New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-28

oeht vital energies in the morning was especially
no'iceaoie To-day. Between o'clock and o'clock
.: M MS pulse was high and feeble his mental con-
ditlon rather Respondent and all his symptoms dis
cOuragina
Niost OF the members of the Cabinet were at the
executive Mansion at an early hour and the fact
"' .hey ala not leave after the appearance of the
,, niis puiletin was one of many indications that
o'h 'hey and the surgeons felt the gravest appre-
hehsions. The bulletin was of meagre and rather
unsatisfactory character but it clearly indicated
change for the worse. and all the information OBJ
taiaole unofcially from the surgeons was fully In
correspondence with it,
Soon after the morning examination however.
the patient rallied slightly, the range Of hs pulse
became lower, faint Improvement was apparent in
i's Cohe' ana before noon the urgent alarm of the
early morning began to subside. About noon most
OF the Cabinet officers left the Executive Mansion
feellng assured that at the worst death was
not imminent. The Presidents condition at noon,
rs described by several of the attending surgeons
was substantially follows
In tho first place exhaustion had become very
threatening and dangerous feature Of the case. The
stomach, entecbed by the poisoned condition of the
blood, seemed unable properly and complete
ly to assimilate the food given it, and the
result was steady and unmistakeable
1aliurc OF all the vital powers indicated
by n higher. feebler and more fuctuatIng
wound, and until to-day considerable degree Of
mental disturbance. The condition of the swollen
parotld gland had not changed in any respect for
the better There has been slight dischaSgc of pus
poth from the incision, made several days ago. and
from the orce of the ear but its quantity was not
sufficient to relieve the inflammation or diminish the
swelling. The gland continued, therefore to exert
depressing and dangerous influence upon the
PATIENTS already weakened vitality and there was
prospect or Immediate CHI for fho hiatt
III ITS character. The process of repair along the
track OF the ball had ceased, aud the granulations
were becoming noticeably less perfect. The pus
discharge by the wound was also unnatural in a;-
peasance and consstcnce
All these unfavorablc symptoms were due directly
or indirectly to the yitated condition of the blood.
In the opinion of the surgeons the danger of death
from exhaustion might be averted were it not tor
the condition of the gland, but it seemed very
doubtful whether the process of repair could begin
or go on in the presence Of that complication. Such
in brief were the unfavorabe features of the Pre-
dents case at noon. The only favorable symptoms
were the con inued ability of the stomach to take
and retain food and the clearer and more per-
feet action of the brain. Soon after noon the
Presidents attendants reported slight Improvement
in his condition. and at . o'clock Colonel Rockwell
sent the following telegram to the Hon. W. H.
Robertson, New-York
AT this hour o'clock, tho President is quite COM
Portable. His pulse is III. He voluntarily re-
marked that he felt stronger than on yesterday
Whatever the future may bring he has not vet
given any signs of dissolution. lie said years ago
that always the uucx pected that was shappen-
ing with him.
Later in the afternoon. the surgeons admitted that
some of the Presidents symptoms were more
encouraging His pulse began to show greater
steadiuess and slightly improved quality. and his
mental faculties were clearer and more active than
at any time during the past week Both OF these
SYMPTOMS were taken indications of improved
nutrition. The President himself voluntar-
lily, sait several times in the course OF
The afternoon 10 his attendants that he
thought he felt better than he did yesterday and re-
marhed that for the first time in several days he
found himself able TO taste the food which he swal-
lowed. The G:30 official bulletin showed slight
am'lorailon of the patients symptoms, and al
though the change WIS too triiling TO justify any
great amount Of encouragement il was eagerly ac-
cepted hy those who could not bring themselves to
believe that the President would die, rs ground for
renewed hope.
Dr.. Bliss. in conversation with the Rev. Dr. Pow
ers pastor of President Garfe!ds church said about
Z ocl ok that the President had had thus far IA
rather better day than anticipated this morn
ing. He did not think there enough change
however, rs yet to Justify any antcipations of re-
covery to modify the views entertained
IA to the extreme gravity of the
crisis. IT, he said, the President gets through
tomorrow as well as he has to-day, think there
Will be some ground for encouragement."
About o'clock this evening the President said 10
Mrs. Garfield, who was sitting by his bedside that
he would like piece of milk toast. She replied
that If the surgeons had objections she would
get 1t for him. Dr. Bliss upon being consulted said
that it would do harm if the condition of
tn Presidents parotd gland would allow
him to move his jaws to eat it. Mrs Garfield there
upon prepared the toast carefully herself and the
patient ate with apparent relish and enjoyment
piece about half rs large as mans hand, moving
his jaws with less difficulty than anticipated.
This taking Of solid food for the first time III about
two weeks is regarded by the Presidents attend
ants rs favorable indication, and has strengthened
little more the hope expressed this afternoon by
Colonel Cockwell and General Swain.
TALKS WITH DOCTORS AND ATTENDANTS.
DIR. BLISS WITHOUT HOPE AT HOoN BUT MORE EN-
COURAGrp N THE EYENING--GENERAL SWAIN
AND COLOXEL ROCKWELL REFUsE To ABANDON
HOPE.
WAsuryGroV, Aug. 27.-lu conversation with
correspondent Mt noon Dr Bliss replied TO questions
Substantially Gs folows
"What view do you take, Doctor, of the Presidents
condition to-day ~
" | think he is no better today than yesterday
and when say he is better H. il about equivalent
10 saying that he is worsa, because tic longer he
Oh III this way without positive repair the less
become his chances of recovery"
" Has he failed much This forenoonl'
Not Il great deal since O'clock. His time of
greatest depression is early in the morning. IL was
rIp