The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-11-29
THE TRUTH OF TT.
Assistant Surgeon Lamb Tells the
Story Of the Autopsy.
And Authoritiveiy Denies the Truth of
Many Current. Rumors..


Washington. Nov. 2e.-Acting As
sistant Surgeon Lamb, who performed
the autopsy upon the body Of President
Garfield. furnishes the following: There
prevails to some extend an impression
that the examination of the body Of
the late President Garfield was care
less. haphazard one, without order OF
method, and that the bullet was only
found by accident. This impression is
entirely Incorrect. The order OF exami-
nation was pre-arranged in consulta-
tion held for that purpose, and it was
carried out as far as the developments
of the autopsy permitted. 1t was nee
essary to ascertain the extent and
character of the injury, and If possible.
to obtain the.missile. AL things con-
sidered. the only way. in which these
objects could be accomplished, was by
first opening the abdominal cavity.
Much has been said about the bullet
being found in the basin. And the
statementh has been industriously circu-
lated by predjudiced parties. Tho
facts are as follows: The search for the
bullet was prosecuted carefully. system
aticalIy and successfully. and the latter
Is no small matter in view of the fact
that in many post mortem examina-
tions, even after a careful, laborious
and persistent search. the missile has
not been found. 1t was frst sought for
near the groin, where it was expected
by some it would be found; failing to
find 1t there, the pus channel was then
followed up, but this procedure made
1t necessary to remove everything or
gans, these removed parts were tenn
porarily placed in a large china wash
bowl until they could be examined in
the order prescribed in the preliminary
consultation. The pus channel led up
to the fractured ribs, and vertebre.
The position of the opening of the exit
Of the bullet from the latter indicated
a probability Of its further track being
in the hemorrhagic clot in the tissues
removed. While the examination of
the vertebrm was being made. one Of
the surgeons assisting turned his atten-
tion to the parts removed, and discov-
cred the position Of the bullet.
There was nothing at all of nature Of
accident in the manner. In which 1t
was found. 1t had formed for itself
cyst wall beneath the pancreas. After
completing the examination Of the YER
tebr@, cut the cyst open, and took
the bullet out of it. It had been sug-
gested by some that after the removal
of parts from the body, their relations
could nolonger be recognized. This diff
ficulty could only occur to one who was
unfamiliar with anatomy. No formal
reply has yet been made to many un-
just and often senseless criticisms,
which have been 80 freely bestowed
upon this autopsy, had expected
that complete exposition Of points crit
icised would have been made in course Of
the testimony of medical witnesses.
But, with one exception, they were af-
forded no opportunity, and the gentle
man excepted inadvertently omitted
uome Of the particulars related above.
l believe, therefore, that the public
should be made acquainted with the
facts, in order that it may not either
misiudge the surgeons, nor suppose
that the autopsy was incomplete, or
was improperly conducted.
(Signed) d. C. LAMB,
Acting Asst Surgeon.