New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-27
PRESIDENT GARFIELD.
HIS CONDITION AGAIN IMPROVING.

n.v-.r LATE HOUR LAST EVENING BETTER
THAN AT ANY TINE FOR FIVE DAYS.
Much alarm and excitement were created at
Washington and elsewhere yesterday by un-
founded reports of unfavOrable changes In the
Presidents condition. The feeling at the White
House was of very different character; II
was known there that irritating substances
had been removed from the wound, to the
great relief of the President whose appetite
was good and whose rest was comfortable.
The physicians and attendants last evening
exhibited more cheerful spirit than they have
dared to show since last Friday, and agreed
that the sick man was undoubtedly better
Secretary Blaine sent a most reassuring dis
patch to Minister Lowell last night.
ADAY OF WILD AND ABSURD RUMORS.
SENSATIONAL STORIES RESPECTING THE PREsI-
DExTs CONDITION PROBABLY INVENTED FOR A
PURPOsE--ANNOYANCE OF TIE PHYSICIANS
THE PRESIDENT CERTAINLY BETTER YESTERDAY.
THAN WAS THE DAY BEFORE-TIIE WOUND
RELIEVED OF IRRITATING SUBSTANCES
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRiBUNEl
WAsHINGIoN July 26.---For three four days,
includ ing to-day Washington has appeared to be at
the mercy of sensational rumor-mongers, and they
have made the most of their opportunity. Accord
irg to Them the doctors had said that the President
would not live an hour; modification had set in ;
important surgical operation had been necessary
md the result had been unsatisfactory, so that
the surgeons refused to give any information con-
cerning it or the Presidents condition; it had been
decided by the surgeons that an attempt must at
once be made to find and extract the bullet last
desperate effort to the Presidents life the flag
on the building occupied by the Department of JUS
tce was at half-mast a sign of the Presidents
death. These are samples of the wild and absurd
rumors which prevailed here for good part of the
IL, &c
stories were teegraphcd hence it is said, to of
The newspapers and to stock operators in New-York
and elsewhere, with the design of affecting the mar
kets
There was no reason whatever for this panic at the
time it occurred 1t is true that the surgeons last
evening were disappointed because the wound did
not discharge more freely; and when the fever re-
Cured about midnight the two surgeons in attend
ance became convinced that it was due to topical
irritation.
Among those who had the best opportunities
for information respecting the Presidents condition
there uneasy feeling, but it did not spread
beyond small circle.
QUIET AT THE WHITE H0UsE-ALARM ELSEWHERE.
The morning bulletin dated at $50 was not reas-
surng. aud having been issued before the dressing OF
the wound 1t contained mention of the removal of
the fragments of bone. No secret was made of this
incident, however, for everybody who took
pains to inquire at the White House was
promptly informed of the occurrence and of the
benefits expected to be derived from it. But the
story of the three black crows was nothing to the
tale which Immediately grew out of this natural
and simple circumstance, and men who are
ordinarily cool swallowed every exaggeration
and appeared to part with their sober senses
Outside the White House gates all was
alarm and confusion; In the Executive Mansion
itself quiet cheerfuness regncd for it was known
that the President had experienced immediate re-
lief from the dressing of his wound and the removal
of the irritating substance. Thus it happened that
while the people of Washington generally were ex-
cited by new fears and wild rumors, the inmates of
the White House and all who chose to 90 there for
trustworthy information were inspired by new
hopes and were reassured by the explanations of
the surgeons.
General Swain. who felt somewhat uneasy re-
spectiug the Presidents condition last evening" was
seen by TRIBUNE correspondent early this after
noon. The General was more cheerful, and in re-
sponse to an inquiry respecting the Presidents con-
dition said :" He much better than he was
yesterday. This morning. when the surgeons were
dressing the wound, they found that the drainage
tube did not enter freely, and discovered that the
obstruction consisted of piece of the fractured rib
One OF the surgeons inserted his finger, and by the
use of forceps and fingers several fragments of bone
were removed. The President experienced imne-
date relief, and has been feeling better ever SINCE
Did the wound discharge more freely this morn
ing than it did last night"
"Yes; there was very comfortable discharge Of
pus this morning The fragments of bone that were
removed this morning prevented free outflow from
the wound. and they probably caused the recur-
renee of fever from which the President suffered
last night. That cause of irritation is now re-
moved.D
"Was the late fever last night preceded by anv
symptoms Of q chill w
No; 1t appeared to he simply the surgical fever.
There was no rigor symptoms of onev
=" lis the President taking more nourishment to-
dayf"
THE PRESIDENTS APPETITE BETTER.
Yes, and he appears to have better appetite
than nc did yesterday OF course he takes no solid
food, but he appears to enjoy what he receives and
his stomach readily assimilstes it,"
AT $50 o'clock this afternoon Postmaster General
james and Colonel Rockwell entered Private Secre-
tary Browns Office from an inner room at the Wbite
House. Both were cheerful and smiling
How do you feel regarding the Presidents cona;.
tion p asked TRIBUNE correspondent of the post-
master-General.
p" feel encouraged and happy" was the reply
" Have you seen any of the doctors 7"
No; but Colonel Rockwell has satisfied Inc that
the President is doing we'll"
The correspondent asked Colonel Rockwell what
made him hopeful, and he replied as follows: oh.
The President is feeling much better he has been
gaining all day he has taken more nourishment
and had no fever to speak Of 1 left him an hour
lgo' and he had then been sleeping quiet, dream
less sleep for an hour without so much as moving a
nnser. mere was no starting, no stentorious
breathing but it was like the sleep of n man in
health.v " i'
" You think the Presidents condition ia vorv hors
tul thensn wy A'opo-