The journal of Elizabeth Lady Holland (1791-1811) Volume 2 (of 2)Holland, Elizabeth Vassall Fox, Lady
History
The journal of Elizabeth Lady Holland (1791-1811) Volume 2 (of 2)
Holland, Elizabeth Vassall Fox, Lady
Holland, Elizabeth Vassall Fox, Lady, 1770-1845 -- Diaries
Second operation performed on Sunday. Bore the operation extremely
well; less water taken from him than on the former occasion, but he
was more completely emptied. Some pints of water which had remained
in ye abdomen were drawn off; fell soon after into a state of languor
and depression, but the physicians flattered themselves he had gained
strength in the interval between the operations, and that he would soon
be able to bear the course of medicines which they judged necessary
for his recovery, and in this hope they remained until Monday, the
7th September. Water had, in this interval, flowed repeatedly from
the wound in the abdomen, and the quantity of urine discharged had
augmented. They said there was a greater assemblage of favourable
symptoms than had appeared since they had been called in.
Sunday, ye 6th September, Vaughan thought that he felt some hardness
in the region of the liver, which made him speak much more doubtingly
to Ld. H. about Mr. Fox’s recovery than he had done the day before.
On Monday as he was led about the rooms at Chiswick[235] to look at
the pictures, a _gush_ of water burst from the wound, which had been
closed for some hours; he fell into a state of alarming weakness, and
continued so the whole of that and the succeeding day. A catch in his
breathing. We were sent for, and reached Chiswick by two, and found
him in this deplorable state. He was low, and never spoke willingly,
but every now and then got up in consequence of some irritation in his
bowels. He swallowed nothing but brandy, usquebaugh, and other strong
cordials; his senses and understanding never left him, tho’ he spoke
very little till Wednesday, when he reminded Ld. H. of a promise made
to him in Stable Yard, of telling him when he was in danger. It was a
painful duty, but he fulfilled it, and told him what the physicians
thought. He thanked him with his usual tenderness.
On Wednesday, about 4, he began to revive, and during the night, whilst
Ld. H. was sitting up with him, carried on a conversation in French,
that his servant, who was present, might not understand it, as it
regarded Mrs. Fox, &c. He had a few hours rest, and continued to get
better. In the course of the morning he was wheeled into an adjoining
room, and put on his spectacles to look at a caricature which Ld. L.
had sent from Paris. I went into the room, kissed his hand, and he
spoke kindly to me. During this amendment, he told Ld. H. he had never
been in such danger as the physicians had apprehended. He had said on
Tuesday night to Vaughan, ‘I have had a sad struggle for it, do you
think it will do?’
[Sidenote: FOX’S DEATH]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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