The Anosognosic’s Dilemma: Something’s Wrong but You’ll Never Know What It Is (Part 3)

By ERROL MORRIS
NYT

(This is the third part of a five-part series.)

3. DOCTORS EVERYWHERE

Oct. 2, 1919, 8:50 a.m.[35] A telephone rang in the Ushers’ Room at the White House. There were two telephones perched on a roll-top desk in a corner of the room. One went through the White House switchboard; the other was a private line directly to the president. Ike Hoover, the Chief Usher, answered the call on the private line. It was the First Lady, who told Hoover, “Please get Dr. Grayson, the president is very sick.”

Hoover’s account is graphic and shocking.

. . . I waited up there until Doctor Grayson came, which was but a few minutes at most. A little after nine, I should say, Doctor Grayson attempted to walk right in, but the door was locked. He knocked quietly and, upon the door being opened, he entered. I continued to wait in the outer hall. In about ten minutes Doctor Grayson came out and with raised arms said, “My God, the President is paralyzed!”

. . . The second doctor and nurse arrived and were shown to the room. The employees about the place began to get wise to the fact that the President was very ill, but they could find out nothing more. Other doctors were sent for during the day, and the best that could be learned was that the President was resting quietly. Doctor Davis of Philadelphia and Doctor Ruffin, Mrs. Wilson’s personal physician, were among those summoned. There were doctors everywhere.

. . . The President lay stretched out on the large Lincoln bed. He looked as if he were dead. There was not a sign of life. His face had a long cut about the temple from which the signs of blood were still evident. His nose also bore a long cut lengthwise. This too looked red and raw. There was no bandage.

(Continued here.)