The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-11-10

Hont tO-mOfrOW morning ana that he
should be followed by Ingersoll, but that
If the latter should advance the PROPOSE
tions to which Bliss might desire to re-
ply, he would be permitted 10 do so.
The court then adjourned.
An URtimsly Retrospect.
WASHINGTON, Nov 2-The current
number of DIR. WaIsh's Retrospect of
Medicine and Surgery, published this
evening, will contain Il long editorial
comment on the case of the late Pres;.
dent Garfield, or, as the journal terms il,
the result of our Investigations in the
case for the purpose Of giving truth
full and fearless account Of DR.. D. w.
Bliss III which he speaks of how he
prObed the wound with his finger at the
depot and how he afterwards used
small, flexible silver probe; also how he
expressed his opinion that stimulants
should not be given to the wounded
man at that time because of his con-
stantly suffering from nausea. DR..
Walsh says he had an opinion that 1t
was Surgeon General Wales who made
the first examination of the wound, and
that stimulants were given after Bliss
arrived in subStantiation of this opinion.
The article includes letters to the edi-
tor from DR.. Smith Townsend, health
officer Of the district. DIR. C. B. Purvis
stimulants before Bliss arrived; that
Bliss brought along probe which was
not, however, used that the President
was removed to the White House Drs.
Wales and Woodward were selected by
Bliss to make an examination; that
Wales did so and made the first report
to the other physicians as to the course
of the ball. DIR. Purvis said that brandy
was given the President both before and
after Bliss arrived; that DIR. Bliss un-
dertOOk to probe the wound first with a
SMALL SILVER PRnRE
and then with Vacation probe at the
White House. Wales wanted to know
just the nature Of the wound and an.
nounce it, hut Bliss, who gave the i'm.
preston that he had been specially sum-
moned, said wait. AfterWard. however,
Bliss, Wales and Woodward made an
examination, and Wales had passed his
little finger IN the wound and found the
eleventh rib and liver perforated.
DR.. N. 8. Lincoln also writes to the
editor that when he arrived at the depot
Bliss was said to have made hurried
examination Of thu wound, and had ex
pressed the opinion that further exam
ination then would be dangerous.
DR.. Wales himself writes to the editor
that on reaching tho depot he learned
that Bliss had assumed charge of the
case and heard Bliss telling the crowd
that he had passed probe three and a
halt inches in the wound, but not telling
its nature or exact location. Wales also
says that he made two examinations of
the wound personally and found frac-
tured rib and so reported. He says, too,
that he did not ahare in the general
opinion that the wound was fatal, either
at first or when he received note that
his services were no longer required.
The editor then quotes from the off,
cial reports of DR.. Bliss statement that
Drs. Hamilton and Agnew individually
examined the wound at the first Joint
consultation. Also, DIR. Hamilton's
statement that, finding the track of the
wound completely closed by a blood
clot, he refused to make further exam
ination.
DR.. Walsh is at loss what to think OF
the paper so at variance with the state
ments of reliable gentlemen. He asserts
that in failure to enlarge the wound and
remove the specula of the bone soon at
ter the reaction was established was
A GREAT MISTAKE.
and expresses the belief that if that mis-
take had not been made the pus cavity
would not have formed, quoting from
DIR. Hamilton's own work on military
surgery, page 365: "One of the most fire.
quont causes of death and delay in re-
covery is found to be small specula of
the bone, loosened or completely de-
tached from the rib" Had not the fa-
tai channel formed" says the editor, ga
false diagnosis would not have been
made and the danger of py@mia would
have been greatly lessened." There is
quoted eminent authority to show that a
thorough cleansing and drainage from the
right side of the vertebra need not have
been fatal.
DR.. Walsh expresses the opinion that
if DR.. Bliss made an examination with
probe at the depot, as he says, it was
more thorough than the patients con-
ditiOn justified, three inches and q half
downward and forward and downward
and backward out of the course of the
bali might llherate the healthy tissue.
To Dr. Bliss inquiries as to whether
the presidents transfer to the white
house was timely and appropriate, and
whether the most judicious means were
used to secure prompt reaction, the ed
itor is glad to answer "yes." AS to
whether the mistake of the diagnosis
was natural result of the condition of
the present DR.. Walsh says that it was
THE NATURAL RESULT
of the conditions, and in reply to anoth-
er query of DIR. Bliss he states that had
the wound been properly enlarged the
ball could have been traced asf ar as nee
essarY with the finger.
In contradiction Of DIR. Bliss statement
that President Garfield personally placed
himself under his (BlissO care, DIR.
Walsh says that it is susceptible of proof
that Garfield stated, after DR.. Bliss had
assumed control of the case and refused
admission to DR.. Baxter, that DIR. Baxter
had been for years and was still cOnsid-
cred by him his physician, and that he
had never expressed a desire for Bliss to
take charge OF the case. The assertion
| is also made that Mrs. Garfield was at
no time aware that the president had Sc
lected DR.. Bliss as his medical attend
| ant"
The article also says that keeping the
Presidents true condition from the
| public was an unfortunate mistake, re-
sulting from the loss Of confidence In
the physicians statements and public
reliance upon the profession and cabinet
officers for dispatches. Another error
was the failure to call in emineD;
Psychologists not previously connected
| with the cease to assist in the autopsy
particularly as that might have insured
q protection against unfayOTable criti
clam.
The article further admits that there
| can be no censure of medical treatment
| of the case and concludes as follows
"Rriefly We may say, the failure TO en-
/ largo the wound and remove the spec1la
false treatment for the track Of the bali
the issuiag of bulletins creating . pub
lie dissrust; the performance Of the
autopsy without the presence of "a EN-
inent disinterested pathologist; the ar
| irving at uncertain deductions fem thu
said autopsy; and the false statement
made have done more TO cast . distrus
/ on American surgery than in any otheI
case known to our medical history"
/ The Newark Bank Failure
/ NEW YoRK, Nov. 2.-The People,
bank has Q claim against the Mechanics
bank for 81, eco. and the Coin Exchangl
bank one OF $4,000.
Il The Express says: A gentleman vel
| acquainted with the condition Of tlsI
leading business interests Of the cit
said this afternoon that the knowiedgI
OF the Newark banks condition was OF
Wall street month. He said the pay
ing teller of one of the most prominen
banks on Broadway told him tire,
weeks ago that messenger for q neigh
. boring bank rushed into the Office AM
! blurted out: There is 9 big hole il
| the Mechanics bank in Newark b
J be made mp. Look out boys, stand fron
UNDER The teller was paying some
/ ona yvhen ha heard the futelfi Rence an