Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-03
THE OFFICIAL REPORT.

Illu UTTlUlAL lluI Ulll
OF THE POST MORTEM DISSECTION
OF GARFIELD,s BODY.
Abominable Details Of the Search with
tho Surgeons Knife for Causes OF the
Late Presidents Death---PerhAps OF
Value to Medical Science and Necessary
for Protection of tho Doctors Reputa-
lions, but Simply Shocking to Laymsn.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 1.-The October issue
of the American Journal of Medical Science
contains the following official report Of the
autopsy of President Garfield, prepared BY the
surgeons in charge of the official record oil
the postmortem examination:
Postmortem examination of the body OF
eighteen hours after death, at Fr.nck.
lyn cottage. Elberon, N. J:s Pres
ent and assisting Doctor d. W.
Bliss, Surgeon General J.. 81.
Barnes, U. S. A., surgeon general ]. j.
Woodward, U. 8. A., DR.. Robert ReYburn,
DR.. F. II. Hamilton, DIR. Hayes, DIR. Agnew,
DR.. Smith, of Elberon, New Jersey, and Act
ing Assistant Surgeon D. G. Lamb OF the
army medical museum, Washington, d. G..
Before commencing the examination q con-
.sultation wa. held by these physicians In q
room adjoining that in which the body lay
and it was unanimously agreed
that the dissection should be made
by DR.. Lamb, and Surgeon Woodward
should record the observations made. 1t was
further unanimously agreed that the Uranium
should not be opened. Surgeon Woodward
then proposed that the examination be con-
Quoted as follows: That the body Should be
viewed externally and any morbid appearance
existing recorded That catheter should
then be passed into the wound, as was done
during life to wash it out. for
the purpose of assisting to dnd the po-
sition of the bullet. That q long
incision should next be made from the su-
preme extremity of the sternum to the pubs,
and this crossed by transverse one just be-
low the umbilllcus. That the abdominal
flaps thus made should then be turned back
and the abdominal viscera examined. That
after the abdominal cavity was open the po-
silion of the bullet should be ascertained, if
possible, before making any further incision,
and that, finally, the thoracic viscera should
be examined.
This order OF proceeding was unanimously
agreed to. The examination was then pro-
ceeded with, and the folio wing external ap-
pearances observed: The body was consider
ably emaciated, but the face was much more
wasted than the limbs. A preventative fluid
few hours before into the left femora artery, and
the pipes used for the purpose were still In
position. The exterior surface OF the
body presented no abnormal appearance,
and there was no ecchymosis or other discol-
Grafton of any part OF the front Of the abdo-
men. Just below the right ear and little
behind it there YVES an oval liberated open
ing, about half al inch in diameter, from
which some serious pus was escaping, but no
tumiication could be observed in the parotid
region. A considerable number of
purpura-like spots were also
scattered thickly over the left
scapula and thence forward as far as the Ak
lila. They ranged from one eighth to one
quarter of an inch in diameter, were slightly
elevated and furfuraceous on the surface, ard
many of them were continent in groups Of two
to four or more. A similar but much less
abundant eruption was observed sparsely scat
tered over the corresponding region on right
side. An oval excoriated ulcer about an inch
long, the result of small carbuncles, was
seated over the spiniors process of the tenth
dorsal vetebrax. Over the sacrtum there
were four small bed sores, the largest about
one. half an inch in diameter. A few acme
pustalls and q number of irregOlas spots of
pest mertem hypostotic congestion wert
scattered over the shoulders, back ank but
tocks. The inferior part of the rectum was
much discolored by hypostac congestion.
group of hemorhoidal tumors, rather larger
than walnut, .protruded from the arms
The depressio cicatrigant wound made by
the pistol bullet was recognized
over the tenth intercostal spaces, three
and half inches to the right of the verterbal
spines. A deep linear incision made in the
parts by the operation of July oath and ex-
tended by that of August 8th, occupied po-
sition closely corresponding te the upper Dor
der of the right twelfth rib. 1t commenced
posteriorly about two inches from the verte-
bral spines and extended forward a little more
than two inches. At the anterior extremity of
the incision there was deep, yearly square
abrazed surface, about an inch across.
A well acted flexible catheter, fourteen
inches long, was then passed into this wound,
"a had been done to wash it out during life.
More resistance was at first encountered than
had usually been the case, but after several
trials the catheter entered without any vio-
ence to its full length. 1t was then left In
position and the body disposed supinelv for
the examination of the viscera. The crauium
was not opened. A long incision was made from
the superior extremity of sternum to the pubs
followed by transverse ireision crossing the
abdomen just below the umbuilcus. The
four flaps thus formed were turned back and
the abdominal viscera exposed. The subcu-
taneous adipoee tissue was diseased by the In
sidious attack Of chronic dysentery, from
which the patient is said to have suffered dur
ing the civil war. On the right side there
were few similar adhesions and u number Of
more delicate and probably recent masses
of black coagulated blood covered and
concealed the spleen and left margin of the
greater omentum or rising omentum. 1t was
found this blood was extended through the
left lumbar and lilac regions and dropped down
into the pelvis, in which there was some
clotred blood and rather more than pint Of
bloody fluid. "A foot note says: ga large
part Of this fluid had probably transuded from
The injection material of the embalmer. The
blood Goa gula, having been turned cut and
collected, measured very nearly pint.
1t was now evident that a secondary hem
morhage had been the immediate cause of
death; but the point from which the blood
had escaped was not at once apparent. The
omentum was not adherent to the intsstinee,
which were moderately distepded with gas
No internal adhesion was found other than
those between the transverse colon and liver,
already mentioned. The abdominal cavity be-
ing now washed out as thoroughly as posi-.
BILE, fruitless attempt was made
to obtain some indication of the
position of the bullet before making any
further missions. By pushing the Intestinee
aside the extremity of the catheter which had
been passed into the wound, could be felt be-
tween the pertoneum and theIright lilac fae-
cia: but il had evidently doubled upon il, elf