New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-09
NEW DISCHARGE CHANNEL MADE.


A NEW DISCHARGE CHANNEL MADE.
THE OPERATION PERFORMED AS MEASURE of
pprCNyrION-How THE PATIENT BORE HIMSELF
THE PHYSICIANS EXPRESS THEMSELVES
CIFERFULIY AS TO THE REsULr-DR hAMiLloN
SAYS THERE is NO CAUSE FOR ALARM AND NE
TURNS TO NEw-YoRK
Try TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, Aug S.-Sunday night, au tni"RS
consdered WAS one of the best nights the fresldeht
had passed since the relapse OF two weeks ago. s
That is to saw he exhibited less restlessness ana an
the outward indications in the case renamed sa'S
factory One reason for this 1T has been learned To-
dav was the removal of the drainage tube from the
wound at the Sunday evening dressing. III seems
that the process of granulatOn had so far advanced
in the channel made by DIR. Agnew's first mcisioh
that Yesterday il was difficult to insert the three
,iphts inch tube which had been in constant use
Added to the annoyance of this contraction OF the
channel the ribs either side prevented the press
ing back of the flesh which thus became necessary
if the tube was to be inserted. and hence the mev-
table conclusion that 1t the narrowing OF tins
channel and its attendant circumstances that had
been threatening serious delay To the discharge Oh
nus and caused the slight but gradual Increase III
each nights febre symptoms.
Dr. Agnew, i'll subStantiation of this idea, called
attention to the recent diurna increase of the febre
rise as in itself an Indication that the flow OF pus,
though apparently satisfactory. not rs good as
it ought to be. A slight rise to be expected III
such cases every evening, but an increasing
rise was an indication of something wrong
When the tube cleaned in the morn
ing and the wound had been drained, the tenn
perature remained satisfactory, and so continued
until the flow began to delay. The temperature
then increased usually until time for the evening
dressing when the clearing operations having been
repeated the temperature again subsidized 1t dld not
rise so much between the night and morning dress
ings because the patient more quiet and was
subjected TO less irritation. Thus, Dr. Agnew ar
gued, the system of draining the wound was not as
perfect as it should be. The other physicians
agreed with him, and then followed the suggestion
of the remedy The original channel of the wound
was nearly healed up. the channel made by the first
incision was closing, and the position of the ribs
prevented its being properly reopened.
What was needed opening where there
would be no bindrance to its remaining useful dur
ing the entire progress of the Such an open
ing in the opinion of the physicians, could be made
below the twelfth rib and then 1t was decided to
make it. In iurtherance of this idea the drainage
tube was not again inserted after the Sunday even
ing dressing. and the consequent good rest enjoyed
by the patient put him in better condition for the
operation in the morning
All the physicians arrived at the White House
about half an hour earlier than usual. With them
went Mr. Taintor, electrician and assistant to Pro-
fessor A. Graham Bell. He took with him double
cell battery, with which test was made of several
electric probes. 1t had been thought that one
Of these probes might be used in exploration of the
wound to-day, but it not deemed advisable to
dc So aud they held in readiness for possible
future necessity. The examination Of the patient
revealed a condition in every way favorable to the
proposed operation. After this condition had beer
made public by the morning bulletin the physicians
reassembed in the sick room. DR.. BLISS Informed
the President that they had decided that certain
operation was necessary and that it was though th
had better be placed under the influence Of ether
He made no objection, and the ana,sthetic was ad
minstcred,by Dr. Reyburn.
AN OPERATION PEKFORMED By DIR. AGNEw.
When the drug had secured it's influence Dr. AZ
new took delicate instrument with curved eN
tremity and passed it through the old channel owe
the rib and down until the end could be discoverc
below the rib. lie then held this instrument in r'to
with his left hand, and taking the knife in his
inserted it in the former opening and cut downw I
and inward until the knife met the other instrum 4
below the nib. Thus channel opened "a
the discharge of pus and one that can be kept cea
so that no further trouble need be expected fr0l
this cause The new inciSion is about three and
half inches deep and the new tube which was il
serted inclines downward from the inner channel
the wound About two ounces of accumul tie
pus taken from secretion With
the rib and the flow was prccecdn
nicely when fresh dressings were applied III
operation performed soon after o'clock an
it was decided not 10 disturb the patient again unit
evening
The President soon rallied from the effects of Il
ether, and asked what had been done. DR.. Bliss i
formed him that the old incison had been cnlarg
to facilitate the flow of pus.
"Is it all right f' asked the President.
''Yes indeed" replied Dr. Bliss, and the Preside
seemed satisfied. For time after the Operati
the President suffered from nausea, but that su
sided in due time and he rested comfortably In {
afternoon he paTtook of light nour SHINE
with fair relish and seemed to enjoy
maps At the conclusion of the operati
the pulsation 1lS but by 1890 p M. it h
fallen to 100. The temperature and reSpirati
We're not taken again until evening but his ley
curing the day was not severe.
DR. HAMILTON SAYS THFKR is NO CAUSE FOR AIAI
After luncheon DR.. Hamilton decided to return
New-York. Before he started for the depot he 81
the President was doing we'll aud would be bet
for the operation.
Then you think the trouble has been met, d
torf he asked.
Well there was no trouble" replied the s
geon We made the incision to avoid trouble"
Ana you satisfied with the result ~
Pertectly," the answer.
Dr. Hamilton further said that there ca
Tor alarm, and that he should not go home if til
was danger.
Dr. Bliss stated at / p. IN. that the Presid
sto9d the operation nobly. 1t is on his satem
tiiat the foregoing description of the operation
uaseu. Dr. Bliss said that Dr. AgneY perfOrn
sie VPeIaton at his request. lie said, too, that
ISsnlt was very satisfactory and that 1t ho
'hat no more trouble of this kind would arise.
DIR AGNEws STATEMENTS TO SECRETARY BIAI
pr. Agnew was asked by Secretary Blaine a
p. IN. how tho President was doing
AS well as could be eypectedn was the ansv