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was an examination by the attending and consulting surgeons, an an operation was determined upon. An incision was accordingly made about two inches in length, an inch and a half in depth, reaching down

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[graphic]

noon, when the wound

was again dressed, it

SCENE IN THE SICK CHAMBER.

was found that the pus
was escaping from the
tube and not from the
old wound at all.

In making this arti-
ficial opening some
rich farther discoveries

ing the character of the wound.

were made regard

It was found that the
fracture, being

eleventh rib had suffered a compound

broken in two places. The piece of bone thus displaced

!

was driven inwards from its natural position. This the sur<geons restored to its place, and it was decided that in a few days the old opening, where the ball had entered, should be allowed to heal, leaving only the orifice made by the surgeons. During the operation the President displayed his usual courage. He neither flinched nor moved, though nothing was given him in the nature of an anesthetic.

Probes were thrust

down through the old wound to the bottom of the pocket, and against these probes the surgeons cut their way to the lower end of the sac. The operation thus performed was in every way successful. The beneficial effects were immediately apparent in an improved condition of the sufferer. The bulletin issued by the surgeons in the evening was as follows:

"7 P. M.-The President has been much relieved by the operation of this morning, and the pus has been discharging satisfactorily through the new opening. At noon to-day his pulse was 118; temperature, 99.8; respiration, 24. At present his pulse is 104; temperature, 99.2; respiration, 23."

The unofficial conversations of the surgoons with reporters and others was to the effect that, taken all in all, the prospects for the President's ultimate recovery were not lessened by the events of the last two days.

The twenty-fourth day. The news was somewhat reassuring. There had been no very marked change in the President's condition, either for better or worse. But he had passed a comparatively comfortable night, sleeping at intervals, and suffering no recurrence of the chill. The operation performed had entailed no serious consequence, and the outlook again began to be hopeful. The surgeon's bulletins were of a sort to cheer rather than discourage. They said:

"8:30 A. M.-The President has passed a more comfortable night, and has had no rigor since that reported in the bulletin of yesterday morning. He is doing well this morning. Pulse, 96; temperature, 98.4; respiration, 18. 7 P. M.-The President has done well during the day. His afternoon fever did not come on until after three o'clock. It is some

what higher than yesterday, but there has been no chill. At noon his pulse was 104; temperature, 98.4; respiration, 20. At 7 P. M. his pulse was 110; temperature, 101; respiration, 24."

The attendants upon the President who were often at the bedside, and had every opportunity of judging of the general course of the case, and also the members of the Cabinet, reiterated in many informal conversations the views expressed officially by the surgeons in charge. None the less, to one who could read between the lines and could not be blown hot or cold with every rumor, it was clear, even from the surgeons' bulletins, that the recovery of the President was still problematical.

The twenty-fifth day.—The reports for Tuesday, July 26th, showed that the President was gaining ground, and that he had in a good measure realized the relief hoped for from the operation of the previous Sunday. This belief was plainly present in the dispatch of the cool-headed Mr. Blaine. He said:

"LOWELL, Minister, London:

"At 11 o'clock P. M. the President's physicians report temperature and respiration normal, and pulse, 96-best report at same hour for five nights. The entire day has been most encouraging, and a feeling of confidence is rapidly returning. BLAINE, Secretary."

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This dispatch of the Secretary of State was, of course, based upon the official bulletins of the surgeons, who said in their reports for the day:

"8:30 A. M.-The President was somewhat restless during the night, and the fever which had subsided after the last bulletin rose again about midnight, and continued till three o'clock, after which it again subsided. He is now about as well as yesterday at the same hour. Pulse, 102; temperature, 98.4; respiration, 18. 7 P. M.-The President has done well during the day. At noon his pulse was 106; temperature, 98.4; respiration, 19. At 7 P. M. pulse, 104; temperature, 100.7; respiration, 22."

One of the distressing features of the times was the presence in Washington of great numbers of irresponsible newspaper correspondents who shamed their profession by the publication of

whatever came uppermost. The Capital appeared to be at the mercy of sensational rumor-mongers, and they made the most of their opportunity. According to them, the doctors had said that the President would not live an hour; mortification had set in; an important surgical operation had been necessary, and the result had been unsatisfactory; the surgeons refused to give any information concerning it or the President's condition; it had been decided by the surgeons that an attempt must at once be made to find and extract the bullet as a last desperate effort to save the President's life; the flag on the building occupied by the Department of Justice was at half-mast, as a sign of the President's death, etc.

The twenty-sixth day.-There could be no doubt that the reports of the 27th indicated a marked improvement in the President's condition. He continued all day without fever. The bulletins

were unequivocal:

"8 A. M.-The President slept sweetly last night from about 8 P. M. to 5 A. M., with but a slight break of short duration at 11 P. M. There have been no rigors. He takes his nourishment well, and his general condition is improving. He expresses himself as feeling better and more rested. Pulse, 94; temperature, 98.4; respiration, 18. 12:30 P. M.— The President's wound was dressed just after the morning bulletin was issued. Since then he has rested quietly, and takes his nourishment readily and without gastric disturbance. At present his pulse is 90; temperature, 98.4; respiration, 18. 7 P. M.-The President is still resting quietly. He has been able to take more nourishment to-day than for several days past, and, up to the present hour, has had no febrile rise of temperature. His wound has just been dressed. It looks well, and has continued to discharge healthy pus in sufficient quantity during the day. His pulse is now 95; temperature, 98.5; respiration, 20."

The news sent abroad by Secretary Blaine to Minister Lowell was of the same tenor. The dispatch said:

"LOWELL, Minister, London.

"At 11 o'clock P. M. the President's physicians gave a most favorable account of his condition. There is a conspicuous improvement in his

digestion and in the restfulness of his sleep. We are by no means relieved from anxiety, but are growing more hopeful.

"BLAINE, Secretary."

In a conversation during the day, Dr. Bliss, referring to the outlook, said: "There is only one more danger to be apprehended in the President's case. That danger is pyæmia, and it is not likely to occur for a long time; and we are extremely confident, almost certain, that it will not occur at all. The President is doing very, very well. We could not hope to have him do better. His sleep last night was the best that he has had since he was wounded."

The twenty-seventh day.―The incident of the day was the removal of the President from his room, in order that the apartment might be thoroughly cleaned and aired. The removal was effected without difficulty, and the President remained in the adjacent room until five o'clock in the afternoon, when he was quietly returned to his own chamber. He greatly enjoyed the slight change of scene thus afforded, and was much pleased with the maneuver by which his room had been brought to order. His spirits were revived not a little, and an improvement in his appetite was again thankfully noted. The official bulletins of the day were as follows:

"8 A. M.-The President rested well during the night, and no rigor or febrile disturbance has occurred since the bulletin of yesterday evening. This morning the improvement of his general condition is distinctly perceptible. He appears refreshed by his night's rest, and expresses himself cheerfully as to his condition. Pulse, 92; temperature, 98.4: respiration, 18. 12:20 P. M.-The President bore the dressing of his wound this morning with less fatigue than hitherto. It appears well and is discharging sufficiently. His pulse is now 94; temperature, 98.5; respiration, 18. 7 P. M.-The President has passed a pleasant day, and has taken his nourishment with apparent relish. His temperature continued normal until about 5 o'clock, when a moderate afternoon rise occurred, which, however, gives the patient but slight discomfort, and causes no anxiety. At present his pulse is 104; temperature, 100.5; respiration, 20."

During the day a sensational report was started to the effect that

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