The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-07-30 00:00:00

PRESIDENT GARFIELD.

A report of President Garfield's death was circulated last
Saturday on the New York Stock Exchange. Much excite-
ment prevailed, and prices declined. ' The report was un-
founded. A telegram from Washington in the Daily News,
dated the 24th, says :

_
Yesterday, just three weeks from the attempt on
his life, the President suffered a severe chill, followed
by fever, the pulse being 130. The consulting surgeons
were summoned. The wound was found to be ob-
structed near the opening, while suppuration of the
deeper parts continued, causing partial cessation of
the discharge and the formation of pus in the cavity.
This gave rise to the chill, fever, and nausea. In the
afternoon the obstruction gave way, the outflow of pus
was freer, and the unfavourable symptoms began to
subside.

The official bulletin this morning says the President
was rather restless during the night. At 8 a.m. the
pulse was 98, temperature 984, respiration 18. A
consultation of the surgeons was held, with Doctors
Hamilton and Agnew, after which a counter opening
was made through the integument of the back three
inches below the wound to facilitate the drainage of
the pus. The patient bore the operation well. Dr.
Bliss says that more chills may occur, but the counter
opening will lessen their frequency and severity.
The condition of the patient at noon was reassuring.
He was sleeping quietly. He had no stimulants dur-
ing the operation, but afterwards took some nourish-
ment with relish, and said his feet were relieved. At
3.30 this afternoon he had taken more nourishment,
and was resting quietly. The attending physicians
are hopeful.

In a telegram from Philadelphia, dated July 25, the
Correspondent of The Times writes :

The President's physicians express gratification at his con-
dition this morning. He had no chill but slept well during
the night. The physicians at 830 this morning bulletined
that the President passed a more comfortable night. He
has had no rigour since that reported on Sunday morning.
He is doing well this morning. His pulse is 98 ; the
temperature, 284 ; and his respiration, 18. The phy-
sicians on Sunday night reported that the President
was much relieved by the surgical operation, the pus
discharging satisfactorily through the new opening. They
think that the crisis caused by the forms.tion of the new pus
cavity has been passed. The following explains the nature
of the operation performed, Dr. Agnew being the surgeon:
lhe ball after entering the body, took a direction forward
and slightly downward until it struck a rib; then it deflected
further downward and somewhat to the right. When a
probe was introduced into the wound to a depth of 31in. its
inner end was about liin. from the outside of the body at
a point lower down. The examination made on Sunday
morning showed that the pus cavity had formed near and
beyond that point where the ball glanced from the rib, and
that this cavity could be reached by direct incision 3in. below
the mouth of the wound. The operation was immediately
performed. No ananthetics ware used, but the part operated
upon was benumbed by a spray of ether. A wide cut was made
into the pus cavity, which was reached at a depth of little
over an inch. With the aid of a probe and forceps,
a drainage tube of flexible rubber, perforated with holes, was
Introduced Into the wound, and after being carried through
the pus cavity, Was brought out through the new incision,
one end of the tube projecting from the wound, the other
end trona the incision. As the pus oozed into the tube, it
escaped from eithei end, being washed out with
a weak solution of carbolic acid and water, and
thrown through the tube in a stream. The discharge
following the opening of the pus cavity was entirely
satisfactory to the surgeons, being soon followed by tke relief
of the patient. The drainage tube remains as originally
placed, and will remain there for the present. If the dis-
charge is free through the new opening, the tube may be
withdrawn from the old one, allowing it to heal. The in-
cision is in a direct line with the deeper parts of the
wound. The probability is that another pus cavity will
not form. No indication has been given of any blood poison-
ing, and the pus continues to be healthy.

Private telegrams received in London on Tuesday,
and dated from Washington the previous afternoon,
give an unfavourable report of the President's health,
and express much anxiety as to the result.