Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-07-29

uOno 1Or the present. IL was nnalIy agreed
that an examination should be made at
o'clock in the afternoon. During the five
hours following this preliminary consulta-
| tiOn the presidents wound continued to
bleed and it was not until after the brief
examination made in the afternoon that
the wound was plugged. At this examina-
tion it was discovered that tho tenth rib
had been slightly grazed by the ball that
the eleventh rib had suffered compound
fracture and that the probable course of
the ball had been inward and downward.
To further test the accuracy of the belief
fractured the examining surgeon gently
pressed theanteriOr cxtremities of these ribs
The presidents face Immediately showed
signs of agony, and he said in su bdued
tone "It hurts me-" When asked where
the pain was felt, he replied, Gin the
back.' With this all further attempt to
discover anything concerning the nature
| of tho wound, save the examination made
by Surgeon General Wales with his little
finger, was discontinued. The consultation
at seven o'clock was not any more salts.
factory. 1t became evident tu a number
of tho physicians present that ono of the
number was evidently maneuvring for
the management of tho case. This had
become so apparent that several of the
more prominent physicians were on the
point ofleaving the mansion at once, when
DR.. Bliss moved an adjournment until the
following morning, July 3.
Some interesting if not important par
ticulars of the consultation of the surgeons
held on this eventful Sunday have become
known to your correspondent, who was
enabled to get them from an eyewitness
and auditor. The consultation began at
eight o'clock, and at the opening there
were present d. Smith Townshend, DR.. J.
J. Woodford of the army DR.. J. ]. Hamil-
ton, of the Marine hospital service; DR..
Philip S. Wales surgeon general of the
navy; Joseph K. Barnes, surgeon
general of the army; DR.. Patterson
Coroner of the District Of Colum-
bia DR.. D. w. Bliss, DR.. G.. NJ.
Ford, DR.. N. S. Lincoln, DR.. Basil Norris
of the army, and DR.. F. NJ. Gunncil. DR..
Reyburn was not present, being at the
bedside of the president. DR.. Bliss, on
taking the chair, announced that the pre-
sident had requested him to state that he
did not desire any of the gentlemen pre-
sent to examine his wound, committee
consisting of Drs. Wales, Reyburn and
Woodward, having bceu appointed Satur-
day evening for that purpose. The doctor
further announced that he held in his hand
the record of temperature, pulse and res
piration which he would read for tho in
formation of those present. During the
reading of the symptoms Surgeon General
Barnes, who had remained with
the president during the greater
withdrew to an adjoining room. DR..
Bliss finished the reading and called upon
the doctors before him for suggestions.
Thereupon DR.. Woodward stated that he
had had no experience with this class OF
cases, but he had spent tho evening before
in compiling a resume of cases of gunshOt
wounds of the liver recorded by DR.. Otis
in the surgical history of the war. Among
the cases there enumerated he cited one
which had been treated to a successful
issue by DR.. Bliss. The latter then said
he remembered it very distinctly.
DIR. Bliss again requested any sugges-
tion that might occur to the surgeons, and
DR.. Hamilton, of the Marine hospital ser.
vice, asked him if the clothing had been
examined in order to discover how much,
if any, of it was missing. DR.. Bliss re-
piled that it had, and proceeded to state
that the patient was quite strong, and
that he could raise himself upon his el-
bows and turn over. DR.. Hamilton asked
him if he approved of allowing man
wounded as the president was OF risking
himself in that manner-a very pertinent
inquiry, by the way, for at this period
there was great danger of an internal
hemorrhage under the most favorable Cir
cumstances, without bringing it on by
undue exertion or strain DR.. Bliss an
swered that he did not approve of this
indiscretion on the part of the presi-
dent, but, to the contrary, had eau
toned him againstit This brief colloauy
was followed by short pause in the pro-
ceedings. At this stage of the consulta.
tion either DR.. Hamilton or a physician
sitting near him remarked that a more ac-
tive disinfectant than that then used.
which was carbolic acid, should be admin
istered, and that whatever disinfectant was
used should be applied thoroughly Just SO
soon as tho first oozing began. No other
suggestions were offered, and DIR. Bliss
said the council would again convene at
seven o'clock in the evening. DR.. Baxter
did not put in an appearance until mo-
ment or two before the adjournment. Just
as the doctors were leaving for homo the
conflict between Drs. Bliss and Baxter oc
CURED, a full account of which has already
appeared in these columns.
"Did the doctors disperse," asked your
correspondent of his informant, "with an
understanding that they were to be pres
ent at the next meeting in the evening ?"
"That seemed to be the impression,
but before two o'clock that day, with the |
exception of Drs. Barnes and Woodward,
they had all been served with notices, |
signed by DR.. Bliss, that their services
were discontinued.
The sequel to all this was developed on |
Saturday last, when the president was at |
tackled with rigors and his pulse and tenn
perature went up SO quickly. In the
midst of the excitement, without any con.
sultation with Drs. Bliss, Barnes, Wood |
ward or Reyburn, and without their |
knowledge, it was decided by tho presi- |
dents family that Drs. Agnew and Hamil- |
ton should be sent for to take. charge Of
tho case. In this the members OF the cab |
met present concurred, and the attorney |
general took charge of the telegraphic |
arrangements for ordering the special |
train that brought them to Washington.
1t was not until the messages of request |
were sent that the attending surgeons |
learned what had been decided upon.
In the little village of Paretz, near
Spandau, a father and mother going to |
work left their poor children locked up in |
the house. On returning at night tho |
little ones could not be found. A long |
search discovered them dead in large |
trunk into which they had crept in play. |
Tho lid fell the loclr snrunc and thov