St. Landry democrat., 1881-09-03
Exploration OF the Presidents Wound,

WASHINGTON, August 90
In an interview with representative of
the press this afternoon DR.. Bliss gave in
substance the following account of the re-
cent exploration of the Presidents wound
by means of a flexible rubber catheter, ref
erence to which was made for the first time
IN the noon bulletin to-day:
Since the operation of the Sth of August
no drainage tube has been used in the
wound. At the morning and evening dress
lngs, however, a small flexible rubber tube
about aquarter of an inch in diameter was
introduced, and weak solution of carbolic
acid and water forced through it to cleanse
the wound and bring out the accumulated
pus. Up to yesterday morning the sur
geons had been unable to pass the tube
beyond a point distant three and a
half or four inches from the mouth
of the last incision. At that point
1t always met with an obstruction
winch could not be overcome without the
eXertion OF force, and force the surgeons
did not think it prudent to employ. The
apparent firmness of this obstacle finally
leo the surgeons to believe the depths OF the
wound had healed, or at least the track of
the ball had healed at point where the
rubber catheter was stepped. \ few days
since, however, it was noticed that the
quantity of pus discharged by the wound at
one of the regular dressings was greater
than the quantity of water which the wound
would hold after the pus had been removed.
On Thursday Dr. Bliss made long ex-
animation of the wound, but was still I'M
able to get the tube deeper than about
three and half inches. On Friday morn
ing, however, during the dressing of the
wound, small piece of cellular tissue,
piece about as large as the end of ones lit
tie finger, sloughed off or became detached,
and was washed out with che pus. This
fragment of tissue had apparently been half
&c! ached for some time, and had
acted as sort Of rude valve at
the point where tha track of the ball
seemed to be INSTRUCTED, closing it against
the catheter and against water from the
outside, but opening to pressure from the
inside, and allowing the outflow of pus from
the deeper parts OF the wound. Upon the
removal Of this fragment of tissue Dr. Bliss
again introduced a flexible rubber tube,
and. finding it no longer encountered re-
sistance. passed it in. as already stated. to a
distance OF twelve and a-half inches. AL
most the entire track of the ball was then
thoroughly washed out and cleansed. The
pus which came from this deeper part of
the wound, although not local in quality,
was unusually white, and was perfectly
healthy in character. 1t was, in fact, better
pus than that secretedtby the more superb
cial parts OF the wounG. If any septic faint
Has passeu !nIo tue pahieHt,s DiOouf IL orig.
mated not in the pus' which has been en-
tirely protected from the air, but from that
secreted in the snppurating surface
between the recent obstruction and the
mouth of the incision.; Nothing new with
regard to the location Of the ball has been
learned, DIR. Bliss sale, from the passage OF
the catheter to this depth. The tube was
SO soft that one could Judge approximately
the direction which it had taken. It passed
downward and forward toward the point in
the anterior wall of the abdomen, where 1t
was the most that conld be affirmed. :