The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-08-13 00:00:00

PRESIDENT GARFIELD.

A Reuters telegram, dated Washington, August 8, says
The recurrence of fever and the reticence of the
physicians for the past two days respecting the Presi-
dent's condition have again caused uneasiness on the
part of the public, being regarded as indicating the
formation of another pus cavity, and the imminence
of another operation. Dr. Bliss has, however, in-
formed a reporter of the press that nothing in
the. President's symptoms warrants either sup-
position, and that various circumstances noted by
some newspaper correspondents as disquieting only
bear that aspect to overstrained imaginations. Dr.
Bliss reiterated that no attempt would be made to
cut out the ball, unless it should be found to be
doing the President harm. A very thorough ex-
amination to be made this morning will probably
determine the cause of the recent disturbance. At
midnight the pulse was 96, and the President was
sleeping quietly without the use of anodynes.

In a telegram dated Monday night, the Correspon•
dent of the Standard writes :

The continuance of the fever after cooler weather had set
In warned the surgeons to look elsewhere for the irritating
cause. Yesterday they noticed that the drainage tube re-
quired some little force to push it between the ribs. Along
the track of the wound granulation had partly closed the
orifice, consequently it was believed that pus formed faster
than it could escape. The relief indicated was to make a
new opening into the track of the ball below the last rib.
Six surgeons were present. Dr. Agnew was the operator.
When the President was under the influence of ether the
instrument was inserted in the orifice of the wound, and was
pushed between the ribs and carried downward along the
track of the bullet until the end could be felt below the
twelfth rib.
A counter incision was then made, cutting directly through
the integnement until the knife met the instrument at the
point where it was desired to intersect the track of the ball.
Now, opening as it does to the deeper parts, the wound does
not pass between the ribs, and no difficulty is anticipated in
keeping it free and preventing the accumulation of pus.

Mr. Garfield bore the operation well. He recovered from
the anesthetic easily, and fell into a quiet slumber. There
is no fever, a lower pulse, and all indications are favour-
able.
It should be observed that the necessity for the operation
was caused by the healing of the wound, and not by the
formation of an abscess around the ball. From this fact it
appears that the alarming rumours set afloat yesterday in
certain quartets were groundless. The ordinary official
bulletins are the only source of reliable information.
Everything outside them should be regarded with great
reserve.

The sick chamber is necessarily closed to all except the
attending surgeons; these are extremely reticent, but no
reports of what they say are entitled to the same credence
as the signed official declaration, for whose troth their
good faith and professional reputation are alike pledged.

A Times' telegram dated Aug. 9, says :—" The President,
after ye,terday's operation, suffered from nausea, which con-
tinued during the evening. His pulse rose to 108, and his
temperature to 102. Later on the fever subsided and the
President slept without anodynes. At Odnight his pulse
was 98. The physicians issued a bulletin this morning, that
notwithstanding the effects of yesterday's operation
the President slept for the greater part of the
night without anodynes. The febrile rise was slowly
subsiding during the night. Ws twulse at 8.30 this morn-
ing was 98, his temperature, 99 8, and his respiration
19. Since Monday afternoon small quantities of liquid
nourishment have been given at short intervals and have
been retained. This morning large quantities were ad-
miniite.ced without gastric disturbance."
r4tizr•
_ . .

" The physicians issued a bulletin at noon to the effect
that the President's wourd was discharging spontaneously
and freely through the counter opening made yesterday.
He had been quite comfortable, taking a liberal supply of
liquid nourishrasnt, His pulse was 104, and his terupepa-
ture 997. The President Was progressmg favourably this
afternoon."