Page:The Wizard of Wall Street and his Wealth.djvu/218

 the members of his family, were not aware of the disease from which he was suffering until it became evident that he could only a little longer withstand its ravages.

Mr. Gould was variously reported as a victim of neuralgia, of nervous dyspepsia, and of severe bilious attacks, and the announcement that what caused his death was consumption will be received with a great deal of surprise. But the statement is true.

It is further said, that the disease was of several years' standing; that Mr. Gould was aware that he had it, and that his instructions to his physician, Dr. Munn, were that it should be kept a secret between them as long as possible. When, therefore, inquiries, no matter by whom, were made of Dr. Munn as to Mr. Gould's ailment, he replied that it was nervous dyspepsia, and truthfully, for all consumptives suffer more or less from that complaint.

To aid his physician in concealing all signs of the disease, the somewhat extravagant assertion is made that Mr. Gould was able to prevent himself, by an effort, from coughing.

The secret was well kept, and until a couple of weeks ago Mr. Gould is said to have had confidence that Dr. Munn's efforts to delay the progress of the disease would be attended with some measure of success, and that he would be able to keep up and get around for some years. But when he came down from Irvington some weeks ago he was not so