Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-09-18
THE SITUATION AT MIDNIGHT

was summed up as follows: ''There has been
slight Improvement, but it has not been main
tanned. The case from the first has been one of
fuctuation, and each depression has resulted in
a loss. During the intervals between the re-
lapses there have been apparent Improvement.
but they have been improvements only In COM
parlsOn with the lower points reached IN the de-
pressOns, and have never lifted the patient up
to the position he held before the relapses."
At two o'clock the President was reported to
be quietly resting and the situation was un-
changed.
IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY HOW LONG.
DR.. Boynton was asked last night: "Has
there been any indications of chill before?"
"Yes; there was an indication of the approach
of chill Yesterday, but it was obviated."
DO you anticipate that any more will oc-
cur?"
at is quite possible and within the range Of
probabilities. and would not be surprising"
d" He is not as strong now as he was when the
rigor occurred at Washington"
''Oh. no; not by any means"
.'Would he be able to stand continuation of
rigOrs any length of timer"
1t would be impossible to say how long he
could stand them.'
1.-THE WORST SYMPTOMS SEEM PASSED"
DR.. Agnew and DR.. Bliss came together from
the Presidents cottage after the bulletin, and
were overwhelmed with congratulations over
the Unexpectedly good news.
The people almost refused to believe the
figures, and the surgeons said when they were
first indicated they had doubted and looked
second time with great care at the instrument.
The figures were found to be correct. At the
universal expression of amaZement that the
President should have so completely shaken off
the Ill effects of rigOr the surgeons referred to
Garfield's pheaomenal revivals heretofore.
1T was a chill" said DR.. Bliss, land was
caused. we think, by the depraved condition of
the blood There may have been other causes,
but not noticeable"
do you think there is any indication of pus
cavity in the wound ?" ~ hope there will be no
The Presidents pulmonary trouble seems less
pronounced tonight, and there seems to be a
yielding of the more malignant symptoms. The
respiration has been Is since pm. 1t is impOs-
sible at this time to attempt any prOgnOsis of
the cause. however. All we can say is that the
worst symptoms seem passed"
DR.. Bliss said last night that they had admin
lstered during the preceding twenty-fOur hours
about five and half ounces of beef blood. also
beef tea and small portion of peptOniZed beef
some milk punch half dozen Delaware grapes
and two Strawberries Before vomiting the
President had just taken his porridge. and his
attendants were giving him brandy and water.
His stomach refused to retain either. Vomiting
was attendant on the rigOr, and no con-
tinued nausea followed. He ate after the vOm-
iting without discomfort.
DIR. BLISS DOES NOT THINK PUs CAVITY HAS
FORMED.
He had no reason to think there was a puS
cavity in the wound, and believed the ball had
thoroughly encysted. In regard to the reported
chill Friday night. the doctor said ''The Presi-
dent had an approach to chill just before the
febrile rise last evening. His eXtremities were
cool. but not so much so as to attract his at
tentlOn. Heated fannels were applied and the
difficulty overcome without his knowing it, He
complained at the same time of pain in his
bowels and slight coldness. This succumbed to
the same treatment"
1t was an absolute chill to-day, was it? :" SIT
was; his extremities were cool for about thirty
nine minutes, although the rigor was not so
severe as those suffered in Washington"
How long could the President stand such
chills:"
THAT would depend. of course, on their fire.
quency. In his present condition they would
wear him down very quickly
" Has the President shown signs of malaria!"
- THINK there is no malaria in his system.
The intermittent character of his trouble is quite
as characteristic of blood poison as malaria. We
nave given him SIX grains of quinine to-day. and
will give him three more at midnight. This is
given as tonic, however, and not as an anti
periodic"
AND HE SAYS THERE Is NO ABsCESS
The discharge from the lungs, DIR. Bliss said.
consisted of about three-fourths of muco puru-
lent sputa and One-cOurth part white mucus
The President he said. had pulmonary bronchial
catarrh. and he added: Il have never believed
there was an abscess. We know one lung has
been dull when we sounded it. and that one lung
may have been impinged by the bullet; for we
know the pleurO was entered"
He said last night that he considered the Presi-
dents general condition was better than at the
same hour during the preceding night.
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST CHIIIS
The Chill might recur at any moment but as q
preventative the patient had been wrapped in
hot flannels. During the day a hot alcoholic
bath was given him. No fear of stomach trou-
Die was entertained unless there was confined
pus present in the body In that case the
stomach would respond at once and the result
become doubtful
The President had no febrile rise during the
early part of the night. the conditions mentioned
In the bulletin remaining unchanged.
MRS. GARFIELD INFORMED
dispatch from ElberOn last night said:
''Both the President and Mrs. Garfield compre-
hend the situation perfectly. Dr. Boynton. when
asked by the President to-day what his real con-
dition was. replied as encouragingly as possi-
Die, telling him the facts in the case and express
ing hope that he would tide over the present
difficulty as he has the most serious ones Mrs.
Garfield is naturally exceedingly anxious about
her husband. She fully realizes the gravity of
the situdtiOH anu HODcS IOf the best. DIR, BOyn-
ton does not think that If the President grows
worse he will be liable to sink rapidly and that
if he does not rally from this crisis he will inger
some time"
DIR. BOYNTON DEsPONDENT
Other dispatches from ElberOn represented
Drs. Bliss and BOyntOn as very respondent last
night. DIR. BOyntOn stated at midnight that the
President was comfortable and su ffering no
pain. which, he said, meant nothing more than
that he was quiet. The President was very
weak. he said, and he considered that there was
but little hope. Both General Swain and Col
onel Rockwell were evidently depressed but
have not surrendered hope.
THE CABINET OFFICERS.
Secretaries Hunt and Window and Postmaster
General James returned last night to Long
Branch. arriving there at 10 O'clock Secretary
Window is quoted as saying: ''We received nc
official notice to come to Long Branch, nor were
we summoned in any form. On learning of the
change for the worse in the Presidents cOndj
ton We determined to give up our pleasure trim.
from feelings of sympathy, and visit him. /
peiieve the President will recover"
THE PRESIDENTS Low TEMPERATURES.
some surprise was expressed at the President,s
low temperature as indicated by last MIGHTY h,,