The Portland daily press., 1881-07-08
MEDICAL OPINIONS.
DR.. Bliss Says the Chances OF Recovery
are Increased.


WASHINGTON, July I'm conversation this
afternoon with DIR. Boynton, the Presidents
family physician. DR.. Bliss, expressed the
opinion that the Presidents chance of recov
cry was now considerably more than ever The
danger of peritonitis, he said, was rapidly
passing away, and although it might still oc-
cur its occurrence had become improba BILE.
The only accidents now to be apprehended he
said, and the only only ones to terminate IA
tally were secondary kemorrhage and py@mia
of blood poisoning. Secondary hemOrrhage
might occur az any time up to the 7th day, but
on account of the course which the ball took
and the place where it is supposed to be the
danger of secondary hemorrhage was not in
Mr.. Bliss opinion serious one. sPy9mia or
blood poisoning was the accident most to be
feared AID of that there was not any indica-
ton yet. An absess alsosmight. form at any
point along the course of the ball or extremity
of the wound, but with this he said they could
deal successfully. He expressed great reliance
upon the Presidents vigorous constitution,
strong vitality and calm courage. He was, the
DIR. said, the very best patient he had seen in
the course of his surgical practice.
With regard to the supposed course
of the ball and its present location DR..
Bliss said that while they had not
thought it prudent to probe deeply in search
of it either Immediately after the infection of
the injury or since that time he did on Satur-
day introduce nelleton probe into.the wound
and traced the course of the ball about three
and half inches. So far as he GOULD judge it
had entered the back above the right hip and
taken nearly horizontal course forward
through the body striking and slightly frac-
turing a rib and being thence DETECTED little
to the right where it penetrated the liver.
Whether the ball remained in that organ or
passed through it and lodged in the anterior
wall of the abdomen he was unable to say, but
ne hopes that the latter would prove to be the
case. He said he regarded the wound as in a
surgical sense a very fortunate one since the
slight DETECTION of he ball to the right had
carried it away from the region where it would
have been likely to prove fatal in a few hours
into the region where it left chance of re-
covery. Speaking of the pain in the Presi-
dents feet, DR.. Bliss said that it was probably
due to the liberation OF one of the sympathetic
ganglia. The motor and sensary nerves of the
leg had not been, he said, injured.
In conclusion DR.. Bliss expressed the opinion
that while the President was still in serious
danger every day was carrying him past the
critical point one after another and he had a
strong hope that he would recover.
A Distinguished surgeons Views.
A Washington surgeon who has made . srec'
ialty OF gunsnot wounds, says "Limiteds in
Illumination continues, and the work of adhes-
sion is progressing satisfactorily. This infam-
nation, it should be remembered, is part OF
the healing process, aud is the indicator by
| which the physicians are enabled to determine
| the character and extent OF the adhesion in
| progress. There are no indications whatever
| of peritonItis, and the physicians believe that
| the President has passed that period when any
| serious results can be reasonably apprehended
| from that cause. There are some evidences
! that the period of suppuration has set in. but
more marked evidences of this are looked for
| tomorrow. 1t is not improbable that pus cayi-
| ~ may be developed in day or two; if so, an
| incision will be made as soon as such q cavity
| is developed, aud its contents discharged by
means OF a tube, The physicians have nc
| alarm about the appearance of pus formations,
but are rather looking for, and are prepared to
| attack them.
| Where the Bullet is Located.
A noted anstomist who has been studying
| the case in connection with the medical ire
| ports, has made careful anatomical diagram
| and has indicated the probable position in hi.
| Judgment, Of the bullet. He has submitted
| the diagram to some of the attending physi
| clans, aud they are inclined to agree with him
| The bullet, according to this diagram, entered
| near the kidney, as is well known, passed
through the lower portion of tho liver, and il
in the bony substances adjacent to the spina
| column, but it did not pierce the marrow o
that column, and it is lodged there. "Thi
| boBy formation, in a of the size ant
| strength Of Gen. Garfield" the anatomist says
SIS large a goJd-siZed fist. Ii the ball j
lodged there it viii be much easier to relieve
this pus by means OF tubes when the time TO
the sloughing of the wound shall come.
Report TO the Consulting Physicians.
| EXECUTIVE MANSION,
4 Washington, July7.
The following dispatch was sent by tho sur