The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-09-24
ELEvEN WEEKS SUFFERING.

road station in Washington, with the in.
tention Of taking the train for an extended
journey through New England. He was 10
haye been met at Jersey City by Mrs. Gar
ield, who had nearly recovered, at Long
Branch, from her serious illness. With their
children and few friends they were "a
have visited Willismstown, Mass, 10 at
tend the commencement exercises Of Will
lism's College, the Presidents slma mater.
Thence they were to have gone 10 ST.. Al
bans, VT. the White Mountains, Mount
Desert, Boston, C,,eeurd, N. H., and thence
by way Of Connecticut and New York back
to Washington. As the President and Sec
retary of State, atm aud arm, passed
through the ladies' reception room Of the
station. Charles Jdles Guiteau, a disap-
pointed office seeker, stepped into the room
having just left a carriage outside' and fred
two shots from heavy revolver at the
Presidents back. Que bulle; slightly graz
ed bic arm, the other took effect about two
and halt inches to the right of the spine
and between the eleventh and twelfth ribs
lracturing the former, aud being thence de-
fiected downward. The President fell Ia
the floor and was carried BY willing hands
" room upstairs, where bis wound was
superfcially examined by surgeons hastily
lance to the White House.
Mira Garfield was notified by telegraph
and at once started for Washington, a spec
ial train being placed at her disposal. She
arrived at $40 p. M, about nine hours aflei
the assassination, and found her husband
apparently in dying condition. He sank
rapidly, and the attending surgeons gave
no hope that he could outlive the night.
The assassin was secured at once, and
safely lodged in Jail. He confessed his
crime, declaring that he had no accom-
pIices, that his deed was prompted by de-
sire To make Arthur President, and that
Gar6eld's death was a political necessity
Drs. D. W. Bliss, j X. Barnes, J. J. Wood
ward and Robert Reyburn assumed charge
OF the Presidents case, and Drs. d. Hayes
Agnew, Of Philadelphia, and Frank II.
Hamilton, Of New York, were summoned in
consultation.
Mr.. Garfield did not die on Saturday
night, however. He rallied about 10 y. m.
and slept from that hour until early morn
ing. He improved somewhat during Sun
day, and Monday found him etill living
aud in a measurably comfortable condi-
ton. Improvement was steady up to Sat
urday, July %, three weeks from the time
of the shooting, when the patient was taken
with a severe chill, followed by vomiting,
fever and other chills.
Drs. Agnew and Hamilton were cum
moned by telegraph and sped TO the capi-
tai on special trains. 1t was decided that
a puB cavity or an abscess had formed in
the track of the ball at the point where the
rib was fractured. An operation was per-
formed on Sunday morning, the Oath, by
which fragment Of bone and some scraps
ofclothing were removed from the wound.
Disquieting rumors prevailed for some days
succeeding, but continaed and steady con-
valescence was the report Of the surgeons
up to August 8, Eve weeks after the Presi-
dents wounding, when an alarmingly
high fever set in and continued during the
evening. The next day another pus cav
ity was reported, and another incsion was
made below the rib, so as to communicate
with the track of the bull and permit a
freer discharge.
Satisfactory progress was reported for
several ensuing days, but on the 18th con
cern was expressed ON account OF the fel r 10
SYMPTOMS of the President. Sunday Aug
ust IA, was another anxious day, though
the official bulletins gave only encouraging
statements. On Monday the reports be-
came alarming. It was known that Mr..
Garfield had suffered much from restless
ness and nausea-in fact had vomited sew
eral times during the highland that
while there had been decrease in his
temperature there had been with il very
threatening acceleratlon ofpulse. The eve
ming reports were still more unfavorable.
and the public anxiety again rose to teyer
point. 1t was evident that the bulletins
were designed to allay the general alarm,
and to put the best face possible on the
matter, yet there was enough in them TO
chow tina. the Presidents condition was
critical, and that the surgeons had serious
fears for the result Tuesday showed little
change in the tenor of the reports, but such
as there was for the better. On Wednesday
the surgeons authorized the statement that
they felt encouraged to hope that the
present crisis was past, and the bulletins
showed some cause for this confidence.
Thursday aud Friday passed quietly, the
only. unfavorable symptom supervening
being swelling Of the right parotd gland.
Saturdays reports were less favorable,
though the Presidents stomach continued
to improve in tone, and he was able to as
s'milate some liquid TODD. But the dis
covery Of au obstruction Of the wound, and
1t being partly admitted that the President
was suffering from a mild iUrm of blood
poisoning, gave rise to grave fears.
Another day of gloom was Sunday, Aug
ust 2l the President vomiting during the
afternoon and being delirous at times.
Monday showed little improvement,
though the surgeons expressed encourage
ment. Tuesdays record was a duplicate Of
Mondays, and on Wednesday the gland,
which had superated in spite of all efforts
TO prevent it, was lanced by Dr. Hamilton,
and the result was declared satisfactory.
The President had for day OF two APP
pealed to be removed 10 his home in Men
tor, Ohio, aud DR.. Agnew was summoned
from Philadelphia to consult as TO the
prectIbility of his removal. On Wednes-
day night and Thursday morning consul
tations Of the doctors were held, at which il
was decided thst any removal of the pa
teLt from the White House would be i'm
prudent and dangerous. The President
did not rest well during the night, and
Thursday morning showed no improve
ment in the appearance Of the parotid gland
or in his general condition. The eneour
aging feature Of his case was his ability to
take liquid nourishment with gastric dis.
turbance, but the surgeons admitted that
there was no improvement in strength, If
indeed he was holding his own. His con.
dition on Friday deeptned the anxiety o.
the country, aud the discharge OF pus from
the inhamed parotid gland through the ear
which was regarded 10 tho morning al
likely to afford relief, did not come up L
the expectations of the more ssnguine o
the physicians. The patient continued Il
swallow liquid food in adequate supply
but exhibited tendency TO continuoul
drowsinees aud other symptoms of weak
ness that showed plainly he was gradually
sinking. Mr.. Baine's afternoon dispaIcl
to Minister Lowell was not encouraging
and pronounced the case very critical.
Saturday morning, August 81, began th'
ninth eek Of the Presidents illness yer,
gloomily. The morning bulletin gave N
ray OF hope, and when at 1890 no lmprov
n,enl w..s reparLed, and the record Of hi
pulse was given at 1870, with marked weak
ness in it's quality, il was thought that th
end was surely approaching But at 4 p
m. some hmelioration in his symptom
was noted, and when at $3.50 lower pulls
and temperature was recorded a slight de
gree Of hope was felt. At 1880 Seeretar
Blaine ca6ed TO Minister Lowell that th
good indications had continued, and ths
the President had called for and eaten som
milk toast. Colonel Rock well declare
emphntically that the President was nc
dying, aud that he might yet surprise III
country by getting we'll. Sunday Shove
a continuance Of the favorable symplom
the pulse diminishing in rapidity, Will
/ -.