The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-07-10

o,,,s n Medical " ar over the Treat
meut Of Garfield.

Ov,se n Medical War over the Tre"'
ment Of Garfield.
A Washington dispatch says: Aserlou
and unfortunate difficulty hes arisen DC
tvaep members Of the medical profession
reference to the presidents case involving
primarily, questions OF professional esique''
and courtesy. but including also charges Q
incompeter cy and malpractice. The follow
ing have been sscer.ained to be the facts
When the president was shot Doctors Town
sana and Puryis we're the lirst TO reach MIN
Aferwnrds DR.. Bliss arrived and Of one
took charge of the case. The president wa
nlaoed on an ambulance and driven up nv
svenue 10 the white house. at full gallop VI
arriving At the white house he WAS permil'ee
70 liz with bis clothes on until about 4 o'clo'a
in the afternoop, some hours after DO wa
wounded. II il alleged s'so
that no proper effort was made 70
atom the flow of blood fof
lony time. But this Is not subsIan's'eo'
DR.. Bliss. IL Is further stated, seiec'ou al
advisory board OF physicians w'thou! con,
sultinp DR.. Townsend. To-day he addressed
a ,st' 10 DR.. Townsend, informing him
that, by direction of the president nf Srs
vices were no longer needed. Members OF
the profession assert tnat " was gross
breach Of professional etiquette, for W;
Bliss to assume charge; that Dr, townsend
peipg the first to arrive was entitled 70 the
charge until the president requested DINER
wise, which, it is claimed, is not tho case,
but that DR.. Bliss has been acting entirely
on his own voli,ion Members OF the pro-
fession also say that II Was carelessness to
nut a man in the condition of the president in
n wagon to DO shaken and joltod fora mil,;
that no should have been placed on o
stretcner and carried by hand. Comment is
IL also very severe on the fact OF the presl-
dent not having been andressed and put COM
fnrlmhlv in bed Immediately on arriving ut
the white house.
Tnis mornlpg Dr. Baxter, who has been
tho personal physician Of General Garfield,
and who WAS out of town yesterday, returned
to the city and weat ut once to the white
house, He was met by Dr. Bliss, and, 1t is
stated, violent scene ensued between them.
DR.. Bliss said DR.. Baxter should not see the
president. Dr. Baxter then asked that the
president be notified tina! he had arrived In
the city, and then if no preferred DE-. Bliss
to remain ia attendance no (baxter) would
withdraw and say no more about 1t. DR..
Bliss, II Is said, declined TO tell the president,
and accused Baxter of trying to take the case
from him. Baxter retored with consider,
able ssperity and then left.
A member Of the cabinet afterwards
communicated to the president the fact
of DR.. Bsxter's arrival, and also
showed the president the letter
written by DR.. Bliss to DR.. Town
send. Baxter claims that, according to pro-
fessional etiquette, Bliss had no right in the
first place 10 assume charge, and that he on
arriving in the city WAS entitled to assume
charge unless the president requested other.
wise He says openly that If the president
remains in charge of Bliss he will not be
properly treated. Mrs, Garfield has since
her arrival expressed dissatisfaction with the
treatment Dr.. Bliss however, possesses the
confidence of many people as an old and
experienced surgeon. However this unfor-
tuna! complication results, IL 10 sincerely
hoped the president will not suffer. DR..
Bliss also sent letters Of dismissal ~ several
of the physicia's who have been associated in
the case. including Surgeons General Wales
OF the navy. In consequence of the anxiety
Of those nea. TO the president, and at their
request, DR.. Bliss has telegrsphed for DR..
Hamilton, Of new York, and DR.. Agnow, Of
Philadelphis.
ANOTHER STATEMENT.
Washington, July 6-Of course it goes
without eayiDg that a dozen doctors could
not be got together in the same room with.
out there following bitter personal quarrel.
The quarrel among the physicians originally
called In NJ the white house last Saturday |
10 not over tho treatment. DR.. Baxter who
was called in by the president and his family,
thought that he should have been in charge
OF this case. He overlooks tho fact, how.
ever, that the president himself directed that
Dr.. Bliss, one Of tho most successful surgeons
In this part of the country, should have
charge. 1t is, perhaps, u matter OF small
Importance, tho presidents wishes. The
doctors who have been politely dismissed
have no grounds for complaint. Enough
aaG'ssa bsys3aap retained for all purposes.
THE QUESTION OF TREATMENT.
8 being raised by those gentlemen who were
dismissed. DR.. Agnew and Hamilton were
,ent for. The approval Of these Distinguish
ID surgeons does away with any sort of ques,
lion rslsed by the disappointed AMI jealous
whose sole desire to DO con-
nectod with this csse is the no,eriety 1t would
give them. In fact the whole affair Ia one
Of the most disgusting in character, aad has
been farther intensified by Jealousy of DR..
Bliss. DR.. Bliss ia a vigorous, Independent
man, and does not Away consult the lead
ing physicians In tho district 10 his treatment
of distinguished people, and for that reason
he has incurred the usual amount of snimos-
ity that falls to very successful men. A
gentleman connected with the white house
service has furnished tho following
tTATgMENT OF THE CASE:
DR.. Bliss has charge at tho request Of tho
president and MIS-. Garfield. When tho
shooting occurred. Secretary Lincoln rushed
of for DR.. Bliss and took lin to tho depot.
He took charge of the president. The other
doctors were not sent TO- by the president
or any OF his family or cabinet. When the,
got TO the white house, and the president
was being treated, DR., Bliss says that he saw
that there were too many medical advisers
He told the presi lent this the mex, day. The
president told him that no had given charge
Of the case TO him, and wanted him 10 con.
tinue In charge. He could retain such of
the physicians as he deemed best Mrs
Garfield said the same thing. DR.. Bliss then
said thst he would like TO retain Surgeon
General Barnes because Of his great expe-
Renee and knowledge Of gunshot wounds;
Dr.. Woodward because he was one of the
most eminent ps,hologists 10 the country,
and DR. Rev burn ss his special assistant.
Tho president and Mrs. Garfield were