Daily Republican., 1882-03-30
VERY UNAMIABLE DOCTORS.
Boy ntOn, Baxter end Bliss and
their Quarrels-Presidens Aar-
fields Pbysicians Treating His
Case Over Again.

Springs, Kansas, says:
| met DR.. Boynton this morning in
the rotunda OF the Occidental Hotel,
where he was engaged in a four-handed
game OF casino, that being, 1t was said,
| his favorlte game for pastiine. He had
just returned from the sheep ranch
which he had recently purchased near
that place, and | at once asked him If
he had read the special from Washing
ton which had appeared in the papers
concerning him and his letter to DR..
Baxter. He seemed somewhat sur
prised, and answered that he had not
and told him that If he desired L
would get him a copy containing the
special. When / returned with the
paper he was alone. and after handing
him the paper sat down to await de-
velopments. After perusing the arti-
! Gle he appeared to be somewhat tlus-
tered, and said that " hat he had writ
ton TO DIR. Baxter was private matter,
and had not rs far as he was concerned
been intended to be made public in any
manner whatever. He could not for
the life If him imagine how in the
world the newspaper men had got hold
of 1t, as il had only been intended to be
shown to few Congressman who were
friends to the Garfield family. He said
| that he had taken especial pains to keep
, himself clear of all newspaper contrJ.
verSies, and he would contlnae 80 to do
As there was nothing to be gained by
arguing the matter in the newspapers
"Well," said |, doctor, you are GER
tainly aware that your name is already
familiar TO the reading portion of the
people of the United States. Your
name has been connected with bhe late
sickness and disability of Gen. GARFIELD
and siLce the matter of this letter has
been ma le public they would like to
hear Just what you have to say upon
the question. The fact of your writing
letter to DR.. Baxter, and the fact, also
thai tine letter contained the indorse-
ment of Mrs. Garfield, is now well
known, and persons not acquainted
with your motives might put wrong
construction upon your actions
IL was evident from the doctors ap-
pearanCe that he was somewhat ratified
and tlat the news from Washington
had completely surprised him. After
some hesitation he said: "Were it not
that in exposir & this matter publicly |
would to some extent be violating the
professional proprieties l should long
ere this have given to the world facts
of which at present DR.. Baxter, Mrs.
Garfield ana myself only are cognizant
IL ha+ not been my desire nor that of
DR.. Baxter, as understand it, to de
! prive DR.. Bliss of even one cent of pay
due him for his service; but, knowing
OF his chicanery, treathery and obtru-
siveness, we are fully of the OPT Mon
| that he had no claim upon Congress
whatever.
DR.. Baxter, Mrs. Garfield and myself
are fully aware that a deep wrong has
been done each of us; that we have
been basely deceived and that DR.. Bliss
perpetrated the same purpOsely and
for his own advancement and aggran-
dizement. l have heretofore been op-
posed to saying one word on this sub
ject, aud would much rather that the
matter bad been kept quiet, but as a
wrong construction may possibly be
placed upon my conduct and upon
the conduct of Mrs. Garfield
and DR.. Babcock, | do not see how
can now Justify myself without III makiug
some explanations. DIR. Baxter and
myself have frequently talked this
matter over, and we have corresponded
with each other on this subject, but
am sure that neither he nor myself ever
calculated upon the matter becoming
public. "You see, said DIR. Boynton,
CDR. Baxter is medical purveyor of the
army, and not only that, but he was
the family physician of General Gar.
family physician in Cleveland, o. We
were not only their family physicians,
but we we're recognized by the family
as friends am also closely connected
with the Gartields, by ties of consan-
guinity. On the other hand, DR.. Bliss
had never been their family physician,
or what was considered their fl lend,
nor ever commanded their respect.
| When Gen. Garfield was wounded
both DR.. Baxter and myself were absen
from the city, and, what was perfect y
proper at that time, DR.. Bliss,
upon the suggestion of some person,
took charge Of the case. Upon arri val
of Mrs. GARFIELD from Elberon she
found DR.. Bliss, attending upon her
husband and was not only surprised
hut greatly shocked. She at once or.
deled kilograms to be sent to both DR..
Baxter and myself and of course we re-
sponded at once, and arrived In Wash.
ington on the shortest possible notice.
We found DR.. Bliss in charge, and had
1t not been for the means he used to re
tain the management he would have
bsen relieved at once"
"But Doctor" said l, elf the Pres
ident and Mrs. Garfield had not wished
DR.. Bliss to continue in full charge,
and If his connection with the case
was not satisfactory, why was he not
50 Informed and a change made at
once?" BY this time it was eviden {
that l was getting the Doctor consider
ably Interested in this subject, and l
felt confident that it would require but
little effort npon my part at that time
to induce him to make a clean breast
of the matter, and professional courtesy
be hanged.
"Ah," said the Doctor, "now we
have come to the delicate point, to d.
| vulge which might be looked upon by
some as breach of professional cour-
tesy. But | can say this, however,
that his retention in the case was caused
by misunderstanding between the Pres
ident and Mrs. Garfield on the one side
and DIR. Baxter and myself on the other;
and can say also that the misunder-
standing was brought about purposely
and solely by DR.. Bliss himself. 1t was
hat he had said to DIR. Baxter and
myself that induced US to believe that
it was the wish of the President and
Mrs. Garfield that he should continue
in charge Of the case. He, on the other
hand, gave the President and MRS. Gar
field reason to believe that it was the
desire of DR.. Baxter and myself that
he should be continued in charge, and
the contrary was not known for months
afterward. The manner in which DIR.
Bliss managed this part of the business
was questionable in the extreme. Since
that time, however, DR.. Baxter, Mrs.
Garfield and myself comDared notes.