstanding this his food does not seem to strengthen him to any appreciable extent, and he is growing weaker and weaker as the hours wear away. There are persons who believe nevertheless that the General will be able to hold out for many days. Dr. Fordyce Barker does not look for his sudden death but thinks that the end will not be long delayed.

Hundreds of persons went out of their way to pass Grant's house this morning, most of them expecting to see crape on the door. To these waiting outside there was no evidence of life until six o'clock this morning; then a servant open the blinds of the library windows. A moment later the tear stained face of Mrs. Grant was seen at the window. She rested her arm on the sash, leaned her head upon her arm and gazed into the streets. She wore a drab colored morning gown; after a few minutes she disappeared, but 15 minutes later there was a stir at the low window of the General's sleeping room. The shutters were opened and the shade rolled up, and Harrison, the body servant, shook out the lace curtains before the window. At 6.30 a. m., a messenger was sent to the house asking from Dr. Shrady statement of the general's condition through the night, and this bulletin was the response:

6.30 A. M.--General Grant had thus far passed a very fair and comfortable night, sleeping by turns in his chair and bed for five hours. At 3.30 a. m. he coughed considerably on account of irritation of the throat, but he obtained relief after the use of a gargle. His pulse is regular and has a fair amount of force; his breathing is easy and he swallows without difficulty, having just taken some liquid nourishment.

(Signed) George F. Shrady, M.D.

From the doctor it was learned by the Record correspondent that at one time during the night only a faint hope was had that General Grant would survive. He seemed to be choking. At 9 o'clock this morning Mr. Cyrus Field called and left a basket of flowers: he was told that the entire family had been up all night, and that Dr. Shrady had ordered them to bed at 6 o'clock this morning.

At 3 p. m. Dr. Douglas issued the following bulletin:

"Gen. Grant has improved in all respects since yesterday. His sleep is quiet and scarcely disturbed by irritation of the throat. Local applications have reduced the amount of secretions so they do not give the suffocating feeling which was so disagreeable on Sunday. He takes food well and without inconvenience. Drs. Barker and Douglas visited the General and met Dr. Shrady who had remained over night and up to this hour there has been no change in the treatment. Dr. Douglas will remain tomorrow."

News of the patient next came at 9.30 in the form of a bulletin as follows:

"The General has had a very quiet day. Doctors Douglas, Barker and Shrady met at 2 p. m. and found him in better condition than the day before. He does not speak of pain, only soreness in the throat. The irritation which annoyed him Sunday is quite alleviated. The pulse is the same as yesterday, and his general condition is encouraging for the present. He has just prepared for rest and the symptoms promise a fair night.

(Signed) J. H. DOUGLASS, M. D."

Dr. Douglas will remain at the house during the night. Col. Fred Grant retired to his room early in the evening, as he had not slept in three nights and was nearly worn out with fatigue. The difficulty of Sunday was the result of an exudation from the membranes of the throat, and was increased by nervous apprehensions that rendered the muscles of the throat more rigid and less easy of management. These exudations which accompany cancerous diseases at the irritating stages were less copious and the consequence was a quieter day. The cancerous lump at the end of the General's tongue is not yet active and the trouble of a few days past was the result not so much of the developments of the disease, as it was the consequence of lower vitality of the patient. Should the General's demise soon occur it will be because of failing strength and want of vigor to withstand the disease as it is rather than the aggressive triumph of the cancerous difficulty itself.

Midnight Bulletin--Gen. Grant has been sleeping nearly all the time since 9 o'clock. He has just taken nourishment well and appears to be easy. His pulse is the same and he is breathing free from distress.

(Signed) J. H. DOUGLASS, M. D.

Col. Fred Grant said shortly after midnight that his father had fallen fast asleep and although all was quiet he should remain up with his father all night.