The Salt Lake Herald

LATEST TELEGRAMS.
A NEW DANGER.
But the Doctors are Not Alarmed-The President Retains Some Food. Slightly Improved Condition.
IMPROVEMENT.
Washington, 17.-To-night's bulletin indicates some little improvement in the President. The doctors say this much. They say he is holding his own, which is all they could ask under the circumstances, as their object is to keep him from falling back any while his stomach gets rest. The second teaspoonful of beef juice given him this afternoon nauseated him a little. That passed off, and the nourishment remained on his stomach. The doctors then concluded not to administer any more for several hours, but intend to try to give a teaspoonful about every two hours through the night, if the stomach will retain it. They say the immediate and satisfactory improvement in the case may be counted upon.
Secretary and Mrs. Blaine returned this afternoon. Secretary Blaine said the case was not so bad as he expected, and he still hoped.
WHAT THE DOCTORS SAY.
About 7 o'clock Dr. Boynton, who is a constant attendant upon the President, and who is very frank in giving the state of the case says: The President is certainly better-I will not say much better, but there is some improvement apparent to all around him and especially to himself. He feels better. His stomach retained nourishment this afternoon, which is a good sign. The enemata administered not only sustains life, but it nourishes him. He is gaining strength under the treatment. He is a very different man now from what he was thirty-six hours ago, I can tell you. His stomach has been given rest and meantime nature has done her work. He is not out of the woods yet, but he is going well and the prospect is cheering. The wound is not giving a particle of trouble, is doing splendidly, granulating rapidly and has healed more in the last twenty-four hours than during the preceding two weeks. The President's stomach is yet weak and he has no relish for food, but that will come in good time.
Dr. Agnew said he did not care to make any predictions, but would say the President was doing well.
Dr. Bliss expressed himself satisfied with the progress of the case, and said better could not be asked for under the circumstances. Everybody feels better and things look more hopeful, but much depends upon how the President's stomach will bear nourishment throughout the night. If there is no fever in the morning the chances will be good.
MRS. GARFIELD'S HOPE.
Marshall Jewell called at the Mansion this evening and requested to be permitted to see Mrs. Garfield. The request was granted, and after returning from the private quarters the gentleman said he had informed the lady of his intended leaving the city in the morning, and before starting he felt as if he would like to hear some encouraging news, and asked the real condition of the President. Mrs. Garfield responded to the question, "Do you think he is better?" with "Indeed I do; I know it." This reply was emphasized and carried reassurance with it.
HIS VITALITY.
In conversation with one of the President's immediate attendants, to-day, the attendant remarked: "Contrary to the general impression regarding the President's extreme disability, he has without question a great deal of vitality yet and cannot be said to be extremely feeble."
A SURGEON SAYS.
A prominent surgeon said to-night that he had been very despondent for ten days previous to the recent relapse, but when the condition of the wound was thoroughly explained, after the irritability of the stomach had asserted itself, he felt that too much attention had been paid to the wound at the expense of the stomach, and now that the surgeons had discovered this weakness, he anticipated that great care would be exercised over the patient's diet in future and all would go well. His despondency had been turned into hope.
New York, 18.-The Brooklyn Eagle has a long editorial, saying the President's stomach, rejecting everything else, has as a dernier resort, the food of babes, which will assimilate the weakest stomach.
Eagle's Washington: Dr. Baxter thought the President's diet and stomach have not, perhaps, been carefully attended to, considering he was dyspeptic on account of the habit of the improper mastication of food, and because of studying late at night.
A Washington special says: A stronger pulse, better feeling of the skin, retention of nourishment derived from enemata, and the excellent tone of the President's mind are received this morning as unmistakable indications that the crisis is past and the road to recovery again regained. The fact that the President is able to procure refreshing sleep without the use of anodynes is shown to be the most favorable feature of his case. The irritability of the stomach has entirely ceased, and it is thought his system will be entirely satisfied by supplying him with fluids in the ordinary way and by enemata. The wound is considered in a very healthy way.
Post's Washington: Dr. Hamilton, a little before the noon bulletin was issued, said the wound was doing admirably, and they were confident they can restore the stomach.
The attorney-general, however, received news from some source which disquieted him. He said this morning he is advised that the surgeons fear they cannot restore the stomach.
Chicago, 18.-Inter Ocean's Washington: A sensation is caused by the official report that the parotid gland is inflamed. It is not known yet to what extent this complication will affect the case. Some believe it denotes the formation of a new pus cavity, or an abscess, which may end in pyæmia. The parotid gland is the one at the angle of the jaw usually swelling in mumps.
Dr. Bliss, in response to an interrogation on the subject of the inflammation of the President's parotid gland, agrees with Dr. Hamilton, that it is no occasion for alarm, and is not an unusual occurrence in cases when patients become greatly debilitated. He says it is not indicative of pyæmia or fever.
Doctors Bliss and Reyburn say there is no reason to regard the swelling in the patient's neck as foreboding serious results, and it will not interfere with his recovery. They say it indicates, if there is any pyæmic condition of the blood, that it is passing off, which they want it to do. They expected a small abscess to form there and suppurate.
