The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-11-29
TELEGRAPHIC
THE AUTOPSY.
Surgeon Lamb Explains All
Ahouk It,

Washington, 27.-Aeting Assistant
Surgeon Lamb, who performed the
autopsy upon the body of President Gar
field, furnishes the following: There pre-
walls to@ome extent an impression that
late President Garfield was care
Lass and haphazard one, without
order or method, and that the bullet was
only found by accident. This impress
sion ia entirely incorrect. The order of
Examination was presrranged in con-
sultstion for the purpose, and was car
ried cut as far as the developments of the
autopsy permitted. Il was necessary to
ascertain the extent and character Of the
injury, and If possible to obtain the mis-.
sile. All things considered, the only way
in which these objects could be accom-
plished was By frat opening the abdomi-
nal cavity. Much has been said about
the bullet being found in basin, and
the statement has been industriously cir
culated by prejuGiced parties. The facts
are as follows: The search for the bullet
was prosecuted carefully, systematically
and successfully, and the latter is 40
small matter in view of the fact that
| in many post noTtenl examinations
even after careful, laborious persistent
search the missile has not been found,
It was first sought for near the groin.
where it was expected by some that it
would be found. Failing to find it there
the pus channel was then followed up
but this procedure made it necessary to
remove the everything organs. These
removed parts were temporarily placed
in large china washbowl until they
could be examined in the order pre-
scribed in the preliminary consultation.
The pus channel led up to tne fractured
ribs and the vertebra. The situation OF
the opening of the exit Of the bullet from
the latter indicated the probability Of its
further track being in hemorrhage
clot in the tissues removed. While the
examination of the vertebr@ was being
made one of the surgeons assisting
turned his attention to the part
removed, and discovered there the po-
sition Of the bullet. There was nothing
at all Of the nature Of accident in the
manner in which it was found. 1t had
formed for itself cyst wall beneath the
paacIess. After completing the examln-
alton of the vertebre, cut the cyst open
and took the bullet out of it. It had
been suggested by some that after the
removal Of the parts from the body, their
relations could no longer be recognized.
This difficulty could only occur to one
who was unfamiliar with anatomy. No
formal reply has yet been made to the
many unjust and often senseless criti-
cisms which have been so freely bestowed
upon this autopsy. had expected that
complete exposition of the points criti-
cised would have been made in the course
of the testimony of medical witnesses,
but with one exception there as afforded
no opportunity, and the gentleman ex-
ceptea inadvertently omitted some Of the
particulars related above. l believe
therefore, the public should be made &C
quainted with the facts, in order that il
may not either misjudge the surgeons mol
suppose the autopsy was incomplete OF
was improperly conducted.
(Siened) u. 5. LAMB,
Acting Assistant Surgeon.