The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-07-05

the attack TO be made upon this physician
Proctor Knott, an associate OF Blackburn
said that he had no doubt that Congress:
would finally pass the bill, but he believed
that i would bo the dearest money thu,
the Physicians have ever earned in theil
lives: A friend OF Mp. Garfield, who i!
now in the city, says that
MRS. GARFIELD
regrets very much that she has allowed
her name to be drawn into this contro'
versy. She had no klea when she gave a
qualified endorsement. TO DR.. Boyn.on's
statement that this endorsement would
ever reach the public, but now that II has
she is using her influence, in an indirec,
way through Col. Rockwell, TO have all
contest avoided. She Is particularly anx.
ions that no objection shall be made 10 the
bill as it is presented-that Is TO say, no
objection based apon anything she may
have said or done. 1t is her desire to have
as little Of a personal character involved
in this discussion as Is possible. Congress.
man Blackburn, however, has given fair
notice Of what he intends 10 do, and II he
carries it out very lively controversy will
4o''o". EeNielais lsluSoAiii WIZ was re-
sponsiblc for the employment OF Dr.. Bliss,
told friend the other night that DR.. Bliss
was officially placed in charge oi the case.
The history that Mr.. Bliss gave TO this
friend is as follows: lie said that DR..
Bliss was the only physician that was call.
ed in the case at first. He tMr. Linroln)
sent his own carriage for him. d.. Bliss,
in response to the call OF Mr.. Lincoln, went
to the depot, and there, being the only
physician regularly called by anyone in
authority,
lie TOOK CHARGE.
All Of the other physicians who came into
the case on the ID Of July came as volun-
teers. No one sent for them. Mr.. Lincoln
says that DR.. Bliss remained in charge OF
the case without any question on the part
OF any OF the doctors who came in as volun-
tecrs during Saturday. Sunday morning
it was very evident that there were TOO
many physicians in the case. There was a
cabinet consultation upon the subject.
Mr. Lincoln informed his associates OF his
employment OF DR.. Bliss, and his action
was approved by them. Then Col Rock.
well WAS sent Tor. Mr.. Lincoln is a man
OF great delicacy and decision o! character.
lie desired TO find out whether the employ.
ment Of DR.. Bliss would be agreeable 10
Mrs. Garfield, and if he was not, he (Sir.
Llncoln) would rotiiy Dr.. Bliss at once and
have him leave the case. As it was not q
time for standing upon any ceremony, Col.
Rockwell was callcl into the cabiret-.oom
and informed OF Mr.. Lincoln's action and
the approval OF the cabinet, and he was re.
qnestei to see Mrs. Garfield and ask her il
she approved OF it also. COL Rockwell tool:
charge OF this matter, and while Mr. Lin
coin is moi yet clear that he came back and
said tnat Mrs. Garfield did approve, he We;
Is clear tina. the cabinet WIS
NOT NOTIFIED oP Any DISSATISFACTION
at the presence OF DR.. Bliss In the house as
the CHIEF surgeon. The action OF the Cab.
met then being urquestioned, even BY the
remo;est suggestion or hint, DR.. Bliss was
requested TO associate with him such ply
siciaus rs he thought would best aid him
IN the case. The then Secretary oi the
Navy tHunN aal the Secretary of War
called on DR.. Bliss and suggested 10 him
the names OF the Surgeon General OF the
Army and the Surgeon General OF the Navy.
DR., Bliss replied that he would be glad 10
TO haTe with him the Surgeon General Of
the Army, but that. Tor personal reasons,
he cou!d not associate with him the Surgeon
General oil the Navy This request on the
part oil Secretary Hunt was then with
drawn. Secretary Hunt before leaving this
city, authorized Mr.. Lincoln tousehis namo
IN support OF this statement as to the Off.
cial employment. OF Dr.. Bliss. When the
first rigo. came the Cabinet suggested the
employment OF DR.. Hayes. .Agnew and Dr..
Hamilton. This was checrirllv ayreed to
by DIR. B!iss. The Clb;net in sumnoninc
Drs. A.new and. Hamilton, According 10
W. Lincoln. were actnated by the desire
oil having such surgical assistance rs would
pIsARM ALL POSSIBLE CRITICISM
and give confidence upon the part OF every
one, eTen the most carpinr Of critics that
The Prcsiceat was in good hands. This
!lttle'bit of history will be made official in
point OF time, and will probably be derel-
oped in connection with the discussion OF
this case in the coming debate in Congress.
There will also be exhibited in this debate
the record oil the opinions OF some OF the
most eminent surgeons in The world, ap-
proving Of the treatment OF Gen. Garfield,
and adding that the prevalent belief among
the medical fraternity to-day is that the
wound was hopeless IRON the first, and
That there was no way OF treating it now
known to modern surgery that could have
reached any different result. The discus.
sion, when ii opens, will probably be very
Interesting because, on the other hand, the
friends OF DR.. BoyRton and DR.. Baxter are
Pretty strongly fortified, and as the element
OF personal bitterness promises to enter
into the discussion, the debate will proba-
oly be one that will attract good deal OF
attention.