Bliss and Reyburn say the other surgeons agree that the swelling is not dangerous, and causes no alarm.
New York, 18.-A Washington special: Dr. Bliss, this morning, speaking of the condition of the President's wound, said: It is really surprising to see its progress during three days of starvation. While all other conditions were at their worst, the wound has been at its best. He said, "It is a small matter to build upon, two teaspoonfuls of beef tea, and yet no one can tell how joyfully I watched the result of the test of the stomach. I am almost certain we shall be able to nourish him naturally after to-day."
POOR BLISS.
The publication of an alleged extract from a letter written by Dr. Bliss, to a friend in Chicago, in which he is quoted as saying he holds no interviews with newspaper correspondents, but that they insist upon inventing false into foolish conversations with him, and concluding: "Don't think the President's surgeons and physicians are shallow fools because the press gang try to make them out such," has been the subject of considerable comment among members of the press during the day, and in order to obtain the facts in the case the article was clipped from a morning paper and sent to Dr. Bliss with a request that he should say in writing whether or not he wrote the letter referred to. The response Dr. Bliss returned is as follows: "The paragraph is an entire fabrication, and is only one of many false and cruel attacks upon me since I have occupied the position as surgeon in charge of the President. I have not before thought proper to make any public denial of these heartless attacks upon my character, and only now in reply to your kind note of this date, because you seem to think it of sufficient importance to call my attention to it.
Very truly yours,
(Signed)
D. W. BLISS."
The morning's bulletin showed the President better, and it was received with great satisfaction. The improved condition seemed to keep up after the morning dressing. After 10 o'clock Colonel Rockwell said the President was better in every respect. About 11 o'clock Dr. Bliss said there was visible improvement, that the stomach was stronger and better. Up to that hour liquid nourishments had been given several times and retained without producing nausea. The fact that the President enjoyed a pretty good night's rest is considered a favorable symptom too. There was great anxiety to see the mid-day bulletin, which was issued nearly an hour later than usual. This delay caused a feeling of alarm. Heretofore whenever there has been delay it was because something has been wrong. The bulletin which issued was in guarded language, which added to the general uneasiness. The surgeons saying in the bulletin that inflammation is commencing, is construed by many to mean that they expect further inflammation.
This new complication of the case has arisen this morning since Agnew left. It annoys the surgeons. The gland inflamed is the large conglomerated salivary gland under the ear. The President's surgeons do not give any decided opinion as to this aspect of the case, but intimate that it is not necessarily serious, but Dr. Lincoln and other surgeons who have no connection with the case, say this inflammation indicates a pyæmic condition, perhaps not pyæmia in its literal sense, but a bad condition of the blood consequent upon excessive weakness and general debility. These outside doctors say inflammation of the parotid gland is very painful and often produces high fever.
It is plain that the President's stomach is in decidedly better shape. Its tone has returned. Doctors say now they can gradually increase the nourishment. The wound is doing well, say the surgeons, and healing rapidly.
One of the President's surgeons, when pressed for an answer as to what he thought of this new complication, replied: The President has probably caught a little cold and it has manifested itself in the swelling of the throat. One of the phases that is remarked as favorable is the improved condition in the stomach. If proper nourishment can be taken by the President it is believed he can yet be pulled through, despite these complications that arise. This inflammation, however, has produced a feeling of depression that is observable everywhere.
THE PRESIDENT'S STOMACH.
New York, 18.-Dr. J. M. Carnochan, a well known surgeon of this city, said to a reporter this afternoon: I am afraid local causes as well as constitutional influence are producing irritability of the President's stomach to an extent greater than might be supposed to be produced by mere dyspepsia. In the first place the presence of the ball, which from having struck a rib with the force sufficient to break it, must be of irregular shape, jagged and rough; then there is the suppurating character of the wound, its undoubted purulent absorption to a greater or less extent, and the influence upon the blood of the prolonged administration of ether-all these influences act upon the nerve centres and would thence be reflected through the pneumo-gastric nerve upon the stomach. If dyspepsia be merely the cause of the present relapse there might be some hope of relief, but if, as I believe, the other causes are still dominant in giving the type to his present condition, there is but small room for hope of their effective removal in his present exhausted state.
Washington, 18.-Executive Mansion, 10.30 p.m.-The morning bulletin was generally conceded at the Executive Mansion to be the most favorable issued since the President's relapse. Dr. Agnew's departure for Philadelphia proved a signal for a decidedly better feeling in all quarters, and convinced many doubting ones that the case was progressing satisfactorily.
The President has been improving ever since the first teaspoonful of nourishment was taken, and this fact was proven by his firmer pulse. Before the noon bulletin was issued the President had partaken of koumiss four different times and expressed a desire for more. Of course the nourishment was administered in small quantities. Previous to administering the first quantity of koumiss Mrs. Garfield was sitting by the patient's bedside, when he expressed himself as feeling comparatively well, and inquired if it was not desired to try to strengthen his stomach again by permitting him to have nourishment, and expressed a desire for koumiss, whereupon his wife gave him the first portion.
