Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-07-25
SATURDAYS DISPATCHES.
DOMESTIC NEWS.


DOMESTIC NEWS.
The UnfavorabIe Change in the Prssi.
dents Condition.
WASHINGTON, July 23d.-At o'clock this
morning the President showed his usual
morning symptoms of recovery, but about
o'clock he was attacked with something like
chill. He shook all over, aud his muscles
all became rigid with what the surgeons call
rigor." This chilly, shaking sensation
lasted until o'clock, when fever set in and
rose rapidly. The pulse went up to 130, and
the temperature was above 10l. In an hour
or SO the fever declined Some doctors are
not yet able to define the cause of the change.
The flow Of pus from the wound stopped this
morning and the surgeons say this may have
caused this change in the Presidents condi-
ton A long drainage tube was substituted,
and the doctors pressed on the stomach and
bowels, but very little pus exuded. Whether
this means that the wound is healing between
where the ball is and the mouth of the
wound, or that an abscess is forming, is not
yet known. DIR. Bliss said that just now he
could not tell the cause of the change. The
surgeons feel somewhat uneasy.
Surgeon. General Watts, of the navy, and
DIR. Baxter, gave it as their opinion that
pyemia may have set in. If that is true,
they consider his condition very critical.
Anxiety OF the PepuIace.
WASHINGTON, July 23d.-The news that
the President was not doing so well spread
rapidly through the city, and before long
many footsteps were turned toward the
White House. The same expressions of So
licitude and anxiety which marked all faces
Just after the President was shot were visible
everywhere. Those coming from the direc-
ton of the White House were stopped fire.
quently by inquiries about the President.
Not much more than the fact that the doc
tors felt uneasy could be learned. The con-
dition of the case seemed such that the
attending surgeons did not care to venture
opinions. Rumors of all kinds could be
heard. What was generally regarded as the
most unfavcrable sign was the telegraphiDg
for the consulting surgeons. The public con-
cluded that there was something critical in
the case, or else this would not have been
done.
The Surgeons Explanation.
WASHINGTON, July 231-The explanation
given by the attending surgeons of the I'M
favorable symptoms which manifested them
selves in the Presidents case to-day are
briefly as follows: Some time during the
night or early this morning the patients
wound, which had for several days been
discharging freely, became obstructed at or
near the inner end of the drainage tube,
while the process OF suppuration in the
deeper parts of the wound continued. a
partial or complete pus cavity was thus
formed, and the discharge from the mouth of
the wound nearly ceased. The natural re-
suit of this state of things was the chill,
followed by higher fever, the patients pulse
rising to q maximum of about 100, and his
70 40 riro follou-a1 bxy
increased fever is a symptom of pyemia or
the formation of an abscess, and the other
unfayorable complications, it caused at first
a good deal of anxiety. A careful examin-
alton, however, Of the pus discharged by the
wound showed that its character was per-
fectly normal and healthy, and so far SIS APP
peared from the patients general condition,
all indications OF pyemia were absent.
These facts relieved at once the fear of blood
poisoning. An external examination was
then made of the abdominal and hepatic
regions, with view to ascertaining whether
there were any signs of abscess at the supposed
location OF the bullet. No unusual
tenderness was found in that part of
the body, or any other indications
Of the changed condition. From these facts,
taken in connection with the scanty outflow
of pus, the conclusion was drawn that OBJ
structicn existed near the inner end of the
drainage tube, which prevented free dis
charge. This imprisonment of pus, techni-
caIly known as the formation of pus
cavity, is entirely adequate to explain the
chill and fever, since they are its natural and
Inevitable consequences. ltwas FIRST thought
the obstruction might be the result Of pro-
cess of healing which had wholly or in part
closed the wound between the drainage tube
aud a deeper suppuratiug surface. Early in
the afternoon the obstruction wholly or par
TALLY gave way, and the outflow of the pus
became freer; the nausea from which the
patient had suffered subsidized, and he obtain
ed relief This proved that the obstruction
had not been Of a permanent character. at
the evening dressing of the wound the dis
charge of pus was quite as copious as usual.
Since that time the patients fever has stead
lily abaied, and at the present hour, 10 P. NJ,
his pulse has fallen to LOG and he is sleeping
quietly. Consulting surgeons Agnew and
Hamilton do not regard the situation as
grave as they feared, and have expressed re-
newed confidence.
The Chicago Pacing and Trofting
Races.
CHICAGO, July 2Sd.-The day is fine, and
the track excellent. In the free-for-all
PAGERS, first heat, Matte Hunter was first,
Sorrel Dan second, and Bay Billy third.
Time-2:l64 In the second heat of the
pacing race Matte Hunter was first, Bay
Billy second, Sorrel Dan third, and Ben
Hamilton fourth. Time-2:16l. In the
third heat Bay Billy was first, Rowdy Boy
second Lucy third, and Sorrel Dan fourth.
Time-2:1S4 Fourth heat, Lucy first, Bay
Billy second, Matte Hunter third, Ben Ham
ilton fourth. Time = 2:lsI. Fifth heat,
Lucy FIRST, Hunter second, Bay Billy third,
Ben Hamilton fourth Rowdy Boy distanced.
Time-2:1S. The sixth heat and the race was
won by Lucy; Bay Billy second, Hunter
third. 2:20f
In the second race, 2:27 class, there were
eight starters. In the first heat Thorne was
first, Argonaut second. Croft third, Donald
son fourth Time, 2:25. Second heat-Ar.
gonaut first, Unolals second, Croft third,
Donaldson fourth, Euka distanced. Time,
2:24l. The third heat was dead heat be-
tween Unolala and Argonaut, Dan Donald
son third, Croft fourth. Time, 2:23i The
fourth heat Donaldson won, Unolala second,
Thorne third, Croft fourth. Time, 2:25. In
the fifth heat Donaldson won Unolala Sec
ord, Dixon third, Groff fourth. Time, 2:249
The sixth heat was won by Unolala; Dom
ALLISON second, Argonaut third, Lady Thorne
fourth. Time, 2:265. The seventh heat was
won by Donaldson; Unolala second, Argo-
nsut third, Lady Thorne fourth. Time,
2:3l5. The finish was postponed until Mon
day.
Maud s., on her first trial against time,
made the mile in 2:211 The second trial she
made it in Pill. On the third and last trial
she scored the mile in 2:11.
What Vanderbilt Thinks Of Hand S.
CHICAGO, July 23d.-A Times reporter has
interviewed Vanderbilt The latter said:
"If Maud S. tro.s in 2:10l it will be a won
derful performance III the conditions how