Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-07-20

For lew hours on wednesday the most
dismal forebodings as to the condition of
the president prevailed. Certain unfavora-
BILE symptoms it was reported had appeared
which sent thrill Of alarm all over the
country. 1t seemed as if all the fondly
cherished hopes of his recovery which had
grown to assurance as he neared the crisis
of his fate with such splendid courage and
prospects were to be dashed to earth. But
these gloomy tidings were speedily displaced
by others of a most cheerful character, and
the buoyancy Of hope regained beamed on
every face turned toward the bulletin board
which gave the assurance that the president
was better than at any time since the shoot
ing. The eagle wing of the presidents great
spirit has borne him steadily upward and
onward in the struggle with his injuries
during the past week and he has reached
the clearer atmosphere of assured conva-
lescence. Dangers are still round about him,
but each days existence and experiences are
rapidly reducing these to the point where
lively apprehension will cease to be felt. AS
showing the presidents condition in more
graphic manner than the formal and guarded
bulletins of the attending surgeons, the fol-
lowing dispatch of the 18th instant to the
Boston Daily Advertiser will be read with
ardent interest; "The surgeons this morn
ing, after examining the president, asked
him to choose his own breakfast. He ordered
lamb chops, breakfast bacon, potatoes cooked
in cream, aud some minor articles. The
physicians allowed all to be sent up, and
the president ate a hearty meal. He had
roast beef, baked potatoes, buttered rolls,
and other dishes for dinner. His meals
have added to his strength and the food has
been fully assimilated. No better indica-
ton of his rapid course toward recovery
could be given than presented by the bill
of fare to-day, and the attending physicians
are both surprised and gratifed at these
evidences of convalescence. The wound is
in the most satisfactory condition and gives
evidence that the healing process is going
on along the entire track of the ball. This
morning, at the dressing of the wound,
when the president was turned on his side,
discharge Of pus followed the movements
of breathing. An examination proved that
it came well from the interior of the wound.
At the dressing this evening, DIR. Bliss, by
pressing over the spot on the abdomen
where he thinks the bullet is lodged, caused
quite free flow of pus filling nearly wine
IN IN
base of the wound. This gave DIR. Bliss
great satisfaction, as showing that the
wound was in good condition along its whole
length. 1t also accorded with the first opin-
ion of the attending surgeons that the ball
passed through the liver and lodged in the
anterior wall of the abdomen. The micro
scopic examination OF the pus also indi-
Gated that this theory of the course of the
ball is correct. The examination presents
another encouraging feature, and that is
that the chances for the formation of an
abscess are very much reduced, since so long
as voluntary discharge continues from the
base of the wound there is scarcely any
probability of an abscess. The president
has no further trouble from the daily return
of fever, which becomes less both in inten-
sity and duration. The slight increase in
pulse and temperature for several evenings
past has been due in part to the excitement
caused by the dressing of the wound. The
president showed his own confidence in his
recovery very plainly to-day. He asked how
soon he would be allowed to sit up, and was
told that it would be within ten days. lie
then inquired how soon they would allow
him to take a trip down the river in the
Dispatch. His mind seemed to run through
the day much on his desire to sit up and tc
get off on the water. He evidently thinks
he can do both at an earlier day than thu
physicians name to him. In fact, thu
chances now seem to be that he will b.
sitting up by the end of the present week.