The Republican journal., 1881-08-25
The President.

The President
Despite the slightly encouraging tone
of the morning and noon bulletins on
Wednesday August 18th, we feared at the
time of going to press last week, that the
next succeeding issue Of the Journal al-the
present one-would have to record the
death of President Garfield. Only the
very sanguine could believe there was
even a probability of his life being much
longer prolonged. But, thank Heaven,
the President still lives, and, as the old
saying goes, while there is life there is
hope. That any progress has been made
tow ard conyalescence during the past
week, cannot be honestly said At the
best, the President has hardly held his
own. Heis evidently very feeble indeed.
\ new complication has arisen in the
swelling OF the parotid gland, an indlca
tlon OF blood poisoning. The New York
Herald, as usual, finds fault with the
mode of treatment adopted by the physi
clans in attendance. They have directed
their attention to reducing the swelling,
while the Herald thinks that the inhamma-
ton should be allowed to progress to sup
puration, and then draining it from the
system. Those in charge Of the case are
probably better able to Judge than the
Herald which is the wiser course TO pur-
sue, and this may be said Of most of the
hostile criticism to which the Presidents
physicians have been subjected. Indeed,
it is decidedly presumptuous in outsiders
whose only knowledge Of the case is de
rived from the meagre official bulletins
and from street rumors and gossip to de
eide " hat should or should not have been
done, We prefer to think, and believe
we are justified in doing 50, that the
President has had the best Of medical
skill, and that AL that could or can be
done has and will be done to bring him
out from the valley of the shadow Of
death.
The later bulletins show that the CLAN
dular swelling in the Presidents throat
refuses to yield to treatment. 1t gives
him great pain, causes a terrible retching,
compels the weak stomach to throw off
the slight quantity Of food it might other
wise digest, and strains and eXhausts him
at every point. The physicians are work
ing hard to prevent it from suppurating,
because that would add a new drain to
his already enfeebled vitality. 1t looks
as if they would succeed, but, even if they
succeed, they only ward off danger
coyery. Then the discovery, Friday, that
the wound, which was supposed to have
healed to within three or four inches of
the oritice, admitted drainage tube.
without resistance, to the depth Of twelve
and half inches, is another discourage
ing feature. To this must be added tittul
sleep, the compulsory abandonment, Sun
day, Of natural nourishment, the physi-
clans report that the patients mind has
been wandering, and the reports of the
terrible anxiety felt in Washington all
making up a painful record to lay before
the people. ....
As has been the case in former weeks
the bulletins of Tuesday and Wednesday
show an Improvement in the Presidents
condition. Saturday and Sunday appear
to be his worst days. The following is
the official bulletin issued at $50 ycstcr-
day "Wednesday morning
The President has passed very good night
awakening at longer intervals than during several
nights ast He continues TO take liquid food by
the mouth with more relish and in such quantities
that the enemata will be suspended tor the present
No change has vet been observed IN the parotd
swelling, The other symptoms quite as favor
able AS yesterday. Pulse 100, temperature 9S ;
respiration II.