New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-19
VcL.XII.. NO. 10, ,696.
PRESIDENT GARFIELD.


SPEAK IIGHTIY-THE PATIENT TAKES BEEF TEA
AND MILK GRUEI-soME INSIDE FACTS ABOUT
THE sIcK-RooM AND IT'S OCCUPANT.
Alarm was created at Washington and
throughout the country yesterday by a state
ment in the noon official bulletin, to the effect
that the President suffered discomfort from
Inflammation of the right parotid gland. The
increased uneasiness was relieved, however, by
the assertions Of the physicians that they did not
look upon this symptom anything serious,
md by the fact that DR.. Agnew went to Phil
Melphia. The President took beef tea, milk
ruel and koumiss in small quantities, and had
90 return of nausea. His general condition at
evening was pronounced better than at the
same time on the previous day. staff corre-
spondent of THE TRIBUNE gives an inside view
Of the sick-room of much interest.
SOME PROGRESS UNDOUBTEDLY MADE.
{ NEW SYMPTOM WHICH CAUSED UNNECESSARY
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF THE RIGHT PARoTID
GLAND-THE PATIENT TAKES AND RETAINS
NoURIsHMENT-DR. AGNEw GOES TO PHILADEL-
PHIA.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1S.-Progress has been made
Today but far too slight to warrant enthusiasm or
unduly elevate the hopes of the Presidents watch
ers and friends, the public large The promise
of yesterday in regard to the repair of the stomach
has been in a measure fulfilled. Several times the
patient las taken his nfnltesima dose of beef tea
aud twice the afternoon he has eaten, with relish
and without succeeding distress small quantities of
milk Cruel, prepared by the careful hand of Mrs.
Garfield. He has also taken small quantities of
koumIss. The most cheering sgn in connection
with the resumption of gastric operations is the
fact that Eourishment is no longer taken be-
cause the physicians desire it alone bat be-
cause the Presidents stomach makes
demand-d.cided enough, but yet far from being
bearty-for food This is the single important fact
Of the days history Ill so far as the Presidents con-
diuon is concerned,
The local public mind. which. amid the conflict
ing and varying opinions of the authorities is when
correctly diagnosed, index of probabilities not to
be deSpsed, has received violent shock the giving
of which appears to have been unnecessary. The
trouble hegau with the issuance of the noon bulle-
tin. which cont aimed vague alluslon TO brand
complication involving the most awful possi-
bilities. Before the bulletin came out, and it was
DELAYED three-quarters of an hour, of the medi-
cal council emerging from the White House
gates said to passing acquaintance, "You
will find it the best bulletin we have
issued for week." 1t proved in so far
as Itss direct object concerned, namely, the
conveyance of information to the public. to be the
very worst of the whole series. The President is
suffering some discomfort from commencing intiam-
nation of the right parotid gland" was the opening
announcement. "What does that mean Z" was the
oniveral inquiry. Commencing Inflammation p'
Then there must be worse i'll anticipation yet it is
already serious enough to cause discomfort. Out
side doctors and books of authority were hastily
sought comparison of views with regard to the
origin of parotitis disclosed range of possibilities
from diseased tooth on the side of harmlessness,
Doc much dreaded and too often prophesiei blood
poisoning
The significance of parotitis" says one OF the
most eminent French authorities, is very differ
emily regarded. Some look ON it as always ser
ious complication, while others consider its appear
ance as the commencement Of favorable termina-
tion of the disease. For my part, gentlemen. re-
gard parotitls a very formidable complication.
1t is an affection from which have almost never
seen dothnepteric other fever patients recover
It was plain TO the average observer that where a-
thorities differed widely, must be had to
the members of the council for further data or fail
ing iii that for their opinions to whether the new
development was alarming il its character and
tendency the brevity of the aluson in the bule-
tin gave reason to believe.
1t is plain that the Presidents physicians enter
tain the theory that their chief duty lies with their
patent and that the quieting of public appreben-
sions Is only an Incident to be attended to when The
more important business is disposed Of They were
not immediately accessible and when found had
little To say. 1t does not alarm in the least,
was the general tenor of their expressions "It is
diseases as that from which the President has been
suffering 1t is certainly not blood poisoning what
ever else 1T may be. Its origin, frankly speaking
we do not yet know and are not particularly
anxious to find out" One thing which served more
than any other to quiet the anxieties Of nquirers
was the fact that DR.. Agnew's attention called
to the matter in the morning, at which time
it was slight swelling of the gland without
heat or color, and yet he had not thought it I'M
portant enough to call for the postponenent Of his
departure and had started for Philadelphia at 10
o'clock to return tomorrow. Later in the day it
was learned that the Inflammation had net in
creasedand had in fact caused discomfort in the
afternoon. Efforts being made or were abont
10 oeade to dissipate it. merely for the prevention
Oh further annoyance to the patient and not because
u was OF any particular significance as a danger
signal. This is the opinion of the members of the
medical council including at least Dr. Reyburn,
ar. Hamilton and Surgeon-General Barnes with
whom tribune correspondent personally spoke on
the subject in the afternoon.
ine neVeiopment and the succeeding subsidence
oanxiety marks the dawn Of spirit of consery atsm
VI the public mind to which it has hitherto been a
Stranger 1t is evident that the physicians do not
tuly Know what the origin Ct the symptom Is, vet
'Iey DO know some serious things to which it does
no. point and the fact that its appearance is not
soiy explained is not now, as it would have been
"'os ago. interpreted as necessarily alarming In
use' mere are medical men, including at least one
"a .e RESIDENTS ply sicians who think it quite as
probable that the swe ling of the gland NAV mark n
stage IN The healing process as otherwise
ihe residents pulse. from very careful exam
""s"h "ade TINS evening,has gone down to los and
an eAcehent character. The respiration and
poiature are normal. The fover of the early
fso. 'ne evening was very slight and was re-