National Republican., 1881-08-23
TALK WITH DIR. VERDI.
ue ThInEs II Is Py~min aud the Copdi.
alon Critical.

WON AFANNNnhs
DIR. I. S. Verdi, who was at one time
the family physician Of President Garfield, was
asked last night by representative of THE
REPUBLICAN what he Thought Of the Presidents
condition. The Doctor replied:
81 consider Il somewhat presumptious to give
decided opinion Of n case which is not before me
still, as q medical man, have formed my opinion,
based upon the knowledge given by the bulletins
issued by the medical attendants. l consider the
case, and may rs well say have always con-
sidercd IL, as one Of a very critical character The
Developments In tho last four weeks demonstrate
to my mind that there is absorption Of pus or, in
other words, py@mia. The debility, the
constant fever. the nervous irritability
OF his stomach, the restlessness and the swelling
Of the glands, show clearly to my mind there is
absorption OF poison. As an homeopathic physi-
clan, look upon the constant administration of
morphia with dsfavor, for with n susceptible
patient like the President, whose constitution
know very we'll; having been his family physician
In former times, the administration of NOR
phine would be sufficient to cause irrita-
bility OF the stomach. AS to the condition
Of the wound itself scarcely dare give an opin-
ion, as my knowledge OF tho same must be very
limited, not having actually seen IL. But this
constant flow fpus, IL not due 10 the presence Of
the bullet in the lilac fossa region must be due TO
some other irritating substances, such as spi-
culm OF bone, or some other foreign substances"
"Irow long does pyumia lastg" asked THE RE-
PUBLICAN.
Generally pygmia comes in an acuto form.
prostrating the patient very rapidly; but there
have been many cases occurring where pycmia
has lasted months before death has occurred
"what do you consider the actual condition Of
the President todayr'
His present condition could not bo more criti-
cal II Is evident that amer every aggravation OF
hte nj a.,
gerous. The loss Of vitality is apparent every
time, and as there must be limit even to such a
good constitution as that Of President Garfield,
| these cxcesses cannot continue very long without
| depriving him oflife"
"What Is your opinion Of the treatment of tho
| caso?'
"As TO that. have great sympathy for tho
physicians attending. They are on the ground
and. as n whole. they are men OF distinguished
ability feel, therefore, somewhat reserved as to
passing judgment on their conduct from outside
The demands OF people surrounding patient In n
critical condition arc often unreasonable. Mcdi-
cine or surgery not exact sciences, and there
| fore we must trust their judgment so long
as their honor is not discredited. I have
no doubt that those gentlemen have done
the best they could orthe President, though other
physicians may differ with them. It is easier TO
find fa ult than TO correct errors have been too
often at the bedside Of patient where / felt the
injustice OF those who would pass judgment on
me without positive knowledge ofthe case"
"Do you think that il would have been better for
the President IL he had been taken away from tho
city?'
81 do, decidedly II seems 10 me he might have
been taken 10 the Soldiers Homo on n stretcher
made for the purpose and carried by relay of
men without damaging the patient. The air is
much purer there and the nights cooler. know
TINT protracted cnscs of disease In the CITY of
Washington arc liable 10 take an intermittent
form, showing the depression of absorbing ma
larIal poisoning. This chance should have been
given him"
"Is II too late nowY
at is never toolate TO give pure mir to sick man.
unless the transportation TO It'll sun oient to de-
stroy his life in so doing