The Portland daily press., 1881-08-22
THE SURGEONS, OPINIONS.
TdE OUhGEONO OFINIONS.
Interviews with Drs. Bliss and Boynton.
rs P. M.


Interviews with Drs. Bliss and Boynton.
[5P. NJ
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21.-Up to this hour the
day at the White House has been extremely
quiet, and until early in the afternoon nothing
could be ascertained regarding the President
excepting what the official bulletins contained
Callers were unusually few, among those most
prominent being ex-Minister Noyes, Judge
Wylie and First Auditor Reynolds. About
o'clock DR.. Bliss came into Private Secre-
tary Browns room looking very tired and ap-
parently worn out. When asked the cause of
his weakness he replied he had not had much
rest during the night as the President was
quite wakeful. The following dialogue be-
tween the doctor and representative of the
Associated Press ensued:
What was the cause of the Presidents being
SO restless during the night, doctor?
1t was caused principally by the annoyance
from the glandular swelling.
In what particular manner was he annoyed?
Principally by secretion of phleghm in his
throat which awakened him every half hour.
I suppose you are still endeavoring to scatter
the swelling of the gland?
Yes; we are trying to prevent suppuration,
and to accomplish that Inflammation must be
scattered.
What is the probability of your succeeding
in scattering it?
Well, 1 can't say positively, but appearances
do not indicate that it is any worse.
Has there been any gastric disturbance OF
the stomach yet?
None at all. The stomach appears to be i'm
proving all the time.
Have you decreased the enemata still more?
We now administer an ounce twice during
the day and twice during the night In the
morning, afternoon, evening and at dawn.
About how much do you administer day?
Twenty ounces of beef extract with the yolk
of four eggs.
Do you contemplate trying the patient with
solid food soon?
We haue not discussed that subject yet. He
is getting sufficient nouishment now.
How do you account for the rise in pulse
which was noted in the morning bulletin?
do not know exactly what caused it. II
the patient is turned over in bed his pulse
often increases from eight to ten beats for a
short time, but soon goes down again. Per-
haps his broken sleep last night caused the
RISE see no other reason for it,
1 suppose it is not significant of anything ex-
traordinary or unfavorable?
Oh, no, for one in the Presidents condition
no significance can be attached to a slight
variation of pulse.
Does the patient complain at all of the suf.
fering pain from Inflammation of the parotid
gland?
He suffers no pain. His neck and jaw con-
tinue somewhat annoying but the secretion of
saliva is the most annoying feature as it
causes him to cough and consequently lose
rest.
How about the wound doctor?
The wound is in excellent condition and the
process of granulation has made it consider
ably smaller than it was.
How large in proportion to the wound is the
channel in which the flexible tube was recent
ly inserted?
The tube we used was No. American
measurement catheter which is quite small.
The wound will now hold little less than
two ounces of water while previous to the
commencement of granulation it would hold
more than three ounces. That will give you
an idea OF how much smaller it is.
The Doctor then explained that the small
tube nearly filled the channel of the wound
which proved it was healing satisfactorily.
Shortly after the interview with DR.. Bliss
occurred DIR. BoyntOn was asked if he consider
ed the President decidedly better to-day than
yesterday.
No. replied the doctor, he is not decidedly
better. 1 think there is a slight improvement
as compared with yesterday and 1 feel more
encouraged. Continuing the Doctor said in
substance that if the irritation of the parotid
gland passes away without suppuration he will
feel much relieved. He thinks the patient Ii
taking sufficient nourishment to build up on
and barring further complications he considers
the outlook little more encouraging. The
Doctor was asked if it was not a well-estab'
lished theory that when irritation presented
itself IN the form of a swelling relief always
followed suppuration. He admitted that such
was ordinarily inc CdS0 OUT IN the Fr6SlQ0nt'S
condition, he said, suppuration is not desired
because of the possible injury which might
follow.
What is the nature of the injury feared from
suppuration of the gland, was then asked.
The Doctor said: 1t is impossible to say
where it would end should suppuration ensue.
1t would be possible for inflammation to ex-
tend to the interior of the ear and destroy that
| organ; it might seriously affect the bones of
the face in the vicinity of that irritation, and
further than this there would be danger of the
impure matter which is gathered about the
| gland penetrating the brain, and in addition
to these risks it would be considerable tax
on the little strength the President bas left
The Doctor considered the glandular compli-
| cation the most serious feature in the case at
the present time.
DR.. Woodward expressed the opinion as he
left the Mansion about 2 p. IN. that the Presi.
dent was doing as well as could be expected,
Anothing of the attending surgeons Informed
friend during the afternoon that he viewed
| the case in more hopeful light to-day than he
had for several days past. When asked what
| he thought about the glandular trouble he said
| that though he should have preferred not to
have met with that complication he did not
| consider it of serious importance. This sur.
| geon feared that the patients stomach would
| not hold out. This he considered the most
| alarming feature Of the case
The patients bowels are said to have beer
| moved more naturally and freely this morning
than at any time before for a week, fact
| which is considered as an indication that his
| stomach is again working naturally.