The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-08-01
UNOFFICIAL BULLETINS,

II MI
At the morning dressing of the President
wound there was very healthy and perfectly
free discharge of pus and very thoroug b
cleansing occurred The President took some
milk with egg early this morning and ate a
small quantity of lamb chops and potatoes for
his breakfast. DR.. Boynton says the track of
the original wound above the incision con-
closed. The President is in excellent spirits
and expresses himself as daily growing
stronger.
L11.15 P. MI
The day at the White House has passed very
quietly, reports from the sick-room being with
out exception of a favorable character. DR..
Bliss in conversation tonight on the Presi-
for the regularity of the high pulse every
evening. said that it was simply the result Of
the surgical fever. "It is a mistaken idea"
he added, ito suppose all surgical fevers are
continuous and instancing Immediately
thereafter number of cases which have been
in his charge as proof for the assertion Since
the issuance Of the o'clock bulletin the Pres
dents pulse, the doctor said, had fallen about
ten beats and is at this hour about 81, with
temperature about normal. The normal
pulse Of President Garfield was the subject of
discussion by the surgeons to-day, and it was
about 80 beats. DIR. Bliss said if the patient
continues to improve for the next two weeks,
proportionately with his improvement for a
few days. there is no reason why he will not be
able to sit up during the third week or proba-
bly, sooner. t'atEf .Sa
During the course of further conversation
the doctor explained at length the manner in
which the dressings of the wound are made
and the part taken therein by each of the at.
tending surgeons. He said one surgeon (Dr.
Reyburn) always takes the temperature, an
other Or. Woodward prepares the liquids for
cleansing the wound, keeping them at blood
heat, and the other two bliss and Barnes)
dress the wound. Everything has been done
conscientiously," said the doctor, 'to give the
examination, whether it be favorable or un-
favorable" AS an instance of this he referred
to the fact that oftentimes when the evening
examination is made the fever will be found
at its height, and perhaps Immediately after
wards it will have almost entirely disappeared,
but his condition at the moment of examina-
ton, he said, is invariably taken for the bulle-
tins. The fever, although it may be variable,
the doctor said, always makes its appearance
sooner or later.
In referring to the probable location of the
bullet, DIR. Bliss explained in detail an expert
ment by means of the induction balance which
occurred at the evening dressing of the wound
yesterday. He said: although the apparatus
was afterwards found to be out of adjustment
it indicated at one etime that the ball lies
about five inches below and to the right of the
navel and Just over the groin, precisely where
the attending surgeons have always main
tanned it had lodged. Another experiment
will be made by Prof. Bell tomorrow morning
with an improved apparatus, which it is
claimed will detect bullet at depth of five
inches from the surface of the body. DR..
Bliss is of the opinion that this experiment
will result in fixing definitely the exact loca-
ton of the ball. In response to an inquiry as
to whether the ball, if it should be found to
be in the front wall of the abdomen, would be
likely to cause the President any serious an
noyance, the doctor said that unless it had
carried some bone with it in which even an
abscess might form there was no room to fear
any troublesome complication from it.
The President during the day has taken
about % ounces of liquid nourishment and
four ounces of solid food. including mutton
chops and other substantial meats. The house
was closed considerably earlier than usual on
account of everything being quiet and favor
able.
The Despatch to Minister Lowell.
WASHINGTON, July 30.-The following was
sent tonight by the Secretary of State:
To Lowell, Minister, London:
d. H., l.