The daily gazette., 1881-07-25
FOURTH EDITION
THE pHYsIcIANs EXPLAINING.
Hamilton and Agnew Regarding
the situation an Less Grave Than
Feared.

AhhhAAtOu anu A8hoW 1oA AoH"o
the Situation an Less Grave Than |
Feared.
EXECUTIVE MANsIoN, 10 P. NJ
The explanation given by the attend
ing surgeons of the unfavorable symp-
toms which manifested themselves in
the Presidents case to-day, is briefly
as follows: bone time during the
night or early this morning, the pa.
TENTS wound, which had for several
days been discharging freely, became
obstructed at or near the inner end OF
the draining tube, while the process of
su ppuration in the deeper part of tho
wound continued. A partial or COM
plete pus cavity was thus formed and
the discharge from the mouth OF the
wound nearly ceased. The natural
result of this state Of things was
chill followed by higher fever, the pa
TENTS pulse was rising to . maxi
mum Of about 130 and his tempera-
ture to 104. As rigor followed by
nc.eased fever, is a symptom OF
py@mia, of the formation of an abscess,
and of otherunfavorable complications,
it caused at first good deal of anxiety.
A careful examination, however. of the
pus discharged by the wound showed
that its character was perfectly nor
NAL and healthy, and 80 far as ap ear
ed from the patient general condition
all the indications OF pyaemia were
absent. These facts relieved at once
the fear of blood poisoning. An ex-
ternal examination was then made OF
the abdominal and hepatic regions
with view to ascertaining whether
there were any signs Of an abscess at
the supposed location OF the bullet.
No unusual tenderness was found in
that part of the body or any other
indication of changed condition.
From these facts, taken in conneetion
with the scanty flow Of pus, the con-
clusion was drawn that an obstruction
existed near the inner end of the
drainage tube which prevented q free
discharge.
This Imprisonment Of the pus, tech.
nically known as the formation OF q
"pus cavity" is entirely adequate to ex-
plain the chill and the Increased fever
since they are Its natural and almost in
evitable consequences. 1t was at frsl
thought that the obstruction might bt
the result of process of healing which
had wholly or in part closed the wound
between the end OF the drainage tube
and the deeper suppurating surface
Early In the afternoon, however, the oh
struction wholly or partially gave way
the outflow Of pus became freer, th'
nausea from which the patient had SUI!
fered subsidized, and he obtained relief
This proved that the obstruction bad no
been of permanent character. At the
evening dressing of the wound the dis
charge of pus was quite as copious a
usual. Since that time the PATENT
fever has been teadily abating, and q
the present hour-l0 p. m.-his puls'
has fallen to 106, and he is sleeping
Quietly. The consulting surgeons, Ag
new aud Hamilton, do not regard hi
situation SO grave as they had feared
aud expressed renewed confidence. rh
following kilograms were sent by Sec
retaries James and Blaine at 10 o'cloc
tonight:
To the Union League Club, N. Y. CIT,
= At this hour, 10 o'clock, the Presldel
II is sleeping quietly. Pulse, 1O6. The
. is a manifest subsistence OF the Dispute
d ing symptoms of the day.
4 THOMAS l.. JAMES,
Postmaster General.
% To Lopel, Minister, London:
= At 10 o'clock tonight the President
+ symptoms are better. Pulse, temper
+. ture and respiration are improved. II
7, n distressing nausea has left and there
s, no temperance OF chills. BLAINE,
III Secretary.