National Republican., 1881-07-06
THE CONSULTING PHYSICIANS.
Doctors AEnew Hnd Hamilton Give Theii
Views NJ 10 the PresIdencs Case.

Views as 10 the PresIdent's Case.
In lengthy interview in the Philadel-
phia Prcss yesterday, Dr. Agnew thus expresses his
opinion the Presidents case:
when len Washington this morning President
Garields condition was very critical, but not abso-
lutely hopeless. would not like to say anything
more than that under the circumstances"
"Did you make an examination of President
Garield's wounds at onceg
"We FIRST examined the reports made by the at.
tending physicians, and found that the case had
been properly attended to, and we had no criti-
cism TO make OF the treatment We then saw the
patient. General Garfcld's appearance did not In
dictate that he was suffering. He was quiet and
answered intelgently all questions asked. His
only symptoms appeared to he pains in the lower
limbs, resulting probably from the shock to the
nerves Of the abdomen lie has perfect use of his
lower lin and can draw them up as he wisheT.
This great sensitiveness shows that there is no in-
jury to the spinal cord, and there is no indication
of ofparalysis"
"What is the exact situation of the wound, doc.
tori"
ut Is situated on the right side four inches from
the spine, and passes between the tenth and ec,-
enth ribs The latter rib was fractured by the ball.
which then passed apparently through the liver
and lodged in the abdomen. The direction Of the
wound corresponds with the right lobe Of the
liver, the orifce being sufficiently large for a man
mude to extract the ball, us such q proceeding
would be obviously improper at this time. II
would have caused more harm to fish for 1t than
the ball itself does"
"Are not wounds by which the liver is pcne.
| trated usually fntal2"
"As n rule" replied DR.. Agnew, "gunshot
wounds of the liver are fatal but there are also cx-
ccptions. In book written by DIR. Otis and pub
lshod by the United States Government there is n
Tecapitulation Of wounds of that organ received
during the late war. out Of l70 cases examined
| twenty or twenty-one recovered. The Presidents
wound may have some of the characteristics of the
recovered cases, but do not at present recall
them. There is no evidence OF the intestines hav-
ing been injured, and the kidneys and bladder ap-
parcnty escaped, as they perform their usual func
tions freely"
1.-THE Presidentret and vomit. continuously,
ejecting bilious matter. For this lime wate and
milk are administered He has a constant crav-
ing for milk, and drinks as much as 1t Is thought
best TO administer to him"
"Is there any danger of peritonitisP
| "Therc was no evidence of II, but this morning
the bowels were little tender Peritonitis Is the
one great danger In his case, but every day he
| lives now Is in his favor DR.. Bliss
and the other gentlemen all occupy promi-
nent rank in the medical profession. Barnes
is the Surgeon. General, and DR.. Hamilton, who
assisted at the consultation, is an authority on
gun SnOJ WOUNDS anu also tnc uutHOG Oh WOTk on
surgery. The treatment pursued was correct in
every particular. wish you would say explicitly
that the management from the beginning has been
wise and judcious."
As the visitor left the house the question was
asked Doctor will the President die?"
DR.. Agnew paused and then replied: al can
say no more ,han have told you. We must wait
and hope for the best"
DIR. HAMILToN's OPINION.
DR.. F. H. Hamilton, who came here from New
York TO consult with the attending physicians,
h as given his views OF the case, according to the
New York Tribune, as follows:
"When LEFT the White House at three o'clock
this afternoon the President was no worse than
when arrived there at half-past six in the morn
ing There was no evidence that he was sinking
or any to lead to suspicion that he was. He
vomited q little In the morning the yomit being
of n greonsh color, but in the last three or four
hours there was much less. The greatest source Of
suffering has been the pain in his feet and legs,
and, indeed, this has been the only source. In the
forenoon that abated very materially. Ho appears
bright and cheerful and is prompt to answer any
questions. lie turned over without aid In bed to
have his back examined, He said that the ex-
ertion of turning over did not hurt him. He re-
mained in that position twenty minutes which
accelerated his pulse somewhat
IAN these symptoms are not Of the highest de-
gree OF gravity, and do not Of themselves neces-
sarily indicate fatal issue. When we take them
in connection with the fact that the ball seems to
have penaed the liver and TO remain in the cavity
OF the belly and beyond the reach Of detection the
symptoms may be fairly interpreted as leading to
n grave prognosis. The progress OF the infamma.
tlon Is limited and IL advances very slowly His
temperature is nearly normal the pulse not greatly
accelerated
ITO what extent has inflammation set in2"
at does not extend to much larger surface
than the palm of your hand, and is Of course ad-
jacent to the ball. 1t is as yet very slight and 4:
making very slow advance This, Of course, IL
greatly in the patients favor Peritonis Is inevi-
table in any case, whether the patient recovers
not, and SO the setting in OF Inflammation was ex.
pected. As long as the ball remains in the alb
dominal cavity the Presidents life win be in peri
and he cannot be pronounced as ont of danger
If 1t cannot be extracted, 1t must either work it
way out 10 the surface by suppuration or into al
intestine, and by this means be carried out through
the anus"
rs there any foundation for the apprehension
{ that the President will die before morning.
81 think not Even If there should be n rapit
advance OF peritonitis It would take some time
before 1t would reach point to cause death. Al
ofmy opinions, II should be remembered, are mad,
T on the basis OF the Presidents condition when
left his bedside in the afternoon"
In conclusion DIR. Hamilton said that he con-
cludcd that so far the treatment had been abl'
and efficient, but In fact there was not much e
be done. The formal consultation was held soor
amer his arrival at the White House. and took
place after an informal discussion of the his,or.
of the case.