The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-20

Gov Atkinson's Illness dates from LIS
assumption Of the speakership Of the
rouse OF Representatives. where he had
/ the nrst attack Of appendicitis. His sturdy
| constitution and great will power over
came the deadly malady then, however,
| Dut at intervals up to the present he has
/ suffered severely with his stomach and
/ bowels, the trouble doubtless being the
result OF the attack three years ago. The
present attack came upon him one week
| ago, when he did not visit Dahloneea en-
/ account of feeling badly. On last Thurs
/ day ne felt this premonitory symptom or
| an attack and in talking about his condi-
ton with the Morning News correspond
ent said he hoped to get through with
/ the review Of the troops at Griffin on last
thursday and his trip to the university
at Athens on Saturday, after which he
would feel at ease for a time and could
/ recuperate. He made both trips havinc
oeen taken i'll few hours after his 1e>
/ turn from Athens last Saturday. The
/ fatal attack came upon him about 3
| o'clock last Sunday morning. Dr. ]. b.
). Holmes, who was at once call
/ ed in, wanted to operate At
/ once without delay but the
/ consent Of the family could not be oh
! tanned. When the first consultation was
! held it was thought that the operation
| should be performed early Monday morn
| ing, but the governor appeared so much
1 better then and at the opposition of the
! iamily the operation was abandoned 1t
was not until Monday night that con-
| sent to the operation was had, and the
| operation itself was not accomplished I'M
| TIL o'clock Tuesday morning Usually
! such operations require about thirty min
utes, but Gov. Atkinson's case was so
complicated that it took one hour to ac-
| complish It after the first incision was
made. That the operation was unusually
deIerred was shown by the fact that the
appendix was already perforated and in
/ Hammaton of the bowels present when
the surgeons began their delicate work.
Ihe trying part of last nights operation
| was the finding of the appendix Owing
| TO its enlarged condition this was a diff
/ cult task, and for awhile had the sur
geons all puzzled. They felt about the To-
| cality where 1t is known to lie and could
not touch it. Finally they ascertained
| that II had grown so large and so in
famed that it had fallen over the bowels
and was lying in an opposite direction
from its normal position. They brought
II up and made the examination.
Results Of former attacks were shown
by adhesions of the appendix to surround
ing structures. Perforation of the appen-
dix had evidently taken place on Sun
day, an abcess had formed and perito-
nitis had developed. as HAD been predicted
by the physicians before the operation.
The appendix was litigated and re-
out with hot water and the incision closed
by sutures, after inserting a glass drain
age tube into the abdominal cavity.
Two small stony secretions were found
| in the appendix. They were dattened out
| and somewhat larger than grains of pop
| corn, but were as hard as stone and re-
sembled very much small bits of slate.
When they were held up and allowed to
fall on the tin plate, which was used as
a receptacle, they sounded like pebbles
falling into a tin pan
The appendix was fearfully infamed
and swollen far beyond its bounds. 1t
was as large as the index finger of the
one end it had a heavy growth of in
famed flesh, with an ulcerous-looking
sore or abcess, which had burst, accord
ing TO all the physicians, Sunday.
Atlanta, Ga, June 10, II p. m-Between
6 and o'clock tonight some improvement
was shown in the governors condition. At
that time the sick man turned towards At
torney General Terrell, who was sitting
near Seeing that he was about to speak,
the attorney general motioned the COVER
nor to remain silent and husband his
strength. He would speak, however, zoe"
he said, in distinct tone. I'm feeling
better. I'm stronger. want you to go and
tell the boys that I'm putting up the best
fight l can"
the governor said: II will fight it out as
long as you stick to me-"
At one time to-day it was not be-
lieved possible for Gov Atkinson to
live three hours longer. At $3.50 p.
m. the seven physicians who are
attending him stated that his case
was hopeless. His eyes were then
glazed in the last stages of dis
solution. At s O'Clock he said to
Dr. Holmes: Doctor. 1 know you
have desperate case, but l am
going to do my part and help you
all / can"
GOV. Atkinson's grit is all that is keep
ing him alive. If nerve and will power
caa possibly save his life he will pull
through His determination to battle the
disease is the wonder and the admiration
of the physicians. They say If ne lives
twenty-four hours longer he will get well
The trained nurse who has been attend
ing the governor since the operation was
performed Monday night, refusing to close
her eyes for a moment during the whole
tedious time, declared to the physicians at
7 o'clock that he was much better. The
swelling of the bowels had been considera-
bly, reduced and he took some nourishment.
The governor was touched by the devotion
of this nurse and several times begged her
to leave him and take some rest, but she
declares that she will not go until he is
out of danger or dead.
At 8 o'clock tonight the governors bed
ding was changed. He stood the change
well. exhibiting more strength than the
doctors supposed he had.
Hope of Gov. Atkinson's recovery was
revived again at 1880 o'clock tonight,
when the physicians after examination
and consultation, issued the following
final bulletin for the night: THE gov
ernor has lost nothing since 1870 o'clock
this afternoon, but his condition is still
very critical"
While the hope is a faint one, yet the
doctors now see a single gleam, where
few hours ago, to a man, they had no hope
at all. If the governor pulls through, the
victory will be due to his indomitable
will.
1t is not probable that the governor will
Gle tonight.
Atlanta. Ca. June 20, 1890 a. NAT
1890 O'Clock this morning the governors
condition remains unchanged.
Atlanta, June 20, 2:3O a. m.-The chances
are that the governor will live through the
night
Atlanta, June 90, . a. m.-The governors
condition remains unchanged.
Atlanta, Ca, June 20, a. m.-GOv. At
,.,-.,. a. claiming souodlv He has had