Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1881-09-19
BLlssrUL CONSERVATIVES.

BLlssTUL CONSERVATIVES.
Throughout the progress Of the Presi'
dents case, as reported fully. deliberately
and critically by telegraph. the cautious
conservatism OF Doctor Bliss has been Q
very observable feature. He has always
been carefully attentive and vatchiul,
studying deliberately each feature.
symptom and condition Of the case 10
newly developed. and varying his treat.
ment accordingly. Having foil com.
msnd a. chief Of the medical stan. his
was the rule and the responsibility.
Always hopeful when Others dsspaired'
be has e~ndssvorsd to put the best face
upon even the most desperate symptoms
and episodes Of the case. Perhaps this IL
Why 90 many Of the thousands Of pro-
fsssionsl and capable judges in the
matter. who are carefully watching and
studying this intensely and nationally In
tsrestipg case are constantly and with
apparent reason accusing Bliss OF being
behind the times. With his ideas and
conception Of the Presidents case never
fully up to the actual condition. Bliss has
never anticipated anything, but each
new and dangerous phase developed has
come a. . surprise to him. His dosnat-
zeal professional pride has perhaps in
fusnced him somewhat. He has wished
the first announcements Of new symp-
toms and features developed In the case
to como officially from hi@self to the
public. but somehow he has been fore
stalled every time BY the press. on tho
authority Of other physicians. and more
prompt informants.
When tho suggestion was made. shortly
after the President was shot. to emove
him to q more healthy locality. Bliss op-
posed and prevented Il. saying that the
patient could not stand II. that the
removal would DO the death Of him.
The formation Of even the first pus sac
OF cavity In the back. proceeding from
the wound. was q surprise to him. a.
was also the broken rib. revealed by the
pieces Of bone working themselves out.
When the parotid gland svelled. his
attention was called to IL and he reeog.
nirsd the enlargement. yet never 40.
counted for il correctly. He said u
would not amount to much. But 1t did.
Subsequently, other ~glandular sores sp.
pssrinR on various parts OF the body.
and other unmistsksbls symptoms. in
duced the medical fraternity to assert
that pysmis or blood poisoning had set
in. Bliss indignantly repealed the idea.
until at last the fact became 90 plain that
he vas obliged to admit 1t. By degrees
IL Was several days ago rumored that the
Presidents lungs were being affected,
and that an abscess was forming. but
Bliss stou,ly denied the proposition until
within the past week. when he conclud-
ed that such was actually tho case.
He has given several reasons for the
high range and violent fluctuations Of
the pulse. being the last to attribute l,
to chronic or acute blood poisoning, or
the formation OF new abscsssss.
AL the time, a. before remarked. Bliss
has been always hopefal. and confident
OF finally overcoming each and all the
newly appearing and developing fee.
lures and detrimental complications. in
his bulletins giving pulse. temperature
and respiration in the most i~mpsrturba-
bly, msthodiesl manner. stating that the
patient was progressing finely; doing
u well as could be expected" etc. He
has kept right straight along. attending
closely to tho case, and still does so, re-
ssrdlsss OF all outside professional jssl.
ousy. The following anscdOte regarding
him. now going the rounds, which.
whether True or not. is both illustrative
. Q well as rather amusing:
When Bliss was q medical student he
was noted for his sauguins disposition.
At one time there was o bad case OF
Asiatio cholera In the hospital. Tho
doctors were certain that the patient
would die, but Bliss was confident that
the man would GET well. Finding that
Bliss took o great interest In the case,
the house surgeon set him to watch the
patient and report symptoms. Bliss
began his watch OF 8 p. u. The bulle.
tins which he sent to the house surgeon
were a. follows:
Or. M.-Ths patients condition has
slightly improved since you saw him.
Have administered two full doses Of the
medicine prescribed. His pulse ct
present Is ca. respiration l6. tempera-
turs 95. He refuses TO take nourish-
ment. but have poured three cups Of
bssf tea down his throat. which has been
retained. Ten p. M.-Ths patient 10
resting quietly. apparently much better.
A slieht convulsion was Noticed zoe
after the 0 o'clock report. since which
he has seemed free from pain. He
VENTED shortly after the bulletin
was sent you. which evidently afforded
him great relief. An enema OF eight
ounces OF beef tea and q halt dozen
eggs had been administered. The pulse
has been ~singularly calm. and Is not per-
osptibls ct the wrist. Tho patient ap-
pears to BE- holding his breath. The
temperature has risen to los, which /
regard - . hopeful indication. Twelve
p. N.-Ths patient continues to rect
quietly and Is sleeping soupdly without
anodynss. he has apparently been free
from pain for the last two hours, but
has obstinstsly refused to answer ques-
lions. Three enemata have been adj
ministsred. all Of which have been
retained. A rigor came on about II