The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-10

has become conviction. Indeed. many of
a sort of superstitious confidence in the
Presidents recovery which nothing but an
absolute change for the worse can shake.
And the basis for the confidence that is
expressed is solid.
There has been nothing bat improve
ment, gradual and slow, but steady i'm
provement. Every bulletin, every private
and public word of the physicians in at
tendance breathes encouragement. The re-
ports the physicians have given out are
facts as they exist from scientific stand
point unmixed with sentiment
STILL that the President is by no means
out of danger is the verdict of each of
them. Not one of them will risk his pro-
fessional reputation with a statement that
the President will live. All they will say
is that with every hour the danger of COM
plication from peritonitis or blood poison
ing decreases. DR.. McBurney, the most
eminent of the physicians in attendance,
expresses the opinion that if the improve
ment continues it will be a week yet be-
fore the President can be pronounced out
of danger and convalescent. And some of
his colleagues, like DR.. Mann, place the
limit danger still further away. The fear
Of peritonitis, it can be said positively, has
well-nish disappeared. At the expiration
of the seventy -two-hour period at o'clock
this afternoon danger from that source
was almost gone.
THE PRESIDENT CHEERFUL.
The President himself has been cheerful
all day ard has expressed confidence in his
recovery To-day he asked for a morning
paper, but this of course had to be denied
him. 1t is with some difficulty that he can
be restrained from talking. and Col Myron
T. Herrick, of Cleveland, is quoted as au-
thority for the statement that he has
spoken at intervals Of several things he
proposes to do in the future. This morn
ing he asked TO be allowed to move his
position, and when permission was given
before the attendants could move him he
changed to the position he desired to as
sumo without difficulty or pain. This
speaks much for his general strength and
spirits Mrs. Mckinley saw him again to-
day for a brief visit and Secretary Cortel-
you was admitted for the first time. No
one else was allowed to see him, although
he inquired several times who was below
stairs.
The President was given nourishment to-
day in the form of eggs beaten in milk ad-
ministered through the rectum. The water
which has been given heretofore cold did
not appear to agree with him and since last
night very hot water has been taken into
the stomach through the mouth with splen-
did results. His bowels moved freely dur
an excellent symptom. If he continues to
improve it will be gradually. If he should
grow worse the change in that direction
also probably will be slow. This is the
opinion of DR.. Mann. There will be no
crisis. If he arrives at convalescence DR..
Park expresses the opinion that it will be
him. 1t is expected that the interior wounds
will heal first. The sutures of the lacerated
tissue were made so soon after the bullet
passed that they are probably healing rap
idly With the exterior wound it is a slower
process.
ROOSEVELT OPTIMISTIC.
The extreme optimism of the Vice Pres
ident and the members of the Cabinet
would be difficult to overstate. II am abso-
Iutely confident everything will turn out all
right" declared the Vice President, and he
said he based his confidence on information
behind the public expressions of the physi-
clans.
So relieved are Secretary Gage and At
rorney General Knox at the steady i'm
provement that they returned to Washing
ton tonight. feeling strongly that their
chief would recover. but with the assur-
ance of the physicians that if a change for
the worse should come it would be gradual
and that they would have ample time to
return. In the case of Secretary Gage
there was also a public reason why he
should be at his post. New York financiers
have appealed to him to relieve the sltua-
ton in the money market by increasing
deposits in national banks, and he feels
that he can hardly act at this distance
from the scene if he finds that action de-
sirable.
Secretary of State Hay is due to arrive
tonight, and will remain with the other
members of the Cabinet at least for a day
or two The devotion of the members of
the Cabinet to their chief is touching All
would desire to remain near him until the
crucial period is passed, and Secretary
Hitchcock and Secretary Wilson avow that
only absolute and imperative public busi-
ness will induce them TO depart before the
President is pronounced out of danger
Senator Hanna also will remain until the
physicians give absolute assurance that
Mr.. Mckinley will live. Controller Dawes
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