The Portland daily press., 1881-08-19
Review OF the Situation Yesterday,
$50 P. M

Tho morning bulletin was generally conceded
ut the Executive Mansion to be the most favor
able which has been issued since the Presi-
dents relapse. DR.. Agnews departure for
fhlladeiphia proved to be the signal for a de-
cidedly better feeling in all quarters and con-
WINGED many doubtful ones that the case was
progressing satisfactorily. Previous to leaving
the White House the doctor assured Mrs. Gar
field that he did not consider his presence nee
essary as everything was going as well as pos
sible. This acknowledgment from the con-
sulting surgeon was looked upon as an ex-
tremely favorable indication, and all who
heard OF it experienced renewed hope and
viewed the situation as being undeniably bet
four hours earlier. The patient has been i'm
proving ever since the first teaspoonful of the
nourishment was taken and in fact was proven
by his firmer pulse. Before the noon bulletin
was issued the President had partaken of
koumiss on four different occasions and ex-
pressed desire for more. OF course nourish-
ment was administered in very small ouanti-
ties. Previous to administering the first aua,l-
tity OF koumiss Mrs. Garfield was sitting by
the residents bedside when he expressed
himself as feeling comparatively we'll and in
CURED II it was not desired to try the strength
OF his stomach by permitting him to have some
nourishment, and expressed desire for kou-
miss, whereupon his wife gave him the first
portion. The fact OF the Presidents having
suggested the administration of nourishment is
considered by the attending surgeons as an in
dication that the irritability of the stomach is
subsiding and that in consequence the patient
commences to crave food.
Considerable anxiety was exhibited about
half past twelve o'clock on account of the
slight delay OF the noon bulletin. The con-
tents OF the bulletin when it was read in
Private Secretary Browns room at quarter
past did not allay the anxiety because of the
announcement it contained in reference to in
fammation of the parotid gland. Until the
assurance OF consulting and attending surgeons
was obtained to the contrary great apprehen-
sion was felt that q naw and serious COM
plication had been encountered. DR.. Hamilton
was the hrst OF the surgeons applied to for in
formation regarding the infamed gland, but
beyond the statement it was nothing of a
serious character the doctor was disinclined to
talk. He lntimated he could not explain the
affection to a non-professional in the brief time
he had at his disposal and left with the remark
that 1t was nothing to cause alarm.
When DIR. Bliss left the Mansion about 245
he was met at the front entrance by several
members OF the press and his attention was
called to the various rumors which had been
circulated since the midday bulletin was
issued, in connection with the Inflammation of
the Presidents parotid gland. These rumors
were to effect il was an indication of pyaemia
low fever and other complications of more or
less serious nature and also that modification
had cat in. DR.. Bliss said it was very curious
to him that in view of the fact that pyaemia
was such specific disease some people will
insist that the President has it while the at
tending surgeons thus far have been unable to
discover any indication of it whatsoever.
This inflammation" the doctor continued,
sis nothing unusual il. cases where patients
have become debilitated. have seen it MANY
times in cases of gunshot wounds"
"Then 1t is not pyaemia, doctor?"
"Oh, no."
sis it an indication of fever, typhoid or 9TH
erwise?"
"Not at all, sir. 1t is an affection which
need not cause the slightest ALARM
The Doctor, with this remark, stepped into
sion.
Gen Swain says he thinks the crisis ben
passed and the patient will now continue to
DR.. Reyburn's Opinion.
Early this evening DR.. Rayburn was asked
for his opinion of the Presid nts condition,
whereupon the following dialogue ensued:
The patient is doing very we'll"
docs he experience much inconvenience
from the Inflammation referred to in the noon
bulletin?"
He has considerable pain in his neck which
is the result of inflammation"
well, doctor, what is the cause of this in
ha s111 "a ion How do you explain it?,
II is the result of extreme debility"
do not similar symptoms manifest them
selves in typhoid fever?''
They do, but Inflammation of the parotid
gland also frequently occurs in cases where
from other causes" ''
do you think the President better TO-DAY
than yesterday" '
HE is as well as could reasonably be ex-
Pected, and think he is getting along nice
DR.. Rsyburn, when asked what he thought
OF the increased temperature, said SIT cannot
De considered as an unfavorable Indication in
ssmuch a. it shows that the patient has con-
Gaeraples Vitality left On the whole 1 con-
anf hn4@x
day." ' '-"A ''''0-