Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-07-19
Il.3O p. M.

The Presidents afternoon fever is little
more strongly marked tonight than last
night his pulse showing an increase of four
beats, the temperature arising fve-tenths and
desperation slight corresponding accelera-
ton as compared with the maximum of yes
terdav. In any other patient this trifing in
crease in the intensity CT fever would be re-
garded as a natural fiucturation and not ex-
cite especial remark. but the Presidents
symptoms are so closely watched from day to
lay and almost from hour to hour by the
whole country that an unfavorable change
however slight, seems to have greater signif-
icance than really attaches to it and is liable
in the absence of explanation, to cause ap-
prehensiOn. 1t is proper. therefore,
tie Fsay. by the way of comment. upon
to-nights official bulletin that facts stated
therein give no uneasiness to the attending
surgeon. There is slight increase of fever
but arises from known causes, and is I'M
doubtedly transit in its character. The rea-
sons assigned for it are follows: The
President for the past three days, and more
especially to-day, hus taken a largely in
creased quantity of solid food. His stomach
is still sensitive and manifests, its sensitive
ness when in any way oyertaxed, by svmp-
toms of disturbance. Such was the case to-
day, and this gastric trouble is thought to
have been largely instrumental in aggravating
the febrile symptoms then. The President
then became over wearied in the hands of
the barber. he expressed desire to have his
beard and hair trimmed and his head rubbed.
and at his request barber was summoned.
The latter spent some time in rubbing him.
and although the immediate effects were
pleasurable, the results were over fatigue
and feverishness. Aside, however. from the
transit rise in the pulse and temperature. the
Presidents conditions continue favorable
DIR. Bliss upon being asked at 10. 80 tonight.
whether there was anything in the Presidents
condition to justify uneasiness. replied s'no
nothing whatever. he is doing we'll The
fever is subsiding, his pulse is below 100
again and he is resting quietly. He became
little over wearied this afternoon. but he
will probably be as well again tomorrow
morning he was this In replv to the
question with regard to the wound. he said the
process of snppuration was going on satisfac-
torily, and the track of the ball slowly being
cleared by the discharge. In the direction
of the wound, tonight, the flexible drainage
tube, without exerting the least force. drop
ped to depth of IL inches, showing that
the wound is clear and open to that distance.
1t has been said by persons who have never
seen the President since his injury that the
bullet probably did not enter the great cavity
of the body at all. Our experience with the
drainage tube tonight, confirms our pre-
viously expressed judgement that the bullet
did enter the abdominal cavity. and pierced
the liver. i believe that it passed through
that organ and is lodged in the anterior wall
of the abdomen. In conclusion Bliss said
there was nothing in the Presidents symp-
toms tonight, to cause anxiety, or to indicate
that he is not progressing as favorably as
could be expected. At ll.S0 his pulse was
90; he was sleeping quietly