The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-08-11
On the Road to Recovery.


when a rise in temperature caused
some anxiety This it appears was due
to obstruction of the openings through
which the pus was discharged, and on
Monday morning last another operation
was performed. The patient was ether
lied and the inciSiOn extended downward,
and a center opening made into the track
of the ball below the margin of the twelfth
rib. He bore the operation we'll, and the
results were entirely satisfactory. The
new inciSion cannot be closed or oh
structed by the process Of granulation, as
the old track OF the ball, was between the
ribs, for the reasons that the cut is through
the soft parts OF the body where there
are no bones to prevent the spreading, or
separation of the sides of the wound.
whenever they begin to close in the pro
cess of healing. The present incl sion,
therefore. can be kept open and unob-
structed us long as MAY be necessary and
no fear is entertained of further sup
preston Of the discharge. The operation
was performed by DIR. Agnew ut the re
quests of the other physicians
Dr. Agnew states, in relation to the
President, that the examination With the
probe shows that the wound is of a less
serious nature than was for a long time
supposed. 1t has been definitely asccr-
tanned that the cavities OF the chest and
abdomen We're not entered and nccessa-
rilN the peritoneal membrane was not
pierced nor was the liver torn. The
opening of the wound is between the
tenth and eleventh ribs, four inches 10 the
right Of the spinal column, and the hall
took course almost directly downward !;
the bullet striking and splintering the
tenth rib lost considerable force, and be
inc detected passed through the tissues
of the muscles which form Il soft wall Of
the abdomeninal region, and stopped just
at the crest of the ilium, or broad bone,
which forms the hip. The precise loca-
ton is in either the 4uadratus or psoas
muscles, but which cannot yet be told, as
DR.. AgneW did not succeed in touching
the ball, although he inserted the probe
fully seven inches into the wound. The
difference, however, can be but Slight, as
the muscles are in close contact With
each other, and no matter which it is i'm
bedded in, the bullet cannot be far from
the surface Of the body.
In speaking of the process by which
the definite knowledge of the nature OF
the wound was attained, Dr. Agnew said
the electric balance was not of the slight
est service. The information was obtain
ed by the ordinary method Of probing.
1t is quite trustworthy, he said, above
all, as to the point that none Of the great
cavities have been entered. The dull
ness under percussion which had been re-
garded as a symptom of injury Of the liver,
and the resulting hemorrhage, he en-
plains on the theory that the organ was
slightly bruised 10y the ball in it's passage.
He is quite sure that it was not lacerated
in the least. The capsulis is intact. The
brulse was of no Importance and would
naturally pass off in a few days
Dir. Agnew entirely approved of the
action of the attending surgeons in re
framing from any endeavor to find the
ball Just after the shooting. He thinks
1t likely that any such search with the
probe or with cutting Instruments, eS-
pecially in the great uncertainty us to
the direction taken by the ball, would
have had a fatal result. Even now thel e
IS little or no expectation Of extracting
the ball, although there is little or no
doubt of the Presidents ultimate re-
coVery. Or. AgneW is dissatisfied with
his appearance, and his weak digestive
powers cause the fear that his GONZALES
cence will be prolonged The position OF
the bullet, however, is such that no per
mancnt Inconvenience is ANTICIPATED from
its staying where it is.
Notwithstanding the effect of Mondays
operation the President slept the greater
part Of Monday night without the use of
an anodyne, and the febrile rise of the
previous afternoon slowly subsidized during
the night. Small quantities of liquid
nourishment were given at short inter
walls and retained and Tuesday morning
larger quantities were administered with
out gastric disturbance. The Presidents
condition during the day was encourage
ing, and as soon as he fully RECEIVERS from
the fever caused by the operation de
cided change for the better is predicted.
Secretary Blaine sums up the case in the
concluding sentence Of despatch to
Minister Lowell at London, as follows :
"The situation is one of continuous any
iety but also of cheerful hope"