Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-08-26
THE PRESIDENT.
The Attending Surgeons at Last
Regard the Case as Critical.
First Dispatch.
LAECUIIVE MANAION,
WASHINGTON, August 26, 616 am. I

First Dispatch.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, !
WAsHINGToN, August 26, Clio am.
Physicians and attendants cannot
yet be seen, but from the best infor-
nation obtainable at this hour it is
believed there has been no decided
change for the better since midnight.
The Presidents sleep during the
night was frequently interrupted by
intervals of restlessness.
Second Dispatch.
7A.M.-Dr. Reyburn says this morn
ing no material change in the condi-
tion Of the President has occurred
during the night. He observes no
diminution of strength, nor increase
in the frequency Of the pulse, which
this morning is about 119. An in-
creased discharge of pus from the
parotid swelling took place during the
night.
Third Dispatch---OfIiclaI.
$50 AN. = The President slept
most Of the night, awakening at inter
yals Of half hour to one hour. On
first awakening there was, as there has
been for several nights past, some
mental confusion, which disappeared
when he was fully reused, and occa-
sionally he muttered in his sleep.
These symptoms have abated this
morning as on previous days. At
present his temperature is slightly
above normal and his pulse little
more frequent than on yesterday
morning; pulse 1OS, temperature 991,
respiration II.
Fourth Dispatch.
10 A.M.-But very little information
was obtained from the physicians con-
cerning the condition of the President
this morning, prior to tAe issuance Of
the morning bulletin. The absence
of all reference in the bulletin to the
general condition Of the President
and to the parotid swelling was at
once noticed and commented upon by
those waiting for it. The situation is
considered by many as less hopeful
than it was last night at midnight and
by others as more so.
Attorney General Mac Veagh pro.
nounces it extremely critical, and
when asked this morning how long he
thought this suspense would con-
tinue replied, "God only knows"
Postmaster General James and
Secretary Hunt telegraphed to Thur
low Weed that CLEAN Of hope at 10
am. comes from the surgeons. His
symptoms are no worse and improve
nent not impossible
DR.. Bliss came out Of the Surgeons
room about $50 this morning to tele-
phone bis wife that the President was
a little better than last night. In re-
ply to interrogatories he said the
Presidents pulse this morning was
less frequent and that the parotid
swelling had broken into the right
ear and was discharging through that
orifce. The patients mind was
clearer, and he cGpyerSed nationally
about the condition Of tho infamed
gland. He partook of food which
seemed to be relishcd by him, and his
general condition appeared to be a
little improved. The Doctor ex-
pressed himself as hopeful that the
swollen gland would be relieved by
the discharge through the ear, and
that he would pull through the day
without much change,
Fifth Dispatch.
11:4O A.M.-SecretaRy Kirkwood
came out of the Cabinet room few
moments since and in reply to ques=
tions gave the following statement of
the:Presidents case as he understands
it this morning; II have never
thought" he said, until last night
that the President would die, but the
information which l received from
the surgeons late in the evening, was
of such character as to leave very
little room for hope. The danger,
WHICH then seemed most imminent,
was the danger of absorption Of the
unhealthy pHs from the swollen parrot
id gland. The mental disturbance
and the increased pulse seemed to in
dicate that this process of absorption
had elEeqdy begun and that it was
poisoning the blood and thus acting
upon the brain and heaFt,8 Taking
up small egg.shaped sponge, WHICH
lay on the reporters table, Secretary
Kirkwood continued: ''As I under
stand the cagfrom what the surgeons
have told n yatne Presidents right
parotid gland is in some respects IKE
this sponge. EYerywhere through It