The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-08-17

ton 19.
D. w. BLISS,
J. K. BARNES
J. J. WOODWARD,
RoBT. REYBURN.
D. H. AGNEw
Immediately after the bulletin was issued
DR.. Bliss remarked that it was a cOnserya-
tive statement of the case, and it is gen
orally speaking an indication of improve
ment.
10P M-To-day has undoubtedly been
the most unsatisfactory day of the Presi-
dents illness. Early in the morning show
ed signs of less hope for the President, and
cabinet officers, department officers and
other officers of less Importance, called at
the White House to obtain indications;
with few exceptions the official bulletins
have been referred to as answers to interro-
cations as the patients condition, there
being little beyond what they obtained to
saw While the number of the callers
during the day has been small, the evening
being considered the most critical period,
those who have been here have shown in
tense anxiety, and by actions manifested
that in their respective opinions the case
had reached an extremely critical period.
This opinion has not been confined to a
few persons but may be said to be almost
universal throughout the city.
The attending surgeons have avoided
conversation as much as possible, especi-
ally with the members of the press, and
the greatest difficulty has been experienced
in supplying the demand of the public for
the exact condition of affairs at intervals
throughout the day Intimation was
dropped during the afternoon that the Cab
met had been called together and it was
thought some official act was about to be
promulgated, but this proved erroneous.
The object of the meeting which took place
between and 5 p. NJ. was simply to hear
in body the statement of the attending
surgeons on the situation, with view to
ascertain the exact state of affairs. DIR.
Bliss was called upon to convey the
desired information. He talked for some
time, and while he stated especially the
gravity of the situation, he was hopeful
and maintained that the President has at
least an even chance for recovery. His
explanation was sufficiently clear to rees-
| tablish to a considerable extent, the conf
dence of the Cabinet officers and they eX-
pressed themselves as feeling more hopeful
after the conference After the Cabinet
! officers left, and it became known what
| had taken place. a decidedly better feeling
prevailed throughout the mansion, and al
though assurances of recovery were far
from satisfactory they were accepted with
much qualification, and soon changed the
decided sadness which had pervaded the
house all afternoon into general hopeful
ness. The most sanguine were forced to
yield to the unfavorable indications during
the early afternoon, but previous to the is
sue of the z o'clock bulletin, the expires
sions of DR. Bliss had become well known,
and their effect was noticeable with callers.
DR. Bliss brought bulletin from the sur
geOas room and the moment he appeared
in the Secretary's apartment it was appar-
ent there were no extremely unfavorrble
symptoms. Assistant Secretary Pruden
took the bulletin from the doctor and read
it aloud to the anxious gathering. 1t was
stated by DR.. Bliss, Immediately after the
reading was concluded, that the bulletin, in
his opinion, considering the circumstances.
was favorable one.
The good feature of the bulletin was the
the rise in temperature which is q. 1 degrees
higher than at noon and 81 above normal;
which is an indication that there is still
some material left, however slight for fe-
yer to work upon. The vomiting referred
to in the official bulletin is explained to
have been slight, and was the result of the
patients drinking ice water 1t appears
that after drinking he expressed a desire to
| be turned upon his side, and the disturb
ance of the body is supposed to have irri-
tated the stomach again, which is now ex-
tremely weak, the only nourishment the
patient has had to-day has been enemata
which, as shown by the bulletin, has been
etained While the evening bulletin has
rhad the effect of warding off all apprehen-
sions of a crisis during the night, still
there are grave fears that the morning will
not bring much encouragement, owing to
the extremely debilitated condition of the
President. 1t has been impossible to as
certain anything from the sick room since
the evening bulletin. This is considered
as an unfavorable indication, as the sur
geons have usually been quite communica
tive, at least to Cabinet officers. Members
of the Cabinet just said that up to this
hour nothing is learned from the surgeons
since the bulletin issued.
Mrs. Garfield accompanied by her son
James, took drive in the evening of about
an hour. The lady endeavored to look
cheerful She continues to bear her
troubles with great fortitude. Assistant
Secretary Hit says he has not heard when
Secetary Blaine will arrive; it is understood
to he fact, however, that he is on his way
here now.
II D. m.-The Mansion was just closed
for the night Secretary Brown has just
come from the surgeons quarters and re-
ports the President sleeping quietly at this
hour, also that his pulse has decreased
within the last two hours and no vomiting
has occurred since 4 p. m.
MIDNIGHT Everything is quiet about
the Mansion and no indications of an un-
favorable change in the Presidents condi-
ton.
DR. Hamilton was driven directly to At