Wound Reopened by the Surgeons

Slight Irritation Causes New Operation, but Medical Men Are Not Apprehensive.

     MILBURN HOUSE, BUFFALO, Sept. 10.—Late to-night there was a slight scare at the Milburn residence, caused by the protracted visit of the consulting physicians, who remained almost two hours, and this was increased by the announcement in the official bulletin issued just before midnight that a slight irritation of the wound, discovered only to-night, had necessitated the opening of a few of the stitches.
     As stated in the bulletin, which all the doctors signed, this irritation was attributed to the fact that a small portion of the President’s coat had been carried into the body by the bullet, and although this foreign substance was removed a slight disturbance developed which made it necessary to open the wound.
     The doctors seek to allay all apprehension by the positive statement that this incident cannot give rise to other complications, and their frankness in giving the news to the public leaves no reason to question their good faith. Further facts communicated in the bulletin, that the President is now well enough to begin taking nourishment in the mouth in the form of pure beef juice, was of course gratifying, but to the laymen the mere mention of a complication, however slight it might be, naturally created alarm. But the most positive assurances were given that the only effect might be to delay slightly the healing of the wound. It was not in any way the result even of a suggestion of blood poisoning. The physicians declared over their own signatures that it could not result in complications.
     The opening of the wound was in no sense an operation. Several of the stitches were simply taken out, and after a thorough washing of the tissue the wound was again sewed up. Considerable delay was caused by the fact that a certain dressing desired by the surgeons was not in the house, and it was necessary to send to the city for it. The first time the messenger returned he did not have what was wanted and he had to make another trip.
     After the bulletin was issued Secretary Cortelyou and Mr. Milburn came to the press tent to dispel any alarm that might have arisen with positive assurance of the unimportance of the incident. Secretary Cortelyou announced that there would not be another consultation until morning.
     After all this it was quiet at the Milburn house, Dr. Rixey and Dr. Wasdin remaining on duty throughout the night.