Jefferson's Cause of Death - Revision history

ABerkes at 19:52, 13 May 2010

ABerkes — Thu, 13 May 2010 19:52:13 GMT

←Older revision		Revision as of 19:52, 13 May 2010
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-	'''[[Thomas Jefferson\|Thomas Jefferson's]] exact cause of death''' has never been conclusively determined. He wrote in January 1826,	+	'''[[Thomas Jefferson\|Thomas Jefferson's]] exact cause of death''' has never been conclusively determined.<ref>This article is based on Russell L. Martin, Monticello Research Report, May 18, 1990.</ref> He wrote in January 1826,
	<blockquote>"As to the state of my health...it is now 3. weeks since a re-ascerbation of my painful complaint [a severe attack of diarrhea and difficulty urinating] has confined me to the house and indeed my couch. Required to be constantly recumbent I write slowly and with difficulty. Yesterday for the first time I was able to leave the house and to resume a posture which enables me to begin to answer letters which have been accumulating."<ref>Jefferson to William Gordon, 1 January 1826. Copy at the Library of Congress: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=mtj1&fileName=mtj1page055.db&recNum=794.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>"As to the state of my health...it is now 3. weeks since a re-ascerbation of my painful complaint [a severe attack of diarrhea and difficulty urinating] has confined me to the house and indeed my couch. Required to be constantly recumbent I write slowly and with difficulty. Yesterday for the first time I was able to leave the house and to resume a posture which enables me to begin to answer letters which have been accumulating."<ref>Jefferson to William Gordon, 1 January 1826. Copy at the Library of Congress: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=mtj1&fileName=mtj1page055.db&recNum=794.</ref></blockquote>

ABerkes at 19:47, 13 May 2010

ABerkes — Thu, 13 May 2010 19:47:09 GMT

←Older revision		Revision as of 19:47, 13 May 2010
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	<blockquote>"As to the state of my health...it is now 3. weeks since a re-ascerbation of my painful complaint [a severe attack of diarrhea and difficulty urinating] has confined me to the house and indeed my couch. Required to be constantly recumbent I write slowly and with difficulty. Yesterday for the first time I was able to leave the house and to resume a posture which enables me to begin to answer letters which have been accumulating."<ref>Jefferson to William Gordon, 1 January 1826. Copy at the Library of Congress: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=mtj1&fileName=mtj1page055.db&recNum=794.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>"As to the state of my health...it is now 3. weeks since a re-ascerbation of my painful complaint [a severe attack of diarrhea and difficulty urinating] has confined me to the house and indeed my couch. Required to be constantly recumbent I write slowly and with difficulty. Yesterday for the first time I was able to leave the house and to resume a posture which enables me to begin to answer letters which have been accumulating."<ref>Jefferson to William Gordon, 1 January 1826. Copy at the Library of Congress: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=mtj1&fileName=mtj1page055.db&recNum=794.</ref></blockquote>

