, 1881-07-24
"Is there any sign Of malaria %
AtNn think mt -

|. ssIs there any sign OF malarla?'
.sNo, think not"
Ate o'clock this afternoon Dr. Bliss only
said that the President was no better, and
Bliss plainly did not care to express anyl
opinion beyond that Soon after ociock
the Presidents pulse and Temperature had
gone down and lie was perspiring little,
His pulse and temperature had goue dnwn
from the morning, which indicated all iip-
proyenent over his condition. This morn
ing the reports from the sick room were
more encouraging. The physicians were
not able to tell exactly this afterlioon the
cause Of the Presidents changed condition.
DR.. REYHCRS
said it was something unexpected, and had
not been anticipated. At 8 O'Clock the
fever had abated and the doctors
were more hopeful. The President took
no food to-day. He only drank sotna
milk dashed with rum. It is learned to-day
that there was slight rise in the Presidents
pulse and temperature about S O'clock last
night, indicating a slight fever, which was
regarded BY, the physicians rs a temporary
fuctuation, due to local causes.
a MEMBER OF THE CABINET,
who had made arrangements to leave to-
morrow, has consulted with the Presidents
physclans and they have advised him not to
do So, but to await q change in the patIrnr's
unexpected and very unfayorable condition.
The St1r, in an extra, says: "The Presi-
dents fever last night WAS very sharp. He
subsequently, perspired very freely, anu it
partly went of that way, but this morning 1t
took the shape Of chill. The chill lasted
for about fifteen minutes, and the President
shook with it very much.
''At one time
IT WAS A SEVERE CHILL
The pulse reached 100, most unsatisfactory
sign. It dropped back right away, however.
The chill Set III about 5, and it was little
after before the reactlon took place. After
it the patient rested pretty comfortably. The
doctors do not assign any exact reason for
the Presidents unsatisfactory condition to-
day. They say it is probably caused by the
failure Of the wound to discharge freely.
When it was dressed this morning the
wound did not give forth nearly 50 much
matter as during the past few days. By
pressing the body little was forced out It
is possible, the doctors think, that new
formation is being made near the bullet The
method Of dressing the wound was changed
little this morning. 4 dressing that will
THE DRAINAGE TUHE
was also changed for one little longer.
The new tube was SO adjusted that it pen
etrated the wound about three inches and
half from the opening. In dressing the wound
this morning, when 1t was found the dis
charge was BY no means free, the pressing
upon the abdomen which has heretofore
caused flow Of pus was tried. but it did not
work satisfactorily. This would Indicate an
accumulation Of matter where the bullet is
located"
THE EXPLANATION GIVEN
By the attending surgeons Of the unfavora-
BILE symptoms which manifested themselves
in the Presidents case to-day is briefly as
follows: Some time during the night, or
early this morning, the patients wound,
which had for several days been diScharg'ng
freely, became obstructed at or near the
inner end of the drainage-tube, while the
process of suppuration in the deeper parts ut
the wound continued. Il partial or complete
ptls cavity was thus formed, and the dis
charge from the mouth Ut the wound nearly
ceased. The natural result of this state Of
things was 4 chill, followed by higher fever,
the patients pulse rising to the maximum
of about 130. and his temperature to 104.
as rigor, followed by increased fever. Is q
symptom of pyHlnia, or formation of al alb
scesS, and of other unfayorab1e complications,
it caused at first 4 good deal of anxiety.
Careful examination, however, of the pus
discharged by the wound showed that 3
character was perfectly normal and healthy.
and, so far as appeared from the patients
general condition,
ALI. INDICATIONS OF rYEMIA WE'RE AB-
SENT.
These facts relieved at once the fear of blood
poisoning. External examination was then
made of the abdominal and hepatic regions,
with view of ascertaining whether there
were any signs Of abscess at the supposed
location Of the bullet No unusual tender
ness was found in that part Of the body, o.
any other Indication Ut changed condition
From these fncts, taken in connection with
the scanty outflow OF pus, the conclusion was
drawn that Ill obstruction existed near the
inner end Of the drainage-tube, which pre-
vented a free discharge. This Imprisonment
OF pus, technically known as the formation
Of a pus cavity is entirely adeqnateto to ex-
plain the chill and fever, since they are its
natural and Inevitable consequences. It was at
first thought the obstruction might be the
result of the process Of healing which had
the end of the tlrainage-tube AMI the deeper
suppnrntilly surface
FAIRLY IN THE AFTERNOON,
however, the obstruction wholly or partially
gave way, the outflow Of pus beca1ue tretr,
the nausea from which ti4t patent had suf-
fereu subsidized. and he obtained relief. This
proved that the obstruction had not been Ut
a permanent character. At the evening
dressing Of the wound the discharge OF pus
was quite as copious as usual Since that
time the patients fever has stcadil; abated,
and at the present hour 40 .. 1'.) his pulse
has fallen to 1Ut; and lie is sleeping quietly.
The. consulting surgeons, Agnew aud Ham
i'ton, do not regard the situation rs glave
as they feared, and expressed renewed con-
tidcrce-
At O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON.
The President, about 8 O'Clock, was sleep
ing His pulse had reduced somewhat It
was thought BY the doctors that by inserting
tie drainage-tube in the wound to a greater