The fact of the President's having suggested the administration of nourishment is considered by the attending surgeons as an indication that the irritability of the stomach is subsiding, and in consequence, the patient commences to crave food.
Considerable anxiety was exhibited about 12.30 on account of the slight delay in the noon bulletin. The contents of the bulletin when read in Private Secretary Brown's room at 1.15, did not allay the anxiety because of the announcement it contained in reference to the inflammation of the parotid gland, and until assurances of the consulting and attending surgeons were obtained to the contrary great apprehension was felt that a new and serious complication had been encountered. Dr. Hamilton was the first of the surgeons applied to for information regarding the inflamed gland, but beyond the statement that there was nothing serious the doctor was disinclined to talk. He intimated that he could not explain to a non-professional, in the brief time he had at disposal, and left with the remark that there was nothing to cause alarm.
When Dr. Bliss left the Mansion at 2.45 p.m., he was met at the front entrance by several members of the press. His attention was called to various rumors which had been circulated since the mid-day bulletin, issued in connection with the President's parotid gland. These rumors were to the effect that it was an indication of pyæmia, low fever and other complications of a more or less serious nature, and also that mortification had set in. The Doctor had said it was very curious to him that in view of the fact that pyæmia was such a specific disease, some people will insist that the President has it, while the attending surgeons have thus far been unable to discover any indication whatsoever. This inflammation is nothing unusual in cases where patients have become debilitated. I have seen it many times in cases of gunshot wounds.
"Then it is not pyæmia, doctor?"
"Oh, no!"
Is it an indication of typhoid, or otherwise?" Not in the least, sir: it is an affection which need not cause the slightest alarm."
The doctor, with this remark, stepped into his carriage and drove off. The assurances of attending surgeons were placed on newspaper bulletin boards throughout the city and carried by one person during the early afternoon.
WHITE HOUSE BULLETINS.
COMFORTABLE NIGHT.
Washington, 18.-The President has passed a comfortable night, sleeping well the greater part of the time. There has been no further vomiting and the enemata are still retained. This morning his pulse is stronger and his general condition better than yesterday at the same hour. Pulse 109, temperature 98.8, respiration 17.
(Signed)
F. H. HAMILTON,
J. K. BARNES,
J. J. WOODWARD,
ROBT. REYBURN,
D. H. AGNEW.
MRS. EDSON.
Executive Mansion, 4 a.m.-Mrs. Edson, who has just left the sick room, says the President has rested well thus far during the night, that no nausea or vomiting has occurred, and that the prospects are good for continued rest.
Executive Mansion, 8 a.m.-The information received this morning from the physicians and attendants upon the President is very encouraging. The physicians report his pulse at 104. The attendants at his bedside report that he rested quietly and slept considerable during the night. An enemata was administered about midnight which has been retained.
Executive Mansion, 11 a.m.-The indications are that everything is progressing nicely in the sick room. Dr. Agnew left for Philadelphia on the limited express. He will probably return to-morrow, in order that Hamilton may go to New York on Saturday. Private Secretary Brown accompanied the doctor to the train and says he talked very encouragingly of the President's chances. Previous to leaving the Mansion Dr. Agnew had a talk with Mrs. Garfield, and informed her that he felt perfectly secure in being temporarily absent. If an emergency should occur he could easily be summoned here.
At this hour the President is resting quietly. About three quarters of an hour ago he took a small quantity of koumiss, which was given him by his wife. Up to this time no bad effect have been experienced from it, and he is now sleeping.
A NEW DANGER.
Executive Mansion, 1.15 p.m.- Following is the 12.30 official bulletin which has just been sent from the surgeons' room. The President is suffering some discomfiture this morning from inflammation of the right parotid gland. In other respects his condition is somewhat improved, and especially his stomach is becoming less intolerant. He asked for and retained several portions of liquid nourishment, much more than he could swallow yesterday. The nutritive enemata continue to be used with success. At present his pulse is 108, temperature 98.4, respiration 18. Signed by the physicians.
Executive Mansion, 1.20 p.m.- The President has just eaten a small quantity of koumiss and retained it. He relishes nourishment and asks for more. He has conversed at times during the morning. At present there is no indication that his stomach is disturbed by nausea.
Executive Mansion, 2 p.m.-As Dr. Hamilton was leaving the White House, ten minutes ago, he said, in response to a question of a representative of the press, that he could not conveniently explain the cause of the inflammation of the parotid gland at this time, but he said it was perfectly proper to state that it was not an indication of any serious complication; it was not an unusual occurrence in such cases, and that it caused no alarm to the attending surgeons.
Blaine to Lowell at 2 o'clock p.m. The President shows slight improvement in his power to retain and digest food, but his general condition is not strongly reassuring.
Executive Mansion, 4.50.-The President is quiet and with the exception of experiencing considerable pain from the inflammation of the parotid gland, is quite comfortable. He has taken koumiss at intervals all day and has retained it. It is generally maintained by the surgeons that the inflammation of the gland is not an alarming feature.