The National tribune., 1881-09-24

dent with the return OF favorable symptoms OF
the stomach new complication arose, which was
announced as the appearance of
INFLAMMATION OF THE RIGHT PAROTID GLAND.
1t seems that this swelling had been noticed
for day two before it was officially announced,
and was not at first thought to be of enough sig
nifcance to make it a matter of public knOwl-
edge. On the 10Th the bulletin announced that
while the stomach gave marked signs of further
improvement, the trouble with the parotid gland
had partially disappeared and the hope of ult-
mate recovery was materially strengthened 1t
seems, however that the facts of the case did not
warrant the hope to which they gave rise, for the
glandular swelling, instead of going down, actu-
ally increased and became more troublesome from
day to day, until August "a, when it was decided
to make an incison just below and forward of
the right ear in order to forestall suppuratiOn,
which it seemed was inevitable To go back a
day OF two, curious phase of the case, which
STARTLED THE PUBLIC,
although it is not clear what medical significance
it had became known. 1t will be remembered
that since August s the physicians had announced
that the wound was healed to within three and a
half or four inches of the opening when the
nouncement that an obstruction had suddenly
been removed and at the dressing on the evening
before a flexible tube had been inserted to a
depth of twelve and half inches forward and
downward from the external surface of the last
incsiOn. This was announced in the official bull
letin of half past twelve o'clock on that day. and
from that time forward there was notable de-
crease in public faith in the statements of the
bulletins that was perhaps unwarranted by the
facts. From the time of the incision in the paro-
It'd swelling there was no material change except
gradual failing of the patients strength albeit
he took considerable liquid nourishment, until
the night of August % when the friends and
physicians appeared for the first time to be so
discouraged at the symptoms that the President
was practically given up and
RECOVERY DESPAIRED OF.
The members of the Cabinet met as usual at
the White House in the evening and Dr. Bliss
made such an announcement to them that they
construed it into a practical abandonment of the
case. Indeed, it was said that the parotid swell
ing had now developed into a carbuncle of such
malgnancy that should it have attacked the
patient in the full vigOr Of his strength his re-
coVery would have been very doubtful. The
doctors, therefore, said that this would be the
approximate cause of death as far as human iudg-
ment could torsee The nights of August % and
26 were passed in restesSnesS and delirium for
the most part, and the next morning at the daily
dressing, it was found that the gland had begun
discharge of pus through the right ear an occur
renee which DR.. Boynton had some days before
announced as a very grave and undoubtedly fatal
possibility.
The 9th OF August opened with hardly a
belief that the patient
WOULD SURVIVE THE DAY.
The pulse was very variable, going up with great
rapdity and then sinking to mere thread. At
the noon bulletin it registered 120, and even DR..
Bliss, who had always been sanguine of recovery
said that he did mot see how the President could
recover" The change toward night was as I'M
as it was gratifying. The patient COM
planned Of hunger, and asked for solid food
which had not been given to him for
about week. He allowed to have some
milk toast which his stomach retained and the
favorable symptoms continued for the following
ten days and the feeling that cOnvaescence was
near at hand became general in the public mind.
The desire of removal which the President had
heretofore expressed now became stronger and
he begged the surgeons to crafty him in this re-
spect. \ consultation of all the physicians was
held on the Sd of September and it was finally
decided
TO REMOVE THE PATIENT TO LONG BRANCH
The removal from the White House was made
on September 6, and at ten minutes past one
o'clock in the afternoon Of that day the President
reached Elberon and placed in the Franck-
lyn cottage. For day it seemed as if the brac-
ing sea-breeze had infused new life into the weak
ened and debilitated SYSTEM and the bulletins
were hopeful and encouraging The rally, how |
ever was not sufficient. The vitiated blood as
serted its presence more pronounced, for the sur
geOns had long since dropped the denial of pyse-
mia and again alarm was felt. This passed away |
and on the Sth words of encouragement were |
again put forth from the sick room. and a card |
was posted in the Elberon Hotel as follows:
Dr. Bliss has declared in the presence of Dr. |
Hamilton, that the President is almost conralesceu
Pulse, "a; temperature, normal; respiration H.
Later in the day another card was posted con-
tanning the following:
p. m.-Dr. Bliss says: "Nothing in the indi-
cotions nOp erident can precem the Presidents re-
cOcery'. 41O-Dr Hamilton has lust said "Now
he ,cW get ,ceH."
On this day also three OF the surgeons-Sur-
geon-General Barnes and Drs Woodward and
RETIRED FROM THE CASE