New-York tribune., 1881-08-30
DIR. HAMILToNs CHEERFUL VIEW

THE CHANCES OF RECOVERY. IN HIS OPINION
BETTER THAN AT ANY TIME SINCE THE WOUND
WAS INFLICTED.
DR.. +. II. Hamilton, after protracted absence
in attendance on the President returned to his
home IN this city yesterday morning at o'clock.
He still retains the reserve TINT has characterized
him all through his connection with the Presidents
ease, and he studioasly avoids saying gnythng
that may be construed into prognoss of the
His views of the present condition of the
patient and of his prospects of recovery. however,
extremely cheerful. They are MS remote rs
possible from wild guessing, being founded on
facts Of the alone ana not on the hope of a
favorable issue. As such they all the more
entitled to credence aud serve substantial
basis for the hope that the President will ultimately
recover. In conversation with TRIBUNE reporter
yesterday he cheerful. the change in the siiua
ton at the White House having apparently raised
his spirits.
"What do you think of the condition of the
President y asked the reporter.
Z" / consider that his chances of recovery are
better at present than they have been since he
received the injury
" How is the parotd gland behavingW
"It is suppurating well, and is giving less and
less annoyance One of the openings-the one that
was first made-pcnctratcs the gland to q depth of
two inches. Tho second incsion was three-Guarters
of an inch IN length and discharges freely So
does the spontaneous opening into the ternal ear
The suppurative action OF the gland to be
fully established, and the gland itself is becoming
comparatively soft"
ais there any truth in the report that there 10
pus III of the joints and that the lungs are
becoming diseased ~
"No. Tho lungs have been examined with
scrupulous care aud no evidence of disease has
been found. As far rs have known. nobody has
thought of pus forming in any of the joints.
" Has anything additional been ascertaned CON
cernng the seat of the ball ~
"The bullet is supposed by myself land think my
colleagues entertain the same opinionl to be under
the psoas muscle, near the margin of the base of
the pes in, outside of the pcrioneal cavity, and of
course, outside of the ntestlnes. There ia some
evidence that il is lower down in the base of the
pelvis than when first discovered. The change of
position. however has been slight and since it could
not be accurately defined NJ first, as it TO be
low, it may be that the ball has not changed its
position at ALL"
"Is there any evidence that an absccss has been
formed around itW
" So far there is indication that any matter
has formed around the scat of the ball in fact
there is negative proof that there has not"
rs there any evidence of py@ma?'
:" Think not"
There has been great deal of talk about septi-
cpmia Arc there any evidences of thatf ~
"That l cannot answer definitely. The eu-
laraement of the parot'd gland may have been tho
result of scpticemia But this. to my mind. is
by no means certain You viii remember that tho
enlargement of the parotid gland began on the
fourth day after prolonged abstinence from food,
during which period the sail, ary glands had not
their usual excitement. The saliva was not
creted in them 20 the usual amount and what was
secreted was more viscid than the natural fluid.
This may have caused all obstruction of the parotid
duct, WHICH opens into tho mouth. 1t has been
observed before by physicians and pathoogists
that distractions OF this duct. causing dstension
of the gland, have produced inflammation of the
gland aud subsequent nsuppurati0n. A case has
been recently brought to my notice in which parO
tits ensued upon the abstinence from food and the
administering of food by enenata. / only state
this as possible explanation. and as the reason
why do not regard the hypothesis of septicamia
in this case as the only explanation possible
Dr. Hamilton expects to return to Washington
this evening" when he will relieve DIR. Agnew.
STRONG HOPE FELT IN THIS CITY.
THE sraAIN ON THE PUBLIC MIND ItEIIEvRD-IN-
TEREsT SHOWN IN THE BULLErNs--coNpI-
DENCE GENERALLY REVIVED.
T}e unmistakable improvement In the condition of
the President yesterday did much to relieve the
strain upon the public mind caused by the symptoms
of last week, which indicated approaching dssolu-
tion. The bulletins from tho White House were
read with great eagerness by crowds Of people who
have learned not to put too muci faith in anything
humani aid can do for the President. He