President Garfield’s Condition: August 31, 1881, 6:30 PM

Portraits of Garfield's six doctors surround an illustration of the President on his sickbedEXECUTIVE MANSION,
August 31, 1881.

6.30 P. M.
The President has passed a better day than for some time past. He has taken his food with increased relish, and the usual afternoon rise of temperature did not occur. At the evening dressing the fluid used to wash out the parotid abscess found its way into the mouth, which it did not do this morning, showing that an opening into the mouth has spontaneously occurred. The abscess is discharging freely, and the swelling continues to diminish. There is some increase in the discharge of pus from the wound. Pulse, 109; temperature, 98.6°; respiration, 18.

D. W. BLISS,
J. K. BARNES,
J. J. WOODWARD,
ROBT.  REYBURN,
FRANK H. HAMILTON.

This post is one of a series reenacting the official bulletins released to the public by the physicians to President Garfield during his illness after the shooting on July 2, 1881.

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