The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-13

when the afternoon bulletin appeared
was increased when the physicians as
sembled for their evening consultation,
about an hour earlier than usual.
The cheeriness of the morning was
succeeded by apprehension and a
dreary rain which began to fall added
to the gloomy feeling which prevailed.
The bulletin was personally delivered
to the members of the press by Secre-
tary Cortelyou, and the frankness with
which the physicians announced that
the Presidents condition was not so
good, disquieting as it was, was a re-
lief. 1t was felt to be additional proof
that nothing was being concealed.
1t was explained semi mi-ofiicially to
the Associated Press that the trouble
which existed was due to the fact that
the food taken this morning had not
agreed with the President. 1t
and the rise in his pulse
was attributed to that fact. 1t was
stated quite positively that the consult
ing physicians did not believe that
the failure to digest the food was due
to the condition of the wounds in the
sides of the stomach, which were be-
lieved to be practically healed, and so
pronounced by Dr. McBurney and his
associates.
Food Did Not Agree.
The fact that the food would rot
agree with the patient could not have
been anticipated, so it was stated, but
as soon as it was known, the adminis-
tration of food by the mouth was dis
continued. The problem which con-
fronted the physicians was TO dispose
of this undigested food in the stom-
ach. DIR. Mann, who is considered the
chief surgeon in the absence of DR..
McBurney, is confident that the Presi-
dent will be better in the morning
The fatigue of the patient noted in
the afternoon bulletin continued dur
ing the evening and several times
the President murmured:
Il am so tired; am so tired
DR.. Charles d. Stockton, who has a
fine reputation as general practition-
er here, was called in at the evening
conference.
The problem now is one for the ply
sicians rather than the surgeons and
the advice and counsel of DR.. Stock
ton was considered advisable. After the
bulletin was issued two of the physi-
clans slipped away through the side
entrance. thus escaping the newspaper
men. 1t was understood that DR..
Mann and DR.. Stockton remained at
the Milburn house.
Secretaries Wilson and Hitchcock
| reached the Milburn house at 935
o'clock. They seemd anxious for per-
sonal assurances as to the condition of
the President and when they left their
carriage hurried into the house.
The spirits of the little coterie, which
Secretaries Hitchcock and Wilson
joined in the drawing room of the Mil
burn house, were visibly depressed, al
though the assurances of DR.. Mann
that the Presidents condition would
be better in the morning did some
thing toward offsetting the apprehen-
| sion they could not conceal.
Some Concern lis Felt.
One of those fully identified with
every feature of the case, tonight
made the following statement of the
case to a reporter of the Associated
| Press:
''Yes, 1 do feel some concern about
the Presidents case, but l think this
| will be dispelled by tomorrow morn
ing as result of the treatment that
is being administered to him. The trou-
bic now is with the question of nour-
ishment and proper disposition of food
through the stomach and bowels. The
surgical treatment of the case is prac-
tically finished. The abdominal wound
now gives no cause for concern. 1t is
healing, looks better and is gradually
of peritonitis, blood poisoning or in
1lammation whatever of any of the or
gans-absolutely none. The kidneys,
too, which for a time caused some ap-
prehension, are working excellently,
and there is no apparent danger from
that source.
But as 1 said before, the trouble
and source of danger now is in the
stomach and bowels. There is a dis
turbance in the gastro-intestinal ca
nal, called in medical terms, intestinal
toxefnia. The fact is that the Presi-
dent should not have been allowed to
take any food through the stomach,
because of the wound in that organ
Nourishment, therefore, was admins-
tered through the rectum, but this has
become an annoyance.
"Nourishment, however, is absolute
ly necessary to keep up the strength.
So the case which, as you see, is some
what complicated, Notwithstanding the
specific statement / have made, con-
tinues fair. We hope that the next
twenty-four hours will show a decided
change for the better in the general
condition of the President If it does
not, then in my individual ,opinian,
there may be cause for serious appre-
hension as to the future. The physi-
clans still feel that the President has
more than an even chance for recov-
ery"