Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-27
TALK WITH DIR. BLISS.

ps
plies to questions asked him by reporter
of the Associated Press:
"What do you think of the condition of
the President this afternoon?'
CHS condition is very critical"
"Would you call it alarming?"
''You may say alarming, If you choose"
It's It worse than at any time hereto
foreg"
at IS as bad as at any time before. Not
entirely hopeless, you understand, but very
grave"
"Does he continue to take nourishmentY"
eyes; about the same as yesterday. We
have also resumed the administration of
enemata. His system seems to bear them
well, and stimulants can be given in that
way better than through the mouth"
"Do you mean alcoholic stimulants ~
eyes, whisky"
s'What is the present condition of the
swollen parotid gland ?"
$50 far as we know, about the same. In
order not to disturb him unneces ssarily we
did not take the poultices and wrappings
off this noon"
"Is the danger now to be apprehended
that OF acute blood poisoning from pus in
the gland"
"No, do not think there is much danger
Of that now. He is more likely to die from
exhaustion. 1t is a question of his ability
to hold out If the present condition OF
things continues"
HAS there been any recurrence OF deliri-
um today"
Every little. Mrs Garfield, who is with
him at all times, says she noticed it only
once this morning, and then to trifing ex-
tent"
"His mind, you think, then, is clearer
than last night ?"
Decidedly so. He talks nationally, not
a great deal, it is true, but little, and Is
conscious of what is going on around him"
SIS his mental disturbance attributable
either to the condition of the swollen gland
or to absorption by the blood of any vltiated
products Of suppuratiOn there?
mo, think not It is due, presume,
to the auasmc condition of the brain. The
brain is not properly nOurished. 1t Is one
Of the effects of exhaustion"
"The fact then that his mind is clearer
and more active to-day than Yesterday is a
favorable symptom go far as it goes?"
"Yesn
HAS the patients pulse been higher at
any time 10 day than 1t was when the ex-
animation was made for the noon buletiu?"
"No. | think not. or course, every time
we move or disturb him the rate of pulse is
accelerated, but we do not always take it at
such times aud might not notice transient
fiuctuation. The rate that was given in the
noon bulletin was, | believe, the highest OBJ
served to day. The character of the pulse,
however, is Of quite as much importance as
the rate, and in the Presidents case the
character has improved little since morn
ing"
''Is Mrs. Garfield fully aware of the gravi-
ty of the situation :"
Eyes She is with her husband now
almost all the time. She is a close observer,
and notices the slightest change in bis con-
dtion and appearance, and she discusses
his symptoms with us frequently. We have
not thought It necessary to say anything to
her with regard to the possible result of the
case because we still hope for recovery"
"Does her strength hold cut and does she
still keep up ?"
Perfectly. She has not shown the
slightest weakness"
an case the President should grow worse
50 much so as to leave no room for hope
what would probably be the Cause OF
death ~
Exhaustion unless some new complica
tion should make its appearance. The pa
tient is not likely to die directly from any
other cause.n
"Is there any intention Of sending for
DR.. AguewP'
"No; we should be glad, Of course, to
have the benefit of DR.. Agnew's counsel,
and if there was the slightest doubt as to
the proper treatment of any symptom of
the Presidents case we should send for
him; but there is none. We are entirely
agreed upon the treatment"
In conclusion Dr. Bliss said: "Please do
not misundertand and quote me as saying
that the Presidents case is hopeless. l do
not think it is. He has a chance, although,
perhaps, a slim chance, of recovery. | still
hope"
NO PERCEPTIBLE CHANGE.
6:30 P. NJ. Unofficial Bulletin DIR.
Reyburn reports at this hour that the con-
dtion of the President has not perceptibly
changed, either for the better or worse,
stree the middle of the afternoon.
ENEMATA AGAIN EMPLOYED.
$50 p. NJ [Oficial Bulletin. THE Prest-
dents condition has not changed materially
since the last bulletin was Issued. He con-
tinues to take by the mouth the liquid food
prescribed, and occasionally asks for it.
Since yesterday forenoon, commencing at
11:30 a. m, enemata have again been given
at regular intervals as a means of admins
tering stimulauts as well as nutrition. They
are retained without trouble. At present
his pulse is 1l6, temperature 80 9, respira
tion IS.
D. w. BLISS. j. K. BARNES.
j. j. WOODWARD. RoBT. REYBURN.
FRANK H. HAMILTON.
A SHADE BETTER.
7:3O P. M.-No material change has taken
place In the condition Of the President since
the last official bulletin. DIR. Hamilton
thinks the patient, tonight, is shade
better.
WILL THE GLAND SLOUGH OFF?
DR.. Reyburn, fn conversation with a re-
porter of the Associated Press just before
the appearance of the evening bulletion,
said that In his judgment the patient had
not lost anv ground since the middle of the
evening. 1t was feared, he said, at one
time today that the whole parotid gland
would slough of in a suppurating mass, and
II this should occur the shock to the pa
TENTS system would almost certainly
prove fatal. Later in the afternoon, how
ever, the appearance of the gland was more
assuring, and gave ground for hope that |
the suppuration would be confined within |
the limits OF simple although bad abscess. |
The doctor said he could not yet bring him |
self to believe that the President would die, |
although he appreciated fully the gravity |
of the situation. The vitality of the patient |
was very low, and it was questionable |
whether he could hold out much longer |
against the depressing Influence OF the sup |
purating gland. Nevertheless he felt that II
thev could tide him over two or three days |
and get the glsndular complications under |
control, he would still stand fair chance |
Of recovery.
TRANSMISSION OF BLOOD.
While DR.. Reyburn was talking with the |
reporter he received from a gentleman in
the city communication addressed to the |
surgeons recommending that an effort be |
made to increase the Presidents vitality by |
resorting to the operation known as trans
fusion of blood, and offering to supply |
from his (the writer's) own veins the |
necessary quantity of vital fluid. Upon |
being asked whether the suggestion
had any value, DR.. Reyburn said |
that the results of TRANSMISSION of blood in |
cases Of exhaustion, had not, as rule, been
entirely satisfactory. The operation had |
occasionally succeeded, but it was attended |
with good deal of danger, and was apt to
cause profound disturbance of the circu
lation. He doubted whether 1t would |
be of any use in the Presidents |
case, even as last resort.
Speaking of the Presidents general symp-
toms, DR.. Reyburn said that he had been a |
little Quieter this afternoon, and had shown |
no further signs of mental disturbance. He |
had continued to take food satisfactorily, |
and had slept good deal In short maps. In |
other respects his general condition seemed |
to be unchanged.
"a TRIFLE BETTER.n
$50 P. M.-There has been very little |
change in the Presidents condition since |
the evening bulletin. One of the surgeons |
who has Just come from his room expressed |
the opinion that he Is a trife better.
HIS PULSE AT 1873.
$50 P. M.-Dr. Boynton said this evening, |
in reply to a question asked him by re-
mortar of tho Assoofated Prass that he /