Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-08-25
The Wounded President.
DIR. BLISS ACCOUNT.

DIR. BLISS ACCOUNT.
EXECUTIVE MANsIoN-10:30 P. M
Aug. 20.-At an interview with agents
Of the press this afternoon, DR.. Bliss
gave in substance the following account
of the recent exploration Of the presi-
dents wound by means of a flexible
rubber catheter, reference to which was
made for the first time in the noon
bulletin to-day. Since the operation OF
Aug. Is, no drainage tube has been
used IN the wound at the morning and
evening dressings; however, a small
flexible rubber tube, about quarter
of an inch in diameter, was Introduced,
and a weak solution of carbolic
acid and water forced through it,
thus cleansing the wound and bringing
out accumulated pus. Up to yesterday
morning the surgeons had been unable
to pass the tube beyond distance of
81 or inches from the mouth of the
last inci8iOn. At that point it always
met with obstruction and could not be
overcome without exertiOn of force,
and force the surgeons did not think it
prudent to use. The apparent firm
ness OF this obstacle finally led the sur
geOns to believe the depth of the wound
had healed, or at least the track of the
ball had healed, at the point where the
rubber catheter was stopped. A few days
since, however, it was noticed a quantity
Ofpus discharged by the wound at one of
the regular dressings, was greater than
the quantity of water which the wound
holds, after the pus had been removed.
This clearly indicated one of two things,
VIZ: either that the pus which was in
excess of the apparent capacity of the
wound came from the concealed
and unsuspected cavity, or that the
surgeons were mistaken in supposing
the depths Of the und to have heal
ed. 1t also indicated that the obstruc-
ton which prevented the passage of
catheter did not interfere with the flow
ofpus outward from the deeper and un-
healed interior. The low temperature of
the patient negatived the theory of the
pus cavity, and the surgeons therefore
came TO the conclusion that the deeper
parts of the wound must still be open,
and that the excess of pus which could
not otherwise be accounted for must
come from there. Notwithstanding
the apparent obstruction encountered
by the catheter on Thursday, DIR.
Bliss made an examination of the
wound, but was unable to get the tube
deeper than about 81 inches. Friday
morning, however, during the dressing
Of the wound, small piece of cir
cular tissue, a piece about as
large as the end of ones little
finger sloughed off or became de-
tached and was washed out with pus.
This fragment tissue apparently had
been half detached for some time and
acted as sort of d rude valve where
the track of the ball seemed to be OBJ
structed closing it against the catheter,
and against the water from the outside
but giving to the pressure from the in
side allowing an outflow of pus from
the deeper parts Of the wound. On the
removal of this fragment tissue, DIR
Bliss again introduced flexible rubber
tube, finding it no longer encountered
resistance, passed it in as already
stated to the distance of 124 inches.
Almost the entire track of the ball was
then thoroughly washed out and
cleansed. The pus which came from
this deeper part of the wound, although
not local in quality, was healthy in
character, and was in fact better than
that secreted by the more superficial
parts Of the wound. If any
taint has passed into the pa
TENTS blood, it originated not
in the pus, which has been entirely
protected from the air, but that secret
ed in suppurating the surface between
the recent obstruction and the mouth
of incision. Nothing new with regard
to the location of the ball has been
learned. DR.. Bliss says from the pass
age of the catheter to this depth the
tube was so soft that one could Judge
approximately the direction which it
had AIKEN. 1t passed downward and
forward toward the point in the in
terror wall of the abdomen, where it
had always been supposei to lie, and
that was the most that could be affirm
ed.
BULLETIN.
[OficiaI.
EXECUTIVE MAN SION, Aug. 2O-6:3O
p. m.-The president has passed the
dag quietly, and has been able to take
more liquid food by the mouth than
yesterday. The quantity given by
enen1dta has been diminished, and the
parotid swelling remains the same.
Pulse, 10; temperature, 100 40; res
piration, 10.
(Signed) BLISS,