Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-09-01

WARRINGTON. August 81.

Executive Mansion-The improvement of
the President during the past twenty four
hours has been very marked, and the feeling
of hope " hich has been steadily growing
since Saturday, is now fast Strengthening
into feeling of confidence. The patient has
had a quiet restful night, and his condition
as shown BY the official bulletin this morning
was much better than yesterday. The paro-
lid swelling had decreased materially in size.
and improved very much in appearance. IT.
ritation caused by it and by the cutting and
surgical manipulation of it yesterday, had
subsidized. the pulse had fallen to 100 and all
the patients symptoms indicated more de-
cided change for the better than even the
most sanguine Of his friends had dared to an
ticipate. The only changes which have &C.
Cured in the Presidents condition during
the forenoon, were in the direction of further
improvement.
The parotid swelling has diminished so
much in size that the patient could move his
Jaws with considerable facility and feeling,
this being the case he asked for little beef
steak A small piece was given him and
he chewed it and swallowed the jnice. He
also swallowed the usual quantity of beef en-
tract and milk. His pulse. during the MORN
ing, gradually fell until at noon it reached
the lowest point it had touched since the sth
of August, viz 95.
DIR. Bliss said to-day ''The President to-
day is decidedly better. The parotid swell
ing has discharged very freely and has been
reduced to two-thirds of ats maximum size
and is still diminishing. don't think any
more incisions will be necessary. The wound
is doing very well and good healthy granula-
tions are again visible / cannot say that it
is healing rapidly. 1t could hardly be ex-
pected to do that yet but if we have few
more days as this the process of healing
will go quite fast enough.
The pus discharged by the wound
is natural and healthy. ! think the Presi-
dent has gained little since yesterday in
strength when we turned him over on his
side to-day to dress his wound, he voluntari-
" gave us some assistance, and he had not
done that before for good while. 1t Is too
soon to eok for decided gain in strength.
That will come in the proper time. The
question of removing the patient from the
White House is now being
seriously considered again. He himself is
anxious to go, and we are anxious to have
him. 1t has not vet been decided whether
his removal can be made more advantage
ously by water or by rail. Each method has
some disadvantages. The ocean air would.
have no doubt, do him good, but he could
not stand heavy sea. On the other hand
think that in a especially fitted car, he could
| be moved without much danger by rail. His
own wish is to go to Mentor, but the first re-
moval will probably be to some nearer point.
| He will be taken somewhere at the earliest
moment compatible with safety, and if he
has few more as good days as this, that
time will not be very remote. The patient has
taken about the same amount of food to-day
as heretofore, but its character has been
more varied. He chewed piece of beef
| he had plateful of soup. We continue to
administer stimulating enemata. l have re-
ceived number of letters commenting I'M
favorably upon the use of alcoholic stimulants
in the case during the recent period of en-
haustion and reduction in the quantity of
whiskey given was followed promptly by a
warning of danger in the shape of a high
febrile rise and fuctuating pulse. 1t was
| largely kept up during the worst stages of
glandular improvement.
| In conclusion DR.. Bliss said he was per-
fectly satisfied with the progress which the
President had made to-day. There was no
material change in the patients condition
this afternoon until about four o'clock.
| lie chewed another piece of beefsteak and
swallowed the juice as before and had four
ounces of oyster broth which he greatly rel
ished. His pulse rose gradually after four
O'Clock and at the evening examination stood
at I09 There was, however, no noticeable
increased of temperature and all other symp
tons continued favorable. Sncs the evening
bulletin the pulse has fallen again to l04 and
will it is thought he below 100 by midnight.