National Republican., 1882-07-06
THE PRESIDENTS PHYSICIANS.
Letter OF Dr. Miss TO Chairman Taylor,
of the Garfield Expcnscs Committee.

OF tte Snruchu ENpcnhch Nouthttee.
When the subject Of payment of tho physicians
who attended the late President Garfield was
brought up In the Senate the other day Senator
Vest and other Democrats were gratuitously Sc
we're In their structures upon those gentlemen
the matter was viewed entirely from a wrong
standpoint. The bill as passed provided COM
mission for auditing the claims for expenses in-
Cured by reason of the Presidents illness and
nth. Now, the physicians have made no claim
for any compensation for the labor they per-
formed in connection with their attendance upon
their distinguished patient. The following letter
from DR.. Bliss, who had charge OF the case, and
written al the eluest of Mr.. Taylor, the chairman
Of the committee appointed by the House to con.
slider the subject, for the first time published,
fully and frankly explains the position which
the doctors hold:
wAsHSGToN, D. c., February, 9, 1882.
Hon. L. D. TAYLOR, Chairman of the Committee
for Auditing Claims for Service and Expenses
Growing out of the Illness and Burial OF the
late President of the United States, James "A.
SIN: Attention having been called to the ex.
pressed wish oi your committee as set forth in the
resolution requesting of those persons whose SER
vices to The late President Garfield IRE TO come be-
| fore your consideration, an estimate of the value
of those services, have the honor TO state that,
| after full conference with the medical gentle
| men associated with me III attendance upon the
President, am requested by them to eXpres their
| earnest desire TO meet the wishes of the honorable
committee while yet, MS n matter of delicaoy, they
beg to be relieved from presenting bills TO Con-
| gress for serve rendered.
| 1t is believed that II would be more satisfactory
| to the committc, 10 Congress- and to the Amcri n
people to present to your COMMITTEES a statement
of the services rendered in tn .r endeavor to pro-
mote the comfort and preserve the life OF the
Pre- idemt, leaving the matter of compensation to
| your commit tee, than TO present an itenizel BILL
| This opinion i one of most earnest conviction,
| III WOW of the inct that the physicians have no
claim against the United Stutcs and that the ac-
| ton OF congress in the matter of conpensa lon
( r their services Is recognition that they weTe
| reddered to the President Of'tho Uni ed states,
ana not simply to the man, James "A. Garfield.
| My permanent counsel consisted of Surgeon-
General j. X. Barnes, U. s. A; Surgeon J. J. Wood
ward, U. s A.; aud DR.. Robert Reyburn, all OF
Iti proper to state that nll these gentlemen
gave daily personal attention to the President, and
| Drs. Woodward and Rcyburn nltcrnated night
service, one of them being imme lately with me
each nj sht until September II, 4 81.
Alter the President arrived AZ ElDe on, at his re-
S1' lin was as reduced % and these gentlemen feti1
| from the case. They We're, however, called to El.
beron Immediately aner the death of the President
| to assist III conducting the au .opsy.
The distinguished counsel from Philadelphia
land New York, city, Drs. d. Hayes .Agnew and
ton on the night Of July 3, 1881, and arrived the
| following morning, remaining in consultation
during i,i G that day They were again sun. summoned
sonnl service of from three TO four days each until
the death ofthe President.
1t is perhaps unnecessary for me to state that all
the physicians in attendance during the periods
above -nanled virtually gave their entire time and
attention to the case of the President and am
glad to bo able to say that the whole history OF
surgery shows no such striking in'tance of bar-
mOuiOus and self. t.sacrillcing devotion to the care
and comfort of patient rs was displayed by the
medical gentlemen in consultation with me.
AS surgeon in charge of the case, was for eighty
| cons cutiye days constantly on duty, from the
| time the President was wounded until II s death.
| This service included day and night attendance,
which required the abandonment of my private
practice and 50 seriously impaired my nealth us
to prevent me from resuining my full professional
duties until about the 1st otJanuary, 1882 Dr. ID. $.
Lamb of Washington accomplished as an anatO-
mist and pathUlogist, was selected to perform tho
autopsy, and called to ElberOn for that purpose.
The skilful manner in which he performed this
delicate service fully justified the selection made.
desire in this connection to pay Just tliUue
to the untirng and devoted services OF those VINO
performed the imml date duty of nursing the
President during his illness, viz: General swain
Colonel Rockwell, DR.. Boynton, Mrs. DR.. Edison,
Mr.. o. G. Rockwell, and Steward William L.
Crnmp, whose health was seriously, and it il
believed permanently, impa red by his continu.
GUS and eXhausting duties
Last, but not least, desire to specially mention
the faithful services of President Gariield's family
servant, Daniel Scroggs (coored).
Therefore, the compensation for services rem.
so keenly touched the sympathy of all and engaged
their anxious solicitude is respectfully subm tee
TO your deliberate judgment.
have the honor to be, very res pectfully, YOU
obGdient servant ID. w. BLISS.