Daily Republican., 1881-08-19
DIR. EEYBURN'S OPINION.


WASHINGToN, Aug. lS.-Early this
evening DR.. Reyhurn was asked his
opinion of the Presidents condition,
whereupou the following dialogue en-.
sued
"rhe President is doing very well
Does he experience much inronve-
nience from the inflammation referred
to in the noon bulletin''
ale has considerable pain in his neck
which is the result OF the intlamed
gland"
"Weli, doctor, what is the cause of
this inflammation? How do you eX-
plain it,"
at is the result of extreme debility"
"Do not similar symptoms manifest
themselves in typhoid fever
"They do, but inflammation of the
rarotid gland also frequently occurs in
cases where PATIENTS are in II state Of
excessive debility from other causes y
"Has the President taken nourish-
ment during the day"
eyes, sir. He has been taking
koumiss in small quantities all day
HAS he experienced any trouble in
retaining it?"
"No, none whatever. He has retained
it all"
"Do you think the President is better
than he was yesterday %
"He is ~ we'll as we could reasonably y
expect, and think he is getting along
nicely
At the time of this interview, pre-
vious to the issuance of the evening
bulletin, the patients pulse, although
not taken accurately, was not Thought
to be any higher than when the noon
bulletin was issued, namely, lOS.
After the evening bulletin came ont
there was a perceptible feeling of grati-
tication among these who came to the
Executive Mansion to await it. DR..
Rey burn, when asked what he thought
OF the increased temperature, said "lt
was not considered a. an unfavorable
indication inasmuch as it shows that
tie patient has considerable vitality
left"
"On the whole, doctor, do you con-
cider the President better to-day than
yesterday ?"
"Yes," replied the doctor. "he is bet
ter to day"
"Do you still keep up the enenata,
DOCTOR"
ooh, yes, but we will not discontinue
the enemata yet awhile
"Has the President taken anything
else besides koumiss to-day %
"Yes, he swallowed two tablespoon
fuls of milk cruel which was prepared
by Mrs. Garfield" .
"Did he retain it all ?"
"Every bit of it.
DR.. Boynton, who remained in Secre-
tary Browns room a short time this
evening, was asked how he accounted
for the Inflammation of the parOtid
gland, in reply to which he said 81
think it is septicnmia ; it certainly is
not pymMia."
During tie course of further cOnver-
sation the doctor explained his version
of septlcmmia, which was, In substance
that it was caused in this case by the
condition of the presidents blood. Ac-
cording to his theory the same affection
is liable to occur in cases Of diptheria,
scarlet or typhoid fevcrs, and in fact,
in any dis ase which renders the blood
unhealthy. The doctor was asked ii he
apprehended any serious results from
the new complication.
"Oh, no." said he, "it has spent its
fury and | think 1t will pass away
nOw."
The doctor did not attribute the intlam-
nation to the condition ofthe wound,
inasmuch as the parotld gland IL not
an absorbing but secreting gland. 1t
is true, however, that the discharge
from the wound might influence the ir-
ritation to a certain extent. According
tn the theories advanced by the attend
ing surgeons and other prominent mem-
bers OF the medical profession, however,
the case may he summed up with the
statement that the parotid gland secretes
the saliva, and that when no nour-
ishment is taken in the natural way for
a time, there is no demand made upon
the saliva, and it therefore naturally
secretes itself in the parOtid gland, and
after remaining there too long causes
According to this the
ory it is fair to assume that the seeds OF
the complications were SoWn during
the time the patient was unable to take
in the natural way, and
now that he ha, been able to retain
what he had swallowed, the saliva is
drawn upon again, and the irritation
will probably gradually decrease. or
course, there are different views on the
subject, but this theory compared with
the number advanced, appears to be the
one most generally accepted by those
who have watched the case closely. |