Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-04-10

| serious. After her departure he sank into a
stupor, from which he aroused, but at long
intervals, and then only To display symptoms
of delirium These conditions continued all
| day Monday, the patient remaining uncon-
scious Of his surroundings, except that he
| recognized his wife The physicians said
there was very little hope Of his recovery, the
indications being that his brain was fatally
affected His temperature was 1851 and his
pulse 100, and no one was admitted to the
sick room except the nurse and Mrs. Conk-
ling.
At 5p. m. Drs Sands, Delaiield and Bar
ker went to the sick room, 1t having been de-
termined by the physicians that an operation
was necessary. They at once proceeded to
remove the squamous portion of the temporal
bone, the object being to ascertain if there
was any matter at the base of the brain The
operation was successfully performed, and a
quantity of matter was found. Ether was
administered. The patient had been out of
his mind all day but most of the time very
active physically, and it was difficult to place
him entirely under the influence of ether.
After the operation he rose and walked
arosnd the room. DR.. Barker said that
while he could not promise recovery he
could safely say that the chances were much
better than before the operation The phys
icians were doubtful as to whether pus had
collected at the base of the BRAIN and had no
alternative but to perform the operation,
which was very successful. About an ounce
of Pus was removed. DR. Barker seid there
was at least no danger of any material
change for the worse within twelve hours
Mrs. Conkling and her married daughter
were in the room with the ex-senator during
the evening. Drs. Barker and Sands left at
10 p. m
The manner of performing the operation
was as follows: DR.. Sands turned Senator
Conkling's head over upon the right side and
cut lateral inchion in the scalp two inches
behind the left ear The incision was about
three inches long. The scalp parted, and the
assistant surgeons dried the slight hemorrhaSe
that ensued, and stood by ready to stop the
possible hemorrhage from the lateral cut
The skull lay exposed. Deity and quickly
DIR. Sands ran the edge of little steel chisel
under the squamous portion of the temporal
bone-the scale-like plate of bone back of
the ear. The doctor gave three or four smart
raps with mallet upon his chisel, and raised
the bone plate. AS he did SO the pus gushed
out. The diagnosis of DIR. Barker was con-
firmed. A pocket of pus had formed back of
the ear and was pressing upon the brain. Dr.
Sands held the plate raised for little while,
and let us much pus out as would come
About an ounce came out. Then DR.. Sands
let the plate back. No draining tubes were
inserted in the skull, as it would have been
dangerous, of course, to have kept the plate
raised. e$sfa
At s45 p m. Mr.. Conkling fell into nat
ural sleep, which was an encouraging symp-
tom, and at 20 his temperature had fallen
TO l02, and his pulse to ~, and the doctors
said his condition had decidedly improved.
He grew restless, however, at II O'Clock, and
insisted upon rising and walking about the
room He was still delirio us, and recognized
no one but Mrs. Conkling.
Soon after IL o'clock he called for Mr.. Ed
Stokes, who was sent for. Mr.. Conkling
said: I'D, it's no use / am gone. ! have
fought against it, but can't stand it no
longer"
Mr. Stokes said that in an interview with
DR.. Sands, the doctor said the ex-senator
might live forty eight hours, but that was
doubtful. DR., Sands is said to have made
the same remark to personal friends of his
during the evening.
"Such suffering l never saw" said Mr..
Stokes after he left the senator's room, "nor
did l suppose it possible for a man to suffer
as he evidently is suffering and live. Yet he
bears it with a heroIsm that is marvellous,
and said; If can stand this pain for twenty
four hours longer and retain my mental
powers believe | can recover 1t was SIM
ply heartbreaking to see that physical and
intellectual giant fighting for life, striding
about his chamber, and suppressing the cries
of pain that must have involuntarily come
to his lips, for his sufferings were such as
would have driven man with less will power |
insane"
"Will that iron constitution of his enable |
him to be successful in his fight for life" Mr.. |
Stokes was asked.
"There is chance, a slim chance, perhaps, |
but his physicians tell him he has a chance, |
and he is fighting for it with such bravery as
might be expected of man like Conkling |
But it is a fight against long odds, for he has
had no sleep for ten days except such as he
has obtained while under the influence of the
most powerful opiates."
Mr.. Stokes says Mrs. Conkling is complete
ly Frustrated and wholly unnerved by the re-
ports which come to her from the chamber of
her husband whom she is not permitted to
see because of her condition. Strong man
rs Mr.. Stokes is the suffering. of his friend
has nearly unnerved him, so much so that he
seemed to have aged years during the past
forty-eight hours, during which time ne has
been constantly within call of his friend.
George c. Gorham the ex-ofiicer of the
United States senate, called at Mr.. Conk-
ling's during the night. He is an intimate
personal friend and came on from Washing
ton. The general opinion among the groups
who gathered in the hotel lobbies Monday
hight and discussed Mr. COnklings illness
was that he could not possibly recover.
Among the callers to inquire as to Mr.
Conkling's condition during the day and
evening were scores of prominent citizens
md visitors of all shades of political opinion,
including Mayor Hewitt, Judge Shipman (of
Connecticub, Clarence Seward, Judge Hilton,
ex-senator Thomas C. Plat, Isaac II. Bailey
OF Utica, and many Others.
FLAMES IN A NORMAL SCHOOL.