Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-25

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and Hamilton SummOned-An OPP
GRAFTON Per1OImed-The Flow Re
sumed-A Brighter OutIOOk-FuII
Particulars of the Alarming
Change and the Steps IL Demanded.
WASHINGTON, July 23.-There has beeu
an unexpected change for the worse in the
Presidents condition. He has had two
chills oday aud a very high fever. Nothing
can be got to discharge from the wound.
Drs. Agnew and Hamilton have been tele-
graphed for. The attending physicians are
very anxious. 1t is the worst stage of his
illness.
Yesterday was the best day OF the Prssi-
dents Illness. To-day has been the worst
There was fever last night which the ply
sicians said was due to local causes. This
morning about eight O'Clock the Presidents
condition became alarming. His pulse ran
up to 130. He was taken with rigor or a
chilly sensation. This was accompanied by
very high fever and high temperature.
The temperature and fever went down
patient very weak Then followed heavy
sweats and more weakness. These were
all premonitory signs Of blood poisoning.
About half-past eleven o'clock the rtgor
returned. The wound did not discharge
at all freely during the day. The bad
symptoms were accredited to an accu-
mutation of pus. The drainage tube
was heightened, but it could not
be said that the flow of pus
was resumed. This was another symptom
of blood poisoning. In fact, the history of
the whole day has pointed to blood poison
ing, but 1t has not yet appeared. This
afternoon there was a favorable change.
Under the influence of morphine, the Presi-
dent slept very quietly. His pulse went
down, aud all the symptoms became very
favorable. This evening, however, when
the wound was again dressed, the
bulletin following It showed that
from 6 to o'clock the pulse had gone up Is
beats, and that the temperature and respi-
ration were equally unsatisfactory. The
heavy sweats have again appeared and the
President is considerably weaker.
The President at IL o'clock is still sleep
ing under the influence Of morphine. There
has been no examination of the wound
since O'Clock, because it is thought best
not to interfere with him 10 his present con-
ditiOn. He is perspiring freely. 1t is now
thought that the most dangerous symptoms
have, for the immediate present passed,
but whether they will recur or not is
a matter open to much doubt, as it is feared
that they will return. The physicians re-
fuse to express an opinion. The flow of
pus from the wound has again become
natural, and the hope is entertained that
the stoppage of the flow, and not the great
danger, caused the symptoms of blood pois-
oning, which have been so marked during
the day.
At twelve O'Clock tonight the Presidents
pulse had gone down to ninety. The indl-
cations were such that gave no fear of
bad change during the night.
WASHINGTON, July 24-To-day oper ed
most unfavorab!e for the President. He
sleep he had was before twelve O'Clock,
when he was under the influence of NOR
phine. After that hour he got no sleep. At
the consultation of physicians this morning
DR.. Agnew, Of Philadelphia, and DR.. Ham
ilton, of New York, were present. They
are the most eminent surgeons in the
United States. Dr. Agnew after an exami-
nation said that the uniavorable change in
the Presidents condition was undoubtedly
caused by the formation of a cavity and the
accumulation in IL of matter, which should
have been discharged by the regular chan
mel OF the wound were it in a satisfactory
condition.
An operation to perforate the cavity and
allow the matter to discharge was the only
thing that would counteract the symptoms
and prevent blood poisoning. He took out
bis surgical instruments and performed the
operation. He cut just below the wound
aud into the body about two inches. An in
cision of the cavity was made and there was
a flow through the opening. The flow
was not satisfactory. 1t relieved the Presi-
dent somewhat, but did not fully take away
the cause of immediate danger. A bent
silver tube was inserted, so that instead of
coming through the new opening matter
might flow through the track of the wound.
This afternoon the tube was found to work
more satisfactorily. Tonight the discharge
from the cavity formed is through the
opening made by DR.. Agnew, and is pro-
nounced to be very free and satisfactory.
This morning opened the most gloomy of
any during his Hines. Tonight he is lit
tie better. DR.. Bliss says that the accumu-
lated matter has all been drawn through
from the dangerous cavity and that it will
be kept drained. He also says the danger
so imminent yesterday and to day is passed,
and the PresideBt is doing well. He is too
much of an optimisU, however, to place
full credit in his statements.
He has deceived the public for two weeks
about the Presidents condition. What he
says now, although anxiously inquired
about, does not carry conviction with it.
The fact that there has been deception
practiced In the official bulletins, and the
further fact that the attending physicians
did not know what was the
matter with the President until Doctors
Agnew and Hamilton told them, breaks the
confidence heretofore reposed in DR. Bliss
and his attendants. Tonight, however, the
President was good deal better. The dis
charge OF matter has been free, and it is
thought removes all danger of recurrence
Of the recent drawback in the Presidents
condition. 1t is hoped that the President
VIII continue to improve, as the attending
surgeons tonight freely predict.
Doctors Agnew and Hamilton do not,
however, make such predictions. All they
said was that the operation had relieved the
President greatly, and they expected that
the result would be very satisfactory. At
the same time they said the President was
in dangerous condition, and that he was
by no means out Of peril or on the high road
to recovery.
The Presidents pulse, temperature and
respiration have gone down to almost
normal state, and he is passing very fair
night. He is very weak, but his symptoms
are satisfactory. How long this will remain
so time alone will show.
AZ the night draws on the favorable
of the President continue to be
more marked. DR.. Hamilton tonight tele-
graphed to his family that everything was
This is worth whole columns
from the attending physicians. Everything
Is now, at midnight, as hopeful and as en-