Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-09-24
The Presidents Physicians.
DoCToRs WHO HAVE BEEN CONNECTED WITH
THEC CASE.

DoCroRs WHO HAVE BEEN CONNECTED WITH
THE CASE.
Thirteen doctors have had to do with the
treatment of the Presidents case since the
morning he was shot. They are Drs. Hamil
ton. Agnew, Bliss, Reyburn, Barnes, Wood
ward, Huntington. Norris, Purvis. .Townshend
Lincoln. Patterson, Wales and Ford. The
first physician who had charge of the case
was DIR. Smith Tow nshend, who administered
restoratives; Dr. Purvis came next; and then
Dr. Bliss, followed by others. DIR. Bliss took
hold Of the case as soon as he got to the depot
and has since then had special charge of it.
The President was removed TO the White
House, and a consultation held in the after
noon. Postmaster General James gave to the
Star reporter then the names Of the consult
ing physicians. They were Drs. Bliss, &.
NJ. Ford, ID. l.. Huntington, L. 5. a.; j. j.
Woodward, L. :. A.. Smith Townshend,
n. S. Lincoln, Robert Revburn. Surgeon
General Barnes, Basil Norris, Surgeon
General Wales, L. S. N; ID. G.. Patterson
c. B. Purvis. There was trouble from the
very first consultation. Surgeon General
Wales was present at the examination and
wanted to take charge. DIR. Bliss says before
he knew what DIR. Wales was aDout the latter
thrust his finger into the Presidents wound.
That caused some trouble. Ii was evident
tlat tneTc were 700 many pnNslClans. NIrS,
Garfield and the President both agreed that
such was the case. They gave DIR. Bliss
charge of the case and full power to do as he
thought best. The result was that on the
afternoon of the 4th Dr. bliss wrote notes
to all of the physicians, except Drs. Barnes,
Woodward and Reyburn, informing them,
at the reques. of the President, that his
symptoms being then so favorable. any further
consultation was deemed unnecessary. The
letter thanked the doctors most cordially for
their attention and kind advice. About this
time DR.. Hammond, of New York, wrote to
Secretary Lincoln, offering his services in
attendance upon the President. They were
not accepted. The doctors who were retained
were selected by DR.. Bliss. The President
and Mrs Garfield both told him, DIR. Bliss
says. to select whom he chose. DIR. Barnes
was taken because of his great knowledge of
gun-shot wounds. DIR. Woodward, because
of his eminence as pathologist, and DIR.
Reyburn, as special assistant to DIR. Bliss.
Besides the difficulty and little scene with
Surgeon General Wales, thore was another
of the same character the very morning
after the shooting. DR.. J. ii. Baxter. who
had attended the President and members Of
his family, claimed to be the Presidents pri-
vate medical adviser. He was out of town at
the time of the shooting, but came back as
SUM Us Ht utdIu vi IIt Wttt W TIC w Ultc
House the next morning and asked to see
the President. DIR. Bliss refused, saying
II know your sneaking ways. You want to
work yourself in to get charge Of the case"
There were some hot words. DIR. Bliss
called DIR. Baxter lobbyist and Dr. Baxter
retorted by calling DIR. Bliss liar. DIR. Bliss
in threatening manner advanced toward DIR.
Baxter. Ellis Bliss, the doctors son, took
DIR. Baxter by the shoulders and said he
would put him out of the house. There was
interference which prevented personal en-
counter. DIR. Baxter left the White House
and did not afterwards return there. There
has been no further disagreement among the
doctors. Mrs. DIR. Edison, who had attended
the Presidents children, was employed as
nurse and remained in that position until the
President reached Long Branch. DR.. Boyn-
ton has also been connected with the case.
He came to Washington at the request of
Mrs. Garfield. He has not been officially
connected with the case, but sank his profess
sional pride and acted simply as a nurse. He
has been more frank than any of the attending
physicians in giving information rs to the
Presidents real condition. There was on the
morning of the 4th of July a further aces
sion to the corps of medical attendants. Mrs.
Garfield became a little anxious about the
treatment of the President. She spoke of
two of the most eminent surgeons in the
country be brought in as consulting phys
clans. The result was that DIR. Hamilton
of New York, and DIR. Agnew, Of Phladel-
phia, were telegraphed for. They arrived
on the night Of the Sd, but did not see the
President, it being thought best that the
patient, who was then asleep, should not be
disturbed The next morning they were
present at the examination, and for the first
time signed the bulletin. They also issued
an individual bulletin that they approved in
every particular of the course of treatment
which had been pursued From thence on
Drs. Hamilton and Agnew were the consult
ing physicians. When the President had
his first relapse neither Of them were here.
Mrs. Garfield had them.both telegraphed for.
At her request, at no time since then we're
both Drs. Agnew and Hamilton away from
the President. They took turns here and at
their practice in New York and Philadelphia
respectively, when there was a stretch of
gOoi 'l'vs; but at every crisis both were
sent Tor. There was no further change in
the medical attendance until the President
was removed to Long Branch. He thought
there were too many physicians. and request
ed that only Drs. Bliss, Hamilton and Ag-
new attend him. He and Mrs. Garfield
wanted the others-Drs. Barnes, woodward
aud Reyburn-relieved before t1e journey to
Long Branch was made. Dr. Bliss, how
ever. wanted the responsibility divided
around. So they remained - until
Long Branch was reachedS ~ ~
from the case, not because sok - ~
dissatisfaction As to their seSV wi 6c-'
eSnis the President did not want - Is, 81
E6ctorf 1yOund him WnshiAnfo Cfr..