The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-07-24
slowly improved for several hours past,
but is still q cause for anxiety. The
consulting physicians have arrived. .

slowly improved for several hours past,
but is still cause for anxiety. The
consulting physicians have arrived +.
The explanation given by the attend
ing surgeons of the unfavorable symp-
toms which manifested themselves in
the presidents case to-day, are briefly
as follows: Some time during the night
or early this morning, the patients
wound, which had for several days been
discharging freely, became obstructed,
at or near the inner end of the drain
age tube. while the process Of suppur-
ration In the deeper parts Of the wound
continued. A partial or complete pus
cavity was thus formed, and the dis
charge from the mouth Of the wound
had rearly ceased. The natural result
of this state OF things was chill, fol-
lowed by high fever, the patient's pulse
rising to q maximum of about $50, and
his temperature TO 104. As rigor fol-
lowed by increased fever is sign of
pymmia or the formation Of On abscess,
and of other unfavorable complica-
tions, it caused at iirst good deal of
anxiety. Careful examination, how
ever, of'the pus discharged by the
wound, showed that its character was
perfectly normal and healthy, and SO
far as appeared from the patients
general condition, all indications of
pYemia were absent. These facts re-
lievsd at once the fear of blood poison
ing. An external examination was
then made of the abdominal and hepatic
regions, with q view to ascertaining
whether there were any signs of an
abscess at the supposed location OF the
bullet. No unusual tenderness was
found in that part of the body, or any
other indication of a changed condi-
tion. From these facts, taken in con-
nection with the scanty outflow Of pus,
the conclusion was drawn that the OBJ
struction existed near the inner end Of
the drainage tube, which prevented q
free discharge. This imprisonment of
pus, technically known as a formation
Of ''pus cavity" is entirely adequate to
explain the chill and fever, since they
are its natural and inevitable conse-
quences. It was at first thought that
the obstruction might be the result of
the process of healing, which had
wholly or in part closed the wound be-
tween the end Of the drainage tube. and
the deeper suppurating surface. Early
in the afternoon, however, the obstruc-
tion wholly or partially gave way, and
the outflow Of pus became freer; the
nausea from which the patient has
suffered subsided, and he obtained re-
lief. This proved that the obstruction
had not been of permanent charac-
ter. This evening at the dressing of
the wound the discharge Of pus was
quite as copious as usual, and since that
time the patients fever has steadily
abated, and at the present hour no
p. m.l his pulse has fallen to JOG, and
he is sleeping quietly. t-AE
The consulting surgeons, Agnew and
Hamilton, do not regard the situation
as grave as they feared, and expressed
renewed confidence.
The following was sent tonight to
the Union League club, of New York:
At this hour no o'clock) the presi-
dent is sleeping quietly. Pulse LOG,
with manifest subsistence of the dis
quieting symptoms Of to-day.
THos. L. JAMES.
The following was sent to Lowell,
American minister at London:
At ten tonight the presidents symp-
toms are better; the pulse. temperature
and respiration have Improved. The
distressing nausea has left, and there
is no appearance of chills.
(Signed), BLAINE.