Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-07-09
0UARRELING DOCTORS.

ProfcssiOn0l JeaI0msfes aud Bickersngs
Over the FOUNDED Presidential Patti emt
New York Herald Washington special.]
The Presidents physicians have quar-
relied at last, and the rumors furnished in
the dispatches yesterday In I'd to
their disagreement belong to the record of
fact to-day. Itis, of course, well known
that Dr. D. w Bliss has control of the
case, but just how he came to have it is
not known, but tke manner In which he re-
tains it is the subject of the quarrel to-
day, on whose early skirmisLes the
rumors OF yesterday rested. To present
the situation as it exists it is necessary to
refer to the early presence of DR.. Towns
hend, health officer of the District, who
was first on the ground when the shoot
ing took place.
DIR. BLISS ASSUMES CONTROL.
Physicians were summoned from every
quarter, almost at random, and within
half an hour the wounded President W as
surrounded by full dozen of practi-
TONERS, all of them of the old school,
however. 1t may be remarked Just here
that DR.. Susan Edison is homeopathist,
and she is Mrs. Garfeld's physi-
clan. The position of family physician
seems scarcely determined, although it is
claimed by, and by some accorded to Col.
Jediah II. Baxter, M. D., United States
army, who holds the further position of
the chief medical purveyor of the United
States army. He has attended the Presi-
dent and his sons, and on one occasion
treated his daughter, and, since Gen. Gar
fields accession to the high office, pre-
scribed for him. He was, however, away
at the time the shooting occurred, but
heard of it through the press dis
patches early in the afternoon. He at
once started for Washington, and trav-
elcd Saturday night from Williamsport,
Pa, near which place he was staying.
He drove at once to the house and enter
ed the room where, at the very time, a
| consultation was being held. Present at
it were Mr.. W. D. Bliss. of accepted
high reputation in the surgical branch of
the profession; Surgeon General Wales,
OF the navy; DR.. Townshend, DR.. .Patter-
son, Coroner of the District; DR.. Hamil-
ton, Surgeon General of the Marine Hos
pital Sirvlce; DR.. H. s. Lincoln;
DIR. Woodward, United States
army; DR.. Gunnell, United
States navy; DR.. Purvis, Dr. Parker, DIR.
Reyburn, and one or two others
| QUESTION OF PROBING FOR THE BULLET
The consultation had been based on DR..
Bliss reports of the condition of the pa
tient. None of the others had seen him
that morning, and Dr. Bliss had given in
much detail the situation of affairs. Sat-
urday night there had been little tilt
between the surgeon general of the navy
and Dr. Bliss that had caused the other
doctors present to elevate their eyebrows
and look for some other
Tissue. When Dr. Bliss arrived on the
scene he took possession of the case in a
way with which he is identified in the
minds of his brother practitioners, and
which by some at least is spoken of as ar
rogant and dictatorial He was explaining
to the other doctors that he had used the
probe very carefully and had touched the
pistol ball. Surgeon Gen. Wales had
said, "You should, think, have inserted
your little finger to discover the course
of the bullet. "Dr Wales carried out his
own suggestion, and brought to light
some features that are understood to
have an important bearing on the case,
and in the light of which the course Of
treatment was changed. On Sunday
morning the physicians who had been
called in consultation came with the ex-
pectation of seeing the patient, but were
met by DR.. Bliss, who informed them
that everything had been done, and he
was now able to secure the President that
degree of quiet that he 80 much needed
| by telling them all about it. Nothing
| was said, and the consultation went
| forward, and when it was finished Dr.
Bliss said there would be another in the
Afternoon. All of them left then but Drs
Reyburn and Baxter.
QUARREL BETWEEN BLISS AND BAXTER.
What ensued is thus described by an
eyewitness:
Mr.. Baxter said: 81 will now go in
with you and see the President"
"What for ?" queried DR.. Blsss.
"Why, | am the family physician re-
piled DR.. Baxter, In apparent surprise.
"And how did you find that out, prayf''
asked DR.. Bliss
~ don't understand what you mean,' .
replied DR.. Baxter, hotly. explain your
SELF
81 mean," was DR.. Bliss answer, "that
you are always sneaking around, trying
to prescribe to some official. Now you
want to steal this case from me-that's s
your game"
"Sirl" said DR.. Baxter, advancing to-
! ward him.
"That Is the exact fact" interrupted
Dr. Bliss, "You are always seeking to
prescribe for those in authority-any one
who will help you lobby your schemes
through Congress-"
"You lie when you say that" replied
DR.. Baxter. 81 am the family physician
of MIR. Garfield
DR.. Bliss came forward as if he would
strike DR.. Baxter, but DR.. Bliss son in
terfered, and catching DR.. Baxter by the
coat said in high tone of voice: II have
got something to say about this. This is
my affair, father"
DR.. Baxter made reply that this was
not the place for such scene, and TAX
ing up his hat prudently retired from
the room and left the executive mansion
In all probability nothing would have
been heard of this affair further
except for the next step taken by DR..
Bliss. That afternoon he addressed a
letter to Surgeon General Wales, of the
navy, saying, in effect, he need not at
tend the White House any more, and
sent letter containing practically the
same thing to the Sugreon General of
Marine Hospitals, DR.. Hamilton, and to
Drs. Lincoln, Townshend, Patterson,
Morris, Gunnell and Purvis. As none of
these gentlemen knew that the order
was SO general each kept quite about it
until to-day, when the facts leaked out,
and now they are in high dudgeon all
around.