Thread on the death of George Washington and why what happened should be remembered. 1/

On Thursday, December 12, 1799, Washington had been out inspecting his lands when he was caught in a storm of snow, hail, and freezing rain. 2/

He arrived home late and did not change his cold, wet clothing before supper. Shortly thereafter, he started complaining of pharyngitis and dysphonia. He retired early noting that he was suffering from a cold. 3/

On Friday, December 13, 1799, Washington developed worsening dysphonia and a painful cough. He spent most of the day around the home and went to bed early. 4/

On Saturday, December 14th, Washington awoke at 2AM with sore, stiff neck, shortness of breath with stridor, and a fever. Martha Washington called for his personal secretary, Tobias Lear. 5/

By 7AM, Mt Vernon's farm overseer George Rawlings came to help. He let 1/2 qt of blood from Washington and applied blisters despite Martha's objections. GW also given formula of molasses, butter & vinegar. No improvement. 6/

7/

9AM: Friend & Surgeon General James Craik arrived at Mt Vernon. He initiates another bloodletting of 1 qt. No improvement.
11AM: Craik bled another qt, applied blisters to GW's neck & gave gargle of sage tea/vinegar and an enema. 8/

9/

Martha sent for more physicians.
3PM: Elisha Dick (pictured) and Gustavius Brown arrive. Brown and Craik withdraw another 1 qt of blood over Dick's objections. Still no improvement 10/

11/

Some medical historians argue that from the description of Washington's illness that he may have been suffering from acute epiglottitis, which can obstruct the airway. Tx now is antibiotics and tracheotomy in life-threatening cases. Common bug was H influenzae. 12/

4:30PM: Washington calls for Lear to prepare his will.
5PM: Washington changes realizes his impeding doom and changes into his bedclothes Cataplasms were deployed.
Early Evening: He asks for all interventions to cease and thanked his physicians. 13/

"Doctor I die hard, but I am not afraid to go. I believed from my first attack that I should not survive. My breath cannot last long.”
-George Washington
14/

10:22PM: George Washington dies. His last words were, "Tis well." 15/

Washington's death is important not only because he was the US' first president. His death could be a lesson for all of us, especially physicians. Consensus is important but too often it gets in the way of new information. Also, don't keep doing things that are not working 16/