Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-04-10
ROSCOE CONKLING.
The Great Stalwart Prob
ably Dying.
A SURGICAL OPERATION.
The Brilliant Mind Wandering
Aimlessly Along the Dark
Shores of Eternity.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD,

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERAIp.t
New York, April 8. = Roscoe
Conkling's condition changed much
for the worse last night. He wae
bouyed up in the evening by the pres-
ence Of his wife whom he had not
been permitted to see since his I'LL
ness became serious; but after her de-
parture he sank into q stupor from
which he reused but at long intervals.
and then only to display symptoms d
delirium.
DR.. Agnew, the eminent oculist.
called at Conkling's residence last
night. At the time OF his leaving the
patient seemed to be not much worse.
DR.. Fordyce Barker said to-day that
he feared Conkling 3 auracular trouble
had caused an affection of the brain,
which may prove fatal. "All care
to say just now," said DR.. Barker. "is
that Mr.. Conkling has had a bad
change within the last twenty-four
hours, and is very poorly indeed.
have called in DIR. Sands and DIR. Dell
afield, and they in company with DR..
Agnew and myself will visit the pat
lent this afternoon"
Ats 80 A. M. Conkling's condition
was unchanged from the last report.
At 2 o'clock Drs. Sands, Delafeld.
Barker and Agnew called at Conk-
ling's house and held consultation
for few minutes. Afterwards HAM
ilton Fish called but was not adj
mitted. DIR. Barker at the conclusion
Of the conference, said that the pa
TENTS condition was unpromising.
that he was suffering from infamma-
tion of the ear, which had extended
to the membranes of the brain, that
the probabilities were that Conkling
could not recover, although there was
a possibility that he might get we'll.
His temperature was 1887 and his
pulse 100. DR.. Barker did not think
there would be any marked change in
the patients condition for perhaps
twelve hours. There is no person adj
mitted to the sick room, except the
nurses and Mrs. Conkling and all
callers at the house are denied adj
mission.
Drs. Delafield Sands and Barker
held consultation in the case of Ros-
coe Conkling, between and 5 O'Clock
this afternoon, and it was decided to
Immediately cut through the temporal
bone to ascertain whether there
is pus lodged on the brain. DR..
Sands is the operating surgeon.
The surgeons cut away a portion of
the temporal bone and found q secre-
ton of matter, which was removed.
The operation was very successful
and gives the patient chance Of life.
Conkling remains unconscious. It ID
not expected that there will be any
change in his condition for several
hours.
! At $3.50 the physicians regard his
condition as more favorable. Mr..
Conkling will probably remain un-
conscious all night because of the
an@sthetic which was administered.
Doctors Barker and Sand left the
sick chamber at 8 AS and will not re-
turn until 8 A. M. tomorrow. The
surgical operation performed upon
the distinguished patient this even
ing was q very delicate one. It
consisted in the cutting and removing
of part of the temporal bone, the in
cision being made upon the pranain-
ence which may be felt Just behind
the ear. Beneath this lies the me-
chanism of the ear, and IN cases in
which this mechanism becomes in
yolved, serious suppuration results,
as in this instance, and it becomes
necessary to make an opening through
which the pus may be drawn off.
When this region of inner ear was
reached the membrane beneath the
bone was cut through, and q drainage
tube was inserted, and about an ounce
OF pus drained from the head, appar-
emily afordfng the patient great re-
lief.
At II O'Clock he was resting quietly,
his temperature and pulse are the
same as at the last report.
At midnight Mr.. Conkling was
walking up and down the room in .
half delirious condition. He sent for
Edward s. Stokes. and when he ar
rived Conkling said to him: ED, it's
no use, I am gone. l have fought
against this for some time. cannot
stand it any longer"
Mr.. Stokes in going out, saw Doctor
Sands at the door. He asked the
Doctor if Conkling had any chance.
Doctor Sands said: HE may live
forty-eight hours, but 1 doubt it."
Conkling insists on rising and walking
about the room, but does 80 in
delirium, as he has not regained
consciousness. s4g
AT l 80 A. M. there was little differ
ence in the condition of Conkling.
He was then sitting up and was
sliRhtlv dalirious.