The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-07-07
Ghs Qntelllgeuter
A DIsgFaesfuI Row Among the Doctors
nnnEr.lInr nunE hhn REnnIhnnI.


A DIsEFaesfuI Row Among the Doctors
QaaETslipg over the President.
The attention Of the public has been sc
rivsted upon the condition OF the Pres
ident that the extraordinary medical pro
ceedings connected with the case have at'
trsCted less notice than they deserve. The
wounding Of the President seems to have
been followed by rush OF physicians oil
all schools and both sexes to the scene
some OF whom have been since carrying
on a greedy struggle for the Control oil
the case. According to one account
the position OF family physician
was "cjaimsd" by, and "by some
accorded to-" DR.. Baxter Of the
army; but he was away at the time Of the
attack upon the President, and on arriv
ing at his bedside found DR.. b. W. Bliss,
of Washington, aud soms ten or q dozen
other physicians engaged in a consultation,
Either Ut this time or Just previously the
trouble arose. Dr.. Bliss began by Tex
planning to the athsr doctors" how he had
probed the wound, but waR met by q crit
iGism from the Surgeon General OF the
Navy % 10 bis name OF conducting the
operation. Dr.. Bliss making no reply,
DR.. Wales Carried out his own suggestion
and brought to light some features that
are understood TO have an important
bearing on the case, aud In the light OF
which the course OF treatment was
changed" Dr.. Bliss does not seem TO
have liked this, aud there was a little
tiff"
This was followed by q stormy alterCa.
ton on Sunday between DR., Bliss and
DR.. Baxter. DR., Bliss suggested to Or,
Baxter that II W 8 the latter's habit TO be
always sneSking around trying to pre-.
scribe TO some official" and added that
his game" clearly was to "steal this
case" This and some further remarks Of
the same nature were resented by DR.,
Baxter. He proceeded 10 give his col
leSgue the lie direct, and blows were only
prevented by the intervention Of DR..
Bliss snn, who caught Dr.. Baxter by the
coat, exClaiming, Tor what reason does
not appear, "Thia 10 my affair, father"
Dr.. BlIss having thus obtained control OF
the case, addressed q letter the same al.
ternoon 10 the Surgeon General Of the
navy, and to some half q dozen other
physicians, summarily dismissipg them,
Each q Of these gentlemen,
supposlng .himaelt alone to- have
been got rid OF, maintained q
discreet silence as to bis dismissal. DR..
Baxter says that he does not know wheth.
er DR.. Bliss will challenge him or not,
hut that he is himself mot 10 favor Of the
duello," SO that they will probably not
settle their differences with pistols. He
relies on Article s Of the rules OF the
American Medical Association 10 justify
his course In the matter. What DR.. Bliss
relies upon is not stated, but apparently
the law OF the survival OF the tlttest In the
struggle for subsistence Ia q rule more
familiar 10 the profession In Washington
than those OF the Medical Association.
Whether all The details given in the
dispatches are true Ia oil course more than
We can say, but enough has come nut to
make II clear that there haa been q dis
graceful medical quarrel which may have
had is effect upon the treatment pursued,
aud th~us-ghaS'ly IS It Bstm ms might even
determine the ultimate result.
Washington has a large number Of ply.
%sicians, like most places with a large,
wealthy and transient population, and
containing the headquarters OF the army
and navy establishment; but q large mum.
Der OF those who Il Ick to the bedside Of y
distinguished man are men Of title and
position In the army or navy rather than
Of tried practice aud experience. In the
nature Of things, surgeon generals are not
apt to be men who give up their days
and nights TO the unrelnltting practice
which makes great physicians. Dr.. Nor.
ris, the attendant army surgeon In Wash.
iDgson, 10 probably the most able OF the
army physicians at ths White Houae. His
surgical skill is high, and some
Of bis recent operations have o extend
ed reputation. Surgeon General Barnes
Is at the head OF the army medical estab.
lishment, but is not now In active prac'
tiCe. surReon,G General Woodward has q
someW hat anomalous position In charge
OF the Treasury Department Marine Hos
pital service, and 10 known rather for his
administrative work than for his practice,
experience bridging the war. OF late yeSrs
he has been stationed at Washington In
attendance on the naval families stationed
there, with no hospital practice. Dr.. Bliss
is local Washington physician who came,
not altogether pleasantly, before the pub.
liz q few years ago In urging %Cundurango
as o specific for cancer, and n Of the
frat In private practice.