Lincoln, Stanton and the Aeolian Harp

[Linda Anderson]

From the article in the Atlantic Monthly, April 1930, titled "Dickens, Stanton, Sumner, and Storey."

"The record of a dinner held in Washington at which present were the host, Charles Sumner, Charles Dickens, Edwin M. Stanton, and Moorfield Storey, Mr. Sumner's secretary. This memorandum was written by Mr. Storey the evening of the dinner, immediately after the departure of the guests."

Stanton and Sumner gave their accounts of Lincoln's assassination. Stanton "alluded to Mr. Lincoln's breathing [on his deathbed], and said that it sounded like an aeolian harp, now rising, now falling and almost dying away, and then reviving, and reminded him in what he had noticed in the case of one of his children, who had died in his arms shortly before."

The aeolian harp is played by the wind. It's a haunting sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmP5XaNYlkI

[BettyO]

I have a friend who plays an Aeolian Harp; and yes, it is a hauntingly beautiful, almost unearthly sound....

It could very well be that this is what Stanton was referring to or what reminded him of such a sound.

[RJNorton]

Dr. Ezra W. Abbott kept the following record on the president's condition during the night:



11 o'clock, pulse 44.
11.05 o'clock, pulse 45, and growing weaker.
11.10 o'clock, pulse 45.
11.15 o'clock, pulse 42.
11.20 o'clock, pulse 45, respiration 27 to 29.
11.25 o'clock, pulse 42.
11.32 o'clock, pulse 48 and full.
11.40 o'clock, pulse 45.
11.45 o'clock, pulse 45, respiration 22.
12 o'clock, pulse 48, respiration 22.
12.15 o'clock, pulse 48, respiration 21. Eochymosis both eyes.
12.30 o'clock, pulse 45.
12.32 o'clock, pulse 60.
12.35 o'clock, pulse 66.
12.40 o'clock, pulse 69, right eye much swollen, and eochymosis
12.46 o'clock, pulse 70.
12.55 o'clock, pulse 80, struggling motion of arms.
1 o'clock, pulse 86, respiration 80.
1.30 o'clock, pulse 95, appearing easier.
1.45 o'clock, pulse 86, very quiet, respiration irregular, Mrs. Lincoln present.

2.10 o'clock, Mrs. Lincoln retired with Robert Lincoln to an adjoining room.
2.30 o'clock, President very quiet, pulse 54, respiration 28.
2.52 o'clock, pulse 48, respiration 30.
3 o'clock, visited again by Mrs. Lincoln.
3.25 o'clock, respiration 24, and regular.
3.35 o'clock, prayer by Rev. Dr. Gurley.
4 o'clock, respiration 26, and regular.
4.15 o'clock, pulse 60, respiration 25.
5.50 o'clock, respiration 28, regular.
6 o'clock, pulse failing, respiration 28.
6.30 o'clock, still failing, and labored breathing.
7 o'clock, symptoms of immediate dissolution.
7.22 o'clock, death.

[LincolnToddFan]

It always amazes me how AL was able to hang on as long as he did with virtually no real medical assistance(compared to what he would have received today.) Between 1am-1:30am, his pulse and respiration rates were pretty normal, yes?

But I am a little disturbed and confused to read about "the struggling motion of the arms"....what was THAT about?

Maybe Dr. Houmes could explain it?

[Houmes]

(03-07-2015 02:05 PM)LincolnToddFan Wrote:  It always amazes me how AL was able to hang on as long as he did with virtually no real medical assistance(compared to what he would have received today.) Between 1am-1:30am, his pulse and respiration rates were pretty normal, yes?

But I am a little disturbed and confused to read about "the struggling motion of the arms"....what was THAT about?

Between 12:55 and 1am, President Lincoln became brain dead. His brain was swelling to the point where enough of the brain and/or brain stem herniated down and out of the skull and into the spinal canal, and in the process compressed enough of the brain where survival was impossible. There was enough brain function to keep his heart beating and some breathing possible, but even if he had been placed on a ventilator he would not survive unless the cause could be treated--and even today with treatment survival is rarely possible. Think "vegitative state" if the patient survives. The arm movement (appearing much like a seizure) will either flex up to the chest over the heart (called decorticate posturing; "cor" is latin for heart) or extended straight out along the sides of the body (called decerebrate; "decere" is latin for "unbecoming"). These postures can occur with severe head trauma, drowning, stroke, bleeding in/on the brain, brain tumors, diseases such as severe malaria, and any cause of swelling of the brain or brainstem. Decorticate posturing usually occurs first, while decerebrate posturing is considered much worse or a later sign, leading to a terminal condition.

[Houmes]

(03-07-2015 03:58 PM)Houmes Wrote:  

(03-07-2015 02:05 PM)LincolnToddFan Wrote:  It always amazes me how AL was able to hang on as long as he did with virtually no real medical assistance(compared to what he would have received today.) Between 1am-1:30am, his pulse and respiration rates were pretty normal, yes?

But I am a little disturbed and confused to read about "the struggling motion of the arms"....what was THAT about?

Between 12:55 and 1am, President Lincoln became brain dead. His brain was swelling to the point where enough of the brain and/or brain stem herniated down and out of the skull and into the spinal canal, and in the process compressed enough of the brain where survival was impossible. There was enough brain function to keep his heart beating and some breathing possible, but even if he had been placed on a ventilator he would not survive unless the cause could be treated--and even today with treatment survival is rarely possible. Think "vegitative state" if the patient survives. The arm movement (appearing much like a seizure) will either flex up to the chest over the heart (called decorticate posturing; "cor" is latin for heart) or extended straight out along the sides of the body (called decerebrate; "decere" is latin for "unbecoming"). These postures can occur with severe head trauma, drowning, stroke, bleeding in/on the brain, brain tumors, diseases such as severe malaria, and any cause of swelling of the brain or brainstem. Decorticate posturing usually occurs first, while decerebrate posturing is considered much worse or a later sign, leading to a terminal condition.

Mea Culpa. Clarification: decerebrate posturing involves the arms rigidly down along the sides of the body. They are straight, but not out away from the body.

[LincolnToddFan]

Thanks. I always assumed-feared-that Lincoln's stabilizing vital signs and arm movements meant that he was in some state of awareness and was struggling to come back to consciousness.

Which is a terrible thing to consider.

Thanks much Dr. Houmes.