Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-10-06

d1et0nt. RAISING Opllquoiy TO the
left and forwsrd, through the up-
per part of the body OF the first
lumbar vertebra, the bullet
emerged BY an aperture, the cen.
ter Of which was about o half-inch
to the left Of the median line, and
which also involved the interverte-
bral cartilage next above. The can
celated tissue Of the body of the
first lumber vertebra, was very
much comminuted and the frag-
ments somewhat displaced. Sew.
eral deep assures extended from
the track OF the bullet into the
lower part of the body of the
twelfth dorsal vertebra; others ex-
tended through the first lumber
vertebra into the intervertebral
cartilage, between it and the Sec
ond lumber vetebra. Both this
cartilage and that next above were
nearly destroyed by liberation. A
number of minute fragments from
the fractured lumber vertebra had
been driven into the adjacent soft
parts. 1t was further found that
the right twelfth rib also was frac-
tured at q point an inch and quar-
ter to the right of the transverse
process of the twelfth dorsal verte-
bra. This injury had not been rec
ognized during life. On saving
through the vertebrs, little to the
right of the median line 1t was found
that the spinal column was not in
volved by the track Of the bullet.
The spinal cord and the other con-
tents Of this portion Of the spinal
canal presented no abnormal ap-
pearances. The rest of the spinal
cord was not examined.
THE BALL ENCRYSTED.
Beyond the first lumbar vertebra
the ballet continued to go to the
left, passing behind the pancrsas,
to the point where it was found.
Here it was enveloped in firm
cryst Of connective tissue, which
contained besides the ball q min
ute quantity of inspissated, some-
what cheesy pus, which formed q
thin layer over a portion of the sur
face of the lead. There was also q
black thread adhering to a part of
the cryst wall, which proved, on
microscoping examination, to be
the remains OF q blood clot. For
about an inch from this cyst the
track of the ball behind the pam
creas was completely obliterated
by the healing process. Thence, as
far backward as the body of the
first lumbar vertebra, the track was
filled with coagulated blood, which
extended on the left into regular
space rent in the adjoining adipose
tissue behind the peritoneum and
above the pencreas. The blood had
worked its way to the left, burrows
ing finally through the peritoneum
behind the spleen into the abdom-
inal cavity. The rending of the
Tissues by the extravasation of this
blood was undoubtedly the cause
Of tho paroxysms of pain which oc-
cured a short time before death.
This mass of coagulated blood was
of Irregular form and nearly as
large as mans fist. Itcould be
distinctly seen from in front,
through the peritoneum after its
site behind the greater curvature
OF the stomach had been exposed
by the dissection of the greater
omentum from the stomach, and
especially after some delicate adhe-
sions between the stomach and the
part of the peritoneum covering the
blood-mass had been broken down
by the fingers.
THE FATAL HEMORRHAGE.
From the relations of the mass,
as thus seen, it was believed that
the hemorrhage had proceeded
from one of the mesenteric arteries,
but as 1t was clear that minute die
section would be required to deter.
mine the particular branch involv-
ed, it was agreed that the infaIt-
cred tissue and adjoining soft parts
should be preserved for subsequent
study. At the examination and
dissection made, In accordance
with this agreement, it was found
that fatal hemorrhage proceeded
from a rent nearly fOur-tentbs of
an inch long In the main trunk of
the splenic artery, two inches and
q half to the left of the coeliac axis.
The rent must have occurred at
least several days before death,
since the everted edges in the slit
In the vessel were united by firm
adhesi0ns to the surrounding con-
nective tissue, thus forming an al
mi OF n l.
adjoining portion of the blood clot.
Moreover, the peripheral portion
OF the clot in this vicinity was dis
posed In pretty firm concentric lay.
ers. 1t was further found that the
cyst below the lower margin
of the pancreas, in which
the bullet was found, was
situated three inches and a half to
the left of the coeliac axis. Besides
the mass Of coagulated blood just
described, another, about the size
Of a walnut, was found in the great
er omentum, near the splenic ex.
tremity of the stomach. The COM
munication, il any, between this
and the larger hemorrhagic mass
could not be made out. The ex.
animation of the thoracic viscera
resulted as follows: The heart
weighed eleven onces. All its cav.
tiles were entirely empty, except
the right ventricle, in which q few
shreds Of soft reddish coagulated
blood adhered to the internal sur
face. On the surface OF the inter.
nal valve there were several spots
of fatty degeneration. With this
exception the cardiac valves were
normal. The muscular tissue of
the heart was soft and tore easily.
A few spots'of fatty degeneration
existed in the lining membranes
of the aorta, just above the semi
lunar valves: and a slender clot of
hbrin was found in the aorta, where
1t was divided, about two inches
from these valves, for the removal
of the heart.
CONDITION OF THE LUNGS.
On the right side slight pleuratic