A Hand-to-hand Fight

TheLatest. - Wednesday, 3:00 a. m. - At 2-45 a. m. Mr. Conkling had a fit of delirium and aróse and paced the room. He was finally quieted, and at 3 o'clook was sleeping quietly. Dr. Hartley is the only physieiarl now in his sic-k chamber. New Yokk, April 10.- Rosooe Conkling's condition changed much for the worsd Sunday night. He was buoyed up ih the evening by the presence of liis wife, whom he had not been permitu.il to see since hi.s ilhie bccanie aerious. Af ter her departure he sank mto a stupor, from which he aroused, but at long intervals, and then only to display symptoms of delirium. These conditions continued all day Mouday, the patiënt remaining unconscious of his surroundings, except that he recognized his wife. The physicians said there was very little hope of his recovery, the indications being that his brain was fatally affected. His temperature was 10H}4 and his pulse 100, and no one was admitted to the riek room except the nurse and Mrs. Conkling. At 5 p. m. Drs. Sands, Delafleld and Barker went to the sick room, it having been detennined by the physicians that an operation was necessary. They at once proceeded to remove the squamous portion of the temporal bone, the object being to ascertain if there was any matter at the base of the brain. The operation was successfully performed, and a quantity of matter was found. Ether was administered. The patiënt had been out of his mind all day, but most of the time very active physically, and it was difflcult to place him entirely under the influence of ether. After the operation he rose and walked around the room. Dr. Barker said that while he could not promise recovery he could safely say that the chances were much better than before the operation. The physicians were doubtful as to whether pus had collected at the base of the brain, and had no alternative but to perforan the operation, which was very successful. About an ounce of pus was removed. Dr. Barker seid there was at least no danger of any material change for the worse within twelve hours. Mrs. Conkling and her married daughter were in the room with the ex-senator during the evening. Drs. Barker and Sands left at 10 p. m. The manner of performing the operation was as follows: Dr. Bands turned Senator Conkling's head over upon the rigbt side and eut a lateral incisión in the scalp two inches behind the left ear. The incisión was about threc inches long. The scalp parted, and the assistant surgeons dried the slight hemorrhage that ensued, and stood by ready to stop the possible hemorrbage from the lateral cut. The skull lay exposed. Deftly and quickly Dr. Sands ran the edge of a little steel chisel under the squamous portion of the temporal bone- the scale-like plate of bone back of the ear. The doctor gave three or four smart raps with a mallet upon his chiael, and raised the bone plate. Aa he did so the pus gushed out. The diagnosis of Dr. Barker was confirmed. A pocket of pus liad Formeel bacjf of the ear and was pressing upon the brain. Dr. Sands held the plate raised tor u little while, and let as mueh pus out as would come. About an ouncepame out. Tuen Dr. Sands let the plate back. No draining tutes were insertert in the skull, as it would have beeft dangerous, of oourse, to have kept the plate raised. At 8:45 p. m. Mr. Conkling feil luto a naturai slci'p. which was an encouraging symptom, and at 9:20 his temperature had f allen to 10:i, and bis pulse to iU, and tlie doctors said his condition had decidedly mproved. He grew restless, hovvever. at 12 o'cioek, and insista! npon rising and walkmg about the room. He was still delirio-., and rooognized no one but Mrs. Conkling. Soon 12 o'clock he called for Mr. Ed Stokes, who was sent lor. Mr Coiikliug said: 'Ed, it's no use. Í am gunt. 1 have fought agaiust it, but can't stuud it nu longer." Mr. Stokes said that in an interview with Dr. Sands, the doctor sa id the ex senator might live forty-eight hours, but that was doubtful. Dr Sands is said to have made the same remark to personal fiïeuds of his during the evening. "Sueh siiffering I never snw," said llr. Stokes after he left the senator' room, '"nor did I suppose it possible for a man to suffer as he evidently is suffer ing and live Yet he bears it with a heroism that is marvelous, and said: 'II I can stand this pain for twentyfour hours longer and retain m}' ïnental powers I béliove I can recover.' Tt was simply heart-breaking to see that physical and intellectual giant fighting for life, striding about his chambar, and suppressing the cries of pain that must have involuntarily come to bis lips, for his Rufferings were auch as would have driven a man with less will power insane." "Will that ron constitution of his enable him to be successful i liis fight for Iiíeí" Mr. stokes was asked. "There is a chance, n, slim chance, perhaps, but his physicians teil him he bas a chance, and he is tighting for it with sueh bravery as might be expected of a man like Conkling. But it is a figbt against long odds, for he bas had no sleep for ten days except sueh as he has obtainetl while under the influeuce of the most po werf ui opiates."