Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-16

THE IMPORTANCE or TECHNICAL ExAcTrrupEe-
HOW THOUGHT NAY BE CHANGED

THE IMPORTANCE or TECHNICAL. ExACTrrrpEO-
now THOUGHT NAY BE CHANGED.
The Philadelphia Times to-day publishes tho
following card from DIR. Agnew:
In responding to your editorial of this morn
ing. AUGUST IL, LEI me say that did not charge
any medical gentleman as Intentionally misreprc-
senting my views nor the Times of fdbrioohme
statements ON any subject whatever
IL is very easy even for q medical man In re.
porting an informal conversation on a profess
sional subject. TO omit technical exacfitudee
especially where anatomical questions are con.
cerned and thus materially change the true
Thought OF the informant That such has been
the case IN the article which called forth INV
catu VIII appear from the following statcments
"nich shal be made as brief as possible:
First. IL is stated that the wound had been
explored TO the depth OF about seven inches This
statement would lead the reader TO infer that
the exploration had been made from the point
OF entrance of the ball and that the track OF the
missile had been traced seven inches whereas
as was stated. the exploration was made through
the counter-openiGg. or abscess the depfh of
which. to the point where the ball passed the
rib, was two inches and a half which would
leave Tor the track of the ball distance only of
four and a half inches
Second / am made to say that the precjse To-
cation of the ball is either in the qusdratus lum-
borum or the psoas magnus muscle The precise
location of the bali | have never professed TO
know. l did say that I'm my judgment the
missile passed along the anterior face of the
quadratus muscle. behind the kidney and prob
ably was lodged i'm the anterior part of the lilac
fossa. The two statements of an exploration
extending seven inches and of a ball lodged in
the quadratus lumborum muscle are wholly ir-
reconcilahle on anatomical grounds as the entire
length OF the muscle named does not exceed
three and half or four inches aud IL is not
PROBABLE that, having spent most of my life i'm
mistake on this point.
Third. cut is introduced showing the point
where the ball entered the body and another
point at the crest Of the um ',precisely" indi-
c3tlng It's present location and which will be
seen 10 be considerably posterior to a perpen-
dicular dropped from the wound of entrance
THIS diagram, as understand n was introduced
TO explain the location of the ball as implied by
my statements. Now. i'm no sense can il be
made to interpret or explain any statement ever
made 10y me I'm reference TO this subject. The
text of the article distinctly locates the bali at
the crest of the ilium and at its postelior part
whereas | have always suspected and MANY
tunes nave said TO members of my profession
that there were strong reasons for believing
that the missile was in the lilac fosss and an
teriorly If moreover. the bali occupies the
place Indicated on the diagram. IL could readily
be felt by the finger
Fourth. 1 am represented as saving that the
liver NAV have been bruised hut not lacerated
whereas have invariably stated that after study
ing the case was disposed TO believe that the
liver had been lacerated. and not perforated;
the laceration being produced by the rib at the
time the latter was struck by the ball a suppo-
sition which. ii true. would account for limited
heinorrhage. answering to an area of percussion
dullness present after the INJURY aud which has
been slowly clearing up since. 4 therefore re-
affirm that in no particular of several details
mentioned in regard to the President wound
have been correctly reported. al the same time
again dsclanng any intention of charging
either professional brother or the Times of in
tentonally niSreprcsenting my views
In conclusion, cannot but feel that an omis-
sion was committed in not allowing me an op
portunity to review the article ia question before
committing it To the wide circulation of The
Times. Ii would at least have saved the neccs-
s!ty for two communications from one who /
assure you. does not seek public disputation. 4
may say further that the criticism To which the
Presidents medical and surgical attendants
have been subjected does not disturb their
equanimity in the least. They have Il RESPONSE
bic duty to perform. Nothing will hc omitted
nothing knowingly committed. which i'm their
Judgment will endaRger this valuable life and
when the proper time arrives they Will submit
the medical and surgical history of this remark
able injury TO the profession. the only tribunal
competent TO pass on the conduct Of the case
Very respectfully,
ID. HAYES ACNEW