-	Jefferson lived to the ripe old age of 83, but his health had been declining since 1818, when he visited Warm Springs, Virginia, to find relief for his rheumatism in the mineral baths. By some means, he contracted a nasty infection on his buttocks. This boil on his "seat" was probably more than furunculosis. Dr. Gordon Jones thinks it likely Jefferson developed a true septicemia, which would explain Jefferson's subsequent "prostration."<ref>Gordon James, M.D., and James A. Bear, Jr. [http://tjportal.monticello.org/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=14261 "A Medical History of Thomas Jefferson."], 119.</ref>	+	Jefferson lived to the ripe old age of 83, but his health had been declining since 1818, when he visited Warm Springs, Virginia, to find relief for his rheumatism in the mineral baths. By some means, he contracted a nasty infection on his buttocks. This boil on his "seat" was probably more than furunculosis. Dr. Gordon Jones thinks it likely Jefferson developed a true septicemia, which would explain Jefferson's subsequent "prostration."<ref>Gordon James, M.D., and James A. Bear, Jr., [http://tjportal.monticello.org/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=14261 "A Medical History of Thomas Jefferson"], [Unpublished manuscript], 119.</ref>
	Heavy doses of sulphur and mercury in ointment form helped clear the infection but were debilitating in themselves. Dr. Jones believes the mercury poisoning helped to exacerbate Jefferson's chronic bowel problems in his last years. Other ailments included swollen legs, painful joints, fatigue, a fractured left wrist, a boil on his jaw, increasing deafness, and unspecified illnesses (of two or three weeks' duration) in 1823 and 1824.<ref>Ibid, 131.</ref> At the same time, Jefferson's mind remained as agile as always, and he took daily rides on horseback. Visitors were impressed by this physical stamina.		Heavy doses of sulphur and mercury in ointment form helped clear the infection but were debilitating in themselves. Dr. Jones believes the mercury poisoning helped to exacerbate Jefferson's chronic bowel problems in his last years. Other ailments included swollen legs, painful joints, fatigue, a fractured left wrist, a boil on his jaw, increasing deafness, and unspecified illnesses (of two or three weeks' duration) in 1823 and 1824.<ref>Ibid, 131.</ref> At the same time, Jefferson's mind remained as agile as always, and he took daily rides on horseback. Visitors were impressed by this physical stamina.

ABerkes at 19:45, 13 May 2010

ABerkes — Thu, 13 May 2010 19:45:47 GMT

←Older revision		Revision as of 19:45, 13 May 2010
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	Heavy doses of sulphur and mercury in ointment form helped clear the infection but were debilitating in themselves. Dr. Jones believes the mercury poisoning helped to exacerbate Jefferson's chronic bowel problems in his last years. Other ailments included swollen legs, painful joints, fatigue, a fractured left wrist, a boil on his jaw, increasing deafness, and unspecified illnesses (of two or three weeks' duration) in 1823 and 1824.<ref>Ibid, 131.</ref> At the same time, Jefferson's mind remained as agile as always, and he took daily rides on horseback. Visitors were impressed by this physical stamina.		Heavy doses of sulphur and mercury in ointment form helped clear the infection but were debilitating in themselves. Dr. Jones believes the mercury poisoning helped to exacerbate Jefferson's chronic bowel problems in his last years. Other ailments included swollen legs, painful joints, fatigue, a fractured left wrist, a boil on his jaw, increasing deafness, and unspecified illnesses (of two or three weeks' duration) in 1823 and 1824.<ref>Ibid, 131.</ref> At the same time, Jefferson's mind remained as agile as always, and he took daily rides on horseback. Visitors were impressed by this physical stamina.

-	But a serious problem manifested itself in 1825. In a letter of July 21, Jefferson complained to [[James Madison]] that he was experiencing "difficulty in making water." Robley Dunglison was called in and discovered Jefferson had "prostatic hypertrophy of enough degree to obstruct the flow of urine and cause great pain from urinary retention."<ref>Ibid., 131a.</ref> To treat his patient, Dunglison prescribed "bougies," flexible cylinders, made of elastic gum, variable in size, which were introduced through the urethra past the obstruction. Jefferson found relief for his immediate problem. However, in the days before sterile techniques were available, bacteria were invariably introduced. Thus Dr. Jones feels that a pyelitis was bound to occur, damaging the kidneys themselves.<ref>Ibid, 132.</ref> From this point, Jefferson gradually grew worse, with only occasional periods of good health.	+	But a serious problem manifested itself in 1825. In a letter of July 21, Jefferson complained to [[James Madison]] that he was experiencing "difficulty in making water." Robley Dunglison was called in and discovered Jefferson had "prostatic hypertrophy of enough degree to obstruct the flow of urine and cause great pain from urinary retention."<ref>Ibid., 131a.</ref> To treat his patient, Dunglison prescribed "bougies," flexible cylinders, made of elastic gum, variable in size, which were introduced through the urethra past the obstruction. Jefferson found relief for his immediate problem. However, in the days before sterile techniques were available, bacteria were invariably introduced. Thus Dr. Jones feels that a pyelitis was bound to occur, damaging the kidneys themselves.<ref>Ibid., 132.</ref> From this point, Jefferson gradually grew worse, with only occasional periods of good health.

