Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-09-18
SURGEONS A[LAY FEAR

Buffalo. Sept. 10.-Late tonigh.
there was a slight scare at the Mil
burn residence. caused by the pro
tracted visit OF the consulting physi
clans. who remained almost two hours
in consultation. and this was increased
by the announcement in the official
bulletin issued Just before midnight
that a slight irritation of the wound
discovered only tonight. had necessi.
tated the opening of few stitches oil
the wound.
As stated in the bulletin. which all
the doctors signed. this irritation was
attributed to the fact that a small pc
ton of he Presidents coat had been
carried into the body by the bullet.
and although this foreign substance
was removed. slight disturbance de.
yeloped which made 1t necessary 10
open the wound The doctors seek to-
allay all apprehension by the positive
statement that this incident cannot
give rise to other complications. and
their frankness in giving the news to
the public leaves no reason to question
their good faith
Further facts communicated in the
bulletin that the President Ia now well
enough to begin taking nourishmeut
through the moutn in the form of
pure beef juice was, of course. graft.
Tying, but to the iaymen the mere
mention of a complication. however
slight II might be, naturally Great "a
alarm But the most positive assur.
ances were given that the only effect
might be to delay slightly the healing
Of the wound. II was not in any wa!
the result even Of a suggestion ni
blood poisoning. The physicians do.
clared over their own signatures that
IL could not result In complications.
The opening of the wound was In no
sense an operation. Several of the
stitches were simply taken out, and
after thorough washing of the tissue
the wound was again sewed up. Con
siderable delay was caused by the
fact that a certain dressing desired by
the surgeons was not In the house. and
II was necessary to send into the city
for II. The first time the messenger
returned he did not have what was
wanted and he had to make another
trip. The uneasiness was somewhat
increased when II was learned that
DR.. McBurney. who had intended to
leave for Stockbridge. Conn. at II: 20
o'clock, had missed his train and had
decided to remain over until tomor
row night.
The doctor himselfsdd all he could
to dispel the idea that the change In
his plans portended anything serious.
In fact, he took occasion to announce
as an additional evidence of the i'm
provement of the patient that 1t had
been decided to begin to give IN.
President nourishment through the
mouth tonight instead of waiting IN
til tomorrow. as had been intended
Beef extract had been prepared. Or.
McBurney announced, and IL was be.
ing administered as the physicians
left. The other physicians who list.
ened to DR.. McBurney's statement as.
scented to It.
After the bulletin was issued Secra.
tary Cortelyou and Mr.. Milburn cane
to the press tent to ..spel ny alarm
that might have arisen with positiv ,
assurances of the unimportance of the
incident. Secretary Cortelyou an.
nounced that there would not be an
other consultation until morning. Aft.
er all this there was quiet Mt the Mil.
burn house. DR.. Rixey and DIR. Wasdin
remaining on duty throughout thc
night.