St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-08-12

instead of above, the rib. This gives
a new outlet to the pus and enabled
them to reach pus cavity which had
been forming for several days. The
operation was necessarily a very pain
full one. The President had slept very
well during the night and was in good
condition to undergo it. He was put
under the influence of ether, but the
anRsthetic passed off without bad
effects. The doctors express great sat
isfaction with the operation. saying it
was entirely successful and accom-
plished its purpose. The pus, it is
now thought. will flow without further
interruption.
IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY DIR. AGNEw.
Or. Agnew states that an examina-
ton with the probe has resulted in
showing that the wound is of far less
serious nature than was for a long time
supposed. 1t has been definitely as
certained that the cavities of the chest
and abdomen were not entered, and
necessarily the peritoneal membrane
was not pierced, nor was the liver torn
L nv vi illC NONutl Is DtlNCt
the tenth and eleventh ribs. four inch
es to the spinal column, and the ball
took a course almost directly down
ward. The bullet, striking and splin-
tering the eleventh rib, lost considera-
bic force, and being DETECTED passed
through the tissue of the muscles which
form the soft wall of the abdominal re-
gion and stopped just at the crest OF
the linn, or broad, fiaring bone which
forms the hip. The precise location is
i'll either the quadratus or the psOaS
muscle, but which cannot yet be told
as DR.. Agnew did not succeed in touch
ing the ball, although he introduced q
probe fully seven inches into the
wound. In speaking of the process by
which this definite knowledge of the
nature of the wound was obtained, DR.
Agnew said the electric balance was
not of the slightest service. The infor.
nation was obtained by the ordinary
method of probing. The dullness un,
der percussion, which had been regard
ed as a symptom of injury to the live
and resulting in hemcrrhage, he ex
plains on the theory that that organ
was slightly bruised by the bali in it,
passage. He is quite sure that it wa,
not lacerated in the least, and its cap
sule is now intact.
DR.. Agnew entirely approves of the
action of the attending surgeons in re
framing from any endeavor to find tn,
ball just after the shooting. He thinks
it likely that any such search, whethel
with the probe or with cutting instru
ments, especially in the great uncer
tainty as to the direction taken by tn,
ball, would have had fatal result
Even now there is little or no eXpecta
ton of extracting the ball, although
there is little or no doubt of the Pres
ident's ultimate recovery.
DR.. Agnew is dissatisfied with hi
appearance and his weak digestiv,
powers, which cause fear that his con
valescecne will be prolonged. The pc
sition of the bullet, however, is sucl
that no permanent Inconvenience i
anticipated from its staying where it is
HOW GUITEAU PASSES HIS TINE.
Guiteau maintains his cheerful de
meanOr, enjoys good health and con
ducts himself much as usual. He makes
no special observance of any day, Oc
cupying himself reading the books ant
periodicals to which he has access
He seems to be getting cloyed will
literature, however, and lies on hi,
bed much of the time, apparently il
deep meditation. He does not know
Garfield's condition at all, except tina
he infers, of course, that he is aliv,
and probably recovering. He realizes
however, that recovery must be very
tedious and painful process, and h,
says he is very sorry that he has giveI
the President so much suffering. He
meant to kill him at once and make
death painless. Warden CrOcker EN-.
phatically denies the story that GuiteaI
is kept informed of the President,
condition by system of telegraphins
between him and his fellow prisoners
Croker says this is nonsense. Tn,
only persons with whom Guiteau has
any communication are officers of til,
law and the jail wardens, and none o
these enter into any conversation will
him on the subject, or the consequent
ces of his deed. Gen. Croker say,
that if Guiteau has applied for bail
as reported, it is more for the effect o.
the thing than from any real desire oil
| his part to be liberated. "Guitear
|
don't want any bail" said the warden
she wants to stay right in the Jail, anC
have it well guarded, too"
DOING MAGNIFICENTLY.
''LoOk at that" said DR.. Bliss, tri
umphantly, Tuesday morning, as h,
held out a slip of paper for inspection
A glance showed the occasion of thu
doctors joy. Written in firm ant
natural hand were these words: "Jame
A. Garfield, August 9, 1881" This il
the first time since the injury that tn,
President has written his signature anC
date, and the characteristics of tn,
handwriting indicated strength anG
steady nerves. After such an Ocula
proof of improvement one expected ;
favorable report from the Doctor, ano
it came promptly and decidedly. "H'
is doing magnificently," he said.
| Af fU,n