-	Though Jefferson's diarrhea abated for a spell early in 1826, it returned in full force later in the spring. By June 26, Jefferson was bed-ridden. From July 2 on, Jefferson was largely stuporous, only occasionally arousing to recognize his physician, Robley Dunglison, and his family.	+	Though Jefferson's diarrhea abated for a spell early in 1826, it returned in full force later in the spring. By June 26, Jefferson was bed-ridden. From July 2 on, Jefferson was largely stuporous, only occasionally rousing to recognize his physician, Robley Dunglison, and his family.

-	What finally killed him? It was undoubtedly a combination of ailments: exhaustion from intense diarrhea, toxemia from a kidney infection, uremia from kidney damage, and finally orthostatic old-age pneumonia. He might have lived longer under modern medical care, but likely not much longer if his fundamental problem was a late diagnosed prostatic cancer.<ref>Ibid, 133.</ref>	+	What finally killed him? It was undoubtedly a combination of ailments: exhaustion from intense diarrhea, toxemia from a kidney infection, uremia from kidney damage, and finally orthostatic old-age pneumonia. He might have lived longer under modern medical care, but likely not much longer if his fundamental problem was a late diagnosed prostatic cancer.<ref>Ibid., 133.</ref>

	==Footnotes==		==Footnotes==
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	*Bear, James A., Jr. "The Last Few Days in the Life of Thomas Jefferson." ''The Magazine of Albemarle County History.'' 32 (1974): 63-79.		*Bear, James A., Jr. "The Last Few Days in the Life of Thomas Jefferson." ''The Magazine of Albemarle County History.'' 32 (1974): 63-79.
	*Bear, James A., Jr. [http://tjportal.monticello.org/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=6180 Medical Chronology: Thomas Jefferson]		*Bear, James A., Jr. [http://tjportal.monticello.org/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=6180 Medical Chronology: Thomas Jefferson]
-	*Burstein, Andrew. [http://tjportal.monticello.org/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=14323 Jefferson's Secrets: Death and Desire at Monticello.] New York: Basic Books, 2005.	+	*Burstein, Andrew. [http://tjportal.monticello.org/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=14323 ''Jefferson's Secrets: Death and Desire at Monticello''.] New York: Basic Books, 2005.

	[[Category:Personal Life]]		[[Category:Personal Life]]
	[[Category:Frequently Asked Questions]]		[[Category:Frequently Asked Questions]]

ABerkes at 19:43, 13 May 2010

ABerkes — Thu, 13 May 2010 19:43:02 GMT

←Older revision		Revision as of 19:43, 13 May 2010
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	Heavy doses of sulphur and mercury in ointment form helped clear the infection but were debilitating in themselves. Dr. Jones believes the mercury poisoning helped to exacerbate Jefferson's chronic bowel problems in his last years. Other ailments included swollen legs, painful joints, fatigue, a fractured left wrist, a boil on his jaw, increasing deafness, and unspecified illnesses (of two or three weeks' duration) in 1823 and 1824.<ref>Ibid, 131.</ref> At the same time, Jefferson's mind remained as agile as always, and he took daily rides on horseback. Visitors were impressed by this physical stamina.		Heavy doses of sulphur and mercury in ointment form helped clear the infection but were debilitating in themselves. Dr. Jones believes the mercury poisoning helped to exacerbate Jefferson's chronic bowel problems in his last years. Other ailments included swollen legs, painful joints, fatigue, a fractured left wrist, a boil on his jaw, increasing deafness, and unspecified illnesses (of two or three weeks' duration) in 1823 and 1824.<ref>Ibid, 131.</ref> At the same time, Jefferson's mind remained as agile as always, and he took daily rides on horseback. Visitors were impressed by this physical stamina.

