The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-07-28
GARFIFLD'S CONDITION,
HIS SUDDEN RELAPSE FRIDAY

An InctsI0n Made ON Sunday and He takes
u Turn for tho BettCr Again.
HISTORY OF TIE RELAPSE. 4
DR. RE1BuRN's EXPLANATION.
Special Telegram to the Pioneer Press.
WASHINGTON, July 23.-Dr. Reyburu. Who is
probably the most conservative member Of the
board Of physicians, granted your correspond
ent few moments time this evening, and in
response to inquiries said the presidents con-
dition this evening was, on the whole, decided
ly better than at any time since Friday. His
temperature is lower by one degree than At the
same time Friday, and his symptoms have
steadily improved all day:
What was the nature OF the incision made to-day?
will explain that well as can In brief time.
The bulletins, ~ you have noticed, have not been
as favorable for the past two three days a. for
merly. We knew something was going on, but did
not know at once what the Of the trouble was
The pus itself not 30 healthy, and its Discharge
gradually diminished. Tho trouble came to crisis
yesterday morning, when the rieor occurred. and
We at first
FEARED PYEAf1AH HAD SET IN.
During the afternoon indications Of the formation
of pus cavity increased, and when the consulting
physicians arrived they agreed with us that such
was the case. An examination was postponed until
this morning, when an operation was unanimously
decided upon. BY the code of ethics the knife was
rendered to DIR. Agnew. the consulting physician.
He located by bis sense OF touch the exact locality
Of the cavity. Tho president
DID NOT DESIRE ANY ANETHEsIA,
| and We were not anxious to administer it. The
surface Of the flesh was frozen with carbolic acid
spray. to render it less sensitive to the pain
and the operation was begun. An incision to the
Ill yrcfopS sSn1tp
| was inserted and the discharge Of pus at once
followed. The president never. finched: the
muscles of his back never twitched for an
| instant. The rib had been badly shattered
and the end bent down into the wound. As the
suppuratton continued aud tbs wound began to heal
this piece Of bone stopped up the cavity. The pus
could not flow and the pus demanding an outlet.
had found cavity Of its own. This often occurs in
wounds of this kind: sometimes the pus will seem
the surface six or eight inches away
| from the place it began. Such
| cavity formed here. As soon as it was
opened aud the pus could find an exit the patient
began to mend. The tube was inserted in such a
way as to allow the pus to flow from both openings
Tonight glass tube shaped like the capital letter
was inserted in one opening through to tho other
and water injected clear through, thus clearing
| the wound much better than ever before.
Then can say on your authority that the
TROUBLE HAS BEEN MET AND OVERCOME?
You may. We consider the trouble removed.
Is there any danger of pyemia? We candiscover
| no traces of Pyamia whatever, and DO not believe
| there is any danger of that kind
Is there any soreness complained of by the presi-
| dent? No, he does not complain of anything to-
night. He is resting nicely now, aud all but the
| regular physicians have left for the night.
What has the president eaten to-day? Nothing
but the liquids. His greatest diet is beef essence
! and bouillaird, Of which lie is very fond. He also
took some milk and rum. Does he eeem much ex-
hausted tonight? He is quite weak, of course, but
| not as greatly prostrated one might suppose. He
is resting nicely and naturally.
Doctor can rigcr ensue without blood poison
ing?" 'Yes. it can, but blood-poisoning may
generally be looked for after rieor, and that is
why we feared it in this case But the formation
| of u cavity
EXPLAINS THE R1GoR NOW.
There might be hectic or night-sweat such as
consumptiyes have, but that comes but once day.
They are not regarded in the same light as rigors,
slight chills may yet follow in this case.''
Has there been any indication of one to-day?
None whatever. They will be slight if they occur
at all.
Has there been any moro vomiting to-day? None
whatever All that stopped as soon as the pus was
released.
Being asked whether there we're or had been
y"HlOlAo III pIooIu0utB y CASE OI py1Bm1
or blood poisoning, Dr. Reyburn said:
None whatever. Rigor. of course, may he
symptom Of pyBma, but it is also symptom of
various other complications, and it does not point
so pyema in the present case. The pus continued
healthy. and characteristic symptoms of pyama
are wanting. You may say upon my authority that
no indications of blood poisoning have been OBJ.
served, and We have no reason to expect any.
In conclusion DR.. Reyburn said his condi-
ton and symptoms tonight are more favorable
and encouraging than at any time since the
chill of Yesterday morning
The operation performed to-day was made
with an instrument which made q cut like tho
shape Of funnel. The incision was not very
large, but it was successful, striking the right
place. The bullet struck the rib
the passage made by the lbullet.
This obstruction caused the formation of pus
cavity, and it was necessary to open this so
that the pus could pass out The flow was not
immediate, but drainage tube somewhat cir
cular in shape was inserted; then with press
ure the flow Of pus began.
DE. BoYNToN's DESCRIPTION
Special Telegram to the Pioneer Press.
WASHINGTON, July 24.-Dr. Boynton, who
for some time past has been informally attend.
ing Gen. Garfield in company with the regular
physicians, Was present at the operation o.day
made upon the president He said that 1T the
consultation Of physicians held this morning,
Drs. Agnew and Hamilton came at once
to the conclusion that there had been
large retention Of pus somewhere, and ad-
vocated thorough examination for the pur-
pose of locating it While they were talking
DR.. Agnew took the probe and passed. down
into the wound about three inches and stopped.
He then asked DR.. Hamilton to take hold with
him, and short manipulation Of the instru-
ment convinced the physicians that
huge pus cavity had formed few inches be-
low the wound To relieve this it was deter
mined to make IN incision below the wound
The president was placed upon his left side,
and the place to be incised sprayed with ether,
but none was administered to him. An
incision about three inches in length was
then made some three inches below the wound
and one inch to the right of the backbone. 1t
was made down the skin and muscles and
opened to view pus cavity or abscess about
HALF AS LARGE AS MANS HAND.
and containing large quantity Of p,,s. The
incision showed that the pus had flowed from
the wound toward the orifce, and coming in
contact with the rib . portion of it had been re-
tained, and for some time the large abscess
spoken Of had worked downward toward the
spine, which it lacked but one inch Of reach
ing. This relieved the president considerably.
A finger introduced into tho incision showed
the wound to be surrounded by thick tissue,
and to be healing rapidly.
Are you satisfied that this was the true cause of
the presidents severe chill? was a question put to
Dr. Boynton. Yes. I am certain Of it. You know
almost any sort of swelling accompanied by in
hammation will produce a chill. Many persons
who are troubled with bois have chills whenever
they have one. believed At first that the whole
thing was due to gathering Of pus.
Do you consider the pus cavity large ono?
Well. yes. 1t was very large ono. 1t was nearly
as large as tho half of . mons hand, and had &C.
cumulated good deal of pus.
Did tho accumulation how easily? YES, very
freely. and by pressing the sack it was easily
emptied Of its contenta After washing it . per-
forated tube rau through tho old wound
and down through the incision. This will give tho
pus free eeress both ways and allow tho wound to
be thoroughly washed In few days the oriflco OF
the old wound ill be allowed to heal up and the in
terror part ot tho wound allowed to discharge
fhr0n0h t1,a inn;s k>r< -