Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-08-27
THE PRESIDENTS CONDITION
VERY ALARMING.
Secretary Blaine Says the Case
Is One Of Great Gravity
and Danger
Even the Hopeful DR.. Bliss Re-
luctantly Giving Up
One Faint CLEAN of Hope in the
.r. Latest Official Bulletin "a.
WASHINGTON, August 20.
OFFICIAL BULLETIN.


OFFICIAL BULLETIN.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, $50 a. m.-The
President slept most of the night, awaken
ing at intervals of half an hour to an hour.
for several nights past, some mental con-
fusion, which disappeared when he was
fully aroused Occasionally he muttered in
his sleep. These symptoms have abated
this morning, as ON previous days At
present his temperature is slightly above
normal and his pulse little more frequent
than yesterday morning. Pulse 108, tenn
perature 9S.1, respiration II.
[Signedl D. W. Bliss, j. X. Barnes, J. j.
Woodward Robert Reyburn, Frank H.
Hamilton.
OFFICIAL BULLETIN.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, 9. 40 p. MAT the
morning dressing of the President it was
observed that pus from the parotid swelling
had found its way spontaneous into his
right external auditory meatus through
which it was discharging. Some pus was
also discharged through the incision made
lulO liIS LIE WOullti ICOhS 10 HCA
as it has for some time past. His pulse and
temperature are at present higher than at
the corresponding hour for several days
He continues to take by mouth the liquid
food prescribed. Nevertheless We regard
his condition as critical. Pulse 118, tenn
perature 100, respiration 1o.
TSigned] d. w. Bliss, J. j. Woodward
]. X. Barnes, Robert Reyburn, Frank H.
Hamilton.
OFFICIAL BULLETIN.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, $50 p m-The
Presidents condition has not changed mate
rally since the last bulletin was issued. He
continues to take by the mouth the liquid
food prescribed, and occasionally asks for it.
Since yesterday forenoon, commencing at
1.30 a. In., enemata have again been given
at regular intervals as a mea MS of admins
tering stinItiants as well as nutrition They
are retained without trouble At present
his pulse is l1G, temperature 99.9, respira-
ton Is.
[Signed] d. W. Bliss, J. K Barnes, J. J.
Woodward, Robert Reyburn, Frank H.
Hamilton.
UNOFFICIAL BULLETIN.
little information was obtained direct from
the physicians concerning the condition of
the President this morning prior to the is
suance of the morning bulletin. The alb
sence of all reference in the bulletin of the
general condition of the President, and to
the parotid swelling was at once noticed and
commented upon by those waiting for it.
The situation is considered by many as less
hopeful than it was last night at midnight,
andsby others as more Attorney General
MacNeaS pronounces it extremely critical
and when asked this morning how long he
thought this suspense would continue re-
piled, ',.God only knows" Postmaster
General James and Secretary Hunt tele-
of hope at ten this morning comes from the
surgeons; his symptoms are no worse, and
improvement not impossible"
Doctor Bliss came out of the surgeons
room about $50 this morning and telephoned
to his wife that the President was a little
better than last night. In reply to an in
terogation, he said that the Presidents pulse
this morning was less frequent, and that the
parotid swelling had broken in the right ear
and was discharging through that orifce
The patients mind was clear and he con-
yersed nationally with the surgeons and
about the condition of the infiamed gland
He partook of food which seemed to be
grateful to him, and his general condition
appeared to be little improved. The doc
tor expressed himself as hopeful that the
swollen gland would be relieved by the dis
charge through the ear, and that he would
pull through the day without much change
EXECUTIVE MANSION, 10. 40 a. m-
Secretary Kirkwood came out of the Cabinet
room few moments since, and in reply to
questions asked by reporter of the Associ-
ated Press, gave the following statement of
the Presidents case as he understands it is
this morning:
81 have never thought, ~ he said, ''until
last night that the President would die, but
the information which was received from
the surgeons late in the evening, was of
such character as to leave very little room
for hope. Theslanger which then seemed
most Imminent, was the danger OF, f,absorpsion
of the unhealthy pus and from the swollen
parotid gland The mental disturbance and
increased pulse seemed to indicate that this
process of absorption had already begun and
that it was poisoning the blood and
thus acting upon the brain and heart.
Taking up small egg-shaped piece Of
sponge which lay on the reporters table the
Secretary continued Gas I understand
the case, from what the surgeons have told
me, the Presidents right parotid gland is in
some respects like this sponge; everywhere
through it there are little cells or pockets, in
each of which there is an accumulation of
pus The incision which was made day be-
fore yesterday punctured one of these pock-
cts and released the pus which that partic-
ular one contained, but it did not drain the
Others. and in fact the others could not be
effectualIy drained at this stage of suppura-
ton by simple incision made anywhere.
The fear last night was that the 'pus re-
tanned in these small cavities would become
and. as / before said,
result in acute blood poisoning
Dr. Bliss told us, however, last night just
before we went home that he had not given
up hope of favorable change during the
night, and the surgeons think this morning
that there has been such a slight change for
the better as DR.. Bliss hoped for. The
breaking of the suppurating gland into the
cavity of the ear will, it is thought, afford
more relief than could be given in any other
way, and it is therefore regarded as IA
vorable symptom. The discharge through
that channel seems to be free. The pus is
thus far of healthy character, and the
patients mind this morning is clearer than
last night, showing that there has been no
blood poisoning of consequence from the
gland as yet, Taking everything into con-