George Washington died today (Dec. 14) in 1799 at age of 67. Two days earlier he rode the horse inspecting his beloved house at Mount Vernon (which we have visited several times) under the freezing rain and snow. He took sick with sore throat and rapidly progressing difficulty of breathing next day and died in less than 24 hours from the onset of his acute illness.
He was treated with blood letting—a common practice in his days. He was trying to sit up but was held down.
Acute epiglottitis (infection/inflammation of epiglottis—locating in the space below the base of the tongue) seems the most plausible explanation analyzed his symptoms based on modern medicine knowledge): acute onset, rapid progression, breathing easier sitting up and airway obstruction (stridor) that is worsened by lying down or extending the neck backward.
The left figure shows a normal epiglottis (the upside down ‘U’ shape structure) and the right figure shows a red and swollen epiglottis, obstructing the airway; classical acute epiglottitis. (photo credit: UpToDate)
He was certainly mismanaged by today’s standard; his doctors hastened his death by blood letting him several times therefore further weakened him. He would have survived nowadays if the emergency tracheotomy was performed; in fact one of the doctors (the youngest one) did suggest doing a tracheotomy (creating an opening into the trachea), but the older ones (supposed more experienced) ruled it out, fearing it could be a fatal procedure, which was a legitimate concern in those days.
