Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-07-05
LIFE OR DEATH.
THE PRESIDENTS CONDITION.
HOPING FOR THE BEST
And Yet Fearing tho Worst.

And Yet Fearing tho Worst.
The condition of President Garfield dur
ing Sunday night and yesterday morning
was not such as to strengthen materially
the little hope held out for his recovery.
AS the day advanced, however, the fact
that the alarming symptoms of the night
before had not increased, but We're tenn
porarily modified for the better, gave re-
newed encouragement. The president ut
one time stated that he felt better than at
any time since he was shot. Toward
nightfall the condition was not so good.
He was not suffering SO much from the
pain in his feet, but the unwelcOme tym-
panites were still present. His pulse had
risen to 1876, his temperature to 1919 and
his respiration to "a. At ten o'clock an
amelioratiOn Of the symptoms was noticed;
there had been no vomiting during that
period. His pulse was 124, and tempera
| ture one hundred and one and respiration
twenty-four. No further detailed bulle-
tins, it was announced, would be issued
until morning. but at midnight it was an
nounced that the pulse and temperature
were lower and the brave patient was
sleeping. 1t is the opinion of the doctors
that the crisis will be reached sometime
to-day. They decline to give positive pre-
diction of the chances of the president,
but do not shut out hope.
| The doctors lave Guarreled, it appears,
but, so far rs can be learned, it is not on
the question of treatment.
| Tho assassin, Guiteau, was visited by
his brother-in-law yesterday, and adheres
to his original statement of being the sole
actor in the tragedy from inception to per-
petratiOn. The detectives, however, arc
hunting for plot.
| Universal sympathy.
kilograms in countless numbers have
been pouring into the executive mansion
and the state department from the United
States, from Canada, from every country
in Europe. The president and his cabinet
have been especially touched and gratified
by the evidences of affection and sympathy
which have come from all parts of the
South. Hundreds Of kilograms coming
from every Southern state from Virginia
to Texas, and representing both sexes and
all classes of the Southern people, have
been received and still continue to come
The Physicians Quarrel.
When the news of the tragedy first went
abroad physicians were summoned from
every quarter, almost at random, and
within half an hour the wounded presi-
dent was surrounded by a full dozen of
practitioners, all of them of the old school
however Dr. Susan Edison is Il hOmnop-
athist, and she is Mrs. Garfield's physi-
clan. The position of family physician
seems scarcely determined, although it is
claimed by, and by some accorded to, Col
Jediah II. Baxter, NJ d., United States
army, who holds the further position Of
sDe
States army. He has attended the presi-
dent and his sons, and on one occasion
treated his daughter, and since Gen. Gar
fields accession to the high Office, pre-
scribed for him. lie was, however, away
at the time the shooting occurred, but
heard Of it through the press dispatches
carly in the afternoon. He ut once started
for Washington, and travelled Saturday
night from Williamsport, Pa. near which
place he was staying. He drove ut once
to the house and entered the room where,
ut the very time, u consultation was being
held. Present 1T it were DIR. d. w. Bliss,
Of accorded high reputation in the surgica!
branch of his profession; Surgeon General
Wales, of the navy; DIR. Townshcnd, DR..
PattisOn, coroner of the District Dr.. Ham
iltOn, surgeon general Of the Marine hos
pital service: DR.. II. s. Lincoln, DR..
Woodward, United States Army DR.. Nor
ris, United States Army DR.. GunnclI,
United States Navy; DIR. Purvis, DIR. Park
Or DIR. Reyburn and one or two others.
Probing for the Bullet
The consultation had been based on DR..
BIiss's reports of the condition OF the
patient. None of the others had seen him
that morning, and DR.. Bliss had given in
much detail the situation of affairs.
Saturday night there had bee,, little tiff
} between the surgeon general of the navy
and DR.. Bliss that had caused the othe,
doctors present to elevate their eyebrows
aud look for some further issue. When
DR.. Bliss arrived on the scene he took pos
session of the case in Il way with which he
is identified in the minds of his brother
practitioners, and which by some at
j least is spoken of his arrogant and
dictatoral. He was explaining to the
other doctors that he had used the probe
, very carefully and had touched the pistol
ball. Surgeon General Wales had said
I" You should, think, have inserted yo,ll
little finger to discover tine course of the
, bullet" DIR. Bliss made no direct answer
and DR.. Wales carried out his own slgges
! ton and brought to light some features
that are understood to have an important
bearing on the case, and in the light OF
:. which the course OF treatment was chang.
ell. On Sunday morning tho physicians
who had been called in consultation came
with All expectation Of seeing the patient
but were met by DR.. Bliss, who informed
them that everything had been done, and
3 he was now able to secure the presiden,
! that degree of quiet that he so mucl
f needed by telling them all about it
t Nothing was said, and the consultation
went forward, and When it was finished
Dr. Bliss said there would be another in
l the afternoon. All Of them left then but
Drs. Reybu:n and Baxter.
Quarrel i:ctwcen I:liss ant. Baxtcr.
What ensued is thus described by an eye
witness
Dr. Baxter said 81 will now go in will
S you and see the PRESIDENT
" What for - quered DIR. Bliss.
"Why, l am the family physician" &c
Q Piled DIR. Baxter, in apparent surprise
} "And how did you find that out prayo'
, asked DR.. Bliss.
81 don't understand what you mean,' -
replied DIR. Baxter, hotly. "Explain
, YOURSELF
, 81 mean," was DR.. Bliss's answer
''that you are always sneaking around
trying to prescribe to some official. Now,
: you want to steal this case from me-that'.
your game"
!, "Sir :" said DR.. Baxter, advancing to.
! ward him.
!. "Tbat is the exact fact" interrupted
; Bliss. You are always seeking to pre-.
scribe for those in authority-any one who