Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-07-11
DIR. Bliss on the Presidents Case.

Thursday evening DIR. Bliss made a state
ment and analysis of the Presidents condi-
ton from which we copy the following:
"Do you venture to pronounce the Presi
dent out of danger?" was asked.
Certainly not he is not out of imminent
danger. lie is progressing favorablv. Ifthe
present favorable conditions continue prob
ably in u week it will be safe to say that he
has passed the period of imminent danger.
But there will be many dangers after that.
lie has already passed the danger of primary
hemorrhages; practically passed, we think,
the danger Of peritonitis. He has entirely
passed the danger of diffused inflammation,
as the inflammation is localized. The two
greatest dangers which yet remain are sec
oudary hemorrhage and pvamia. The time of
these secondary hemorrhages is tomorrow,
the seventh day. In the army it appeared
the seventh day after battle rs regularly as
the day came. Everything is ready for
secondary hemorrhage. should it appear.
and everybody knows where to lay his hands
upon everything. We do not greatly fear
secondary hemorrhage, as we think we can
speedily check it. Py@ma, or blood pois-
ing, we do greatly fear. 1t ought to be de-
veloped, if at all, within a week There are
a great many reasons why, in case that should
successfully treat it. If Gen. Garfield had
been on long march, living on poor fare,
was broken down, and had dissolute habits,
the prospects would be much graver.
He has the best physical condition to
resist pyamia, and the sanitary surroundings
are favorable to him. An abscess NAV form:
We are prepared to treat it. Prof. Neweomb
has made a suggestion. too, which possibly
may help us to locate the bali. We want to
do that. Prof. Newcomb is now in cores
pondence with scientific men at ST. Johns
University, and will have them make the
necessary apparatus. The theory is, that by
the use of magnet and coil it may be pos
sible to locate the bullet, and to determine
its depth from the surface They have be-
gun to make the instrument, and will first
experiment by putting bullet in the liver
Of an animal and wrapping it in hide. There
seems to be good sense and practical
science in the proposition, and it may be sue
cessful. The President is the best patient
l ever saw. He does everything he is told
and makes no complaints. He Of course is
wearied and restless. He cannot move him.
self and We do not permit him to do so. He
is Of course very sore about the body. and he
is also sore on the top of the feet. We placed
him tonight upon his new bed and he was
more comfortable. The refrigerating appar-
atus reduced the temperature of the chamber.
The bullet has not been located. We do
know that il passed through the liver. Ex-
periments have been made with the cartridges
and they were found to contain only fifteen
grains Of powder. The ball was pretty well
spent when it reached the liver. 1t was a
large ball and would lacerate good deal
more than small ball, but there was not a
= sufficient amount Of powder to propel it
with more force The clothing and the tenth
rib. which it fractured, so checked its pro-
gress that its force must have been greatly
spent when it reached the liver. The ball
which caused the wound was undoubtedly
the first one shot. The second ball simply
graxed the upper part of the forearm as the
President was raising his hand toward hi
head. That ball marvellously cannot b.
found yet. 1t was shot in the direction of I
solid wall. No trace or mark can be found
anywhere"
The summary of the conclusions which
DIR. Bliss arrived at is that the President il
progressing favorably: that the jaundics
symptoms are in the ordinary nature of the
disease. aud not serious; that at least thre'
ofthe critical stages in the history Of gun
shot wounds have been passed; that Their
are still two grave and imminent dangers
secondary hemorrhages and blood-poisoning
hat the physicians hope to overcome boil
these dangers. If they do, and the President
continues for 4 week to do - well ~ he has
for the past week, the greatest danger will
have been named