Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-24

WHAT Dr. TOWNSHEND Is REPORTED 10 HAVE
Dr.. Tow6shend, health officer, arrived in this
city this morning from New York, and was
called upon by q STAR reporter and questioned
as to the truth of the following interview pub
lished in New York yesterday, as telegraphed
from that city:
THE President will die on Sunday or Monday
There is no likelihood of his immediat, DEATH"
was the astonishing statement made last night,
in this city, to reporter of the National Asso-
ciated Press, by DR.. Smith Townshend, the
health officer of the District of Columbia.
belief"
Dr.. Townshend was the first physician who
reached the President on the morning of the
shooting, who lifted him from the pile of cush-
ions which was preventing the circulation of the
blood. laid him PROSTATE on the floor opened
the wound and allowed the blood to flow. gave
him the brandy and ammonia which stimulated
him to consciousness and heard his first spoken
words, Il think l have DONE" before the ar
rival of any other physician. He had been in
the act of stepping into his carriage at his
office door when the message from the Presi-
dent reached him as the nearest prominent phv-
ia ions.
why do you think he will die them" the
reporter asked.
Because he will have another relapse on Sun
DAY or Monday, and will not have strength
enough to survive it. Scarcely a physician in
Washington believes to-day that he viii live two
days. and even some of the men at his bedside
do not believe that he has strength enough left
to survive another relapse. They certainly did
not believe it "a hours ago.
But why should he have another relapse?"
The periodicity of these reiapses has never
Deen wanting and has thoroughly established
Itself. 1t has come again and again and will
come at least once more. Ii he survives this
next one he will live, provided the system is not
so thoroughly exhausted as to be unable to
assimlate nutriment and recuperate. That is
exactly the condition in which / believe it
to be-"
But why this perodcity?"
"Py@mia and malaria. He has both. He has
been suffering from both throughout. As health
officer OF the District | know that malaria-as
shown by the statistics, and they are carefully
drawn and watched-is no more prevalent than
at the Soldiers Home or at Baltimore or any
locality OF average health but it exists and he is
more or less under its influence. The seven and
eight day relapses show this to some extent, and
there is malaria in his system and has been from
the outset although think it as likely to have
been accumulated elsewhere as in Washington
But the py4mic symptoms are also and always
PERIODIC In their development, and they act in
sympathy, and their results are felt together. The
doctors may deny the existence of pyamia as they
will, it exists. have believed from the begin
ming that the public was entitled to the whole
truth, and they have not always had it from the
White House. They now admit that septicamia
distinction with very little difference. Blood
poisoning has existed for weeks, and the Presi-
dent he's lived longer than any of his physicians
ever believed he would. God knows 1 would
give or do anything if he might live, but do not
believe it possible. He is too far run down to
make recuperatfon possible. His lower limbs are
paralyzed. He has not moved them in weeks. The
nervous troubles affect his stomach, as well as
the blood poisOning, and, after another relapse,
1t cannot be made to retain food even by artificial
means. That means death. / can see nothing
else IN It, l had previously made similar
case somewhat Of study, since was wounded
much In the same way and lay seven weeks
on my face. When I began to convalesce 1
walked the hospitals, and noticed cases of blood
poisoning in gunshOt wounds particularly.
to sixty days. If they lived beyond sixty days
they recovered. This probably Influenced me in
an opinion that I have already expressed and
from the first, and see no reason to change now,
that the President would probably die; but that
if he were alive at the end of sixty DAYS he would
probably recover
when 1 first said this none of the physicians
believed he would live sixty hours"
What do you think Of the treatment?'
Nv ell, have been accused of bitterness to-
ward Or Bliss because OF his treatment of me,
and While think his treatment of myself and
Surgeon General Wales more than discourteous.
must admit that l think the treatment has
been excellent, and while there may have been
minor errors. the management OF the case is not
now open to criticism.
WHAT DR.. TOwNSHEND SAYS HE DID SAY
Such was the published interview Dr. Town.
shend said this morning in reference to it:
"The gentleman has built this interview upon
very small foundation. He seems to have
taken few opinions of mine and celored them
to suit his own purpose. l think, as well as l
can remember, what did say to him was that
thought from present appearances that the Pres
ident was suffering from septicamia. q prototype
of py9mia; that l was led to expect his recovery
from this relapse, but feared another, in periodic
turn, about the first of the week. which he might
not have the strength to weather. If, however
this should not come, OF if it should and lett the
President with recuperative power, then would
look confidently for change for the better So
far as my questioning the accuracy of the reports
from the Presidents physicians is concerned, my
saying that his lower limbs were paralyzed, or
setting day for his death, those statements are
entirely without foundation"
Rep0rter.-"Well doctor, what do YOU think
OF the Presidents condition according to the
morning bulletin?'
Doctor TT have called halt in the matter
of opinion giving. l am heartily glad to see the
encouraging appearance of things, and join with
all in hoping for the best.