The daily gazette., 1881-09-09
TINE RETIRlNa SURGE EoNs.
The Cause Of the Reduction Of the
Presidents Physicfans.

The Cause Of the Reduction Of the
Presidents Physicians.
LONG BRANCH, Sept. 8.-Surgesn.
General Barnes, United States Sur
geon Woodward, and DR.. Reyburn
have disappeared from tho Presi-
dents case. The official statement Is
that it is the result Of the whim of a
very sick man, but that does not tell
the story. 1t Is known that from the
first after the President recovered
from the great shock Of the shooting,
he was averse to having 40 many
physicians in attendance. Once he
characterized them, with others in
attendance, as a mob, and wished
that the mob would leave the room.
AS the case progressed and the Presi
dent grew weaker, he, to his con-
fidential nurses and to bis family,
complained of the presence of some
of these gentlemen. Once he asked,
upon seeing one of them, "Is he here
yet?" A day or two before the depar.
ture from Washington the President
in talking with Mrs. Garfield, while
making arrangements for the trip,
mentioned the surgeons whom he
wished, and said Drs. Bliss, Agnew,
and Hamilton would be sufficient and
that he didn't care to have the others
to go. This was soon communicated
to the surgeons interested and Great
ed some CONSERVATION, as, of course
the feared their dismissal would be
regarded as q reflection upon their
professional reputation. The truth is
that, with the expection of DR.. Rey-
burn, whose retirment will be re-
GREETED, the three surgeons dismissed
have had very little responsibility
in the case. 10
DR.. Woodward is eminent through.
out the wo! d as q microsc0pist, and
IN that capacity has been of much
service, but the microscopist had q
vote on the question ofremoval. That
vote was persistently against re-
moval, at all events. For these and
other reasons, which are generally
classified under "a sick mans
whims," these three gentlemen have
been retired from the case,
The public will not be deprived oil
information as to the progress Of the
case because of the retirement oil
these gentlemen. DR.. Reyburn was
always genial and communicative
hut the two military gentlemen, in 9
spirit too prevalent in the army
seemed to consider that the public
had little interest in the case, ani
treated the press almost with rude'
ness.
MRS. Edison also Retires.
Mrs. DIR. Edison also retires from
the case this morning. This nurs,
has been very devoted sAd skilful Il
her attendance and goeB with tn
good wishes Of all. She has felt al
times that medical treatment more
in accord with homeopathic theories
would be preferable, but has never
obtruded her views. She objected
particularly to free use OF alcohol,
stimulants which the physicians re-
garded as neces' ary. The Withdrawal
of so many OF the companions OF th'
President in his long sickness give
rise, naturally, to much speculation
1t will not be just to the surgeons
to say the break. up is due to an
professional difference or bad feeling
The group which remains are sufii
cient to give the President the at
tendance he needs, and it 10 desirable
that no superauous associates be re
tanned. When the four Washington
surgeons were selected, the constan
presence of Drs. Agnew and Hamil
ton was not contemplated, for vari
GUS reasons. This is now importan
and practical. Hence the medical at
tendence is ample.