-	But a serious problem manifested itself in 1825. In a letter of July 21, Jefferson complained to [[James Madison]] that he was experiencing "difficulty in making water." Robley Dunglison was called in and discovered Jefferson had "prostatic hypertrophy of enough degree to obstruct the flow of urine and cause great pain from urinary retention.<ref>Ibid, 131a.</ref> To treat his patient, Dunglison prescribed "bougies," flexible cylinders, made of elastic gum, variable in size, which were introduced through the urethra past the obstruction. Jefferson found relief for his immediate problem. However, in the days before sterile techniques were available, bacteria were invariably introduced. Thus Dr. Jones feels that a pyelitis was bound to occur, damaging the kidneys themselves.<ref>Ibid, 132.</ref> From this point, Jefferson gradually grew worse, with only occasional periods of good health.	+	But a serious problem manifested itself in 1825. In a letter of July 21, Jefferson complained to [[James Madison]] that he was experiencing "difficulty in making water." Robley Dunglison was called in and discovered Jefferson had "prostatic hypertrophy of enough degree to obstruct the flow of urine and cause great pain from urinary retention."<ref>Ibid., 131a.</ref> To treat his patient, Dunglison prescribed "bougies," flexible cylinders, made of elastic gum, variable in size, which were introduced through the urethra past the obstruction. Jefferson found relief for his immediate problem. However, in the days before sterile techniques were available, bacteria were invariably introduced. Thus Dr. Jones feels that a pyelitis was bound to occur, damaging the kidneys themselves.<ref>Ibid, 132.</ref> From this point, Jefferson gradually grew worse, with only occasional periods of good health.

	Though Jefferson's diarrhea abated for a spell early in 1826, it returned in full force later in the spring. By June 26, Jefferson was bed-ridden. From July 2 on, Jefferson was largely stuporous, only occasionally arousing to recognize his physician, Robley Dunglison, and his family.		Though Jefferson's diarrhea abated for a spell early in 1826, it returned in full force later in the spring. By June 26, Jefferson was bed-ridden. From July 2 on, Jefferson was largely stuporous, only occasionally arousing to recognize his physician, Robley Dunglison, and his family.

ABerkes at 12:47, 20 March 2009

ABerkes — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:47:11 GMT

←Older revision		Revision as of 12:47, 20 March 2009
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-	'''[[Thomas Jefferson\|Thomas Jefferson's]] cause of death''' has not ever been conclusively determined. He wrote in January 1826,	+	'''[[Thomas Jefferson\|Thomas Jefferson's]] exact cause of death''' has never been conclusively determined. He wrote in January 1826,
	<blockquote>"As to the state of my health...it is now 3. weeks since a re-ascerbation of my painful complaint [a severe attack of diarrhea and difficulty urinating] has confined me to the house and indeed my couch. Required to be constantly recumbent I write slowly and with difficulty. Yesterday for the first time I was able to leave the house and to resume a posture which enables me to begin to answer letters which have been accumulating."<ref>Jefferson to William Gordon, 1 January 1826. Copy at the Library of Congress: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=mtj1&fileName=mtj1page055.db&recNum=794.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>"As to the state of my health...it is now 3. weeks since a re-ascerbation of my painful complaint [a severe attack of diarrhea and difficulty urinating] has confined me to the house and indeed my couch. Required to be constantly recumbent I write slowly and with difficulty. Yesterday for the first time I was able to leave the house and to resume a posture which enables me to begin to answer letters which have been accumulating."<ref>Jefferson to William Gordon, 1 January 1826. Copy at the Library of Congress: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=mtj1&fileName=mtj1page055.db&recNum=794.</ref></blockquote>

