National Republican., 1881-07-08
THE PRESIDENTS WOUND.
Further Opinion by DIR. Iranilton-How
the BuIIct Mny Lenxe tho Body.

Dr. Frank ii. Hamilton has given
further opinion in regard TO the probabilities in
the Presidents case, speaking as follows:
"Wo do not know where the ball is. The testi-
mony in the case is very conflicting. One OF the
physicians put his fngerin the wound, and he says
he i-.t the liver"
"Can person distinguish the liver from ordi.
nary flesh by the touch?'
"That is one OF the questions. / think could.
Another physician introduced probe, and he
says he also discovered that the bullet had pene-
tratod the liver. Yet in this case the probe may
have entered the abdominal cavity. It is declared
that the bullet went forward and downward, hay.
ing entered four inches TO the right OF the spine.
In this case 1t might have penetrated the liver;
but how could II cause the pains in the legs and
feet? In order 10 account for these pains we have
to conclude that the ball has irrltated ganglionic
centre of the sympathetic nerves, which irritation
might be communicated TO the nerves in the spine,
and through them cause a sensation of pain in the
legs and feet This is possible 1t could happen,
and, taking all the testimony In the case we are
forced to consider very seriously this view OF the
case,
ION the other hand, If the bullet has injured
the liver 1t is strange that the symptoms in the case
up to this time have been SO light. Before this
time his face should have been Jaundice colorcd.
The inference from the symptoms Is that the liver
has not been affected. Yet the testimony Is strong
that 1t has been.
Tho bullet may have passed inward and to the
left. 1t is possible for ball having penetrated TO
the lining Of the abdominal cavity to follow 1t in
curved line hall way around the body, In this
case 1t might nure the spine, as 1t passed II in
way to irritNtc the nerves, and thus we should
naturally get the pains IN the feet. Secretary
Blaine thinks that the assailant stood 10 the right
OF the President, that the ball would naturally
take direction toward the spine, but Mr.. Blaine
is not sure about the position. very little thing
will turn the direction ola bullet.
"Thc treatment OF the President has been Judi.
clous, think, In every particular There are two
simple principles easily learned in the treatment
OF gunshot wounds in this part of the body, Keep
the patient STILL and give him as little food pos
sible. Any motion OF the flesh near the bullet
causes irritation, and II II lies near the intestncs
the motion caused by the passage Of food Is likely
TO add 10 the danger
81 regard the lapse of all this time without the
occurrence of marked symptoms as highly favora'
bic. That bullet is by this time surrounded with
material deposited about it, and the Likelihood Of
dangerous Inflammation is, therefore very greatly
lessened. When bullet is surrounded in sac it
tends BY law Of nature either outward to the sur
fuCo of the body or inward. Ghe sac which contains
1t may work inward and attach itself 10 part OF
| the intestinal tnbe. III that case Nn open
| ing may form between the sac or ADscess and the
intestine, through which the matter contained
In II, as well as the bullet may be discharged
Then the bullet would pass out of the body in
the natural way. This would cause no fatal in-
hsmmation, and the contents Of the intestinal
tube would not escape into the absceSs OF If they
| did Il would make no difference, because they
would be discharged back into 1t. II the absces.
works outward toward the surface, then II may
safely be cut into and the bulle, may be taken out
Tho cutting into the abscess would he by no means
cutting into the abdominal cavity, because the
abscess would then be attached 10 the onter wall
OF the cavity" The report of n person who had
killed deer and found bullet safely encySted
in is liver and the liver in normal condition
was mentioned by Dr. Hamilton. He said II wal
Interesting II true, and that the report ought tC
be verified. He however, had heard Of one ease
where q bullet had lodged in a mans liver, and
yet the man had recovered.