The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-10-02

VI lnat organ from tnc DCul, tue u1EIeu
track Of the bullet was dissected into. II
was found that from the point at which ii
had fractured the right eleventh rib, three
inches and hall to the right OF the
yertebral spine, the missile had gone
10 the left obliqucly forward. Pass
ing through the body OF the first lum-
bar vertebra, and lodging in the adie-
pose connective tissue Immediately be-
low the lower border Of the pancrca,
about two inches and half TO the left Of
the spinal column and behind the peritO-
neum, it had become completely encysted.
The track Of the bullet between the point
at which IL had fractured the right lib and
that at which ii entered the first lumbar
ycrtebra was considerably dilatcd, and the
pus had burTowed downwards through the
adipose tissue behind the right kidney, and
thence had found its way between the peri
toneum right lilac fascia, making de-
sccnding channel which extended almost
10 the groin. The adipose tissue behind the
kidney i'm the vicinity OF this descend
ing channel was much thickened
and condensed by inflammation. In
the channel, which was found
almost free from pus, lay the flexible
catheter introduced into the wound at the
commencement OF the autopsy. Its eX-
trcmity was found doubled upon itself inn
mediately beneath the peritonemn, rcpos-
ing upon the lilac iascia where the channel
was dilated into pouch OF considerable
size. This long-descending channel, now
clearly seen to have been caused 10y the
burrowing OF pus from the wound, was
supposed during life TO have been the track
OF the bullet. The last dOrSal, together
with the first and second lumbar yertebra
and the twelfth rib, were then removed
from the body for more thorough eXami-
nation.
When this examination was made il was
found that the bullet had penetrated the
first lumbar vcrtebra in the upper part Of
the right side of the body. The aperture
by which il entered involved intcrycrtebral
cortilagc next above, and was situated just
below and anterior to intcrycrtebral fora
men, from which its upper margin was
about one fourth Of an inch dis
tant, passing obliqucly to the left and
forward through the upper part Of
the body OF the first lumbar ycrtcbra. the
bullet emerged 10y an aperture, the centre
81 which was about half an inch TO tine left
OF the mcdian line, and which also involved
the intcrycrtehIal cartilage next above. The
canccllatcd tissue OF body OF the first lum-
bar yertebra was very much cOmmuntcd
and the fragments somewhat displaced.
Several deep assures extended from the
track Of the bullet into the lower part OF
the body OF the twelfth dorsal vcrtcbra.
Others extended through the first lumbar
vcrtcbra into the intcrycrtehral cartilage
between il and the second lumbar yertebra.
Both this cartilage and that next above were
partlv,drStrovcd by liberation. Anumberoi
minute fragments from the fractured lum-
bar ycrtcbra had been driven into the adj
jaccnt soft parts. II was furthcr1ond that
the right twelfth rib also was fractured at
a point one inch and quarter TO the right
OF the transverse process OF the twelfth
dorSal ycrtchra. This injury had not beer
recognized during life. In saving through
the ycrtebra little TO the right OF the me-
dian line. twas found that the spinal cana
was not involved by the track OF the ball
The spinal cord and other contents OF thi'
portion OF the spinal canal presented nc
abnormal appearance. The rest OF tho
spinal cord was not examined. Be
yond the first lumbar yertcbm the
bullet continued 10 90 10 the lett
passing behind the VancrclS 10 the point
where il was found. Here it was involved
i'm firm cyst Of connective tissue, which
contained besides the ball minute guam
tity OF inSpi>sated and somewhat cheesi
pu-, which formed thin layer over por
ton Of the surface Of the lead. There wa
also a black shred adherent to part Of the
cyst. the wall of which proved on micro
Scopical examination 10 be the remains o
blood clots. For about an inch from thu
cyst the track OF the ball behind the pan
creas was completely obliteratcd by tlk
healing process. Thence a. lar back as Tho
body Of the first lumbar ycrtebra the track
was filled with coagulatcd blood, which
extended ON the left into m irregular
space rent in the adjoining adipo>e tissue
behind the peritoncum and above the pan
crcas. The blood had worked its way e
the LETT. bursting finally through the peri
,oneum behind the spleen into the abdOml
nal cavity. The rcnding OF the tissue 10y
the cNtrlyaSation Of thin blood was I'm
doubleday the cause Of parOXysmN OF pan
which occurred short time before death
This mass OF cOagulatcd blood was I'm IN
regular form and nearly aS large rs man
fist. II could be distinctly seen from II
front through the peritOneum after lis Slt'
behind the greater curvature Of the Slo
mach had been exposed by the dissection
OF the greater Omentum from Tn
stomach. and especially after SOM
delicate adhc>iOuS between the Sto
? mach and part OF the peritoneum GOV
. erine the blood mass had been broker
. down by the fungus from the relation
Of the mass. As thus seen II was be
/ lieycd that the bemOrrhage had proceeded
from one OF the mOrOcutric arteries, hut q
, il was clear that minute dissection WON'T
> be required 10 determine the partlcula
, branch involved il was agreed that the in
feriratcd tissues and adjoining soft part
, should be preserved for subsequent study
, On examination and dissection made i'm nc
, cordance with this agreement it was fOunt
I that the fatal hcmOrThage proceeded iron
= the rent nearly fOur-tenths OF an incl
, LONG i'm the main trunk OF the splcnlc ar
tery two inches and a half TO the left OF th
cTliac axis. This rent must have occurred
. at least several DAYS before death, since TIN
, cycrted edges in the yerrit were unltet
: by firm adhesions TO the surround
: inc connective tissue, thus forming
, almost a continuous wall, binding tn
adjoining portion Of the blood eliot. More
over, the perpetual portion Of the clot il
tLi, vicinity was Opposed in pretty firm
, concentric layers. II was further fOun'
+ that the cyst below the lower margin o
| the pancrcas in which the bullet wa
: found was situated three inches ant
half to the LETT OF the cGliac aXi,
| Besides the mass Of coagulated blood jus
, described. another about the size OF wal
nut was found i'm the great omentum nea
! the splenic extremity Of the stomach. Com
, munication. il any, between this and tn
: larger hemorrhagic mass could not b
= made out. The examination OF th
: thoracic yiscera resulted aS follows
I The heart weighed eleven ounces. All th
, cavities were entirely empty except th