Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-08-01
ELECTRICAL INVESTIGATIONS.

Tho Inductor's Search for tho BalL
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WAsHINGTON, d
c., Aug. 1-11:45 A. NJ. (UnoficiaD-The
president is passing quiet, comfortable
day. Under the supervision Of the at
tending surgeons, Professors Bell and
Taintor this morning made another appli
cation to the patients body of the elec.
trical apparatus known as the induction
balance, with a view to completing the
tests Of Saturday, which were not entirely
conclusive, and ascertaining definitely and
certainly, if possible, the location Of the
ball.
Professors Bell aml TaintOr have been
almost constantly engaged for two weeks
in experiments with the induction balance,
and have made several notifications and
improvements which greatly add to its
efficiency. They tried the improved ap-
palatus upon the presidents body for the
first time last Saturday, and although it
Indicated family the location Of the ball, II
was afterwards found to be slightly
out Of adjustment and the experiment
was not regarded as perfectly conclusive.
The results of this mornings test, how
ever. are entirely satisfactory both to Pro-
fessors Bell and TaintOr, and to the at
tending physicians, and it is now unani-
mously agreed that the location of the ball
has been ascertaincd with reasonable ex-
actness and certainty, and that it lie, as
heretofore stated in these dispatches, in
the front wall OF the abdomen. immedi-
ately over the groin, about five inches be-
low and to the right of the navel.
The experiments this morning were re-
peatcd several times and were made by
Profs. Bell and TaintOr independently, so
rs to guard as far as possible against
errors arising from the faulty perception
of a single individual Or from one persoo's
mistaken judgment rs to the comparative
intensity Of sounds. In every instance,
however, when the small disks attached
to the machine were placed in such 4 posi-
tion on tho patients body as to
indicate the location of the black
and blue spot which appeared on
the lower right side Of the abdomen soon
after the president was shot, the one
listening ut the microphOne said that he
detected evidences Of disturbance. 1t
made no difference whether the expert
menter could see the disks Or not. when,
ever they were placed in that particular
position, he became instantly aware Of the
f,ct aud announced it. The experiments
were varied and continued till all were
convinced that the bullet had been found
or Mt least located on i straight line run
ming through the body from front to back,
just above the groin OH the right side.
1t was not possible to ascertain with any
degree of certainty the depth at which
the ball lies, imbeddcd OH this imaginary
line. But as the front wall of the abdomen
at this point is about two and one half
inches in thickness, the ball must tic with in
that distance of the surface. These
results fully confirm the original diagnosis
of the case made by the attending sur-
geons soop after the president received
his injury, and that fact is as gratifying to
them rs the complete success of the in
ductiOn balance is to the professors,
Bell AMI Taintor. This is the first
instance in which an iml,etlded bull
let has. been accurately and deli
nitely located without probing and
by purely scientific methods. There
is no intention ON the part OF the surg CONS
to perform an operation for tie removal
of the ball at present: so long rs it gives
no trouble it will DC allowed to remain
in its present position. The question Of
the disposition to be finally made OF it will
be considered when the president shall
have recovered his strength. and shall be
out of danger.