New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-08
A QUIET DAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE.


THE WORDING OF THE MORNING BULLETIN CAUSING
UNEAsINLss IN SOME QUARTFRs-RETIcENcE OF
TIE ATTENDING NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. FOR
RELIEVING THAT THE ELECToIC PROBE WILL BE
USED SHORTLY FOR DETERMINING TIE POSITION
or THE BULLET.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Aug. 40 p. M--The day at
the Executive MansiC has probably been he most
quiet day since the President was wounded. Thcre
was some comment aoOut the city regarding the
information contained in the morning bulletin The
language OF which that the President this
morning IS in good con liton, although the effects Of
The ehTiIe dsturbance Of yesterday still slightly
perceptiblo pulse and temperatures" Many pe~-
sons construed this sentence as Indicative Of un-
favorable symptoms but tho general public &C.
cepted as reassming, aud consel dently there nave
been few inquiries at thc Mansion in the course of
the day.
At 1890 p. m, when the patients wound was
dressed. his pulse was 1Ct temperature 100. res
piratiOn 20. The fact that the fever existed at
this hour was not generally known inasmueh as
there 1as bulletin issued the information being
privately otiaiDed rom the attending surgeons
The surseons, while admitting that tho fever has
continued all day, as is shown by the even
ing bulletin, do not appea1 20 desire to con-
verse any more than is necessary on the sub
jeot, thereby leaving the 3blic to form
their own conclusions as 10 the cause Of the con-
tinued high pulse and temperature.
IL is intimated that there are indications of the
formation of another Dus cavity, but Il at direct
location has nor b3el sceitained. Professor Bell
being absent from the city, his assistant Mr. Tain
tor, was called to the Mansion late tins afternoon TO
consult with the attending surgeons regarding the
use OF the electric probe, and he was requested TO
bring two cells of battery the Mansion tomorrow
morning. Should Ii be determined to use the
instrument at this time it will probably be for the
purpose OF ascertainiug the exact course of the
wound from tho surface Of the body to the SPOT
where tie bah is lodged and if possible to discover
whether there is pus cavity and, if So its exact
location.
The electric probe is flexible tube about twelve
OF fourteen inches long through viii h iino flexible
wines rIln. which attached TO an indicator at
The ead juserted into a wound In endeavoring to
find the position Of bali tbs instrument is grad
ualiy pushed forward, following tie channel into
which it may be inserted until it reaches an OBJ
SruetioA AS soon as the bali is 1ached by the
Prooe the indicator Is Affected and the result IS at
once apparent 10 the person performing the ouer-
ation The perfect heHbility of the Instrument
enables the operator to follow the eoure, of Tho
channel very infinitely. Il is thought that if any
Ius cavity existed it might be discovered
ny an insertion of the instrument,
inaslnuch as the tubo is lnhlo A.
enter cavity from the direct course of tho ,yo,nd
Ii which event ii would, OF course. resist tho
pressure of the operator without aIinou,,cing H.
contact with the basl.
10 is understood 1hat the surgeons desire to pro-
cure perfect diagram of tha wound end II ia
therefore probable that the electric probe NAV bo
used for the purpose The insertion of the tube is
SAID TO be rather trying operation DR.. Hamilton.
who was TO have left the city this afternoon.
stlll remains. All the attending surgeons and the
Two consulting surgeons were present at the
evening dressing. During the afternoon gentle
man from DR.. BlisSs Office YVES seen near cntIery
es'aDhshment, end in explanation Of his presence in
ue Doshooihood OF the store said that he had taken
some surgical instruments there which the doctor
desired sharpened. While these indications are not
necessarily conclusive OF the contemplation of an
operation npon the President they at least prove
thas the surgeons are preparing for any emergency