ABerkes: link directly to Gordon letter at DLC

ABerkes — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:04:44 GMT

link directly to Gordon letter at DLC

←Older revision		Revision as of 16:04, 26 February 2008
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-	'''[[Thomas Jefferson\|Thomas Jefferson's]] cause of death''' has not ever been conclusively determined. He writes,	+	'''[[Thomas Jefferson\|Thomas Jefferson's]] cause of death''' has not ever been conclusively determined. He wrote in January 1826,
-	<blockquote>"As to the state of my health...it is now 3. weeks since a re-ascerbation of my painful complaint [a severe attack of diarrhea and difficulty urinating] has confined me to the house and indeed my couch. Required to be constantly recumbent I write slowly and with difficulty. Yesterday for the first time I was able to leave the house and to resume a posture which enables me to begin to answer letters which have been accumulating."<ref>Jefferson to William Gordon, January 1, 1826. [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/jefferson_papers/ DLC: Thomas Jefferson Papers].</ref></blockquote>	+	<blockquote>"As to the state of my health...it is now 3. weeks since a re-ascerbation of my painful complaint [a severe attack of diarrhea and difficulty urinating] has confined me to the house and indeed my couch. Required to be constantly recumbent I write slowly and with difficulty. Yesterday for the first time I was able to leave the house and to resume a posture which enables me to begin to answer letters which have been accumulating."<ref>Jefferson to William Gordon, 1 January 1826. Copy at the Library of Congress: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=mtj1&fileName=mtj1page055.db&recNum=794.</ref></blockquote>

	Jefferson lived to the ripe old age of 83, but his health had been declining since 1818, when he visited Warm Springs, Virginia, to find relief for his rheumatism in the mineral baths. By some means, he contracted a nasty infection on his buttocks. This boil on his "seat" was probably more than furunculosis. Dr. Gordon Jones thinks it likely Jefferson developed a true septicemia, which would explain Jefferson's subsequent "prostration."<ref>Gordon James, M.D., and James A. Bear, Jr. [http://tjportal.monticello.org/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=14261 "A Medical History of Thomas Jefferson."], 119.</ref>		Jefferson lived to the ripe old age of 83, but his health had been declining since 1818, when he visited Warm Springs, Virginia, to find relief for his rheumatism in the mineral baths. By some means, he contracted a nasty infection on his buttocks. This boil on his "seat" was probably more than furunculosis. Dr. Gordon Jones thinks it likely Jefferson developed a true septicemia, which would explain Jefferson's subsequent "prostration."<ref>Gordon James, M.D., and James A. Bear, Jr. [http://tjportal.monticello.org/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=14261 "A Medical History of Thomas Jefferson."], 119.</ref>

Bcraig at 14:05, 23 July 2007

Bcraig — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 14:05:46 GMT

←Older revision		Revision as of 14:05, 23 July 2007
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-	'''[[Thomas Jefferson\|Jefferson's]] cause of death''' has not ever been conclusively determined. He writes,	+	'''[[Thomas Jefferson\|Thomas Jefferson's]] cause of death''' has not ever been conclusively determined. He writes,
	<blockquote>"As to the state of my health...it is now 3. weeks since a re-ascerbation of my painful complaint [a severe attack of diarrhea and difficulty urinating] has confined me to the house and indeed my couch. Required to be constantly recumbent I write slowly and with difficulty. Yesterday for the first time I was able to leave the house and to resume a posture which enables me to begin to answer letters which have been accumulating."<ref>Jefferson to William Gordon, January 1, 1826. [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/jefferson_papers/ DLC: Thomas Jefferson Papers].</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>"As to the state of my health...it is now 3. weeks since a re-ascerbation of my painful complaint [a severe attack of diarrhea and difficulty urinating] has confined me to the house and indeed my couch. Required to be constantly recumbent I write slowly and with difficulty. Yesterday for the first time I was able to leave the house and to resume a posture which enables me to begin to answer letters which have been accumulating."<ref>Jefferson to William Gordon, January 1, 1826. [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/jefferson_papers/ DLC: Thomas Jefferson Papers].</ref></blockquote>

