Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-24
LITTLE If ANY CHANGE.
HE TAKES NOURISHMENT AND
THAT Is ALL.
The Surgeons Somewhat Hopeful
Intense Anxiety Kesterday-The
Case Clearly Stated-Hfs strength
Must be Restored TO save Him.

Must be Restored TO Save Him.
WASHINGTON, August 21, 1870 P. NJ
The President has had rather a better
day to-day than was generally antici-
dated. The somewhat discouraging tone
of Secretary Blaine's telegram to Minister
Lowell last night seemed to prepare the
public for the worst, aud although the Off
cial bulletin this morniug was not unfaVor-
able, a general feeling of anxiety and ap-
prehension prevailed both at the Execu-
tive Mansion and throughout the city.
1t seemed to be almost universally con-
ceded that the condition of the President
was in the highest degree critical and
alarming, and on the streets four persons
out of five, II asked what they thought Of
the Presidents chances, would have replied
that his death was question of a few days,
If not of few hours.
For this state of excitement and alarm,
furnished sufficient Justification. The cor
dition of the President was, It Is true, a
subject OF grave anxiety to his surgeons, to
his attendants and to Mrs. Garfield, but not
more so than it was yesterday, and not go
much so as on Sunday.
On Sunday afternoon there was really
greater reason for encouragement than at
any time since then, because there seemed
then to be only very faint hope that the
patients demoralized stomach could be
brought to resume its functions. AS soon
as the President began to swallow food
again his condition, to that extent at least,
became more hopeful. Without adequate
nourishment death from exhaustion seemed
inevitable, while with proper nourishment
he might live. In a qualified sense, there
fore, he was better this morning than he
was Sunday night, although his general
condition in the interval had not materially
changed.
Before the morning examination to day
he had swallowed six ounces of beef juice
without nausea or discomfort, ard this in
creasing ability to take nourishment en-
couraged the surgeons to hope that the dan
ger of death from exhaustion, which they
regarded with the most apprehension, might
be averted
The President passed a quiet morning,
taking nourishment frequently in the shape
OF beef juice, peptonized milk and milk por-
ridge, with an enema every five or six hours.
Up to noon he had swallowed sixteen or
seventeen ounces of liquid fOod, but there
had been no indication of an increase in
his streDgth h with the exception of a stronger
and slightly improved pulse.
The glandular swelling remained hard,
and showed no change in size or appear
ance, and the amount of mucus secreted in
the back part of the mouth was about the
the patient at noon was holding his own,
but making 10 percepdhle progress.
He slept about as much as usual during
the afternoon, and continued to taxa nOur
ishment at intervals until, at four o'clock,
he had swallowed more than twenty ounces.
At 4:20 p. m, DR.. Reyburn reported that
the general condition Of the patient seemed
slightly improved. This information was
confirmed by the evening bulletin, which
showed lower pulse than the patient has
bad at any evening examination since the
18th instant.
Since half-past be has slept most of the
time quietly and naturally, and the slight
improvement of the afternoon is still main
tanned. At this hour, IL p. m, DR.. Bliss
reports that the Presidents pulse is from I02
to 104, and his temperature apparently
about normal; and he is sleeping
quietly, and his symptoms are
as favorable as at any time during the day.
He has swallowed twenty eight ounces of
LIQUID food since one o'clock this morning,
and has had two putritive enemas. He
asked for some milk Cruel this evening, and
sad that his stomach felt empty.
The glauduar swelling shows no signs as
yet of suppuration, but the swelling of the
surrounding parts has entirely subsidized.
The patient can open his mouth freely, and
has been very little troubled to-day by the
secretion of mucus in bis throat. DR.. Bliss
expresses the opinion that, upon the whole,
the President has made slight gain to day,
and that his symptoms indicate further
improvement to morrow.
Most of the members of the Cabinet were
at the Executive Mansion to night, aud all
seemed more or leRs encouraged by the
statements of the surgeons with regard to
The Pres dents condition.
Attorney General MacVeagh said, at
O'Clock, that the President seemed to be
taking his nourishment well, and that he
felt somewhat more hopeful with regard to
the future Of his case.
DR.. Hamilton arrived from New York to-
night.
SOMEWHAT ENCOURAGING.
The following was sent at eleven O'Clock
tonight to Minister Lowell by Secretary
Blaine: "The Presidents condition is more
encouraging than 1t was at this time last
night. During the last twentY-four hours he
has swallowed ten ounces Of
extract of beef and eighteen ounces
of milk, retaining and digesting
both. He has twice asked for food, which
he has not done before for several days.
His pulse and temperature are both some
what lower. The swelling Of the parotid
gland has not specially changed. Its long
continuance at the present stage Increases
the fear of suppuration. At this hour, IL
O'Clock, the physicians report that the
Izo1 all
ing"
NO MATERIAL CHANGE.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, August %, 1880 A.
M.-The condition of the President has not
materially changed since yesterday after
noon, and is yet the subject of grave ankle
ty. The improved tone of the PATIENTS
stomach, which gave some encouragement
to his attendants yesterday, IS still main
taiued, and this is the most hopeful feature
of the case. He has taken this morning six
and a half ounces of beef juice without
nausea or any other symptom OF gastric dis
turbance. Upon the continuance for several
days at least Of this ability to take and as
simulate food, and upon con-
tinued absence of further com
plications, would seem to rest the
patients chances of recovery. II the wound
continues to do well, IL no serious conse-
quences result from the swelling of the pa
EDblu Stauu, anu III Inc bJOLldCu CUubluucS
to take food enough to make good the waste
caused by suppuration, there will, at least,
be Improvement enough within the
next four or five days to carry
the patient to a higher plane
OF vitality and, perhaps, to put him on he
road, although not on sure road, 10 recov
cry. The continuance of these favorable
conditions, however, while universally hoped
for, cannot be confidently predicted. DR..
Agnew returned to Philadelphia this fore
noon.
STILL TAKING FOOD.
1890 P. NJ. TOfIicial Bulletin The Presi-
dent continues to take by the mouth and re-
tain an increased quantity of liquid food.
At the morning dressing the wound looked
well, aud the pus was of a healthy charac-
ter. The mucus accumulations in the
back of the mouth on account Of the paro-
It'd swelling are less viscid and give but 1T
tie trouble. At present his pulse is 104,
temperature $50, respiration is.
d. W. BLISS. j. X. BARNES.
j. J. WOODWARD. RoBT. REIBURN.
CHANGED FOR THE BETTER, IF AT ALL.
The following was sent this afternoon to
Minister Lowell by Secretary Blaine: '1n
the last twelve hours, since one O'Clock
this morning, the President has swal
lowed eighteen ounces of liquid food.
He has had no nausea. His pulse and tenn
perature are not essentially changed. In
the judgment of his physicians he has lost
nothing since the last dispatch. II there
be any change, it is for the better"
IA LITTLE BETTER"
Mn an interview with reporter of
k1o foh az I y 81