Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-08-08

Omcial Report OF tho Operation.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, ID.
c., Aug. 8, 1890 q. m.-Oflicial.-It
having become necessary to mako another
opening to facilitate the escape Of pus; we
took advantage Of the improved condition
of tho president this morning. Shortly
after tho morning bulletin was issued he
was etheriZed. The incisiOn extended
downward and forward. and counter
opening made into the track of the ball
below the margin of the twelfth rib,
which it is believed will effect the desired
object. He bore the operation we'll, has
recovered from tho effects Of etherizatiOn
and is in excellent condition.
[Sisncd] d. w. BLISS,
j. K. BARNES,
J. j. WOODWARD,
ROBT. REYBURN,
F. III. HAMILTON,
d. HAYES AGNEw.
Why the Operation was Necessary.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, Aug.
81 p. M.-Unofficial bulletin.--The
necessity for the operation which was per-
formed upon the president this morning
became apparent to the surgeons yesterday
when they found that a drainage tube of
the size hitherto used could NO longer be
placed along the track Of the ball between
the ribs. The process Of granulation at
that point had gone on so far as to partial
ly close the orifice and the ribs prevented
the pushing aside Of the flesh which was
healing between them enough SO
that the tube could be introduced.
The result Of this state of things Was that
pus formed in the deeper parts of the
wound rather faster than it could escape
through the alf.obstructed opening be-
tween the ribs and its gradual accumula-
tion began to cause disturbance. 1t was,
therefore, decided to make a new opening
into tho track of the ball below the last
rib SO that the ribs should no longer pre-
vent the keeping open of the wound by
the solid backing which they afforded to
the granuiating flesh between them. The
operation was PERFORMED, at the request
of the other surgeons, by DR.. Agnew.
As soon as the patient had been put
under the influence Of ether a long and
slightly curved instrument was introduced
into the wound, pushed between the ribs
and carried downward along the track of
the bullet until its end could be felt below
the last rib from tie outside. Holding
this instrument in the wound as guide,
DIR. Agnew then made a counter incision
below the twelfth rib, cutting directly
through tho integument until his knife
met the end of the first mentioned in
strument at the point where he
wished to intcrsect the track of the
ball. The operation was not difficult
or dangerous one, and the patient bore
both it and the ctherizatiOn extremely
we'll. There is now an opening to the
deeper parts of the wound, which does
not pass between the ribs and which
can always be kept free and un-
obstructcd, and no further trouble
from the accumulation Of pus is antici-
pated. Since the operation the president
has rested quietly, and is now asleep. His
pulse at this hour is 100, and lie has neitll-
er fever nor any other unfavorabIe symp-
TOMS
BIaine's lSulietin to Lowell.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Aug. S.-The fol-
lowing has been sent to Lowell, minister,
London: During the past three days the
president has periodically experienced
rise Of temperature, indicating another
obstruction to the flow of pus. A surgical
operation was performed at nine o'clock
this morning, by Doctor Agnew. assisted
by all the other surgeons in attendance, by
which free communication between the
pus cavities and the surface of the body
has been effectually established. The OPP
Grafton was performed under the influence
of ether. The president endured it we'll,
and is at this hour, half past ten, doing
as we'll as could be hoped.
lSignedl BLAINE, Sec'y.