Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-25
WHAT DR.. BLISS SAID AT l1DNIGHT-sATIsFIED
THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL GET WELL
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quick as at seven o'clock, when it was 1O4 He
has been improving ever since we made the
| incisiOn this morning and let out the pus col
lected in the pocket which had formed in the
lower part of the wound canal. We observed
the pocket forming Saturday morning. and we
then decided to make the incision in line below
the pus-bag. and to thus facilitate drainage; but
in order to satisfy the public we determined to
send for Doctors Hamilton and Agnew. The
pocket could be emptied by manipulation with
the hand, but it would have filed up again. The
| operation was postponed until yesterday morn
ing upon the advice of the consulting ply sicians
who only arrived here at dark Saturday even
ing. In the meantime the pocket was emptied
by manipulation, as previously mentioned
DR.. Bliss attributes the high temperature
quick pulse and rapid respiration Commonly
described as the reapSe) of Saturday to irritation
caused by the presence of that foreign matter in
the pocket. 1t was a condition not unexpected
by the surgeons and though they were of course
uneasy because of the occurrence. still there
was no occasion for alarln-a fact which DR..
Bliss says he repeatedly told newspaper men
yesterday. AS to the official bulletins issued
DR.. Bliss says: "We have been so particular
about the wording of our bulletins that we have
gone over them and revised them, SO rs never to
say too much, but to say just enough to convey
the facts as they were. We have not made an
excessive statement at any time"
In conclusion, in answer to a question, "What
is your candid opinion OF the case?" Dr. Bliss
said: =" have got my patient in hand, and am
satisfied he is going to get we'll"
DIR. AGNEw ANXIOUS TO LOCATE THE BULLET.
Early yesterday Dr. Agnew, who is exceeding
ly anxious to locate the bullet, had the Doctor
Bell electrical apparatus rugged up for the pur-
pose of making an experiment. There is an old
soldier in the Soldiers home in this city. who
carries a bullet in his body, a souvenir of the
late war. The doctors know exactly where the
ball is located. it having formed cyst within
two inches of the surface of the body Dr. Agnew
was not told where the ball was located. He ex-
perlmented with the old soldier and while Ag-
new was not entirely satisfied with the result,
the other doctors say the induction balance,
which is the name given to the electrical appa-
ratus, indicated the locality OF the ball with cor
rectness.
DIR. Agnew, it is said has a theory that if the
buile. which is now in the Presidents body can
be located, that it would be safe and wise
treatment to cut it out. He will again test the
electrical machine, and dissatisfied with its work.
lngs, Will use it upon the President. If the
bullet. however, is more than two inches from
the surface of the body, it cannot be located by
means OF the induction balance. At six o'clock
last night DR.. Agnew returned to Philadelphia.
being called home by reason of his practice.
II necessary. he will return tomorrow night.
and relieve DIR. Hamilton, who will remain here
until it is no longer necessary for him to remain,
or, until relieved by DIR Agnew.
WHAT THE ATTENDING DOCTORS SAY.
The attending physicians one and all say that
at no stage of the Presidents case since he was
shot have they ever admitted that the formation
OF pus cavity was not probable, or that the
danger of pyemia had been passed. Now they
say the pus cavity has made it's appearance and
been overcome by the operation of yesterday
They do not expect the formation of any other
cavity: Other doctors believe that the cavity
which was incised by Dr. Agnew may have
buf ha hnllaf 4 =
prise them at all if the bullet was soon found
They think that DIR. Agnew entertained similar
opinion for the reason of his anxiety to try to
locate the ball by the electrical experiment.
MRS. GARFIELD
went out to drive yesterday evening about six
o'clock. DIR. Hamilton accompanied her. and af-
forwards took tea at the White House.
THE SURGICAL OPERATION AND HOW IT WAS PER-
FORMED.
In an interview with representative of the
Associated Press. at o'clock, last evening Dr.
Reyburn expressed the opinion that the crisis of
the disturbance caused by the formation of the
pus cavity has passed, and that there is now
every reason to expect an abatement, if not an
entire disappearance of the unfavorable symp-
toms OF the last 36shOurs. In explaining the
nature OF the operation performed by DR.. Agnew
yesterday morning and the necessity for it, DR..
Reyburn made in substance the following state
ment: 1.-THE direction taken by the ball afterit en-
teredthe body was fOrWardand slightly downward
until it struck one Of the ribs. 1t was then de-
Elected still further downward and a little to the
right, SO as to make an acute angle with the
line of the back. In other words when probe
was introduced into the wound to depth of
three or three and half inches
its direction was such that its inner end
was only about an inch and a-half from the out
side OF the body at point lower down. The
examination, which was made in the presence of
Drs. Agnew and Hamilton, this morning. showed
that pus cavity had formed in the track of the
ball near and beyond the point where it glanced
from the rib, and that this cavity could be
reached by direct incision three inches below
uhe mouth OF the wound. 1t was decided at
once to perform the operation. No an9sthetics
were used, but the part to be operated upon
was Oenumbed by the spray of ether. and a wide
cut was made into the pus cavits, which was
reached at depth of little more than an inch.
WIN the aid OF probe and pair of fOrceps.
drainage tube, which is small flexible tube of
rubber perforated with holes, was then intro
duced into the wound made by the ball, and
then after being carried through the pus cavity.
was brought out through the newly-made Incl
SION. One end of the tube then projected from
the cut made by the surgeons knife to the other
from the mouth OF the original wound AS the
pus ooZed into the tube through the perfOratiOn,
IL couid escape from either end. and was re-
peatedly washed out with weak solution of
carbollc acid and water, which was thrown
through the tube in stream. The discharge
which followed the opening of the pus cavity
was entirely satisfactory to the surgeons, and
was soon followed by relief to the patient The
drainage tube has been left as it was originally
placed: and will remain there for the present
II the wound discharges freely through the new
opening the tube may perhaps be withdrawn
from the OLD one in order to allow the latter to
neal. me incisiOn made to-day is in direct
me WIN the deeper parts of the wound. and it
Is thought that the pus will escape through it
without any of the distractions which impeded
It's outn0w along the track of the bali, and which
caused the pus cayity.'
In reply TO the question whether another pus
cavity Is likely to form and bring about a recur-
renee OF the alarming symptoms of yesterday.
Dr. keyburn said:-"I cannot answer positively
put as the pus now has free egress, 1 do not
tnnk II probable that another cavity will form.
Upon being asked whether there were or had
been any symptoms in the Presidents case of
py;nmia or blood-poisoning, DR.. Reyburn said
None whatever; rgOr of course may be a symp-
tom OF pyemia, but it is also q symptom of yari-
Gus other complications, and il does not pointto
py;emla III tne present Case The pus continues
healthy, and the characterfstic symntoms of
pyamia are all wanting. YoIninay saw upon nv
| authority that no indications of biood-pOisoninS
nave peeh observed, and that we have no reason