Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-06-02
IFrou the PhIIAdalphia Msdie4l Rspsraerl
-. H.. oF Ehrzham IIaeafa

cumstauces attending the assassination,
last hours, and autopsy Of the late Pres
ident, will doubtless prove Of much in
terest to the profession, and may be re-
lied on as correct in all particulars, the
notes from which il Is written having
been submitted to comparison with
others taken, and corrected BY the high
est authority:
While sitting in au orchestra chair, a.
Fords Theatre, on FRIDAY evening, the
18th INST, about 1890 P. ~, ] heard
the sharp report Of pistol 10 the diree-
ton Of the state box, and turning my
head ia that direction, saw a Wild Look
ing man Jump from the box 10 the stage,
heard hi shout Sic ssmper kyraHais,
as be bTaadisbed a glitteTing knife IN
his right hand for an instant, and dart
across the stage from sight
A few nom Of utterly in9eserib-
able confusion lolioged, amid which
heard call for Surgeon. leaped
upon the sage, and was instantly lifted
by a drz pair Of hands up 10 the Presi-
snts box, distance Of twelve feet from
tie stage
When | entered the box, the Prtsi-
dent was lying upon the hjoT, surround
ed by his wailIBg wife and several gem
emen who had entered from the dress
circle. The respiration was inaudIble
and scarcely pereeplible, and be vas
totally inss nsible Assistant Surgeon
Charles A Leale, Q 5 V, was in the
box, and bad caused the coat and vest
to be cut of, in searching for the wound.
Il a
bat st the time there was no ooz,ng
from IT,
Several gentlemen 10 the box we're
insisting upon having the President re-
moved 10 his home, but DR. Leale and
myself protested against such proceed
ing, and insisted upoa his being carried
to the nearest house. He was removed
to q house opposite and laid upon bed
ia fifteen N nutes from the time the shot
was fred
The wound was there examined, the
finger ariug used as a probe, and the
ball fou.t have passed beyond the
reach OF hr finger INTO he brain put
8 tea i0oufil0 i.larsI brandy between
the ~ wh.cH was swa.iog-d, with much
dfAcuity q Eo.f teaspOouiuh admins
tered ron minutes afserwards, was re-
tanned ia t.- throat. without any effort
being made 10 swsilow il The respira.
ton aOw bacare a5ored; pulse IL,
feeble, eyes entirely closed, the left
pupil much contracted, the right widely
dllated total insens.blitY to light in
both
Surgeon General Barnes and Robert
X Stone, ". d the family physician,
arrived and took charge Of the case AZ
their suggestion, administered a few
drops Of brandy, 10 determine whether
il could be swallowed, but as il was not
no farther attempt WAS made. The left
upper eyehd was swo len and DARK from
fused blood; this was observed few
minutes after removal from the thea
tire. About thirty minutes af er be was
pia .ed upon the bed, dise0l JrAtiou from
etfu lion began il the internal canthus o.
the right eye
About 1880 2 NJ, tVitehing Of ID,
facial muscles Of tho left side see in and
continued some fifteen or twenty min
utes, and the mouth was drawn slishll,
to toe same side Sinapisms over IA,
entre anterior surface OF The body wer,
ordered, together with artificial heat 1,
the eKtremiues
The wound began TO Ooza very soor
after the patient was placed upon ID,
bed. and continued To discharge blooC
and brain tissue until $50 A. N whsf
il ceased entirely; the head, IN the
meantime, bsing supported IA such
position az TO taciit,te the discharge
The only surgical aid that could be rem
der'd, consisted in maintaining ID,
head in such position as to facilitate
the discharge Of The wound, and in keep
iug the oriiieo free from coagulam
Col Cane, Surgeon, U S A hAt
charge OF the head during a great par
OF the time, being relieved al interva
IN this duty By myself While the woun,
was dlseharging freely, the respiration
was easy; bur the moment the discharg
was arrested from aDy cause, it BEGAN
at once labored
II was also remarkable 10 observe tn
difference in the character Of the pulls
whenever the oritce OF tie wound wa
freed from coagulam, and discharge
freely thus relieving in measure, th
compression This Tact will account 70
the fluctuations 10 the pulse, as given i
! the subjoined notes.
/ About 2 A. NJ, an ordinary silve
I probe WAS introduced into the wound B
| the Surgeon General II met an OF
/ struciion about two inches from the es
ternal orifiee. which was decided TO b
| the plug Of bone driven in from th
| skull and lodged in the track of ID
/ ball The probe passed by N 8 obsirut
ton, but was too short to follow III
track the whole length. A long Ne alto
probe was then procured and passed int
the track of the wound for disiane, {
two inches beyond the plug Of bon
when the ball was distinctly felt; pas
ing beyond this, the fragments OF n
orbital plale OF the left orbit were Eel
The ball made no mark upon the pore
lain tip, ard was Afterwards found 10 |
Of exceediuziT hard lead
Some 'i-rsngs of eopinion existed ,
TO the aNal' po-i'iuu Of The ball. but II
suf1ry confirmed che correctness Of Il
li- Eresis auon first exploration.
fuuher sJt. mF. vac made to explore u
wound
Alter she. cessation Of the bleedir
frtm +le wound we respiration ~
stertorous up to the last breath, While
was drawn at tWenty-one minutes az
ffty FIVE seconds past seven; the bea
did not cease TO beat until twenty ~
minutes and ten seconds past ssve
NJ hand vas upon The heart and ny e.
on the watch OF The Su-geon Geuers
who was standing by my side, with h
finger on the carotid
The decubitCus during the whole tin
was dorsal, and the position Of the b.
diagonal; the length Of the bsdstead a
hitting OF no other position.
The respiration during the last thir
minutes was characterized By occssio
al intermissions; no respir alton beir
made for nearly 3 minute, bat by CO
vulsive effort air would gain admissit
to the lungs, when regular, though ste
torous, respiration would 90 on for son
seconds, to be followed by another pei
Cd Of perfect repose.
At these times the death ike stillnel