Misc. Letter, Martin to Ezell, Re; Dr. I. L. Splawn death, LaSalle Parish, La. Submitted by: Pat Ezell ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Letter to Dr. Jefferson Ezell, Jena, La. from Henry Martin, Elmo, Kaufman County, TX regarding the death of Dr.Isaac Lanehart Splawn of Elmo. Transcription made from the original letter found among the Ezell Family Papers and Photographs. Original in possession of Pat Ezell, PatEzell@worldnet.net Elmo Kaufman County Texas Aug 31st 1878 Dr. Jefferson Ezell Dear Sir I have been looking for a letter from you for several days but circumstances has compel me to write againe before I received a letter from you, as I wrote to you in my last letter that Isaac had been in bad health for some time. a slow fever had been growing on him for some time, and being so hard press by practice, he could not take proper care of himself, or did not as he should have done, and properly Speaking he Kild himself, for a great many peoples, that never will tank him for it. at the time he was taken, his fever had not been cool on him, for two weeks. he was taken to his bed on monday the 12 aug. I went to see him in the evening, as I had come to town, and he ask me to come and Stay with him that night. he had some medicine prepared. I gaved him his medicine according to direction. in the night we talked together and he told me he wished I would stay with him and not leave him he Said he expected to have a hard Spel and he dint tink he ever would go through with it. I tryed to talk him out of it but he told me that his constitution was Broken down. he Said he had been Keeping himself up on Quinine and tonic's of all description, for nearly 12 months and that medicine had no effect on him what Ever, wich it proved to be so. Anthony had Just come to see him, and his Father. Antony was gone up to Terrell a little town on the road with Some of his old Friends. he was to come back next morning. during the night the Dr's fever had not cool down, and by morning it had went up to 103 puls 108. I sponge him with cold water, and Brought it down to Temperature 101, plus 100. I met Anthony at the traine and told him how Isaac was, and he telegraph for Isaac's favorite at will's point and Mr. Splawn Telegraph to Terrell for another, two of the best Drs in the Country. Every meanes was used, in the Shape of medicine but all to no use his fever had run into Typho-malarial in its worst form, and medicine seam to agravate rather than cool his fever. we had now to resort to the water bathe. we had a vat to put him in. we would put water in as warm as he could Stand Cooling it by degree take out one buket of warm and put in a buket of cold water, as longs as he could stand cold water, a bathe of 15 minute. Temperature of water 60 degree, would bring down his Temperature, about from 2 to 3 degrees. we gave him 24 bathes after wish being to weak, to be moved about so much we had to quitt. we could do nothing only use the sponge with cold water. after bieng sick 13 days with the most stubborn's fever I have ever seen on anny man, and not being able to take anny norishment only a little sweet milk with Lime water and ice water, or a little egg nogg is all the nourishment he was able to take, during his intire sickness On the 13th day he begun to Sink, very fast on Sunday about two oclk in the morning he spoke to me for the last time he ask me for some ice water. I gave him ice water in a glass. he lived til 5 minut before 5 oclok Sunday Evening Aug 25th, When God Seperated him from us. he died like a candle, without a Strugle. he had expressed his desire to have his funeral preached by a certaine minister of the gospel, and he was send for, and he came. his funeral proceeded at 5 oclok on monday evening atended by as large procession as ever was witnessed in this Country for he had manny friends, in this part of the Country. his Father, and Brother, are greatly disstresed, about his death, and so are all his friends. I Speak for myself I stayed with him day and night, during his sickness and done everything I could for him. I could do more with him than anny one. many time I could get him to take medicine after all others had failed. tell martha I have a loke of his hair, for her, as the mail is not regelar on account of yelow fever I would not Send it in this letter I will Send it in my next letter. Mr Splawn intend to bring Isaac back to Louisiana as soon as he can setle all his buissnes and have him buried in the family grave yard. he is buried between his office and Mr Splawn's house. he has a fine vault made out of brick and well seamented on the outside. as Anthony had to go back to atend to his buisnes at Clarksville, I have been Staying with Mr. Splawn for he is very lonesome. Dr please read carefuly and maybe you can make out the most of this letter. I have been trying to give you a description of Isaac's Sickness. there is more Sickness in this Country this year than Ever you heard. there is not a family in 20 miles Without one or two Sick one in it, and nearly all Typho-malarial. it is nearly as bad as yelow fever. it is a good thing you are not here with all your lettle childrens, or you would have a time of it. I have been Sick this year two thirds of my time not bienig able to do nothing. Everybody here looks like Skeleton walkin about. Anthony will be back here in about trees weecks. He will stay sometime then with his father, to help him settle his buisness. as I have been trying to discribing Everything to you as near as I Could in my poore way of writing and Spelling I must Come to a close. this leaves me and Mr. Splawn tolorably Well. Mr. Splawn send his love to you all. Hoping to heare from you Soon I remaine Yours With respect Henry Martin