New-York tribune., 1882-04-27
PRESIDENT GARFIELDS PHTMCI4N.
4 REPLY By DIR. BLISS TO TUE cAED OF Dir. BoYN-
TON
fnr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRmUNE.I


TON.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNEI
| WAsHINGTON April GA correspondent Of THE
TRIBUNE called upon DR.. Bliss this evening and in
| quired if lie wished TO make any public statement
in regard 10 the certificate of Dr. BoyntOn published
! in The TRIBUNE this morning. DR.. Bliss was at
first somewhat disinclned to say anything for pub
ication, although he talked freely and with tone
and manner Of deep ind gnation regarding what he
declared were persistent misrepresentation. After
a few moments passed in this way. Or. Bliss autho-
rized the publication Of the following statement:
"While deprecate quarrelling over the remains
of the lamented Garfield on the incidents connected
with his painful illness. / state uncquivocay that
the represe utations in that certificate false, and
the facts connected with the history Of the case
prove them In presenting the matter Of his at
tendance and counsel. Mrs Garfield being present
this was on the morning of the third Of July
his reply was: l shall leave that entirely
to YOU doctor. Your judgment is better than mine
upon that subject | then designated the three
gentlemen. residents of Washington. who we're as
sociated with me in this ca-e-the Surgeon-Genera,
Or. Woodward and Dr. Reyburn-giving in each
instance my reason for selecting these persons. To
thu, he replied That is entirely satisfactory
stated to him at that time that large number Of
medical gentlemen who had volunteered their as
ss,ance IN the emergency had been in consultation
on several occasions since his injury, and had given
valuable advice as 10 the conduct of the case. His
reply was That won't 10, doctor; such body
Of medical men is unwieldy. That is
as near as / can remember. He added You must
dismiss them then said: Then, Mr. President
will thank them in your name for the assistance
thev have given. and tell them their services are no
LONGER reouired' He said Do so| turned to
Mrs Garfield who was sitting Immediately at my
right. and said Mrs. Garfield, if there are one or
more physicians OF surgeons whom you wish TO as
sociate with Us in the care Of this l shall be
glad TO invite them" Her reply was 1 viii not
add one to the number already selected and want
10 saw further that you shall not be embarrassed
in any way in your future conduct of this case.
"Now. | state here, ! was not then aware that
Dr. Baxter had ever known the President PERSONAL
". much less attended him Professionally; and if
he was the family physician, or so considered
nv the President and Mrs. Garfield, 1t certainly
was their fault in not mentioning his name on that
occasion. want to state further that neither the
President Mrs Garfield, nor any member of the
household ever mentioned the name of Dr. Baxter
OF any other physician to me. except the counsel
who were associated with me IN the
case as desiring their advice or attend
ance and on the occasion of the re-
moval 10 Elberon Mrs. Garfield called me TO her
private room and informed me that the President
desired to reduce the number of physicians N at
tendance and wished me 10 so inform Or Barnes,
Dr. Wo0dward' and Dr. Revburn AMI that should
continue in charge of the case, and should continue
as counsel Drs. Aguew and Hamilton, who would
be near me while AT Elberon. | then SAID that
placed a very embarrassing position, and added
greater responsibility than was w Ling 10 assume
in his transfer and / begged that all the physicians
should be retained at least until his arrival at
ElbcrOn. ! also presented these facts To Jr. Agnew
and begged him 10 lntercede with Mrs Garfield 10
secure the consent Of the President 10 theu reien-
ton. To this Mrs. Garfield and The President as
sented. The day following our arrival az kiDerOn,
Ms. Garfield again called my attention 10 the ex-
pressed wishes OF the President IN regard 10 TINS
subjrct when begged of her To present the matter
L. the retiring ply scians, which she consented 10 DO
and did.
" These facts have been presented TO the public
before, and Only reiterated now because oil tue
persistence OF Dr. Baxter IN dragging To tile surface
distorted incidents the history Of The late terrible
ordeal through which have passed, and which