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

OFFICIAL. REPORT OF TIE ATTENDING SUR
OEONa.

PHILADELPHIA, IA, OCTOBER line
American Journal Of Medical Sciences
contains an official report OF the autopsy Of
President Garfield prepared by the sur
geons in charge. Afer stating that the
consultation was held and the mode Of pro-
cedure adopted the report says the ex-
animation was then proceeded with, and the
following eXterminal appearances were OBJ
served: The body was considerably ema-
ciated, but the face was much less wasted
than the limbs. Preseryatiye fluid had
been injected by the embalmer few hours
before into the left iemoral artery.
The pipes used for the purpose were
still in position. The anterior surface
OF the body presented no abnormal appear
ances, and there was no eceheymasis or
other discoloration OF any part Of the front
OF the abdomen. just below the right ear
and little behind II there was an oval
ulcered opening about half an inch in Dr.
amcter, from which some pus was escaping,
but no tlImeiactiOn could be observed. In
the parOtid region a considerable number
Of puTpuTa-likc spots were scattered thick
ly over the left scapua, and thence forward
as far a. the aXlla. They ranged from one
eighth 10 one-iOurth Of m inch in diane
ter, were slightly elevated, and purpura-
ccOus on the surface; and many OF them
were confident in groups OF two TO four or
more. A similar but much less abundant
eruption was observed sparscly scattered
over the corresponding region Of the
right side. An oval eXcayated ulcer
about an inch long, the result Of a
small caTbmclc, was seated over the
spinous process OF the tenth dOrsal yer-
zebra. Over the sacTum there were four
small red sores, the largest about half IN
inch i'm diameter. 4 few acne pustules and
a number Of irregular spots OF pOSt-mOr-
tenn hypOstatic congestion were scattered
over the shoulders, the back, and the but
tocks. The inferior part Of the scrotum
was much discOlOrcd by hypOstatic cOngcs-
ton. 4 group Of hemorrhodill tumors,
rather larger than walnut, pr0truded
from the anus. The depressed ciccatIiX OF
the wound. made by the pistOl-bullct, was
recognized over the tenth intcrcOstal space,
three and hall inches to the right of the
ycrtcbral spine. 4 deep lancet inci,ion,
made i'm part BY the operation OF july
18th, and extended by that OF Au-
gust 9Th. occupied position closely
corresponding 10 the upper border
of the RIGHT twelfth rib. 1t commenced
po,tcriorally about two inches from the YER
tebral spine, and extended forward little
more than three inches. At the anterior
extremity OF this incisiun there was deep,
nearly square, abraded surface, about an
inch across. 4 wCll-uilcd. flexible cathC-
ter. fourteen inches long, was then passed
into this wound, rs had been done to wash
it out during life. Morr resistance WAS at
first encountered than had usually been the
case: but, after several trials, the cathetcr
entered without any violence TO il full
length. II was then LEFT in position, and the
body disposed supincly for examination Of
the ,isccin. The Uranium was not opened.
\ long inci.iou was made from the superior
extremity OF the sternum TO the pubs, fOl-
lowed bv q transverse inciSiOn crossing the
abdomen Just below the umblllicu>. The
four caps thu. formed were turned back
and The abdominal yiSccra exposed. The
subcutncouS adipOSc tissue divided by IN
cisiou> was a little more than one eighth OF
an inch thick over the thOraN, but thicker
over the abdomen, being about quarter Of
An inch along the Inca alba, and as much
A. one half inch thick towards outer eN-
tremitv OF transverse inciSiOn. On inSpec-
ton OF the abdominal yi>cera in the >itve q
transverse colon was observed 10 lie a little
above the line OF the umbillicus. II
was firmly adhcrcut 10 the exterior
edge OF the liver. The greater omcntum
covered the mtr,tincS pretty thoroughly
from the transverse colon almost 10 the
pubs. II wa, still quite fat and was very
much blackencd by YcnouS congestion
on both sides. It, Lateral margin, were
adhercut to the abdominal particles oppo-
site the eleventh and twelfth ribs. On the
left side the adhcsi0ns were numerous,
firm. and well organized. and probably old.
"A foot-note here says &" These adhc-
sion, and the firm ones on the right side,
A. well q, those OF spleen, possibly date
back 10 the attack OF chronic dyscntery
from which the patient is said To have sur
fcred during the civil war
On the right side thcrcwcrea few similar
adhcsions and a number Of more delicate
and probably recent ones. y mas
Of black coagulated blood covered and
concealed The spleen and the LETT margin oi
great Omentum. ON raising the omcnlun
: il was found that this blood-mass extended
through the left lumbar and lilac regions
and dipped down into the pelyiS, i'm which
there was some clothed blood and rather
more than pint Of bloody matter.
"A second foot-note here says: a large
mart OF this had probably transudcd from
injecting material 81 the cmbalmcr.'l
The blood coagulation having been
turned out and collected, measured very
nearly pint. IL was now evident thai
secondary hem0rrhage had been the imme'
diate cause OF death, but the point from
which blood had escaped was not at
once apparent. The Omcntum was not
adhcrent 10 the intc>tincs, which werC
moderately distendcd with gas. No intes-
final adheSions were found other than those
between the transverse colon and the liver
already mentioned. The abdominal cavity
heinz now washed ont "a thoroughly a'
posSible. a fruitlcSs attempt was made tC
obtain some indication OF the position OF
the bullet before making any further in
clsiOn. BY pushing the intcStlneS aside
the extremity OF the catheter which hac
been passed into the wound could be fell
between the peritOneum and right lilac
fascia. but il had evidently doubled upor
itself, and although prolonged search wa
made. nothing could be seen or felt to in
dictate the presence OF the bullet, either il
that region or elsewhere. The abdOmina
viscera were then carefully removed
from the body, placed in suitable vessels
and examined SeridtiBl, with the following
result: The adhesions between the liyel
and transverse colon proved to bound
AN absccss cavity between the under-,ur
face Of the liver, the transverse colon, and
the transverse mcsO-cOlon, which involved
the call bladder and extended TO about the
same distance on each side OF it, measuring
six inches transyersely and four inches from
before backward. This cavity was lined by
thick membrane which completely re
placed the capsule Of that part OF the under
surface OF the liver occupied by the alb
sce>s. 1t contained about two ounces o
greenish-yellow fluid, mixture OF pm
and hillary matter. This abscesS did no