The Evening critic., 1881-07-26

and force is the constant theme of admira-
ton. A few prescriptions given by DR.
Baxter to the President in the past ccr-
tainly would not cntitle him to claim the
President as his property, in medical sense.
Now, if the English language means any
thing, family physician means the physi-
clan who attends the family and surely
Mrs. DIR. Edison, and not DIR. Baxter, can
claim the position in the Presidents
family. She has made no complaint as to
unethical treatment, and is in attendance
with DIR. Bliss. So, notwithstanding Dr.
Baxters loudly uttered complaints, the
family physician of the President Is per-
fectly satisfied.
1t is true that DIR. Baxter produces q let
ter from DIR. Pomerine, in which the last
doctor states that the President had told
him that DR.. Baxter was his family physi-
clan. This letter has certainly the suspi-
cious appearance of being written by re-
quest, but giving 1t full weight, it does not
affect the question, for the reason that the
President, who has been perfectly con.
scious at all times since he was shot, has
not designated Dr. Baxter as his family
physician or desired to call in as such.
DR.. Baxter Criticised.
Finally, in considering the language used
by DIR. Bliss in his interview with DIR. Bax-
ter, we must remember we have only the
latter's statement; 1t is true that he has
been publishing this statement ever since
the occurrence, detailing 1t to all the news
paper correspondents who would put it in
print; in fact, losing so little time that II
was printed the next day after the inter
view occurred still this does not make his
statement correct, and we must remember
it is er pdrte, and not fully make up our
minds until DIR. Bliss Is heard from, who SO
far has preserved a dignified and contempt
uOus silence on the subject. Taking, how
ever, DIR. Baxter's statement for what it is
worth, we must consider what grounds
DIR. Bliss had for snspecting him of i'm
proper motives. On inquiry il seems
that DIR. Baxter's reputation among his
professional brethren for observing the
ethics has not been above suspicion. On
the contrary 1t has been most seriously
questioned. Ho has failed to follow VOL
scys advice to Cromwell to fling away
ambition v on the contrary, his utmost en-
dcavOrs for years past have been to attain
the position of Surgeon General of the
Army, and it is an open secret that he has
used his place and every means mt his com.
mand to forward his object, crooking the
pregnant hinges of the knee wherever
in his opinion, thrift would fol
low fawning. Cultivating persons
in authority and rendering services
gratis is a means to rise not unknown in
Washington, and accusations of such pro
ceedings are not unfrequent against this
self-appointed family physician of the Presi
dent. Dealing with such man, the Ian
guagc of Dr. Bliss was fully justified, and
of course DIR. Baxter knew he was protected
by the place If he made the retort he says
he did.
In conclusion, the writer of the articl,
has cndeavored to bring in DIR. Townshend
as another ill-treated person. Under the
sixth section of the ethics DR.. Townshend
possibly might charge discourtesy on DR.
Bliss; no more. We have not heard, how.
ever, what DIR. Bliss has to say. But it is
hardly to be supposed that so important &
patient would be permanently intrustcd tt
u gentleman of the necessarily limited cx
riencc of DR.. Townshcnd. 1t is evident
that he is added to assist DIR. Baxter.
cause, rs the writer of the article plainly
and rightly thought that it needed assist
ance. 1t cannot but be remarked that TIL,
President and Mrs. Garfield appear satisfied
with their attending physicians, and have
not so far expressed any regret at DIR. Bax
| terS absence X