National Republican., 1882-08-29
oARFIELp,s PHYSICIANS.
Thetr Claims Agninst Ills Estate-Dr. BIIss
Prcsents His RIII.


DR.. Bliss will leave the city to-day for his mines
IN New Mexico, to be absent several weeks, and
thought II best to present his account to the
bonrd of audit, and without regard to the action
OF the other physicians who were engaged with
him in attendance upon President Garfield. Dr.
Bliss has been in correspondence with Drs. Ag-
new and Hamilton, and has Informed them of
every step he has taken. DR.. Reyburn has also
filed his account with the board Of audit. 1t is
expected that Drs. Hamilton and A gnew viii file
their accounts very soon. 1t is understood that
they estimate their services TO have been worth
about $4,000 each. Dr. Reyburn's bill is for about
5000 or $1,000 DR.. Bliss makes oath TO his state
ment, which is addressed to the board Of audit
designated by Congress to receive and adjust
claims against General Garield's estate. After
telling how he came into the case and paying
tributes to the zeal and worth OF the other phy
siciuDs he says:
FROM THAT TINE July 81 THROUGHOUT
was in daily and nightly attendance, with
scarcely ever two consecutive hours Of rest. l
personally prepared aud administered oil the nu-
tient enemata, which were given every four
houis. Day and night, during period of thirty
ne TSs %ss the be
always supervised his baths and superntended
every movement of his body. lie made himself
dependent upon me personally for many little at
tcntions, for coun, el, aud encouragement. This
unremitling strain upon mind and body, accom-
panied 10y loss Of seep, produced the usual re:
in addition was infected with the sepsis OF the pa
tent which caused secondary abscess, lasting
more than three months aftetward.
IN ESTIMATING THE VALUE
OF these services two considerations present them
selves: Firs-lt is well recognized fnct that oil
professional service Is to be rewarded in propor
ton us the responsibilities and difficulties OF the
case are great and numerous. II Is self f-eyident
that the task imposed upon me hus no parallel in
this country, If, indeed, in the whole history Of
surgery. Upon myself first, and ais upon my col
lengues rested not only the professional respJnsi-
bility for the sklfu and judicious conduct Of the
case to Its final issup but also the burden OF the
hopes and fears of great nation and of the civil
lized world. The suspense of anxious watching
kept our nerves at their utmost tension.
sECoSD-I WAS, OF COURSE, UNABLE
to devote a moment to my private business, and
this was not nll. The proslration of mind and
body which followed rendered me unable to re-
sumo Professional work for months, and even then
TO do with difficulty only small purt of my usual
labor At The time the President was shot my in
come was more than 81 500 per month. The fol-
lowing January, when | first attempted regular
business 1t was but 81 600 against s., 500 In the
same month of the previous year. My patients
had obviously TO seek other professional advice,
turned. Even for several months of the
lclt, while the physical injury sus-
recover. subtracts greatly from the energy
with which might otherwise prosecute my pro-
fession. Besides, II is to be remembered that in
this extraordinary emergency new heavy expenses
mode of liie was forced to travel after all was
over for some time as IT was impossible to regain
health and strength In any other way. In short,
estimate that my service to the President cost
that | should not only be reimbursed, but also
reasonably compensated in addition. For these
reasons place the sum which claim as just
and and equitable reward at $4,000, as per enclosed