Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-04-11
STILL FIGHTING FOR LIFE.
ROSCOE coNKLING NOW HAS A
 RAY OF HOPE.

His Physicians. However, Give No Assur-
 ance of the Ex-senater's Ultimate Re-
 covery-The Next Hay or Two Will
 Doubtless Tell tho story.
 NEW YORK, April 1t.---Roscoe Conklinx's condition remained exceedingly critical yes terday. That phrase is often applied to sick men, But as applied to Roscoe Conkling it carries its worst significance There is just room for hope that he may recover, hardly more. The doctors will not discuss his chances of recovery, and that may fairly be regarded as an indication that they regard the chances as against 3him. Dr. Fordyce Barker finished what he: said would be his last visit to his patient last night at little after 9p m. Then he said that what changes had been in his favor. But then he would not venture to express any opinion as to the prospect of his ultimate recovery.
 If sympathy and good wishes could help him in his struggle for. life, with the odds seemingly against hims Roscoe Conkling would speedily get the b4tter of the disease which expresses him. Medical and surgical skill have done their besti for him. For the rest he must trust to that robust physique, strong will and abundant vitality which have been source of pride to him all his life, and which led him so rashly to plunge into tho snowdrifts when the blizzard held possession of the town, thereby bringing upon hlmsef the complaint with which he is now doing such grim battle There is no disguising the fact that his life hangs on thread. His physicians virtually coneede as much. What lends an element of tragedy to the struggle is the fact that MT. Conkling is not wasted with disease; he is still strong, though most of the Io1i unconscious one.
 Throughout the greater part of yesterday MT. Conkling was delirious, sometimes he slumbered fitfully, and again there were brief moments when he was rational In his de lirium he seemed to be haunted by the feeling that he ought to be at work. He was able to take some nourishment, such as eggs, coffee and milk. Difficulty was sometimes ex- perienced in getting him to take his medicine.
 Drs. Barker, Sands and Hartley were in consultation from S:15 until 9 o'clock last night, and while they agreed that the symp- toms were more favorable, they were unwill- ing to make public the nature of the reme- dies being applied. No opiates were being used, nor would they be if their use could be avoided, All of the changes in the patients condition that had occurred since o'clock were in MT. Conkling's favor.
 When MT. Conkling awoke from his long est sleeping spell, at 9:10, he recognized his wife and spoke pleasantly to her. This was his first moment of consciousness during the day. He also recognized Dr. Hartley, whom he greeted with a smile and shake of the hand. After taking little nourishment the patient went off into another quiet sleep. He soon awoke, however, and became rather restless; but at 9:s0 was sleeping again.
 At l o'clock this morning, after short period of quiet wakefulness, Mir. Conkling was again sleeping. The attendant physician said his patients condition appeared more hopeful then than at any time. sincs ths operation was performed.
 Dr. Barker will not venture an opinion as to the chances of MT. Conkling's recovery, but hopes that if he can be kept alive for three days longer he may be saved. The worst fears were that physical exhaustion may follow the patients terrible suffering, and the result of that would naturally be fatal. "The disease" said the physician, "is a treacherous one, and no one can prophecy the turns for the better or worse that it may take at any time D