Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-01
GARFIELD'S PHYSICIANS.
DIR. Bliss Presents n RuI for S25.O .OO0
and ReeOunts His Services.


A special dispatch from WASHINGTON
says: DR.. Bliss will leave the citv9 onE
Tuesday morning for New Mexico tn
be absent several weeks, and thOugbt II
best to present his account TO the Board
of Audit, and without regard to the ac-
tion of the other physicians who were en-
gagged with him in attendance upon Presi.
dent Garfield. DR.. Bliss has been in cores.
pondence with Drs Agnew and Hamil-
ton, end 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. Hamil-
ton and Agnew will file their accounts
very soon. 1t is understood that thew
estimate their services to have been
worth about $4,000 each. Dr. Rev.
burns bill is for about $S. 600 or 50 OO0.
DR.. Bliss makes oath to his statement.
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 physicians. he
says:
"From that time July 81 throughout
was in daily and nightly attendance,
with scarcely ever two consecutive hours
of rest. personally prepared and ad-
ministered all the nutrient enamata which
were given every four hours. Dav and
night, during period of thirty five DAYS,
| dressed the wound every time but one.
when prostrated by septic fever. /
almost always supervised his baths and
superintended every movement of his
body. He made himself dependent upon
me personally for many little attentions.
for counsel and encouragement. This
unremitting strain upon mind and body.
accompanied by the loss of sleep, pro.
duced the usual results. l lost thirty
eight pounds in weight, and in addition,
was infected with the sepsis of the pa
tient, which caused secondary abscess,
lasting more than three months after
ward.
In estimating the value of these SER
vices two considerations present them
selves: First 1t is we'll recognized
fact that all professional service is to be
rewarded in proportion as the RESPONSE
bilities and difficulties of the case are
great and numerous. 1t is self evident
that the task imposed upon me has no
parallel in this country, if indeed, in.
the whole history of surgery. Upon
myself first, and also upon my col
leagues, rested not only the professional
responsibility for the skillful and iudl-
cious conduct of the case to its final
issue, but also the burden of the hopes
and fears Of great nation and of the
civilized world. The suspense Of anx-
ious watching kept our nerves at the
utmost tension.
Second. / was, of course, unable to
devote moment to my private business,
and this was not all. The prOstratiOn
of mind and body which followed rem
dered me unable to resume professional
work for months, and even then to do
with difficulty only a small part of my
usual labor. At the time the President
was shot my income was more than
81 300 per month. The following
January, when first attempted regular
business it was but 81 900, as against
So, 500 in the same month of the previ-
GUS year. My patients had obviously to
seek other professional advice, and
IN many instances probably never re-
turned. Even for several months Of the
present year this effect was sensibly felt.
while the physical injury sustained, from
which shall never wholly recover, sub
tracts greatly from the energy with which
l might otherwise prosecute my profes.
sion. Besides, it is to be remembered that
in this extraordinary emergency new
heavy expenses were incurred entirely
foreign to my accustomed mode of life. /
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, l estimate that ny service to
the President cost me fully SO, coo, and
probably more
1t is obvious that l should moi ONLY be
reimbursed, but also reasonably COM
pensated in addition. For these reasons
l place the sum which l CLAIM as iast
and equitable reward at $25. 900, as 9ec
enclosed bill.