The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-08-21
pR, BIS lNTERY[EMED.


Executive MANSION, 1890 p. Mn an
interview with Il representative Of the AS
soeiated Press this afternoon Or. Bliss gave
in substance the following account Of the
recent exploration Of The Presidents wound
by means OF the flexible rubber catheter,
reference to which was made for the first
time in the noon bulleti1:
Since the operation Of the Ssh OF August
no drainage tube has been used in the
wound. At the morning and evening
dressings. however, a small flexible rubber
tube shout quarter OF an inch in diam.
eter was introduced, aud weak
solution OF carboic acid and water forced
through it TO cleanse the wound and
bring out accumulated pus. Up to
Yesterday morning the surgeons had been
unable 10 pass the tube beyond point dis.
tant three and half or four inches from the
mouth Of the last incsion. At that point it
always met with an obstruction which could
not be overcome without the eXertlon OF
force, and force the surgeons did not think
II prudent to employ. The apparent per-
mGnence Of this obstruction finally led the
surgeons 10 the belief that the depths OF the
wound had besled, or at least that the track
OF the ball had healed at the point where
tut iutUtt OhHNNNA SAOPHtNs ~
few days since, however, 1t was
noticed that the quantity OF pus
discharged by the wound at one OF the
regular dressings was greater than the
ousntity OF water which the wound would
hold after be pus had been removed. This
sleArly indicated one OF two things-viz.,
either thst the pus, which wss in excess OF
the apparent capacity OF the wound, came
from some concealed and unsupported
cavity. or that the surgeons were mistaken
in suppOsing the depths OF The wound 10
have healed. 1t also Indicated thst the OBJ
struc,on which prevented the passage OF
the cstheter inward did not interfere
with the flow Of pus outward from
the deeper and unhealed parts, and
the low temperature OF the patient
negptiYed the theory Of pus cavity, and
the surgeons, therefore, came TO the conclu-
sion that the deeper parts OF the wound
mast be open, and that the excess OF pus,
which could not be otherwise accounted
for, must bave come from there, notwith-
standing The apparent obstruction encoun-
tered by the catheter.
On Thursday Or. Bliss made long and
careful examination Of the wouAd, but was
still unable TO get the tube deeper 10 than
about three and half inches. On Friday
morning, however, during the dressing OF
the wound q small piece OF cellular tissue
about as large as the end OF ones
little finger soughed off or be-
came detached, and was washed out with
the pus. This fragment OF tissue had APP
psYently been half detached for some time,
and had acted as q sort OF rude valve at the
point where the track Of the ball seemed to
be obstructed, closing it against the cathe-
ter and against the water from the outside,
but opening to pressure from inside, and
allowing the outflow Of pus from the deeper
parts Of the wound. Upon the removal OF
mis- fragment OF tissue DR.. Bliss again in
froduced the flexible rubber pipe, and md
ing that il no longer encountered resist
ance. passed il in, as already stated, to
a distance Of twelve and half Inches.
Almost the entire track OF The ball
wss Thea washed ont and cIeansed. The pus
W hich came from this deeper part OF the
wound, although not great In quantity, was
white and was perfectly healthy
in character. Ii was. in fact, better pus
han that secreied by the more superficial
oar,s Of the wound. II any septic faint has
passed into the patients blood, it originated |
not in this pus, which had been entirely |
protected from air, but IN That secreted oy /
he suppuratlug surface between tue recent /
OF the mouth OF The incision.
Nothing new In regard 20 the location OF
he ball had been learned. DIT. Bliss sara
rom the passage OF the catheter to this
unusual depth the tube was so soft ana
,exible that one could only Judge
OF the direction when
I had taken. 1t passed downward
nd forward toward point in the in-
erior wall of the abdomen, where the ball
,ad always been supposed TO lie, and that
vas the most that could be affirmed. Dr:
hamilton thought, he said. that the end OF
me tube lacked about three inches OF reach
no the ball, and that The intervening space
ed healed. In bis (Dr. Blss's) opinion,
,owever. the distance from the end OF tue
nbe 10 the ball was not SO great.
In reply 10 a question with regard 10 the
,ed..ores from which the President had
,een repof;ed TO be suffering, DR.. Bliss sara
that the President has not on
Ia bo1y a single sore, swelling, or abrasion
T any kind, with The exception OF .ne
yelling under the ear, caused Dy Inc IN
,mmstion OF the parotid gland ana tne
youpdS IN the back caused by the bullet ana
nife The Inflammation OF the paroue
land has not, be said, diminished
,neb since Yesterday. The swelling OF
rrround,ne parts has subsidized 80 that the
,pressjon OF the face is again natural, Du'
he gland Itself is still troublesome. scat
sring annIications OF colIodlum ana ioqe-
,r,n have heen made 10 It, but II Is lmpOssl-
lef To say vet whether snpparation ehh oe
Ina