The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-16
MIR. BLAINE DOING FINELY
The Distinguished Patients Condition
Yesterday Very Satisfactory.
Something of the Dangerous Nitro -Glycerine
Drug Which He Has Received During
and Since His Recent Relapses.
spec;al to the rnaiapapol,s Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-There was no de-
velopment to-day in the case of Mr. Blaine
other than favorable. and when DR.. John
ston left the house at $50 o'clock this
evening he said he would not return dur
ing the night unless specially summoned.
Early in the morning Senator Cameron.
whose house is just across the alley from
Mr.. Blaine's. sent servant to inquire as to
the condition of the invalid. The attend.
ant at the door appeared cheerful and
made an encouraging response. The first
callers of the day, which was bright, clear
aud distressingly cold for this latitude,
were Senator Hale and wife, who came
about 1880 o'clock. and remained q half
hour. While they were in the house Drs.
Hyatt and Johnston arrived to make
their morning visit. Senator Hale told the
reporter that Mr.. Blaine had passed the
most comfortable night he had experienced
for many days. At IL O'Clock the physi
clans appeared and handed the following
statement in writing TO the reporter: "Mr.
Blaine Is as strong and as we'll as he was
yesterday"
Mr.. Hyatt stated that the condition of
the patient was suoh that he would not re-
peat the visit to-day unless called from the
house. The wind was keen and but few
persons braved the blasts that swept
through the streets. As a result the callers
were fewer than usual. After Senator and
Mrs. Hale left. no one came until
afternoon when Secretary and Mrs. Elkins
came over from their house on McPhereon
square and. after q brief stny. went on to
the White House. Senator Washburn was
admitted for few minutes. but other
callers merely inquired az the door alter
the condition of Mr.. Blaine. James G..
Blaine. jr.. with friend. and Miss Hattie
course of the afternoon. At 5 o'clock in
curry at the door elected the
response that Mr. Blaine had rested COM
fortably during the day-a statement which
$50 O'Clock Dr.. Johnston drove up. and re-
NAMED until 6:25. AS he left the house he
said that his patient had passed quiet,
restful and unevenrful day. There had
been no appreciable change in his condition
during the last three days, and none was
expected during the night In answer to
an inquiry DE-. Johnston said that to all
appearances Mr.. Blaine had not lost any
strength since his attack last Thursday,
and, on the whole, he regarded his condi-
tion tonight as favorable as could be ex-
pected. Neither Dr.. Johnston nor DE-. Hyatt
will make another visit tonight unless
summoned.
Publication of the fact that nitro. elycer-
Inc has been prescribed in Mr.. BlalEe's
alarming relapses has aroused inquiries con-
cerninR the drug, which. as such, Is but
little known. The use of nitro QlyceriDe in
cases of heart failure is rare. indeed. prob
ably in not more than one case out OF
thousand. The usual remedies applied are
tincture of digitalis tsometimes used In con.
nection with spirits of ether or tincture OF
strophan thus-a regulation dose of the
former being fifteen and of the latter
ten drops. When both dIgitalis and
and strophanthus arc used in one prescrip-
tion, the limit of the dose is eight drops.
ro.glycerine is so powerful that even
the handling of it is dangerous. and
the dose is extremely small-decided effects
having been obtained from the administra-
tiOn of one-fortieth of q drop, and in other
cases a loss of consciousness ana other
alarming symptoms were produced by
about the forty-fifth part of drop. Like
nitrate of amyl, nitro gly cerine prod ces
violent flushing-as If the head were about
to burst-an excessive action of the heart
and sense of suffocation. with muscular
weakness.
Nltro-glycerine in solid form produced
by process of evaporation of the liquid,
is dispensed in pellets OF three slzes-one
two-hundredth. one one -hundreth and one
fiftieth of O grain. The latter is the larg.
est dose used. 1t is rare. indeed. that even
so much as fiftieth part OF a grain is used.
The reaction of this powerful chemical
production causes muscular weakness
accompanied with partial OF complete un-
consciousness. The use of the drug in the
most stinfinitesmalq quantities would of itself
produce fatal results after continued aC-
ministrntions for any length of time The
comporndinR Of the pellets is a dangerous
task. an the yellow liquid of nitro gly ceTine
can be handled only where the temperature
10 below freezing point. and then only with
the most extreme caution.
At midnight all was auiet in the vicinity
of the Blaine mansion and all signs point
az n n inn ~ Enx Ia
tiOn of affairs existing throughout tie day.
The family bad evidently all retired, as
the lights were burning very low and no
one seemed TO be stirring.