The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-08-26
WHERE IGNORANCE Is BLISS IT'S
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POLLY TO BE wIsl

sicisns of the presiien! when pressed to ex
plain the different complications Of bis cast
as they appear from time TO time, producing
fresh anxiety in the public mind. For in
stance, DR.. Bliss, when called on to give ;h'
cause of the parotid gland swelling, said tha
agood theory to assume was that during th'
time that the enemas were being given, anC
food by the mouth was suspended
there might have been retention
of the natural secretions in The
gland thereby causing Its dis,ention. Now
we submit to the learned doctor the following
interrogstory: If his very ingeniou, theory
as to the cause of the swellingof the psfotid
gland in the presidents case be correct, how
large ought the same gland to have been ia
The case of DR.. Tanner and Griscom, the late
fasters, who did not taste food for perio d
OF forty days or morel We would also ask
the very reasonable question why both
parotid glanfs were no. enlarged, seeing tina,
both were subjected to tho same disturbing
influence? Tho events of the last four DAYS
have, however, demonstrated how utterly
untenable such theory was, all efforts TO
disperse the swelling having failed and sup
Duration takiog place. as is almost the inev.
table rule under these circumstances, show
log that this symptom of Swelling of the
p,rotid gland" in such conditions is a
much more serious affair than was claimed
by DIR. Bliss, who should have admitted the
fact, if he was aware of it. We
have always understood that in all
typhoid states, if you please, in
which patient may have been precipitsted
from any cause. shonld swelling make its
appearance in front OF tho eur and extend it.
self down the Geek, indicating suppurstion OF
The structure OF the parotid gland, which j.
almost certain 10 occur, thore is cause for
the gravest spprehensions. Such complics-
tion, we believe to be dreaded by all expert.
enced, we'll informed physicians. Speaking
OF this complication in typhoid fever, Leber>
meister. says; at is almos! always confined
to the most severe cases, and is bad prog.
noslic sign" Now just why an abeess in
this situation should prove 60 disastrous for
ths patient, we must leave for the
medical profession to decide since they will
give us no data out of which we can form
any opinion rs 10 the essential nature Of the
affection and the effect this may have on The
system at large. What is the connection,
we ask, that exists between the wound, the
nausea, and the parotd swelling are not
doctors in the habit of dealing with such
problem as this, which must arise in the
course of practice almost every day. II
strikes us however that here is the solu.
Ion of the whole difficulty. Now
ZONE, DR.. Bliss, so loquaciou,, 50 verbose,
give US the answer. Is the parotd swelling
symptom of sepsi c@mis, pyaemis, ichor>
haemia, or in plain terms is it blood poison
ng, the result of absorption Of something
rom the track of the wound! Surely the
cen.ifc medical profession which deals with
UGH questions daily can give us the answer;
ut We look in vain through the bulletins
rom the sick room to satisfy our minds on
he most vital points in the presidents Gaze
l ia true something has been said
I debility Us the cause, but
Thy such gres. debility. Does the latter re.
alt from an excessive suppuration? We are
I'D that granulations have appeared at =
oint three inches from the entrance of the
ound, indicating that the lsrget extent of
10 bullet track has healed. We are also
Id that there is very little sappuraton now,
ID this is of q healthy, character. Then
wv can the discharge from The wound pro.
ice so much debility Ia she debility the
suit of the protrsc!ed fever! We have
Town of parties sick OF fever in our mids, ,
r much longer time and with
much higher Temperature than
as recorded in the presidents
$50 and no suoh debility result. Is l.
used by malarisl poisoning as has been
lggssted1 Now, We haze been informed
lat there have been marked heedomsdsl or
ptensry periods Of relapse in the case, ia
csting a mslarial Affection, so 10 speak
Vsro these hebdomadal gelapses insugursted
y Ohills followed by high ievers? Was aot
70 fever in the presidents case remiueai in
naracter but not on that account necams-
ly mslarisll Billroth says of such ssser,
connection with wounds: ut 10 generally
( a remitiing type" He also says, that
ich fevers are usually accompanied ~ low
,mperature. "Itdoes not rise much above
o. TO 1882" The temperature in the pres.
Tents case has o1ly once reached la2l-2e
or the most Of sss time being much below
hat point, But how 10 Il with, nalarial
,vers We have examined TO &c., and find
hat they are usually Of sudden occurrence
nd followed by high temperature Wocan-
10. conclude, therefore, that malsrial intec-
ion has worked much injury to .he president
It least by producing the extreme debility |
indes which the patient undoubtedly lahore,
whatever relation this may lear 10 the 9TH
" Symphonic. Does debility cause sbcessesg |
Does debility osuse almost iDirac,able nausea
ire some Of tho Ques,ions which, suggesting
themselves to u practical public, have been