The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-07-14
Very Slowly, but Grad
ually,
Seems to Be the Condition of the
President,
And the Executive Mansion Presents
a More Cheerful Aspect.
A Belief that the Liver Has not Been
Seriously Injured.
Opinions OF Eminent PhysicIans and Sur
geOns.

The Fourth was dreary day indeed for our
Republic. Festivities were in great measure
suspended everywhere, and in some localities
there was no observance whatever, or II any
demonstration was held at all, it was with the
view to giving expression to feelings of SYM
pathy and coincidence.
During the early part of the night (July ~
the symptoms of the President became alarm
ing, and it was feared he would not last till
morning, but later he fell asleep and rested
moderately well, considering the pain he must
necessarily have been enduring. His longest
sleep was of two hours duration.
DIR. Agnew, of Philadelphia, who watched at
the Presidents bedside during the night, was
of the opinion that the greatest danger was to
be apprehended from peritonitis. The tym-
panites had disappeared and there had been no
vomiting during the night
Says bulletin from Washington, sent out
at q. M, July s.:
sSurgeon General Barnes, after seeing the
President, expresses much satisfaction over his
condition. To use his own words, the situa-
ton is glorious The President says he is of
strong heart"
The 9Th opened very hot, but with all the
improvements reported. great fears from in
fammation were entertained. Still the fact
forenoon was decidedly encouraging.
There Is at this writing something of o
pointer respecting the cause leading to the
commission of this most foul of all deeds. 1t
has been ascertained that Guiteau, during the
past few weeks, has received money
orders from some. person in New York
City. The amounts were not large
still they were ordinary for a man of Guitaeu's
Tba ha hl,y
sifted.
Respecting wounds in the liver, Surgeon
General Barnes, the most eminent authority in
America, says: "From my experience in war,
have abundant proof that injuries to the liv-
er, either by stab or gunshot, not necessarily
fatal, although dangerous. Authors who usu-
| ally forbid the exploration of wounds of the
abdomen sanction an extraordinary latitude
in incisions for the purpose of removing foreign
bodies from the liver 1t practised extensively,
| by French and German students, 1t having been
recommended by Ledrau and Messbaur, who
| are sustained by Percy. I remember that
| about sixty-two cases of recovery from shot
wounds Of the liver during the war came under
my observation, and about one-half Of these
were further complicated by LESSONS of other
organs. At Hatcher's Run boy nineteen
| years Of age was shot in the back, the bal
passing through the liver and emerging from
| the abdomen. He recovered in less than
month. was 30 interested in the case that
looked over the pension list to see if he ha6
applied for pension, but his name
was not on the list, 80 it NIGH
be presumed that he recovered fully
The Surgeon General mentions a number
| of other instances of recovery of persons
wounded after this manner.
So far the physicians do not know where tn,
| ball has lodged. They have diagnosed the cast
that the ball is in the liver, and it probably is
The fact that the President rallies is no indica
4l~~k
may not supervene. BY the 9Th inst, four day
after the commission of the crime, the symp
tons became SO much more favorable that hi
recovery was looked upon as very hopeful
There were three dangers yet ahead. One fror
gangrene, another from the ball forming O.
abscess in the liver, and third from blood
poisoning. Either of these alternates nigh
prove fatal. Again, the weather has been dc
cidedly against the patient. When night come
there is but little oxygen, and scarcely any vita
ing effect, and the physicians fully realized th
Importance of counteracting it in some way
and for this reason telegraphed to Boston fo
the best refrigerator appliances.
The public mind had better strike, for it
own satisfaction, happy mean between th
too favorable and less hopeful reports. 1t
natural that the attending physicians shoul
almost clutch at a straw. This they do.
DR.. Agnew, the eminent surgeon of Philf
delphia says that the kidneys and intestine
|
forming their functions. The liver is lace
ated to some extent, and the large nerve
leading from the spine to the lower extrem
ties have been SO injured as to cause the pal
which the President referred to in his fee
The stomach, however, retains nourishmen
and the patient is slowly gathering strength [
meet the secondary Inflammation when
occurs. AS yet there is little evidence Of 1
and nothing to indicate that it will be of g.
traordinary extent or severity. DR.. Agnew r
, CARDS the Presidents condition with muc
hopefulness.
The Western associated Press Agent calle
upon Attorney General MacVeagh and askt
If he would give out for publication the pape
} and documents taken from Guiteau when q
, rested.
, Not yet," replied the Attorney Genera
"Just as soon as the Presidents condition
such as to give us a chance to get at bushes
r We will let those papers out. Within twent
four hours after the great anxiety under whi
we all labor is removed by the assurance
settled improvement in the President, thin
we can let those papers out"
{ Are the papers very important, General
mot at all. There is really nothing of a