Bcraig at 14:05, 23 July 2007

Bcraig — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 14:05:22 GMT

←Older revision		Revision as of 14:05, 23 July 2007
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-	'''Jefferson's cause of death''' has not ever been conclusively determined. He writes,	+	'''[[Thomas Jefferson\|Jefferson's]] cause of death''' has not ever been conclusively determined. He writes,
	<blockquote>"As to the state of my health...it is now 3. weeks since a re-ascerbation of my painful complaint [a severe attack of diarrhea and difficulty urinating] has confined me to the house and indeed my couch. Required to be constantly recumbent I write slowly and with difficulty. Yesterday for the first time I was able to leave the house and to resume a posture which enables me to begin to answer letters which have been accumulating."<ref>Jefferson to William Gordon, January 1, 1826. [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/jefferson_papers/ DLC: Thomas Jefferson Papers].</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>"As to the state of my health...it is now 3. weeks since a re-ascerbation of my painful complaint [a severe attack of diarrhea and difficulty urinating] has confined me to the house and indeed my couch. Required to be constantly recumbent I write slowly and with difficulty. Yesterday for the first time I was able to leave the house and to resume a posture which enables me to begin to answer letters which have been accumulating."<ref>Jefferson to William Gordon, January 1, 1826. [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/jefferson_papers/ DLC: Thomas Jefferson Papers].</ref></blockquote>

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	==Further Sources==		==Further Sources==
	*Bear, James A., Jr. "The Last Few Days in the Life of Thomas Jefferson." ''The Magazine of Albemarle County History.'' 32 (1974): 63-79.		*Bear, James A., Jr. "The Last Few Days in the Life of Thomas Jefferson." ''The Magazine of Albemarle County History.'' 32 (1974): 63-79.
-	*Bear, James A., Jr. [http://tjportal.monticello.org/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=6180 Medical Chronology: Thomas Jefferson]<br>	+	*Bear, James A., Jr. [http://tjportal.monticello.org/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=6180 Medical Chronology: Thomas Jefferson]
	*Burstein, Andrew. [http://tjportal.monticello.org/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=14323 Jefferson's Secrets: Death and Desire at Monticello.] New York: Basic Books, 2005.		*Burstein, Andrew. [http://tjportal.monticello.org/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=14323 Jefferson's Secrets: Death and Desire at Monticello.] New York: Basic Books, 2005.

	[[Category:Personal Life]]		[[Category:Personal Life]]
	[[Category:Frequently Asked Questions]]		[[Category:Frequently Asked Questions]]

Anna: rephrased first sentence

Anna — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 17:22:05 GMT

rephrased first sentence

←Older revision		Revision as of 17:22, 18 July 2007
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-	'''Jefferson's cause of death''' did not stem from any one source. He writes,	+	'''Jefferson's cause of death''' has not ever been conclusively determined. He writes,
	<blockquote>"As to the state of my health...it is now 3. weeks since a re-ascerbation of my painful complaint [a severe attack of diarrhea and difficulty urinating] has confined me to the house and indeed my couch. Required to be constantly recumbent I write slowly and with difficulty. Yesterday for the first time I was able to leave the house and to resume a posture which enables me to begin to answer letters which have been accumulating."<ref>Jefferson to William Gordon, January 1, 1826. [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/jefferson_papers/ DLC: Thomas Jefferson Papers].</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>"As to the state of my health...it is now 3. weeks since a re-ascerbation of my painful complaint [a severe attack of diarrhea and difficulty urinating] has confined me to the house and indeed my couch. Required to be constantly recumbent I write slowly and with difficulty. Yesterday for the first time I was able to leave the house and to resume a posture which enables me to begin to answer letters which have been accumulating."<ref>Jefferson to William Gordon, January 1, 1826. [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/jefferson_papers/ DLC: Thomas Jefferson Papers].</ref></blockquote>

