Morning journal and courier., 1881-07-25

peratuTe was scarcely noticeable ana dld nol
 seem much disturbed He was restless du ring the early morning and did not sleep at all. At S:15 his pulse was 9S, temperature l and respiration normal. Thus the outward | indications were very favorable.
 l THE SURGEONS IN THE SICK ROOM.
 Under those conditions the physicians began their examination First came general con 7ultation. Br. Agnew explained the theory he had of yesterdays st6ppage of the flow of pus 1 and the wound was undressed while he did | so. It was found that the discharge had been good and its character was to all ap- pearances healthy. The discharge, however, was not so copious as on Thursday, for in stance, and Dr. Agnew suggested that the pus cavity might have been formed in the wound channel at or near the angle caused | by the deflection- of the ball. Dr. Hamilton thought this quite probable, and Dr. Bliss had stated last night that the correctness of this idea had been indicated to him during 1 the evening examination. He found that by pressing the body five inches below the wound the flow of pus was increased. Dr. Agnew then submitted proposition that if a horizontal incision was made about three inches below the wound it would intersect the channel at the angle of defection and at the same time sf cavity had formed relieve 1t, and perhaps help the general flow by the mere strengthening of the channel All the parties to the consultation recognized the
 
 cided that Dr. Agnew should carry it out. Accordingly at about o'clock Dr. Hamilton inserted a probe in the channel of the wound and thought he discovered the cavity where 1t had been anticipated. Dr. Agnew then took the probe in hand and satisfied himself that the cavity was there. He then made an incision. A few moments before this Dr. Bliss came to the door of the room and sent hurriedly for bottle of ether This gave rise to the story that they were going to probe for the ball and this rumor gained free circulation before the official bulletin explained what was done. The patient was not put under the influence of ether, but ether made use of at the point where the incision was made. Colonel Rockwell states that he watched the Presidents face when the incision was made and mot a muscle moved" 'sThe courage of that man is Spar tan" Dr. Agnew felt the patients pulse immediately after and remarked that it had not perceptibly changed, but later reaction raised it to 112. The incision was followed by discharge of pus which was undoubted- ly from cavity such as had been anticipated The flow of blood was only natural Pres ently regular pus discharge was given out through new aperture by the insertion of curved tube which had exits at each aperture and had several openings for the ad- mission of pus from the inner channel and allowed of the discharge by the old passage or new. The best possible dressing was applied at once. The patient was made as comfortable as possible and there was noth- ing left to do but await the progress of the case during the day. Dr. Agnew was so well satisfied with the result of the operation that he made preparations to return to Philadel- phla at 10 p. m. Later he determined to go at $40 p. m., but to return tomorrow if necessary. Dr. Hamilton said he could stay until morning and it was decided to make an other examination this afternoon, on the re. suit of which would depend Dr. Agnew's de- parture.
 NO ANXIETY AMONG THE DOCTORS
 The publication of the official bulletin, de- layed as it was until II o'clock found an anx- ious crowd awaiting it and it was not so gen. erally reassur1ng as was expected. The fact that an incision had been made seemed in it. self extremely expedient and caused consider able alarm, and the fact that it's object was not more fully explained was taken as evil dence of the gravity of the case and that the doctors were not willing to speak fully. At the White House. however, the result of the operation was quite reassuring Members of the Cabinet called during the morning with anxious faces, but went away feeling better. Drs. Agnew and Hamilton refused absolutely to express an opinion on the subject until they should have made another examination. Dr. Barnes said as he went out to lunch that the President was doing pretty well, and Dr. Reyburn said the consulting surgeons are with us now and we are awaiting the result of what has been done" Dr. Bliss said at 11:15 8. m. that the consultation and present condition of the c SC had treasured all the physicians. He Lad just been taking beef tea nourishment He said also that the present outward indications were more fa- vorable than at any time during the preced- ing thirty-six hours. At the time he was talking his pulse was 1O2, temperature 99.5, respiration but slightly accelerated. Dr. Bliss remained with the patient all the fore noon. At p. m his pulse was 68, tempera- ture and respiration normal The President President had a refreshing nap; eral and returned to the White House soon after o'clock. Secretary and Mrs. Blaine also called soon after that hour. They were accompanied by ex-Colector Merritt, of New York Mrs. Garfield knew nothing of the proposed incision until after it had been &C., complished, and she accepted the physicians word that it had been successful. The news brought hundreds of messages of inquiry to the White House during the day, and Private Secretary Brown and others were kept busy sending answers after the incision had been made. All the answers were hopeful. Colonel Rockwell sent word to several friends, "We all feel relieved and hopeful Dr. Bliss tel egraphed at D. ,n 1.-The Presidents condi- ton is thus far more favorable and his gen. eral appearance is better.'' Colonel Corbin sent word to ex-President Hayes that the eff feet of the operation was promising The same was telegraphed by Harry Garfield to his grandmother, and Dr. Agnew, in sending his wife word that he would be home to- night, added, ''The President is more com fortable"
 THE TROUBLE BRIDGED OVER SAFELY.
 Dr. Agnew remained only during the early part of the afternoon examination, but long enough to be assured that the new drainage tube was working satisfactorily. He ex- pressed himself well pleased with the success of the incision. He took the 4:50 train for Philadelphia with the understanding that he should return tomorrow night, when Dr Hamilton would go home for twenty four hours The consulting physicians will con- tinue alternating as long as it is deemed nec essary to the safety of the patient or the as- surance of the public. All the physicians are agreed that the incision was success. Ex- animation showed that the pus was flowing freely through the new aperture and that all the indications were favorable before the complication arose. It was still accom- panied by 8 slight bloody tissue, but this was not of a character to cause any serious doubts as to favorable progress to the interior of the wound. The physicians were so much pleased with the agreeable turn of affairs that Dr. Reyburn even ven tured to show himself in Secretary Browns room this evening for the first time in thirty six hours. He was greeted by half a dozen newspaper men, who said they wondered what had become of him. The doctor said he had purposely avoided the press He had little good news to communicate, and did not want to commit himself to bad news. Now things were different. They felt that the trouble had been met and surmounted, that the danger for the present was past. In answer to questions, Dr. Reyburn spoke substantially as follows; s'We noticed yes terday morning that the pus was moving al- most sluggishly and was not quite so pure as It had been. We felt sure there was a par tial stoppage at least and it was deemed ad- visab1e to have the consulting physicians with us We desired to exchange opinions with them as well as to have their moral support for few days. When we again had our course of treatment fully approved by Org. Agnew and Hamilton, of course we felt good, because we knew the public would be easier. We knew the same thing must be done to discover the cause of the stoppage, and ev- cry one of us agreed that the cause was found in the pus cavity opened by the incis- ion this morning. The satisfactory action of material improvement in the Presidents con- dition gave us full assurance of this, and l know Dr. Agnew went away well satisfied