New-York tribune., 1881-07-19
THE FEVER INCREASE EXPLAINED

GASTRIC IRRITATION. DUE TO SOLID ROOD QUICK
ENs THE PRESIDENTS PULSE AID INCREASES
his rEMrERArURE-THE TROUBLE TEMPORARY
-StEErING QUIErLY AT MIDNIGHT.
WAsHlSGr0N, July 49, 1l::}o D. m-The Pres
ident's afternoon fever was a little moyc strongly
marked tonight than last night hc pulse showing
an increase of four beats. the temperature n rise
of hvc-tcnths and the respiration n slight
corrcsp' ndng acceicralon compared with the
maXima Of yesterday. In amy ,ther patient this
itlng increase in the intensity of the fever would
De regarded rs natural fuctuation, and would not
excite ESPECIAL remark, but the Presidents symptoms
closely watched from, day to day,
and almost from hour to hour by the
whole country that an unfayorabe change
however slight seems to have greater
significance than really attaches To it, and is liable
in the absence OF explanation. to cause aIprchcn-
sion. 1t is proper. therefor to say 10y way of COM
mcnt upon to-nights official bulletin, that the facts
thcrin stated give uucasincss To the attending
surgeons. There is Slight increase in the fever but
it arises from known causes, and * undoubtedly
transient in its character The reasons assigned for
il are as follows; The President the past three
days, and more especially to-day, has taken
largely increased quantity OF solid food.
His stomach is still sensitive and mauifcsts
It's seusitiyencss, when in any way ovcrtaxcd, by
symptoms of disturbance. Such was the ease to-
day. and this gastric trouble is thought TO nave been
mrBely instrumental IN agGraNatlng the tcbrllc
symptoms. Then the President this afternoon be-
came ovcr-wcarird in the hands of II barber. He
expressed desire TO have his beard and hair
trimmed and his head rubbed, and at his request "A
barber summoned. The latter spent some time
in rubbing him, aud although the immediate effects
were plcasurablc the results were oyer-atignc and
increased fevcrishncss Aside however, from the
transient rise in pulse and temperature the PresI-
dents symptoms continue to be favorable.
DIR. Bliss upon being asked at 1880 o'clock to-
night whether there anything in the patients
condition to justify uncasincss, replied: Nothing
whatcvcr He is doing we'll The fever is subsi-
ding, his pulse is below 100 again. and he is sleep
ing quietly. He became a ht;lc overwcalcd this
afternoon, but he will probably be well again to-
morrow morning rs he was this
In reply to Il question with regard 10 the wound,
Dr. Bliss said "Thc process of suppuration is going
on satisfactorily, and the track of the ball is slowly
being cleared by the discharge. In dressing the
wound tonight, the flexible drainage tube, without
the cXertion of the least force, dropped in
to a depth of five nd u half inches
showing that the wound is clear and open to
who have never seen the President since his
injury that the bullet probably did not enter
the great cavity of the idy at ALL Our cNpe-
rlencc with the drainage tube might confirm our
previously expressed judgment that the bali
did enter the abdominal cavity and pierced the
liver believe that it passed through that orgai,
and IL lodged in the interior wall OF the abdomen"
In conclusion Dr. Bliss said that there was moth
ing III the Presidents symptoms tonight to cause
anxiety or to indicate that he is not advancing as
favOrably could he expected At 1l:3O the Prcsi-
dents pulse is 96, and he is sleeping quietly.