The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-09-01
Seven Weeks OF l!Iering-What the
President Has Endured.

WASHINGTON special Of August 81 to the
Chicago I"ter-Ccean, after stating that seven
weeks had elapsed the day before since the
President was shot, and that his chances for
recovery were not regarded as good as they
were two weeks before the date of the tele-
gram, says:
cit is marvel how much the President
has endured, and If it had not been for his
immense physical strength he would GER
tainly have died weeks ago. The case will
pass into medical history as one of the most
remarkable on record. The President was
shot at $3.50 a. m, July 2, and for four days
afterward the physicians looked for the
death of the sufferer. On the 9th I'M
provement had been so marked that
one of the physicians advertised that
the chances were more than even for the
Presidents recovery. From the 9Th until
the 23d of July the pulse fluctuated between
IS and 1OS. The temperature ranged be-
tween 50 and 1923, and the respiration be-
tween Is and "a. On the 23d there was
marked change FOR the worse in the Presi-
dents condition. He was attacked with
rigors. The pulse rose to 125, temperature
to 104 and respiration to 26. It was q time
of great danger. The discharge of pus from
the wound ceased, and there were indica-
lions of the much dreaded pyamia. DR..
Agnew was summoned from Philadelphia,
and on the oath he made an incision
three inches below the orifce, open
ing pus cavity and taking away bits Of
bone which had accumulated in the track of
the wound from the splintered rib. The
patient improved rapidly after this opera
tion, and it was the general opinion that he
would certainly recover. The precise Local
ton of the ball was determined on the 30th
inst. by the induction balance in the hands
of its master, Professor Bell. On the 7th Of
August indications of the formation Of an.
other pus cavity were observed, and the day
following q second operation was performed
for the relief Of the patient. When the first
incision was made the President did not take
any an&sthetics. The pain was partially
deadened by the application Of ether spray
to the body in the region Of the wound.
The patio Mt had become SO weak by his pro-
tracted illness that ether was administered
when the second operation was performed.
A cut was made underneath the first incis-
ion and below the twelfth rib. Two ounces
Of pus were discharged from the cut, and
freer channel for the flow was made. The
ether greatly retarded the Presidents prog
ress. His stomach, always delicate, re-
fused to receive the customary amount OF
liquid, and vomiting and nausea were fire.
quent. From the 9th to the 18th Of August
the pulse, temperature and respiration
were high, and on the day last mentioned
came what seemed to be an utter physical
collapse. The pulse run up to 100 and the
temperature declined to normal, and even
below the normal point, indicating weak
ness. For few hours it was thought that
the President would surely die, and almost
all hope of his recovery was abandoned.
The report was circulated abroad that he
had ceased to live, and obituary notices OF
the President were published in the live
European papers. The patient slowly raj
lied, however, and since then the doctors
have been devoting their personal attention
to the restoration Of the tone Of the
stomach"
Dean Stanley was great admirer