The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-10-06

at point an inch and a quarter to the
right of the transverse process OF the
twelfth dorsal vertehre A little to the
right of the medium line it was found
that the spinal column was not in
volved by the track Of the bullet. The
spinal cord and other contents of this
portion of the spinal canal presented
not the abdormal appearances. The
rest Of the spinal cord was not exam
ined beyond the first lumbar vertebr@.
The bullet continued to 60 to the
left, passing behind the pancreas to
point where it was found. Here it
was enveloped in firm cyst of con-
nective tissue, which contained, be-
sides the bali, minute quantity of in
!. spissated, somewhat cheesy pus, which
formed thin layer over portion of
the surface of the lead; there was also
/! a black shred 81, adhering to part of the
cyst wall, which pfGSed, on m.vs5S:
scopic examination, to be the re-
mains of a blood clot; for about
an inch from this cyst the
track of the ball behind the pancreas
was completely obliterated by the
healing process, thence as far back
ward as the body of the first lumbar
vertebrae. The track was filled with
coagulated blood, which extended on
the left into the regular space, but in
the adjoining adipose tissue behind the
peritoneum, and above the pancreas
the blood had worked It's way to the
left burrowing finally through the p eri-
toneum, and behind the spleen into the
abdominal cavity rending of tissues by
the extravasation of this blood
was undoubtedly the cause of the par
oxyms of pain which occurred short
time before his death. This mass of
coagulated blood was Of irregular form
and nearly as large as a mans fist. 1t
could be distinctly seen from the front
through the peritonum. After its site
behind the greater curvature of the
stomach had been exposed by the dis
section of the greater omentum from
the stomach, and especially af-
ter some delicate adhesions be-
tween the stomach and part of
the peritoneum conveying the blood
mass which had been broken down
by fingers. From the relations of the
mass, as thus seen, it was believed
hemorrhage had proceeded from one
OF the mesentric arteries, but as it was
clear that a minute dissection would be
required to determine the particular
branch involved, it was agreed in that
the liberated tissues and adjoining
soft parts should be preserved by SUBJ
sequent study on the examination and
dissection made. In accordance
with this agreement. Itwas found that
the fatal hemorrhage proceeded from
a rent nearly four-tenths of an inch
long in the main trunk of the splenic
artery, two inches and half to the left
of the coeliac axis. The rent must
have occurred at least several days be-
fore the death, since the everted edges
IN the slit in the vessel were united by
firm adhesions to the surrounding con-
nective tissue, thus forming an almost
continuous wall bounding the adjoining
portion of blood clot. Moreover, the
peripheral portion of the clot in this
vicinity was disposed in pretty firm
concentric layers. 1t was further found
that the cyst below the lower margin
Of the pancresass il which tt the bullet was
found, was situated three inches and
half to the left of cocliac axis. Be
sides the mass of coagulated blood just
described, another about the size of
walnut was found in the greater omen
tum near the splenic extremity
of the stomach. The communication,
if any, between this and the larger
hemorrhogic mass, could not be made
out. The examination of the thoracic
viscera resulted as follows: The heart
weighed eleven ounces; all the cavities
We're entirely empty, except the right
ventricle, in which a few shreds of soft
reddish coagulated blood adhered to
the internal surface of the mitral valve.
There were several spots Of fatty de-
generation, with this exception the car
diac valves were normal, the muscular
tissue of the heart was soft, and tore
easily. A few spots of fatty degenera-
ton existed in the lining Of the men,
branes of arota, just above the semi
lunar valves, and slender clot of fb-
rim was found in the arota, where it
was divided about two inches from
these valves for the removal of the
heart. On the right side slight pleuritic
adhesions existed between the convex
surface Of the lower lobe of the lung
and the costal-pleura, and firm adhe-
sions between the interior edge Of the
lower lobe, the phericadium and the
diaphragm. The right lung weighed 80
ounces. The posterior part Of the fis-
sure, between its upper and lower
lobes was incomplete. The lower
lobe Of the right lung was
hypostatically congested, and a
considerable portion, especially towards
its base, were seat of broncha pneu-
monia. The bronchial tubes contained
q considerable quantity of stringy mu-
copus. Their mucus surface was red
dened by catatahart lbronchis the lung
tissue was oedematous. "a foot note
here says, "a part at least oft condi-
ton was doubtless due to the extra
vasation Of the injection. The fluid was
| used by the embalmer)b but contained no
abcesses or infections. On the left
side the lower lobe Of the lung was
bound behind to the costal pleura
|above, to the upper lobe, and below,
to the diaphragm, by pretty firm
pleuritic adhesion. The left lung
]. weighed 2. ounces; the condition Of its
bronchial tubes and of its lung tissue,
II ~ = vnrv y1oor1x, tho ooun 90 ~, ~, :,