Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-19

HammOnd's Criticisms.
WASHINGTON, August 1S.-The nature of
the Presidents case, which has concentrated
all attention to-day, has been the swelling
of the parotid gland. This was universally
considered as something very serious, and
outside doctors, by which is meant those
not in the case, nearly all put that cUnstruc-
tion upon It. Their decision that It has the
development of blood-poisoning caused the
abandonment of hope outside the White
House. But there all is very different.
There is evidently more cheerfulness in the
White House to night than any time since
the President was shot. The contrast be-
tween the feeling in the street aud at the
White House was peculiarly marked to-
night. Depression outside was caused by
physicians who have, with but
few exceptions, publicly asserted
and persisted In the assertion that the
swelling Of the Presidents gland pointed to
early death from blood poisoning. Every
one of the Presidents surgeons most posi-
lively asserted that there is no pyemia, that
there were no signs of it, that the swelling
OF the gland is not a thing to cause any
alarm, and that the President is steadily i'm
proving.
Atten O'Clock to-night your correspondent
had talk with Dr. Bliss, who is so entirely
confident of the Presidents ultimate re-
coVery that he speaks Of it as coming fact.
He was asked:
"Doctor, does this swelling of the gland
cause you any alarm?"
"None at all" he replied. "There is no
cause for alarm about it. 1t is a phase Of
the case, or rather an incident of 1t, that
was not entirely unexpected. Always in
cases like these there are septic conditions,
and this very gland frequently iDfames after
suppurative and exhaustive diseases, such
as typhoid fever, gunshot wounds, etc."
"Doctor, do you think It is going to cause
any trouble ?"
"In my judgment, this disturbance is
about over. There is evidence tonight that
the Inflammation is disappearing. The pain
and swelling have materially subsidized, and,
believe, will repair by resolution"
"By that you mean It will scatter ~
eyes; what is commonly termed scatter
ing We are treating It for that, and it
is already evident that the treatment is sue
cessful. We confidently expect to see the
swelling recede by tomorrow"
"Doctor," said the reporter, "outside
physicians construed the fact that you did
not mention this swelling in to-night's bull
letin to mean that you considered 1t as very
dangerous, and therefore prefer to remain
silent about It."
"Well, in that conclusion" replied the
doctor, "they are as far from correct as in
many other Of their expressions and opin-
the swelling of the gland in the bulletin
because it was decidedly less. Had it been
worse we would have mentioned it. We
spoke of it in to-day's bulletin
because we intend to advise the
people of every phase and incident of the
case, and not because we consider it seri
Gus matter. There is not one of the doctors
who has criticized this case who would, IN
a case OF his own, say that this swelling IN
dicated py9ma. II that were true, why
should we conceal the fact. Drs. Agnew
and Hamilton, and Drs Reyburn, Barnes
aud Woodward, as well as myself,
have regulations to maintain, and we
would only injure our regulations and our
80 hau
pyamia If he really had it. He has no sYmp-
tom of py@mis, though naturally, his long
sickness and his debility impairs his blood,
and it is In a septic condition. That is all
there is Of the blood poisoning that there
has been so much talk about"
doctor, how Is the Presidents stomachS''
'It has recuperated and its tone is re-
stored. Yesterday he took two drachms Of
liquid nourishment into his stomach. To-
day he has taken sixty four drachms, and
he relished it and wanted more. He has
now positive appetite. and his stomach is
growing stronger. He has not experienced
a particle of nausea to-day, and we are
gradually increasing the quantity of food
administered"
"Do you continue the enemataf"
eyes, some; and we will, probably, until
he is strong enough to take and retain solid
food"
"How about the woundP'
"Oh, It is doing excellently well. The
whole field is granulating finely. All the
pus secreted is discharged, and we do not
apprehend any further difficulty with the
wound. In my judgment it will heal up
without requiring any further attention be-
yond regular dressing. We do not expect
to perform another operation until we cut
the ball out, and we will not do that until
the President gets up, and not then, unless
the ball gives him some trouble"
"Then, doctor, you do not believe this
swelling will set the President back any ="
"In my opinion it will neither retaFd his
recovery nor impair his condition one par
ticle.''
"Aud you feel as hopeful as ever2'
EVERY bit. He is progressing finely
entirely satisfactory. We could not ask for
better"
"Doctor, it has been reported that in the
last operation you cut for the ball"
''That is not true" was the reply. ''Noth-
ing was said about cutting for the ball.
did get all my instruments and probes ready
so that in the event in the course of the
operation we should get on the track of the
ball and fnd 1t easy to take out we would
be prepared to do so, but that was only pre-
caution and not with the intention of cut
ting for the ball"
DR.. Bliss said that DIR. Agnew knew of
the swelling of the gland before he left,
but did not consider 1t of sufficient import
ance to detain him here. The swelling
manifested itself last night, and DR.. Agnew
examined 1t.
Speaking OF the criticisms Of DR.. Ham
mond, of New York, DIR. Bliss said:
Hammond applied twice by telegraph to
be admitted into the Presidents case and
was refused both times. That Hammond
feels bitterly towards Barnes because he
succeeded him as Surgeon General, and
this accounts for Hammond's severe stric-
lures upon the treatment Of the case" s-
At IL O'Clock tonight the President was
sleeping. His pulse was down to los, tenn
perature and respiration were normal, and
there is every promise of good night.
REVIEW OF THE DAT.
1880 P. M.-The morning bulletin was
generally conceded at the Executive Man
sion to be the most favorable which has
been issued since the Presidents relapse.
DIR. Agnew's departure for Philadelphia on