The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-09-03 00:00:00

PRESIDENT GARFIELD.

The Daily News of Monday gives the following particulars
respecting President Gameld's illness :
WASHINGTON, Sunday.
Excepting Mrs. Garfield there was probably no
person in the country yesterday who 'believed the
President would live. The universal opinion was that
he was dying, and that the end would surely come to-
day. All the surgeons gave him up, even Dr. Bliss
who has been the most sanguine of all. At four
o'clock on Saturday a change for the worse was
reported. The swollen gland remained unchanged
and was the chief ground of despair. The pulse
rose and fell more rapidly, displaying less
character than usual. The fever symptoms
were increasing and he was notably growing feebler.
This condition continued practically unchanged till
noon, when the first evidence of a change for the better
appeared. After asking for and receiving food, the
President said, " I feel better than I did yesterday at
this time. I enjoy my food, and can taste it." From
that time till the evening the condition was one of almost
imperceptible improvement. The intellect, which had
been slightly clouded at intervals for three or four days,
remained perfectly clear. At nine o'clock in the
evening he asked for milk toast, which his wife prepared.
He ate a piece half the size of a man's hand with
relish, and with no subsequent discomfort; this being
the first solid food he has taken for two weeks. Mrs.
Edson, the nurse, said that the President had passed
a comfortable day. The stomach was in really good
condition, and the mind clearer than it had been for
a week. He had showed no apprehension, but, on
the contrary, said that he felt a trifle better. He
could move about, and could draw up his limbs.
Another attendant said that the patient moves his
imbs quite freely, and yesterday took a tumbler of
water and carried it quite firmly to his lips.
At eleven o'clock Dr. Bliss said that the President
was better than at six. The pulse was 110, the tem-
perature about the same, and the respiration 18. There
was no significance in the increased respiration, as 18
was his sleeping rate. There was not much change in
the gland, which was not quite so dense or so deeply
discoloured, and the discharge was a little freer.
There were no indications of sloughing, and he did not
think it would slough. The wound was not repair-
ing, and was not better than on Friday, owing to
inanition. If the President's condition of gain keeps
up, the wound will granulate again in a day or two.
That did not trouble the doctors, and they had no
anxiety regarding that feature of the case. The
skin is in a normal condition and there are no
signs of swellings elsewhere. Vr. Bliss continued,
"Since noon the improvement has been slight, but
continuous. The clearing of the mind was the first in-
dication showing that he was recovering from enema
of the brain. The blood poisoning is abating,
and is noticeably less than it was three days ago.
There is a better circulation of blood, the pulse is less
frequent and firmer, the sleep is healthful and easy. I
believe that the President thinks he will get well. His
wife came into the room this morning and said, 'My
dear, you are going to get well,' The President looked
at her sharply and asked if she really meant it. I
found it necessary to add my own opinion, which
seemed to have an effect, and since then he has seemed
brighter."
On Saturday morning the President said to Dr.
Boynton, "Am I growing weaker?" Dr. Boynton
answered, "Yes, I don't think you are as strong
as you were yesterday." After a pause the President
sighed and said in a low voice, "I wonder whether
it's worth while to struggle on ?" Dr. Boynton replied
heartily, "Certainly it is." During the night the
President rested better than for several nights,
sleeping once for an hour. He took nourishment
regularly every two hours, and the usual enemata were
administered. The pulse remained pretty steadily at
104, dropping about seven this morning to 100,
where it stood when the official bulletin was issued at
8.30. He had no fever, and the gland was reported to
be doing better. The morning bulletin was received
with hope on every hand, and the.-physicians show a
change in their faces. Dr. Bliss said that he felt en-
couraged, but thought that the great trouble now
would be to prevent people from becoming too much
elated. There was not hope enough for that. The
simple fact was that the improvement begun yester-
day had been maintained.
The possibilities of recovering are now talked of,
instead of the time of death, which, in the worst
event, cannot come for several days. The Presiden
says he is fully conscious of his condition. He has con-
sidered his cass to he very critical, but has believed that
he had a chance. Years ago he said it was always the
unexpected which happened with him, and his de-
voted family cling to that hope now. Mrs. Garfield
has never given up hope. She was very anxious on
Friday night, but yesterday regained her cheerful-
ness. She understands the case thoroughly, and
nothing is kept from her. She is with him almost
constantly, and is quiet and cheerful all the time.

.
NEW YORK, Sunday.
Throughout yesterday the City was in profound
gloom. Nobody believed the President would live,
and even the more encouraging reports of the evening
failed to lessen the depression. Sadness was uni-
versal. On every hand were heard expressions of
sorrow. The news of the morning has revived hope.
The Tribune issued an extra edition at ten o'clock,
containing encouraging news from Washington, and
people began to look more cheerful, though few ven-
tured to hope that the gain would be permanent. In
business circles yesterday there was no excitement,
but general sadness.

The fund for Mrs. Garfield has reached 157,000
dollars, and there are assurances that it will imme-
diately reach a quarter of a million if the President
dies. 125,000 dollars in Government Four per Cent.
Bonds have been purchased and the certificate been
placed in Mrs. Garfields hands. The income from the
bonds will be paid to her during her life, and at her
death the principal will be divided among her children.
Neither she nor the President has a voice in the
matter. If she declines, the income will be added to
the principal and go to the children.
The President's aged mother, who lives near Cleve-
land, receives frequent messages from Washington,
and spends much of her time at the front door of the
house, anxiously watching for the messengers bringing
them. She is bowed down with grief, and sleeps but
little, being much agitated. She fears the worst, but
yet clings to hope.

The following telegram from the Queen, at Bal-
moral, was received by the United States Minister on
Saturday evening:

" I am most deeply grieved at the sad news of the last few
days, and would wish my deep sympathy to be conveyed to
Mrs. Garfield." .

This message was communicated by cable to Mrs.
Garfield, through Mr. Blaine, the Secretary of State,
and he replied yesterday morning in the following
terms:

"I have submitted to Mrs. Garfield your telegram, con-
veying the kindly message of her Majesty the Queen. Mrs.
Garfield is constantly by her husband's bedside, and does
not give up all hope of his recovery. Her request is that
you will return to the Queen her most sincere thanks, and
express her heartfelt appreciation of the constant, earnest,
and tender sympathy shown by her Majesty towards the
President and his family in their deep grief and most pain.
ful suspense."

The following telegram from Secretary Blaine to Mr.
Lowtll was received at the American Legation in London on
Tuesday:—
"WASHINGTON Aug. 30.

"The President's condition has not materially
changed since my last despatch. Another incision
was made this morning in the parotid gland with
very satisfactory results : flows freely and the swell-
ing grows less. The pulse at this hour (2 p.m.) is
lower than during the forenoon, as yesterday, but on
both days it is higher than his other good symptoms
would seem to warrant. It is now 110; at noon it
was 116."

The following cable message was received on Tuesday at
the London office of the .New York Herald
:
"NEW YORK, Noon.

"The President slept the greater portion of the
night. His general condition is the same as at this
time yesterday. lie retains nourishment: pulse 102,
temperatUre 98'5, respiration 18."

The following telegram was received at the American
Legation in London on Wednesday morning :

"The President, if not rapidly advancing, is at least
holding his own. His fever is less than last night,
and his swollen gland steadily improves. His pulse
continues rather high, running this evening from 110
—ll4. Perhaps the best indication in the case is that
the President hitnelf feels better, and his mind is now
perfectly clear. He readily compares one day's pro-
gress with another.
(Signed) "BLAINE, Secretary."