Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-12-08
As TOLD BY BLISS.
Surgeon Bliss Story of President
Garfield's Illness.

Surgeon Bliss Story of President
Garfield's Illness.
The Century.
The morning of the Sd of July found
him comparatively cheerful and hope.
tnl, and with full appreciation of bis
surroundings. After the morning con-
sultatlon, and the dressing of the
wound, having at my request decided
upon his permanent professional at
tendance, he desired me to thank indi-
vidually the physicians who came to
his assistance so promptly. In the
evening it was decided to summon the
distinguished counsel from Philadel-
phia and New York, Drs. d. Hayes
Agnew and Frank H. Hamilton. The
time which passed until the 23d of
July, when the first rigor occurred, was
remarkable chiefly for the quiet, cool
determination of the sufferer. at this
time, as Is known, simple but painful
operation was rendered necessary by
the formation of a superficial pus sac.
When, after consultation, i informed
the president of the intention to use
the knife, he, with unfailing cheerful
ness, replied: Every well; whatever
you say is necessary must be done"
When the physicians entered the room
handed the bistoury to one of the
counsel, with the request that he make
the incisiOn. Without an anas hetic
and without a murmur or a muscular
contraction by the patient, the incision
was made. He quietly asked the re-
suits of the operation and soon sank
into peaceful slumber. This opera
ton, though simple in itself, was pai l..
1ul, and the manner in which it wa
borne by the president in his enfeebled
condition was, perhaps, as good an in
stance as any of the wonderful nervous
control which characterized his whole
illness.
When the stomach failed, resort was
mad TO other modes of administering
food, which were repeated at proper
intervals for four or five DAYS. at several
periods of his illness. We saw him
slipping from our hands through inani-
ton. We suspected and dreaded some
internal injury which no mortal could
have dared to explore. We sought
every avilable means of supplying
waste known to modern physiological
science. Why we could not finally sue
ceed is shown by the autopsy. During
all, the president intelligently discussed
each condition with me. He often
spoke with feeling wonder of the mar
velous aids which science could and
did give sufferer in his condition.
saying on one occasion, "What relief
these so-called artificial methods of
nourishment have given mel We
should be thankful that science has so
advanced that we can avail ourselves
of it in this crisis"
About ten days after the first SUBJ
scription was made to the fund for
Mrs. Garfield, some one in the house
hold informed him that a large sum of
money was being raised for her in the
event of his demise. At this he was
very much surprised and said: 'What p
adding with evident emotion, as he
turned his face to the pillow: "How
kind and thoughtful What a generous
people! He was then silent and alb
sorbed for long time, as ifoverwhelmed if
with the thought. l never heard him
allude TO the subject afterward.
The fatigues of the trip Ito Elberon)
was shown in the pulse and also in the
facial expression; but the president ex-
pressed himself as glad to be at the
lake shore, and was inclined to think
he ought to have been moved before.
His satisfaction was evident to all. The
sound of the waves, the salt and brac-
ing air, all afforded him the greatest
delight. For eight or ten days his con-
dition visibly and continuously i'm
proved. Upon the evening of the 18th
of September a noticeable change took
place-a more frequent pulse, higher
temperature, and increasing feebleness,
all indicated deep-seated mischief.
which his physicians could not localize,
but could not recognize symptomatic-
ally as due to the general septic condi-
ton.
On this day l was absent from him
for five hours, the only occasion on
which 1 left him during the eighty
days. L left him comfortable, and on
returning from New York found him
only presenting the sign of fatigue
usual at that hour Is p. NJ. Upon my
return he held out his hand, and at.
tempted the familiar smile. 1 said:
"Mr. President, have been away for
five hours, as you know, but they seemed
like an age"
He answered:
doctor, you plainly show the effect
of all this care and unrest, and 1 am
glad you were forced to take this tenn
porary relief. Your anxious watching
will soon be over"
think that then, and probably long
before, the president fully believed that
he could not survive.
Upon the day before his death he
addressed Col. Rockwell as follows:
"Old boy, do you think my name will
have place in human history"
The colonel answered.
'Yes, a grand one, but a grander
place in human hearts. Old fellow.
you mustn't talk that way. You have
great work to perform"
After moments silence he said,
sadly and solmenly:
"No; my work is DONE"
Often during his sickness, in his
great care for her rest after the ia.
tigues of the day, he gently urged Mrs.
Garfield to retire from the bedside,
even when she herself could scarcely
bear to leave. His heart was not only
great, but tender as that of child.
Upon this last evening had just in
quired of her if she was not in dan
ger of too great fatigue. She replied:
"The general seems so comfortable
and quiet that it has rested me to re-
main"