, 1881-09-04
TKE PRECEDENT AND HIS SURGEONS.
1t is ground for substantial encourage

| IL IL t-iUHitt lul auUSlul{lIill Gl!COuA Ae7E
ment in the Presidents case that the most
favorable outside expert opinion Of his colt
dition elnal,ates from very high medical
and surgical autllority-the London Lancet.
It pronounceS the fail Of the patients tcM-
peraturo and his less frequent pulse "a
thoroughly safe criterion Of Increasing
strength and ''tllc evidence Of the subsi-
.ience OF misunderstanding ;,llti ltIts: This,
together with the improved power OF tli2es-
ton, tho ability to sleep sonndly, mental
| ciearncss and cIccrfulncss, affords solid
| grounds for hope If recovery The Lt,1l-
cct regards the Presidents strong constltlt-
ton as I'LL important factor i'll tho case. It
says: s. The case is Il striking Illustration of
the power OF :. good constitution to hold up
against illness that would certainly hayc
killed Il fecbGcr person." i:
The Luncct concludes: s. But another full
| urc in the Presidents digestive powers Or
symptoms Of blood-polsoning might at any
time turn the balance against him, and what
| VIC have hitherto insisted upon so often VIC
are bound to repcat-that President Garfield
will not bc out of danger until tile wound Is
hea1ed.''
| This may he accepted Us The most trust
! worthy outside expert estimate Of the rresl-
| dents actual condition, alld Of his chances
] Of recovery. yet given to the public. It may
be presumed to be entirely free from pro-
[ fessional envy and jealousy, and as much
cannot be said of many Of the opinions Of
American surgeons. But 1t is based on
precisely the same knowledge Of the case as
the local opinions, and is therefore entitled
fo ofr~f,& $,.
that the Lancet i'll the main approves the
treatment Of the case so far as it is known
to the public; for it caa have 10 motive to
conceal its views, or withhold adverse crit
icisln il occasion calls for it.
This carefully~consiuered, clearly-lcliy-
ered opinion ought to 20 far to relieve the
Presidents surgeons of the irritation and
annoyance OF severe and necessarily un-
Informed structures. No surgical case ever
Involved more responsibility. The strain
upon the attending surgeons has been i'm
nlense. To their natural so!icitutle i'll behalf
Of Il patient so illustrious, and their pride of
professional reputation ut stake before
the world, has been added the public
anxiety and impatience, 10 spur them
to supreme effort. II we reflect
EAltA44 upOA lAC lACL tGSCs VI lCNOfCt3
from wounds similar to that Of the President
are very rare indeed: that with his strong
constitution ami great wil!-power he almost
succunbcd to the immediate shock Of Tie
bullet; that lle has escaped none Of the or
dinary effects OF 4 terrible gllnsllot wound
in the body; that the season, and. the sltun-
lion In Ii hot, matariaf climate, were Of the
most ,lnfayorable character for recovery
Wien all these circumstances are considered
it is q matter Of establishment not that tho
period Of conyalescence is still postponed, |
hut that the President still lives, and lives |
with "solid grounds for hope OF recovery"
We think that the Presidents surgeons are
entitled to the confidence of the public in |
large measure, The struggle has been Of the
most desperate character, aud it is still des |
perate. Tie surgeons have borne tue oppro-
brium heaped upon them with rare patience |
and meekness, but it must have lrritatetl |
them sorely, and to degree weakened their !
power to grapple with the case contided to ]
their care and skill. From this OH it is to be
hoped that confidence will take the place Of |
distrust, and words Of encouragement the
place OF carptng criticism, SANDER, and de- !
traction.
The country may well adopt the views Of
tile London Lancet, and take heart Of rca-
sonable hope. There was time when the
Presidents powerful will coJpcratea with
the surgeons III every effort OF scientific
skill. There was another time when the
poisoned blood mounted to the brain and
almost dethroneh it, when the patients mind
wandered, and the strong man lay helpless,
with no power longer to struggle. 1t was
in that moment Of almost universal despair
that the modest, quiet wife exhibited the
majesty Of true wouunftood-tllar W0inan-
hood which never ceases to hope and never
ceases to struggle. That time is happily
past. Out Of the very valley Of the shadow
Gf dcath God, the noble wife, the surgeons, l.
and the nurses brought back the President.
Once more the reason Of the patient il clear
and unclouLed Once more Ills will asserts
itself, becomes Ill Important factor in the
problem of life Or death, and tips the scale in
favor Of life. Hope has taken the place of
i'll the Executive Mansion,
hope in the hearts OF all the people.
-@.s.e.-......<.--=
THE II7EDIMENTA OF TRAVEL. 4
In these days: When every onc travels,
except those happy ones who can't afford it
aid those philosophical ones who can af
ford 1t but stay ut home because it is more
Cz.A L. A. !