Bcraig at 18:06, 11 July 2007

Bcraig — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:06:51 GMT

←Older revision		Revision as of 18:06, 11 July 2007
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	Heavy doses of sulphur and mercury in ointment form helped clear the infection but were debilitating in themselves. Dr. Jones believes the mercury poisoning helped to exacerbate Jefferson's chronic bowel problems in his last years. Other ailments included swollen legs, painful joints, fatigue, a fractured left wrist, a boil on his jaw, increasing deafness, and unspecified illnesses (of two or three weeks' duration) in 1823 and 1824.<ref>Ibid, 131.</ref> At the same time, Jefferson's mind remained as agile as always, and he took daily rides on horseback. Visitors were impressed by this physical stamina.		Heavy doses of sulphur and mercury in ointment form helped clear the infection but were debilitating in themselves. Dr. Jones believes the mercury poisoning helped to exacerbate Jefferson's chronic bowel problems in his last years. Other ailments included swollen legs, painful joints, fatigue, a fractured left wrist, a boil on his jaw, increasing deafness, and unspecified illnesses (of two or three weeks' duration) in 1823 and 1824.<ref>Ibid, 131.</ref> At the same time, Jefferson's mind remained as agile as always, and he took daily rides on horseback. Visitors were impressed by this physical stamina.

-	But a serious problem manifested itself in 1825. In a letter of July 21, Jefferson complained to James Madison that he was experiencing "difficulty in making water." Robley Dunglison was called in and discovered Jefferson had "prostatic hypertrophy of enough degree to obstruct the flow of urine and cause great pain from urinary retention.<ref>Ibid, 131a.</ref> To treat his patient, Dunglison prescribed "bougies," flexible cylinders, made of elastic gum, variable in size, which were introduced through the urethra past the obstruction. Jefferson found relief for his immediate problem. Howerver, in the days before sterile techniques were available, bacteria were invariably introduced. Thus Dr. Jones feels that a pyelitis was bound to occur, damaging the kidneys themselves.<ref>Ibid, 132.</ref> From this point, Jefferson gradually grew worse, with only occasional periods of good health.	+	But a serious problem manifested itself in 1825. In a letter of July 21, Jefferson complained to [[James Madison]] that he was experiencing "difficulty in making water." Robley Dunglison was called in and discovered Jefferson had "prostatic hypertrophy of enough degree to obstruct the flow of urine and cause great pain from urinary retention.<ref>Ibid, 131a.</ref> To treat his patient, Dunglison prescribed "bougies," flexible cylinders, made of elastic gum, variable in size, which were introduced through the urethra past the obstruction. Jefferson found relief for his immediate problem. However, in the days before sterile techniques were available, bacteria were invariably introduced. Thus Dr. Jones feels that a pyelitis was bound to occur, damaging the kidneys themselves.<ref>Ibid, 132.</ref> From this point, Jefferson gradually grew worse, with only occasional periods of good health.

	Though Jefferson's diarrhea abated for a spell early in 1826, it returned in full force later in the spring. By June 26, Jefferson was bed-ridden. From July 2 on, Jefferson was largely stuporous, only occasionally arousing to recognize his physician, Robley Dunglison, and his family.		Though Jefferson's diarrhea abated for a spell early in 1826, it returned in full force later in the spring. By June 26, Jefferson was bed-ridden. From July 2 on, Jefferson was largely stuporous, only occasionally arousing to recognize his physician, Robley Dunglison, and his family.

-	What finally killed him? It was undoubteldy a combination of ailments: exhaustion from intense diarrhea, toxemia from a kidney infection, uremia from kidney damage, and finally orthostatic old-age pneumonia. He might have lived longer under modern medical care, but likely not much longer if his fundamental problem was a late diagnosed prostatic cancer.<ref>Ibid, 133.</ref>	+	What finally killed him? It was undoubtedly a combination of ailments: exhaustion from intense diarrhea, toxemia from a kidney infection, uremia from kidney damage, and finally orthostatic old-age pneumonia. He might have lived longer under modern medical care, but likely not much longer if his fundamental problem was a late diagnosed prostatic cancer.<ref>Ibid, 133.</ref>

	==Footnotes==		==Footnotes==