, 1881-08-21
EI.AlNE'S DISPATCH.
Special DitpAtca TO The Chicago 1ribunt-

THE PATIENT.
11.AlSl's DISPATCH.
Special D5pAtc!t to The Chicago 7ribunt-
| WASHINGTON, D. C., Aug. 220.-AIr. Blainc's
dispatch to Lowell this morning said I'LL that
can be said about the Presidents condition
at the time Probably the physicians know
no more: Z" "l'here is certainly no loss, and
no very marked gain" That there must be
Il change for tho better or worse very. SOON
even the sanguine physicians in charge ad-
nit. The President must either show Il gain
within a few days, OF relapse is sure to COME.
The unnatural method of administering
nourishment cannot be relied upon very
much longer. Already nature is pro-
testing in the way that such continued atl-
ministrations would suggest nature would
protest The physicians prefer to ascribe
the intestinal disturbance-the dysentery-
like tendcncy-to these encmata rather than
to charge blootl-posonf1lg with the difficulty.
Yet it is KNOWN that such disturbance is one
of the frequent results OF blood-poisoning.
! THE REACTION OF THE STOMACH
seems to be partially established, but it is not
!! yet known whether it will receive solid,
nourisAing food, and they have not dared
make any risky experiments with it. Not
I
support life can the enelnata he suspended.
II after they are suspended the disturbances
remain it will then be known that the ill-
| sidious poison is powerful enough to attack
the intestinal canal. So perilous is the sita1,-
| tim, su MANY are the complications that are
| now asserting themselves, so narrow Is the
limit Of choice given to the physicians in the
treatment Of this or that new complication as
rises, that it seems as though they were like
| man surrounded by enemies each with
fatal though different weapon, and all Of
whom must be faced and destroyed before
any escape is possible Ten days ago they
were met with Il complication which
REQUIRED TIE KNIFE
and prolonged operation. To hesitate was
fatal; yet aside from other risks that the use
OF the knife involved there was the terrible
one that accompanies the use Of ether,-terri-
ble for 4 patient with 50 weak 4 stomach rs
the President, and all the more to bo dreaded
because the collapse OF that organ meant the
worst. Ether always produces nausea. Men
have been known to fetch violently for days
on account Of its use. There was no choice,
the knife and ether with the risks. or
death. Then, after tiiS.-somc days after,-the
stomach did rebel, and so long that Il collapse
WIS bure!y warded Off. Was it the effect of
ether: Hardly, Tor seven unys had pissed.
Was it dyspepsiay This seems IN inadequate
explanation, because hc has eaten nothing to
cause Indigestion, Tho physicians
HAVE NOT GIVEN ANY SATISFACTORY EN-
PLANTATION
of the cause. They must have known, as all
well-read physicians know. that if there has
been serious blood poisoning tho effect upon
the stomach would have been precisely what it
was. Dr. Bliss himself weeks ago very
plaiuly said that If there was py3unlia,
septicnmfa. or whatever it may be called,
tho stomach would be influenced by it. But tho
trouble was there, from whatever cause, md |
there was no choice. Enemuta were the only |
resource, with all the uufAyoruhte effect their |
constant use were liable to produce upon tho |
membrane OF the iutcstines. especially unfavor- |
able 1t the blood, besides dovitnlized, was also
corrupted. Thus limited again to choice, tie |
treatment seemed for the time to stuy tho !
trouble, when suddenly hcw complication sets
in. The secretlng ylaud under the cur is found
to be inamed,-so greatly int,amel rs to cuuso
great suffering, and so rigidIy to TX tho muscles
that
TIE MOUTH CAN BARELY BE OPENED,
and only with pil1n. For time the physic1uus,
perhaps hoping against reason and their lenrn-
ing, report this as Of no great account; but to-
day they do not deny that the corrupted blood
caused it, and the suggestion ut once is ineyit..-
body found gland weakened by disease, us the
salivary gland was by the rebellion of tho stou,
ach. and having found, attacked, and i'll
fiaHcd it, may not tho Same corruption |
have caused tho other complications? In the t
case Of this inflammation tho physicians
choice WIS q narrow one, limited to one of
two alternatives: They could either cause the
inflammation to suppurate and discharge as alb
scesscs DO or they could scatter 1t. At first they
feared suppurution, but then would the vitality
OF the patient, upon which frightful drafts have
been already made, submit to another like this 3?
II they scattered tie inflammation,
WHERE WOULD IT NOT NEXT 411'rEAEo
But to scatter was to gain time. and iu time
tho stomach might have taken nourishment
enough to strengthen the patieut, SO that |
later suppuradon could be endured and
therefore the inflammation, If it be
possible, will be scattered. Such are the compll-
cauons that are attacking that weakened, cmu-
ciatcu body. There, too, is the bullet and the |
Twelve inches Of raw flesh along the track of the |
wound. We have bulletin this noon an hour
and half late and longer than any that has
yet bceu issued, which told Il very sad and sus-
.sstive story to those who could read between
Or. Woodwards cautious and non-con nnttal |
ines; so non-eon,n,ittal wus it that those who
cad on the jump SO to speak, thought it was
RATHER FAVORABLE
han otherwise. Not so. That eminent pbysI- |
:lau saw the President tho day he was shot, and |
'gain tho next morning. He spoke most o1nin-
'uslyr and another physician said words 80 de-
pondent thar it is not timo yet to print theln |
n those twenty-five iiues the story Of all the
is told to tho medical men, It |
seems that, instead Of a wound TINT has healed !
rom tho bullet to within three inches Of tho
'kin, the conditions are reversed. It is
So1ud that has healed from the orifce of
no bullet three Inches In. The skilled eyes OF ,