The Life and Public Services of James A. Garfield: Twentieth President of the United States, Including Full and Accurate Details of His Eventful Administration, Assassination, Last Hours, Death, Etc., Together with Notable Extracts from His Speeches and LettersBrown, E. E. (Emma Elizabeth)
History
The Life and Public Services of James A. Garfield: Twentieth President of the United States, Including Full and Accurate Details of His Eventful Administration, Assassination, Last Hours, Death, Etc., Together with Notable Extracts from His Speeches and Letters
Brown, E. E. (Emma Elizabeth)
Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881; Presidents -- United States -- Biography
"Please move me up where I can see the water," said the President, soon
after being placed in bed. His couch was immediately pushed up to the
wide open window; he was slightly raised upon it, and lay there for some
minutes looking out upon the sea. Although he was greatly fatigued by
the journey and his pulse was high, he slept better that night than he
had done for weeks.
"Don't you think I look better!" he said next morning to one of the
attendants; "I feel better," he added. "This is good air."
Previous to leaving Washington, after it had been determined to remove
the President to Long Branch, it appears the President asked his wife if
all the attending surgeons were going along. Mrs. Garfield replied that
she presumed they were. The President then expressed an opinion, the
effect of which was that he did not see why that was necessary. Further
discussion on the subject brought out the President's wishes, and the
withdrawal of Drs. Reyburn, Barnes, and Woodward was the result. Dr.
Bliss stated that there was no cause for the withdrawal or retirement of
the surgeons beyond the fact that it was the desire or whim of a very
sick man, and, as the President had entertained the idea that a fewer
number of physicians could manage his case as well as the number
heretofore engaged upon it, it was desired by Mrs. Garfield that his
wishes be complied with. The doctor stated further that the best of
feeling prevailed among the entire corps of surgeons, and that the
retirement of Messrs. Reyburn, Barnes and Woodward would not in any
manner affect the intimacy which had grown up between them since the
President was shot. After the wish of the President was made known to
one of the attending surgeons in Washington by Mrs. Garfield, a
consultation on the subject took place, resulting in its reference to
Dr. Agnew, with a view to obtaining his opinion as to the best mode of
procedure. Dr. Agnew recommended that the President be requested to name
the surgeons he was desirous of retaining in charge of his case, which
was done. Dr. Bliss, it appears, objected to assuming the entire
responsibility of removing the President to Long Branch, and insisted
that the entire number of surgeons should accompany the patient thither.
A compromise was then effected, which was that all the surgeons should
come to Long Branch with the President, but upon arrival, or as soon
thereafter as possible, the three mentioned should retire.
The following day, September 8th, as the President sat in his reclining
chair by the open window he heard the stroke of bells from the little
church across the way.
"Crete," he said to his wife, "what are they ringing that bell for?"
"Why," said Mrs. Garfield, who had been waiting for the surprise, "the
people are all going there to pray for you to get well; and I am going
to pray too, James," she added, "that it may be soon, for I know already
that the other prayer has been heard."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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