Morris tribune., 1881-09-22
GARFIELD's CRITICAL CONDITION.

On Tuesday, 18th, there was no material
change though he was removed, at his own re-
quest from his bed to an extension chair on
which he remained half au hour, and was less
inclined to drawbacks during the day than
usual The chair was placed in commanding
view of the ocean, and the president enjoyed
the change very much.
On Wednesday, 14th, the president neither
gained nor lost ground. He took his food with
relish, and eat up in a chair, but his pulse ran
up to high point, and the lung difficulty con-
tinues stubborn. The doctors maintain their
hopeful disposition, in the face Of constantly
recurring discouraging features.
On the.1 / 9th, the attending doctors admitted
for the first time that the president is suffering
from py@mia or blood poisoning, and that it
will take five weeks to recover from its effects
The official telegram says he is very weak, and
while this condition of the blood continues,
grave anxiety must also continue.
Friday, 18th, the president experienced the
worst day since he was shot, and even DR.. Bliss
seemed to have lost hope. The physicians are
no longer trying to bolster up the hopes of the
public. The official bulletins tell the full story
of each days progression or retrogression, as
the case may be, and all that remains to do is
to wait He showed indications OF a change in
his condition. The discharge assumed dark
er hue because thinner and more watery, and
increased in quantity. At the evening dre ssing
were soft and pale in appearance. There
could be but one result AS the evening ad-
vanced the president began to cough more, and
the lung trouble, which was showing indica-
tions of amelioration, became worse. DR..
Boynton said he was slowly descending and be-
coming weaker.
Saturday, the 18th, was one of the worst
days the president has passed. At IL 80 a. m.
he had severe rigor or chill which lasted half
an hour, followed by profuse perspiration and
spell Of vomiting: During TIE chill bis pulise
rose to 1877, and his temperature nearly Teach
crease in pulse and respiration, and he slept
most of the time, but Attorney General Nc
Weigh telegraphed that there had been emo gain
in strength nor any evidence of repair and the
situation is more grave and critical than at any
time heretofore" The physicians are not ab-
solutely certain of the cause Of the rigor 1t
might have resulted from the abscess on the
lungs. The trouble began with Inflammation,
which the poisoned blood affected, forming
probably several pus cells on the right lobe.
Some believe that the condition of the wound
is the cause of the rigyr or chill, although the
wound is not healed to within nine inches of
the surface, but that beyond an obstruction
which prevents the easy passage of the cathe-
ter is an opening five or six inches long,
filed with poisonous pus. But whatever the
cause, it is impossible the physicians admit, for
him to live if the rigors continue. tits doubt
full if there is possibility of his recovery
under any circumstances. Saturday mornings
rigor is an unmistakable sign of acute py8mia,
disorder from which very few persons re-
cover, and which many authorities pronoun ce
iucurable.