Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-07-28
GARFIFLD'S CONDITION.
HIS SUDDEN RELAPSE FRIDAY.
An Incision Made OH Sunday and He takes
"a Turn for the Better Again.
HISTORY OF THE REL LAPSE.
DIR, REYBURN's EXPLANATION.

HISTORY OF THE RELAPSE.
DR. REyBURNs EXPLANATION.
Special Telegram to the Pioneer Press.
WASHINGTON, July 23.-Dr. Reyburn, who is
probably the most conservative member of the
board of physicians, granted your correspond
ent few moments time this evening, and in
| response to inquiries said the presidents con-
dition this evening was, on the whole, decided
ly better than at any time since Friday. His
temperature is lower by one degree than at the
same time Friday, and his symptoms have
steadily improved ali day.
What was the nature of the incison made to-day?
will explain that as we'll can in brief time.
The bulletins as you have noticed, have not been
as favorable for the past two three days as for
merly. We knew something was going on but did
not know at what the of the trouble was.
The pus itself not healthy, and its discharge
gradually diminished. Tie trouble came to crisis
yesterday morning, when the rigor occurred, and
we at first
FEARED PYEMIA HAD SET IN.
During the afternoon indications of the formation
of pus cavity increased, aud when the consulting
physicians arrived they agreed with US that such
was the case. An examination was postponed until
this morning, when an operation unanimously
decided upon. By the code of ethics the knife was
rendered to DR.. Agnew. the consulting physician.
He located by his sense of touch the exact locality
of the cavity. The president
DID NOT DESIRE ANY ANETHEsIA,
and we were not anxious to administer it. The
surface of the flesh frozen with carbollc acid
spray so as to render less sensitive to the pan
| and the operation was begun. An incision to the
depth of an inch made at once. draining tube
was inserted and the discharge of pus at once
| followed. The president never finched; the
| muscles of his back never twitched for an
| instant. The rib had been badly shattered
| and the end bent down into the wound AS the
suppuration continued and the wound began to heal
this piece of bone stopped up the cavity. The pus
| could not flow and the pus demanding an outlet
had found cavity of its This often occurs in
| wounds of this kind; sometimes the pus will seem
| to eat away the flesh until it comes to
| the surface six or eight inches away
| from the place it began. Such a
| cavity formed here. AS as it was
opened and the pus could find exit the patient
| began to mend. The tube was inserted in such
way as to allow the pus to flow from both openings
Tonight glass tube shaped like the capital letter
was inserted in one opening through to the other
and water injected clear through, thus clearing
| the wound much better than ever before.
| Then can say on your authority that the
| TROUBLE HAS BEEN MET AND OVERCOME?
| You may We consider the trouble removed.
| Is there any danger of pyama? We can.discover
| no traces OF PyRmla Whatever, ana 90 not OeIleFe
there is any danger of that kind.
| Is there any soreness complained of by the presl-
dent? No, he does not complain of anything to-
night. He is resting nicely now, and all but the
regular physicians have left for the night.
| What has the president eaten to-day! Nothing
but the liquids His greatest diet is beef essence
and bouillaird, of which he is very fond. He also
| took some milk and rum Does he seem much ex-
hausted tonight? He is quite weak, of course, but
not greatly prostrated as one might suppose. de
| is resting nicely and naturally.
Doctor, can ricor ensue without blood poison
| irg?" Yes. it can, but blood-posonng may
generally be looked for after rigor. and that is
why we feared it in this case. But the formation
of cavity
EXPLAINS THE RIGoR NOW.
| There might be hectic or night-sweat such as
| consumptiyes have, but that comes but once day.
They are not regarded in the same light as rgors,
| slight chills may yet follow in this Case
Has there been any indication of one to-day?
None whatever. They will be slightif they occur
| at all.
| Has there been any vomiting to-day? None
whatever All that stopped as soon as the ptis was
| released.
Being asked whether there were or had been
symptoms in the presidents case of py;pma
or blood poisoning, Dr. Reyburn said:
None whatever. Rigor, of course, may be a
symptom of pyama but it is also a symptom of
! various other complications, and it does not point
so pyama in the present case. The pus continues
| healthy. and characteristic symptoms of pyama
are wanting. You may say upon my authority that
no indications of blood poisoning have been OBJ
| served; and we hats no reason to expect any.
In conclusion DR.. Reyburn said his condi-
ton and symptoms tonight are more favorable
and encouraging than at any time since the
chill of Yesterday morning
MI IL
with an instrument which made cut like the
shape of funnel The incision was not very
large, but it was successful, striking the right
| place. The bullet struck the rib
and DETECTED down so as to obstruct
the passage made by the fbUllet.
This obstruction caused the formation of pus
cavity, and it was necessary to open this go
that the pus could pass out The flow was not
immediate, but a drainage tube somewhat cir
cular in shape was inserted; then with press
ure the flow of pus began:
DIR. BoYNToN's DESCRIPTION:
Special Telegram to the Pioneer Press
WASHINGTON, July 24.-Dr Boynton, who
for some time past has been informally attend.
ing Gen. Garfield in company with the regular
physicians was present at the operation to day
made upon the president. He said that at the
consultation of physicians held this morning,
Drs Agnew and Hamilton came at once
to the conclusion that there had been
large retention OF pus somewhere, and ad-
vocated thorough examination for the pur-
pose of locating it. While they were talking
DR.. Agnew took the probe and passed. down
into the wound about three inches and stopped
He then asked DR.. Hamilton to take hold will
him, aud q short manipulation of the instru
ment convinced the physicians that q
huge pus cavity had formed few inches be-
low the wound. To relieve this it was deter
mined to make an lncision below the wound
The president was placed upon his left side
and the place to be incised sprayed with ether
but none was administered to him. Al
iucision about three inches in length wal
then made some three inches below the wount
and one inch to the right of the backbone. 1
was made down the skin and muscles ant
opened to view pus cavity or abscess about
HALF AS LARGE AS A MANS HAND.
and containing large quantity of pus. Th'
incision showed that the pus had flowed iron
, the wound toward the orifice, and coming il
contact with the rib portion of it had been re
! tanned, and for some time the large absces
spoken of had worked downward toward til
. spine, which it lacked but one inch of reach
ing. This relieved the president considerably
A finger introduced into the incision showe
the wound to be surrounded by thick tissue
and to be healing rapidly.
Are you satisfied that this was the true cause
the presidents severe chill? was question put t
: Dr. Boynton. Yes. 1 am certain of it. You kno
I almost any sort of swelling accompanied by u
, fammation will produce chill. Many person
who are troubled with boils have chills wheneve
, they have one. believed at first that the who
y thing was due to gathering of pus.
Do you consider the pus cavity large one
, Well, yes. 1t was a very large one 1t was near
as large as the half of mans hand, and had az
q cumulated good deal of pus.
: Did the accumulation flow easily? Yes, vel
freely, and by pressing the sack it was easi
> emptied of its contents. After washing it PEI
forated tube ran through the old wour
!, and down through the incision. This will give II
3 pus free egress both ways and allow the wound
be thoroughly washed. In few days the orifce
the old wound will be allowed to heal up and the Il
q terror part of the wound allowed to dscharl
(. through the incision kept open"
Had this pus cavity any effect upon the spin