Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-27
DOM ESTEC.
Breaking of she Parotid Swelling.

gust ZO5D.-Dr. DDSS came OuG OF CQe sur
eeons' room about $50 this morning and tele-
graphed his wife that the President was a
little better than last night. In reply to an
interrogation he said The Presidents
pulse this morning was less frequent, and the
parotid swelling had broken into the right
ear and was discharging through that orifce.
The patients mind was clearer, and he con-
versed nationally with the surgeons about the
condition of the infamed gland. He partook
of food, which seemed to be grateful TO him,
and his general condition appeared to be q
little improved. The doctor expressed him
self as hopeful that the swollen gland would
be relieved by the discharge through the ear,
and that he would pull through the day with
out much change"
secretary Ktrbw0Od's Views.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, August 26th-10:4C
A M.-Secretary Kirkwood came out of the
Cabinet-room few moments since, and IL
reply to question asked by the reporter OF
the Associated Press, gave the following
statement of the Presidents case, as he
understands it this morning: p" have never
thought" he said, until last night that the
President would die; but the information
which we received from the surgeons late in
the evening WAS of such a character as to
leave very little room for hope. The danger
which then seemed most imminent was of the
absorption of unhealthy pus from the swollen
part of the gland The mental disturbance
and the increased pulse seemed to indicate
that this process of absorption had already
and this was acting upon the brain and
heart" Taking up a small egg-shaptd piece
of sponge which lay on the reporters table,
the Secretary continued: GAS l understand
the case, from what the surgeons have told
me, the Presidents right parotid gland is in
some respects like this sponge. Everywhere
through it are little cells or pockets, in each
of which there is an accumulation of the pus.
The incision which was made day before
yesterday pierced one of these pockets,
and released the pus which that particular
one Confined, but did not drain the Others
and in fact the Others could not be effectually
drained at this stage of suppuration by a sir :
gle inci:ion made anywhere. The fear last
night was that the pus retained in these small
cavities would become unhealthy, and, as be-
fore said, result in bloed-pOisoning. DR..
Bliss told US, however, last night, Just before
we went home, that he had not given up the
hope of favorable change during the night,
and the surgeons think this morning that
there has been such slight change for the
bstter as DIR. Bliss hoped for. The breaking
of the suppurating gland into the cavity of the
ear will, it is thought, afford more relief than
could be given in any other way, and is there
fore regarded as a favorable symptom. This
discharge through that channel seems to be
free, and the pus is thus far of healthful
character. The patients mind this morning
is clearer than last night. showing that there
has been no blood poisoning of consequence
from the gland as yet. Taking everything
into consideration, | think there is reason
this morning for little more hope"
Slight Revival of Hope.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, August 26th-11:5
A. M.-Secretary Lincoln, upon coming out of
the Cabinet room this morning, was asked
what he thought of the Presidents condition.
Well, he said, there is just enough en-
couragement this morning to revive the faint
hope which l had up to last night that the
President would pull through. From what
the surgeons told US yesterday evening, re-
ceiged the impression that the swollen parotid
gland had very much the character of a severe
and dangerous carbuucle, which was enough
of itself TO bring a well man very low. even If
it did not cause his death. With this i'm
preston hope pretty much left me. This
morning, however, | feel again little en-
engagement"
DE-. Bliss Interviewed.
WASHINGTON, August 26th-2 P. M-At
1:4G DR.. Bliss told reporter: The Pfesi-
dents condition this afternoon is very critical,
You may say alarming, il you choose. 1t is
as tai as at any the before. Not entirely
hopeless, you understand, but very grave.
II continues to take food about as yesterday,
and the enemata has been resumed. The
system seems to bear them well, aud whisky
can be given that way better than through
the mouth. The parotid gland is about the
same. In order not TO disturb him, We did
not remove the p)ultices this noon. don't
l. = 10 -
blood poisoning through the pus in the glands.
He is more likely to die Of exhaustion. 1t is
= question of endurance. There was very
little delirium to-day. Mrs. Garfield was with
him all the time, and noticed it only once
this morning, and then only to a trifing ex.
tent. His mind is decidedly clearer than last
night. He talks little more nationally and
knows what is going on around him. His
mental condition i due to this aLR mic condi-
ton of the brain, which is not properly
nourished 1t il the effect of exhaustion \
clearer mind is favorable symptom. His
pulse is not higher now than at noon, when
it was the highest of the day. The char
acter of the pulse has improved, and that is
more important than the rate of it. Mrs.
Garfield fully appreciates his condition. Size
has rot shown the slightest weakness. If he
dies. it wiz probably be only from exbaus-
ton.
DIR. HeyburE's Report.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, August 26th-4 P
MIR. Reyburn reports at P. NJ. that the
condition OF the President continues ex-
treMeiy critical. There has been no marked
change for the worse since noon, but his pulse
is rather higher and feebler. His vitality
seems very low. There is no apprehension
Of immediate death, but there is on the other
hand nothing as yet to strengthen the faint
hope of a rally which the surgeons still en-
tertair
10 q further Interview, the doctor said he
could not vet bring himself TO believe that
the President would die, although he apore-
ciated fully the gravity of the situation Tne
vitality Of the patient has been very low. and
it was questionable whether he could hold ont
much longer against the depressing influence
of the suppurating gland. Nevertheless, if
they could tide over two or three days, and
get the glandular complication under control.
he would still stand fair chance OF recovery.
Thr Evening Bulletin.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, August 26th-6:SO
P. M.-The Presidents condition has not
changed materially since the last bulletin was
Issued. He continues to take by the mouth
the liquid food prescribed, and occasionally
asks for It. Since yesterday forenoon, com
MERGING at 1870 A. N the enemata have
again been given at regular intervals, as a
means OF admiais seiing stmulants as we'll as
nutrition. They are retained without trou-
BILE At present bis pulse is lie, tempera.
ture 1919. respiration is. Signed By the
doctors.
just shade BETTER.
WASHINGTON, August 26th-7:30 P. NJ
The evening bulletin is very unsatisfactory
in hat it gives no information. Drs Ham.
ilton and Bliss, who have just left the White
House, said the patients condition at $3.50
was Just shade better. His pulse and TEN.
perature had both fallen slightly. No in
formation regarding the wound or swelling Is
now obtainable.
Three Changes Noted.
WASHINGTON. August 26th.-Up to lC
O'Clock tonight there have been three changes
in the Presidents condition noted. Early
this morning everything was bad. II could
not be worse without immediate death.
Later in the forenoon there was rally. That
was the first change. The rally, however,
was feeble, and did not continue long enough
to even fully send up TO high mark the
buoyant feeling generally to be found under
the most adverse circumstances al
the White House. After short rally
during the forenoon came the midday
bulletin. 1t was bad, very bad
it showed weakening in the whole system.
That he was worse than at the same hour
Yesterday was admitted by the physicians
The change for the worse became more ap
parent as the afternoon wore on. At shortly
before o'clock his sleepiness increased, and
the President appeared in a comatose con
ditiou. That condition was evidence OF wei