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The Case of Congressman Black 
This case is one of peculiar and special interest, inasmuch as the cause of his 
sudden and continued illness may be traced to the alleged unsanitary condition 
of the house in which he lived. It must, however, be stated that he was a 
dyspeptic, and during the past few years had frequently suffered from severe 
attacks of sudden illness, usually following indiscretions in diet. In January last 
he consulted a physician in this city, whom he was informed of the nature of 
his digestive trouble, and also that his heart was very weak and would not bear 
any violent strain. Under the general directions of his physician his health had 
improved. On Friday morning, March io, he walked from his dwelling, 1025 
Vermont avenue, to the Capitol, and expressed himself as feeling better than he 
had for several years. About two o’clock he ate, at the House Restaurant, a half- 
dozen raw oysters. Soon after returning to his seat in the hall of the House of 
Representatives he felt uncomfortable, and went to the Library to examine some 
authorities, but continuing to grow worse he abandoned the effort, and as he 
returned to the hall bought and ate an orange. His discomfort increased, and 
at four o’clock he left the Capitol and walked to his lodgings, reaching there 
about five P. M. During his walk home he was nauseated, dizzy, and frequently 
staggered. He did not eat any dinner. Believing that the oysters had caused 
his sickness, he took an emetic of mustard and warm water; repeated it several 
times, and gagged himself frequently with his finger. He vomited freely and 
often, but did not get the relief expected. At ten o’clock a physician was 
summoned, who found him walking the floor in great distress. His pulse was 
forty and barely perceptible. The surface was blanched and cold as ice ; lips 
and face perfectly white; nausea constant, with occasional violent retchings. 
Complained of tingling sensations and numbness of the left extremities, and was 
so restless that he could not be induced to remain in bed until admonished of the 
danger of continued disobedience, and, even then, he could not maintain any 
position longer than five seconds, but tossed about the bed in every conceivable 
manner and form. After occasional violent retchings he would fall back in some 
position, in which he remained for a brief period. He experienced no pain, and 
denied having had a chill or having felt cold. His mind was perfectly clear, and 
every question was answered calmly and fully. This condition continued without 
abatement, notwithstanding the employment of various remedies, both external 
and internal, until 1 A. M., nth March, when after the administration of a 
powerful heart stimulant, his pulse rose to forty-eight in a minute, the jactitation 
gradually ceased, his respiration improved, and at six o’clock his pulse was sixty- 
four, surface moderately warm, and he slept quietly. At this hour the physician 
left him, to be again called at eight, when he was found to be completely paralyzed 
on the left side. Sensation and motion were entirely lost in both left extremities. 
The paralysis involved the sphincters of the bladder and rectum, muscles of the 
left side of the chest, neck, and partially of the left side of the face. The motion 
of the tongue was but slightly, if at all, disturbed. Articulation was indistinct 
because of the partial left facial paralysis. Reaction was complete ; his pulse was 
good and the temperature of his body but slightly above the normal. This con- 
dition continued without any important change until 1 P. M., Sunday, 12th. After 
a transient coldness his temperature rose rapidly to 103.50, and gradually subsided, 
falling to normal at 8 A. M., 13th. The paralysis had extended to the right side. 
He was left without voluntary power below the neck. He could express assent 
by a slight nodding and dissent by a slighter rotary movement of the head, but 
could not retain his head in any position, even upon the pillow, without artificial support. The muscles of respiration were also involves and life was only main- 
tained during the day by artificial respiration, and frequent stimulation of the 
respiratory and circulator}’ centres. After Monday, 13th, mechanical means were 
not necessary, but remedies were employed at varying intervals daily until the 
20th to maintain the circulation and respiration. In fact, for the first ten days, 
life seemed purely artificial, During this time, and until the 26th, a physician 
was by his side night and day, always ready for a threatening emergency. 
His fever rose at 12 P. M., 13th, to 101.40, fell to ioo° at 3 A. again 
rose to 101.40 at 6 A. M.,to fall to 98.8° at 9 A. M. From this time till 5 P. M., 17th, 
the temperature ofliis body varied between 98.2° and 100.2°, his pulse between 106 
and 128, and his respiration between 20 and 36. On the 17th, between the hours 
of 1.30 A. M. and 2.30 P. M., another exacerbation occurred, his temperature 
rising from 98.4° to 102.2° and falling to 98.8°. During the 18th his temperature 
was generally below 98°. At 3 P. M. 011 the 19th, and at 12 M. 20th, the temper- 
ature was 100.V- Since the 20th he has had no fever. 
During the illness his intellect has been perfectly clear, not even obscured 
either during the periods of collapse or of high fever. 
After the disappearance of fever he gradually regained the faculty of speech, 
but not until the 26th of March was there any evidence of returning power, first 
shown in regaining control of the sphincters, then in the right thumb, and now, 
April 3rd, he can move most of the fingers of each hand, and the feet very slightly ; 
can extend his legs, straighten his back, and hold and turn his head at pleasure 
on a pillow. Since 26th life has been maintained without artificial aids, and he 
has gained daily. Electro-muscular contractility and sensibility are good in all 
the voluntary muscles. Sensation is nearly normal. Appetite and digestion 
good. He is encouraged by the prospects of ultimate and complete recovery. 
Mr. Black occupied the second floor of the house as a dwelling, and had an 
office room in the basement, in which he passed many hours in the morning 
before going to the Capitol, and at night after the adjournment of the House of 
Representatives. Senator Grover occupied the parlor floor, and Capt. Hooper the 
third floor. The Senator has been ill for several weeks, some member of 
Black’s family has been sick since moving into the house, and on March 18th 
scarlet fever broke out in the family of Capt. Hooper. The house is supplied with 
fixed washstands in every room and water-closets and bath-rooms on each floor. 
In the basment office are also permanent fixtures. The house is filled with un- 
pleasant odors from cellar to garret, and has been condemned by the authorities as 
an unfit habitation. 
The theory of the writer is that Mr. Black was poisoned by the atmosphere of 
the house, that he had a chill 011 the day he was taken sick, followed by congestion, 
and subsequently, by acute inflammation of the spinal cord. It must also be said 
that he a malarious district, in which malarial and typhoid fevers were 
very prevalent during the Autumn. Two of his children had been sick with 
malarial fever previous to the occupancy of the house referred to. 
He is now comfortably located in a house believed to be free from any noxious 
emanations, and hopes are entertained of his complete recovery. 
It ought to be stated in this connection that the Health Department has made 
frequent unsuccessful efforts to secure from Congress authority to inspect private 
dwellings and to enforce such recommendations as might be necessary for the 
protection of human life, but Congress has refused such authority, except for 
new houses, whereas the houses built previous to the past two years are those 
most frequently found in an unsanitary condition. The Health Department has 
always, when requested, made the inspection of suspected dwellings, but can only 
offer suggestions without power to enforce the recommendations for the cor- 
rection of any defect discovered.