THE MALADY OF THE FIRST NAPOLEON.

Waikato Times, Volume V, Issue 277, 19 February 1874, Page 2

THE MALADY OF THE FIRST NAPOLEON.

The following interesting letter, along with a lock of hair, hns. been recently discovirod by Mnjor Young, of Lincluden, Scotland. It w»s written to hit father bj Dr Short, principtil medical officer of St Helena at the time of Napoleon's death •-— " St Helena, 7th May, 1821. — You will, no doubt, be much surprised to hear of Bonaparte's death, who expired on the 6th of May, after an illness of some standing. His disease was cancer in the stomach, that must hare lasted eoino year*, and been in a state of ulceration some months. I was in consultation and attendance several days, but hewould not see strangers. I was officially introduced the moment he died. His fioe in death was the most beautiful I ever beheld, exhibiting softness and every good expression in Ihe highest degree, and really seemed formed to conquer. The following day I superintended the dissection of his body (at this time hia countenance wu much altered), which was done at his own rfqnest to ascertain the exact seat of the disease (which he imagined to be where it was afterwards discovered to be), with the view of benefiting his son, who might inherit it. During the whole of his illness he never complained, and kept his character to the last. The disease being hereditary, his father having died of it, and hia sister, the Princess Borghese, being supposed to have it, proves to the world that climate and mode of life had no hand in it, anri, contrary to the assertions of Messrs O'Meara and Stobe, his liver was perfectly sound ; and had he been on the throne of Fran ire instead of an inhabitant of St Helena, he would equally hare suffered, as no earthly power could cure the dtseaae when formed. — British Medical Journal.