New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-18
GOOD NEUS From VASuJyrToy

Inc PRESIDENT still lives, thank God. The
mutinous stomach, which threatened 10 end
his life by refusing to perform its work at q
time when it was not possible for his weak
ened system to bear for any heightened period
the strain of wound and fever without susie
nance, has removed its functions, and the ex-
periments made yesterday give reason to hope
that nOurishing food may now be administered
with safety. If this proves to be the fact, the
chances are decidedly in favor of his recovery.
According to the testimony of his physicians.
the wound has been doing well, and is steadily
healing. They look for no trouble from the
bullet, and believe that he is in fair way to
| recover il the dangerous weakness which
| caused such alarm on Tuesday can be over
come 10y food. The news that the stomach is
again at work, therefore, goes to the critical
point in the case, and justihes the hope which
his attendants have at no time abandoned. He
IL not cut or danger The extreme constituencies OF
the stomach has caused him trouble for many
years, and especially since the war, and it NAV
at any time again interrupt the progress of
his recovery. Knowing this, the surgeons in
charge have been exceedingly cautious from
the first in regard to the food administered,
and probably have done at least as much to
avoid peril as would have been done 10y any of
the quacks who make haste to advertise them
selves by criticism without knowledge.
1t is difficult to speak with moderation of
the conduct of some surgeons, who have been
bombarding the public with their predictions
of disaster ever since their service, were no.
ltey declined by the patient and his friends.
The President surely has the right, as every
man has, to choose his own medical advisers.
His loving and noble wife, whose calm COURAGE
and marvellous fortitude have won the heart
of the Nation, surely has some right to trust
such surgeons as she may prefer. Nor can any
reasonable person say that the President and
his wife did not select men of eminence in their
profession. Had the question been asked of The
physicians and surgeons of the country when
the President was first laid low, it is not prob
able that any others would have been more
generally recommended, for experience, scien-
tihc knowledge and proved skill, than the
gentlemen who were selected. But the Presi-
dent and his wife had the same right that any
private citizen has to select whom they pleased
Common decency requires that respect should
ne paid to their wishes, both by the public
and by the unhappy members of the profession
who were not selected or who offered their
services in vain.
Common honesty and common decency Also
require that men who have not seen the pa
tent since his injury. and who have no means
OF knowing the thousand details Of his condi-
ton which the surgeons in attendance observe,
should DO a little modest in their criticism. IL
the medical and surgical profession desires to
dlscredit itself in public opinion, it can hardly
do 30 more effectually than by published com
ments which are obviously based not at all upon
personal knowledge Of tho case, but wholly upon
professional jealousy. TO the credit of the
profession it is to be said that comparatvely
Of rs bav 10 ho,
their criticisms upon an anxious public. TO
the great discredit of some members of the
profession, however, it must be said that they
have criticised openly, continuously, indeccntly
and recklessly, though compelled to admit
that they know nothing of the condition of
the patient except the facts which lead the
surgeons in charge of the case to very differ
ent conclusions. Apparently it does not occur
to these gentlemen that they are doing what
ever lies in their power to bring their profess
sion into contempt.
The public hope that the President will re-
cover has been based upon the statements of
the surgeons in charge, who did not hesitate
on Monday and Tuesday TO express their grave
apprehensions AT previous stages of danger.
they were more confident even while their
critics were most vociferous in gloomy predic-
TONS AT every stage, the result verified the
statements of the surgeons in charge.
and the President passed through one grave
peril after another with safety, as they had
hoped. The latest crisis was in some respects
the most serious, and they frankly made the
fact known, but still insisted that the patient
had at least an even chance of recovery. The
events OF yesterday seem to indicate that, in
tins emergency also, their judgment was not at
fault. They have much at stake, and are per-