George Washington was accidentally bled to death by well-intentioned doctors.

It seems inconceivable that a man of George Washington’s stature, who has become iconic in American history, would die in such an inglorious manner as medical bungling, but, such was the case. This was due to the primitive methods and lack of understanding of human physiology at the time.  

    On the afternoon of December 13, 1799, former President George Washington was returning home from a long, cold, wintry horse-back ride across his vast Mount Vernon Estate. He was achy, felt feverish and was hoarse. He had dinner with his wife, Martha, before retiring to the upstairs bedroom of his palatial home to get a good night’s sleep. Early the following morning chills awakened Washington. He awakened Martha who summoned Washington’s long time personal secretary, Tobias Lear, who immediately came to the aid of the stricken former president.

 Lear found Washington experiencing difficulty breathing and almost unable to speak. Lear began to administer treatment to the ailing Washington and made careful detailed notes of the final agonizing hours.

   During the 18th century, bleeding was a common practice. The belief was that infected blood would be removed from the body, which will regenerate new, healthy blood. Quite often, leeches were used for the practice, but, if there were no leeches available, then a vein would be cut open with a knife and blood would then be drained.

   Lear then sent a servant to summon Dr. James Craik. Lear gave the patient a mixture of molasses, vinegar and butter. But, Washington’s throat was closing up and he was having difficulty swallowing. Researchers believe he was suffering from epiglottitis, a condition that inflames the small tissue flap that blocks the entrance to the lungs during swallowing.

   A string was tied around Washington’s arm and the doctor sliced into a vein to remove a half pint of the patient’s blood.

 Washington showed no signs of rallying and a piece of flannel was dipped into a boiling pot of water and herbs. The hot, steaming poultice was then applied to Washington’s neck in an attempt to draw out infection. By some accounts the hot poultice scalded the ailing president.

  Shortly afterwards, Martha summoned a Dr. Haywood, a family friend who had experience at performing tracheotomies. Haywood lived a considerable distance from Mount Vernon and there was concern that he might not arrive in time.

    Craik diagnosed the condition as quinsy, a condition now referred to as strep throat. Many modern scholars disagree with Craik’s diagnosis in support of the epiglottitis theory.

 Craik then applied a blister of cantharides to Washington’s throat. Cantharides are Spanish flies ground up and boiled in water. They are used as a counter irritant in hopes of drawing out the infection. Too much of the chemical can result in kidney failure.

  He then ordered a gargle of vinegar and sage tea. He then asked Washington to inhale some vinegar and hot water steam. While attempting to use the gargle Washington almost suffocated. 

  Craik ordered a second bleeding. Again, a pint of blood was drained from the president. Craik then waited for approximately an hour. Washington’s condition seemed to be deteriorating. In response, the doctor performed a third bleeding. By now, the patient was in great discomfort and very weak. Craik examined his throat again and realized it was beginning to close up. Craik then sent for Dr. Brown and Dr. Elisha Dick to ask their opinions. They arrived by 3 a.m. Brown wisely advised against further bleeding.

   Brown recommended a tracheotomy. The two other doctors were adamant and a fourth bleeding was performed. This time an entire quart of blood was removed. Lear observed that the blood was slow and very thick. Washington was now extremely weak from the loss of blood and barely able to remain conscious. The end was near.

 Modern historians estimate the doctors foolishly removed 80 ounces (.63 gallons) of the president’s blood in 12 hours. This was about 35% of the blood in his body.

   At approximately 4 a.m. Washington summoned Martha to his bed and instructed her to get his will from his desk. 

   The three doctors wanted to remove yet another pint of blood but Washington refused. “I cannot survive another bleeding” he said. 

 At 5 a.m. Craik returned to the patient’s bedside and Washington told him “Doctor, I die hard but I am not afraid to die. I believed from my first attack that I should not survive it. My breath cannot last long. Tis, well,” said Washington. Moments later he gasped his last breath and died on December 14, 1799. 

  Dr. Haywood arrived shortly after Washington passed away. He was certain a tracheotomy would have saved him. He suggested he could give Washington lamb’s blood to resurrect him and then perform the tracheotomy.  Martha politely refused.

     Dr. Craik immediately realized that mistakes had been made in Washington’s care. Twenty years later, in a letter to a colleague, he wrote, “Had we not taken that last quart of blood our friend, George, might have been alive now. But we were governed by the best light we had.”

   Michael Williams has written a book entitled "Stranger than Fiction: The Lincoln Curse." The book is a collection of 50 strange and unusual but true stories. The stories will leave the reader convinced that perhaps Mark Twain was right when he said "truth is stranger than fiction."

      The book is 187 pages in a softbound edition with numerous photos. The book can be purchased from amazon.com for $19.95 plus shipping and handling or you can save shipping cost and save $2 on the purchase price by ordering a signed copy directly from the author. Send $17.95 to P.O. Box 6421 Sevierville, TN. 37864.

    The book is available in Kindle on Amazon.com for $3.99. For more information visit the website www.strangerthanfictionnews.com.

The family of Benjamin Franklin was divided during the American Revolution. After the war, father and son never spoke to each other again 

   The Civil War is often referred to as the war that pitted brothers against brothers. Contrary to popular belief, the Civil War was not the only conflict in which this unfortunate phenomenon of dividing families occurred. It has happened in almost every war. Even the most famous families, or infamous families, have been divided by conflict.   

     American statesman Benjamin Franklin had done much to help his eldest son, William. He had even used his influence to help William get appointed Governor of New Jersey. This was a decision the elder Franklin would later regret.

      All was well in the Franklin home. But Benjamin began to notice William was adopting the aristocratic ways of British royalty. Benjamin wrote his autobiography in hopes that William would be influenced by his unpretentious life.

     When the Americans adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776, war was declared. Benjamin had worked on the committee with Thomas Jefferson to adopt the Declaration and his loyalties lay with the Americans. William, being a governor appointed by the crown, remained loyal to the British. Father and son were now on opposing sides in a conflict that would shatter family relations forever.

    By some accounts, William directed attacks against American targets including the burning of a library his father had built. His public criticism of his father was truly heart breaking to the elder Franklin. In the beginning, American patriots turned a deaf ear to William’s condemnation of the American cause because of their respect and admiration for his father. But, as time went by and tensions escalated it became impossible to ignore. By a resolution of congress, he was finally arrested and sent to Connecticut where he was imprisoned.

      Benjamin Franklin could have come to the aid of his son and have him released but he chose not to due to his lack of trust for William. Prison was not favorable to William. During his incarceration he lost all of his teeth. He was released during the war and spent the remainder of the war in England where he continued his vehement attacks of the Americans and his father.

     When the war ended he and his father never spoke again and William remained in England for the rest of his life. Benjamin died on April 17, 1790 at the age of 84. In his Will he disinherited William reasoning, “If William’s England had won the war I would have no estate to leave anyone.”

      Michael Williams has written a book entitled "Stranger than Fiction: The Lincoln Curse." The book is a collection of 50 strange and unusual but true stories. The stories will leave the reader convinced that perhaps Mark Twain was right when he said "truth is stranger than fiction."

    He has written for more than 30 newspapers and magazines including the Civil War Times Illustrated, The Civil War Courier, the Associated Press and the Knoxville Journal.

     The book is 187 pages in a softbound edition with numerous photos. The book can be purchased from amazon.com for $19.95 plus shipping and handling or you can save shipping cost and save $2 on the purchase price by ordering a signed copy directly from the author. Send $17.95 to P.O. Box 6421 Sevierville, TN. 37864.