Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-08-19
Il.9o r. Il.
wAsnrxerox. August Is.

Oenpr1lIy
B., favorable which had been issued
;n ~. the Presidents relapse. Dr. Agnew
dsnsrture for Philadelphia proved TO ce 'I m
s;dr.i for a decidedly better feeling III ~
.-,or, and convinced many doubtful ones
.dh., the case was progressing satisfactoriy'
prov;ous TO leaving the White House the "
.snred Mrs. Garfield that he did not consid-
Ter his presence necessary, as everything
going as well as possible. This ackno~ieus
ment from the consulting physician vas .eo
ed upon as an extremely faSoraoie
ua 1a Fl, who heard of it experienced renewed
hn,,o and viewed the situation As being unde-
n;ablv better than they could reasonably nave
axnacted twentv-four hours earlier Inc pa
tent has been improving ever since the nrs'
II .aasnoonfnl of the nourishment was taken'
~ This fact was proven by his irmer pulse
pafo,o the noon bulletin was issued the fres-
;dent had partaken of koumiss on four diner
an, occasions and expressed a desire Tor more
of coarse nourishment, which was ADMINS
tered in very small quantities. PREVIOUS W
administering the first quantity OF koumls s
NJ carf;eId WAS sitting by the patients
bedside when he expressed himself as feel
mo comparativelv we'll, and inquired II II
was desired to try the strength OF the pa
tents stomach by permitting him to try
some nourishment, and expressed a desire
for some koumiss, whereupon his wife gave
him the first portion.
The fact that the President suggested the
administration of nourishment, is consid-
cred by the attending surgeons as an lnol-
cation that the irritability OF the stomach Is
subsiding, and that in consequence the pa
tient commences TO crave for food.
| Considerable anxiety was exhibited about
Il. so, on account of slight delay by the noon
bulletin. The contents of the bulletin when
il was read in private Secretary Brown
room at LIS. did not delay the anxiety be-
cause of the announcement 1t contained IN
reference to the inflammation of the parotd
| GLAND. until the assurances Of the consulting
and attending surgeons were obtained TO the
contrary. Great apprehension was felt that
the new and serious complication mad Deeh
encountered.
DIR. Hamilton was the first of the surgeons
applied to for information regarding the IN
famed gland, but beyond the statement that
it was nothing of serious character, the doc
ter was disinclined to talk. He intimated he
could not explain the affection to a non pro-
fessional in the brief time he had at his dis
posal and left with the remarkj that it was
nothing to cause alarm. When DIR. Bliss
left the Mansion, about 2.45, he was met at
front entrance by several members OF the
nress His attention was called to various
rumors which had been circulated since the
midday bulletin was issued, in connection
with the inflammation of the President 5
parotid gland. These rumors were to the
, effect that it was the indication of pyaemla
low fever and other complications OF more
or less serious nature. and also that morti-
fication had set in. The doctor said it was
| hot in
that pyaemia was such specific disease that
some people will insist that the President has
it while the attending surgeons, thus far, have
been unable to discover any indications OF II
whatsoever 'sThis inflamatiOn, the doctor
continued, sis nothing unusual In cases
where patients have become debilitated. l
have seen it MANY times in the case of gun
shot wounds
Then it is not pyaemia, doctor:
Oh no.
: Is it an indication of fever typhoid or other
\ wise?
Not at all, sir. 1t is an affection which
need not cause the slightest alarm.
The doctor with this remark stepped into
r his carriage and drove from the Mansion.
t Gen. Swain says he thinks that the crise,
has been passed and that the patient will
now continue to improve.
Early this evening DR.. Reyburn was asked
his opinion of the Presidents condition
whereupon the following dialogue ensued:
The President is doing very WELL
Does he experience much Inconvenience
from inflammation referred to in the noon bull
letin?
He has considerable pain in his neck which
is the result of inflammation.
Well doctor what is the cause of this in
o flamation. How do you explain?
| II is the result of extreme debility
Do not similar symptoms manifest them
II selves in typhoid fever!
It They do not: but inflammation of parotid
: gland also frequently occurs in cases where
the patients are state of excessive debility
from other causes.
Do YOU think the President better TO-DAY
than yesterday?
He is as well as could reasonably be ex
pected. l think he is getting along nicely.
> DR.. Reyburn. when asked what he thought
of the increased temperature, said sit can
= not be considered as an unfavorable indica
ton, inasmuch as it shows that the patient
has considerable vitality left On the whole
G I consider the President better to-day than
& yesterday
Has the President taken anything besides
koumiss to-day?
+ Yes; he swallowed tablespoonful of mill
: Cruel prepared by Mrs. Garfield.
$ Did he retain it all?
Every bit of it.
DIR. Boynton, who remained in Secretary
Browns room short time this evening, was
asked how he accounts for the inflammation o.
the parotid gland. He said. sit is septica
mia; it certainly is not parotid." During the
course of the conversation the Doctor ex
planned his version of septic@mia, which was
in substance that it was caused in this case
= by the condition of the patients blood. Ac
d cordipg to his theory the same effect is liable
+ in diptheria, typhoid or scarlet fever, and il
e fact every disease which renders the blood
e unhealthy. The Doctor was asked if he ap
y pretended any serious results from the new
l. complication. ''Oh. no. said he; sit ha.
n spent its fury. and think it will pass now.
The doctor did not attribute the infama
ton to the condition of the wound inasmuch
as the parotid gland is not an absorbing bu
secreting gland. 1t is true, however, thai
p the discharge from the wound might infiu
% ence the irritation to a certain extent &C
a cording to the theories advanced by the attend
: ing surgeons and other prominent member.
n of the medical profession; however, the case
e may be summed up with the statement that
o parotid glands secrets the saliva, and that
:, when no nourishment is taken in the nat.
: ural way for time, there is no demand made
k upon the saliva, and therefore naturally
- | secrets itself in tho narotid gland and a0o,