Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-12
About the Bulletins.


EXPLANATION OF THE TERMS USED.
The surgeons who have charge of the Presi-
dents case. even in the excitement of the first
hours. recognized the intense desire of the peo-
pie to get information, and they arranged to
issue frequent bulletins showing the state of
the pulse. temperature and respiration These
bulletins have been most eagerly watched for
throughout the whole civilized wsrld The use
of technical terms in the bulletins could not be
| avoided, especially when the necessity of con-
densation, in order that they might be quickly
prepared and frequently issued is taken into
consideration. 1t is but natural that very MANY
persons should be unfamiliar with these techni-
zeal terms. and with the view of rendering the
bulletin Ineligible to all, the surgeons accom-
panied the figures showing temperature
pulse and respiration with a brief remark
to the effect that 'the Presidents condi-
ton continues favorable etc These bulletins
are now issued three times daily, and will be so
continued. Some explanation Of the technical
| terms employed, and the manner of Determining
the Presidents condition, will, no doubt, assist
many to quick comprehension of the bulletins
| as it frequently occurs that the man of business
or labor has but time for glance at them as he
passes. Pulse. on bulletin, means the num-
Der OF beats per minute of the patients pulse
This as everybody understands is determined
by counting the pulsatiOns. watch in hand
Temperature means the degree of heat. Fab
renheit. of the patients body. This Is ascer-
tanned by placing the bulb of a small theremome-
ter. specially arranged and adapted for the pur-
pose. i'm the mouth of the patient. or under the
| armpit. as the attending surgeon may see fit
The highest degree registered 10y the mecury
shows the temperature of the body 'Respira-
| ton" means the number of breathings per
minute, and these, like the pulsa-
tions are ascertaincd by watching
and counting the times the chest rises and falls
per minute. In good health the natural beats
of the pulse vary in different persons The av-
GRACE of adults is from sixty to seventy per min
ute. There are, however, very wide differences
even in healthy persons. For instance Bona
parties natural pulse-beat was only about A.
while that of one of the lord justices of England
as 1913 per minute. These, however. are ex-
tremes. Then. too, the spuse-beats of healthy
persons vary at different times of the day or
according to the position of the body or to the
activity or quiet OF the person. The greatest
frequency of the beats occurs during the middle
OF the day and the least about midnight As a
rule in health. the pulse is quicker IA the morn
ing than in the evening. but in fever especially in
warm weather. this is reversed and the increases
| in the evening. The Presidents pulse since the
hopeful symptoms of his case set in has nvari-
| ably quickened in the evening and decreased in
the morning. The doctors attribute the increase
to the heat stir and hustle incident to the day
time and the decrease to the cooler atmosphere
HC.
President Garfield's natural pulse when i'm good
health and quiet. is about 10 beats per minute
The highest pulsation yet reached in his case
has been l26. For the past several DAYS it has
ranged from los to VI. In cases of extreme
lethargy the pulse has been known to go down
to II and the other extreme record is 200 the
latter Occurring in children afflicted with water
on me brain. The average temperature or
natural heat of the human body. in good cond-
ton of health, is 9S1s degrees (9S5 Fahrenheit
The 9Sth degree is marked on thermometers as
'blOod heat" Cases are on record in
which the temperature rose to los in
children and 107 in adults. but los is
regarded as almost certain death, and 1O4 as ex-
| tremely dangerous. Raving yellow fever patients
are said to rarely go above 105. The Presidents
! temperature has been as low as $50, only four
tenths of degree above normal. Last night it
reached the highest point-102S. The surgeons
ascribed this unusual rise-it had not been going
above 101 and fractions-to excitement If the
patient, produced by the hammering and other
| noises and stir necessary to the Introduction of
the pipes for the compressed air. The fact that
the temperature receded this morning to 1916
proves the accuracy of this opinion. In cases
| of cholera the temperature of the BODY has
been known to fall to r. but the lev hand of
death already had hold of the patient The
Presidents respiration has varied from 10 to a.
In health and when entirely free from anv ex-
citing influence. the natural respiration (number
OF breathlngs per minute) of an adult is from
from fourteen to eighteen; but in cases of sick
ness and of wounds it has been recorded as low
as seven and as high as one hundred per
minute.
''PeritOntis'' is term that was Frequently
used in the earlier bulletins to denote one of the
dangers OF the President's condition; but his case
has now reached state Of progress which re-
lieves that apprehension. The term, briefly de-
| fined, means Inflammation of the peritoneum,
which is membrane that envelopes the intes-
tines and other abdominal organs and generally
the interior OF the abdomen Inflammation of
that membrane is a most dangerous, If not fatal,
| phase OF disease on a wound.
"lympanltiS' was another unfavOrable symD-
tom in the earlier stages'of the Presidents case,
now happily passed. It's meaning was that the
abdomen was swelling up tight like drum
| tympan) from an accumulation of air or gases
in the intestinal tube or in the peritoneum. The
tympanitis disappeared before it developed to
any alarming extent.
What DIR. Bliss Says.
DIR. Bliss says that during the early part of the
day yesterday the President was very restless
and had but little sleep. The noise of the fan
in the basement forcing the cool air into the
room made buzzing sound plainly susceptible
to us near the bedside, and once or twice we
asked if he noticed it. He did not complain, but
it was evident that it was annoying him. After
q canvas section was substituted for the tin pipe
| II broke the continuity of sound, or as General
Swain, who was standing by said, the tee
phOnlc communication between the fan and the
room was cut Of But the rest which followed
the quiet of the room was very encouraging,
probably as natural sleep as he has had since
what Is the Presidents weight" The
doctor was unable to say, but Private Secretary
Pruden said $40 pounds
do you think he has lost much fesh?"
he has replied the doctor. II should say
between twenty-five and thirty pounds. His
form has materially diminished
referring to the bulletins he said that the
leoriie excitement was greatest during the
MIDDLE OF the day, whereas, In most fever cases
II was greatest at night. This was one of the
pecqiiarities observed in his case.
us he inclined to talkff
NOT since we have explained that it is better
ne should keep silent. When approach his bed
slde ne extends his hand, and his invariable
question is Doctor, what do you think of the
sltuation. After explaining to him as fully as
possible and dressing his wound he usually falls
asleep. He has habit 0fstalking in his sleep.
put the confused and nery0ns action was greatly
glmnshed during the day. The discharge from
tue wound has been what we term laudable pus.
ana MS condition at the time we made our noon
examination did not indicate relapse. He has
not experienced any nausea, and has expressed
to retain food. -'