, 1881-09-25
THE AUTOPSY.


- W0ODWA1:n.
Special Dsputch to The Chseaoo TribuaA-
WASHINGTON, D. T., Sept. c4-The ATTENDING
surgeons III President Gnrdeld's case are very
much annoyed at the statements made relative
to the autopsy. Ur Woodward, the tn!cro-
scopi5t In the case, Of whom eminent surgeon
said, He has been studying tlies' legs tor
twenty years. says: "Ot COURSE we cauuor
stop 70 answer all the lies that are told. but va
intend to publish reply to this which will cIea9
everything up. The origin and autmus OF the
attacks are plain enough" Dr. Woodward DEF
ctncd to say more than ho had, except in tho
Official statement to bc published III pcrform-
III, the autopsy upon the body of the President,
tile cutting was made from below up to the ribs,
The tinps Of the skin were then thrown to either
side. and all that was within taken out. The ball
was not found where expected, but was dlscoy-
cred where It really was. without any trouble or
any diving, or gross manipulation ot the part
taken out.
DIR. REIEGRY
SAYS there WIS no truth in tho story referred to-
adding that tho whole report WIS TOO Insulting !
lie to be answered. DR.. Kcyburn suid n5 WAS
done with the case, anu he would not be dragged
into any controversy ubout it. He said hs
would not condesccud to notice tho matler and
that he would not join the other surgeons of tho
case iu any reply. Dr. Reyburn considered that
the Charge contuined In the publication WIS
must serious ilnputadon upon the characters Of
the late Presidents surgeons, and said it WIS too
contemplate to draw any reply or notice f1u1
him-
DIR. ELISS
said the autopsy had been accurately reported; !,
that the bail, when found, WAS completely en- i
cystcd; that it was entirely covered with thin :
coatiug lhut had formed over 1t, and WIS 50
II ol,rj Iafff
coating perfectly smooth
PROMINENT PHYSICIANS HERE,
upon being questioned today, are OF the opinion
that heroic surgery could not have saved Gar.
ncld. His wound, in tho light OF the autopsy
WAS II fatal one. Viewed in tho light OF the DE-
aguusiS upon which his case WAS conducted. the
President ought to have recovered, aud the con-
tidence of the surgeons, up to late date, was
fully warranted by tho supposed track OF the
ball. The fact that the patient lived for seventy
uino days after being wounded, IS known now
will always be regarded US one OF the most re-
markuble lriuu,phs OF medical skill In tie treat
u1ent of wounds and disease The detailed
statement Of tho autopsy is being prepared at
the Army Medical Museum By Prof. Lamb. IS"
sisted BY Drs. Barnes and Wood. twill be puo-
lshed by the Medical Department Of the atioS.
SWAIN.
The statement published crlticlsfHR the autop-
sy on the lite President, declaring that the oaA
was accidentally found IN the basin auong tho
bowels, has been credited in part to Gen. swalm'
He desires 1t to be known that he has no hano ID
it. and hus no Criticisms to make upon The case
or upon the surgeons.
A SUGGESTION.
10 the 11tstcr1l lssociut<d P4Ess.
WASHINGTON, u. T., Sept. o4.-The ErenHeo
Star says etlltorially: at is hardly probable
rta1Ir #
dent will be pluccd On exhibition III the NauonA
Medical Museum, az stated. Such m e1nlps
ton would bc III wretched taste, and Won!a oul'
ruge public feeling Il section OF Gulteaa o'
located spinal column would be nucn n'ol'
fitting exhibit us Il fellow to the Booth spesa'
iuen."
DIR. D. L. LAMB. OF THE ARMY NEDlcah
MUSEUM,
who held the knife in the post 1nortem e1an'ua
ton upon the late President Garfield says Nv
bulletin report OF the autopsy 1ssued W ~
surgeons was correct aud true; that ao1A.s
WAS cuucculed or held back; also that uso
wound was necessarily fatal. The attempt u
the several doctors GU tside OF the case 10 te'4
!. professional war over the President caso -
BY doctors generally, pronounced 1ll-eneo 49,
ouL OF p1aee, and the effort to create sea3~
ton out of this affair hals fallen rather Hail.
THE DEATH OF TIE PRESIDENT. .,.
From Airance Shr.*- E!itottul-of The Ch!eo9' "1'
icul Journal aHa EramtntE
One word us to the medical und surgical ue
meat Of the cusc. Mauifcstly. uutil the p'ot
s;t,naI gentlemen VITO have been iu cnasee "a
Shall have made up their record auu pte9eAd p.,d
1t iu full to their pt.e:s in medicine u
be dscourtcsy to either crriciSc of con1tu coun.
In the high position OF Drs. Asnc" anu 1'" l..s
ton the profession Mt large have IL soalaas' saa,'<
that what w:ls done WIS we'll doue anu :" ~,
The results of tho autopsy have shown tuul
Knowledge to tho COURSE exactly tra'e'9eud
the hall was mud by those who treated the "oun" ~
This is cxacl'y and precisely the position saa or
from tho first by Drs. Hamilton anu iAs"sa Va.
When questioned and interviewed these Sen,
men have repeatedly and properly asse''e III,
it wis impossible to state what course tno
ind tritverscd. The newspapers Win e1s.,,n- eu1
ist:E slyu1ery, are even ut this hlo1ient ,.,ot
i,g thut Il grave error had been con"'..
1t will be remembered that III tus .ns
Of the Interesting: and valuable in'cstlsa.t
made by Dr. WeIsse, IF New York soue a tr
Of which has appeared in these paEss .,s,.se..
Hamilton was asked bis opinion Of Dr. ',ssn,
theory. The reply was that he tDr 1iuua'1so.'
was ''intcEcstcd' In the same. nc cou 'u nod
however state that the coursc Of tho oo!! -
been decided by the experiments, because IA.
Ills opinion that the former haa hol us
teru,ine;l.' As for the trcatlEcntof tue su n
rating track which many took to uc Inc co's
the ball. that surely should have been @uo IN
III either event. 1t is no small tribute ~ - m
skill and wise judgment or the surg -: tha
late President that they wisely refE.:'1cd. az ~
face Of considerable popular clanor, to secH 20
| the missile To extent which tn1gat tn1g,e hnw:,
| ,ruy&t mischicrnlls, and. Us tho result Eeau. thst
,vtuld have proved futile; tho fact oT. TnoncIes1
nt,w when the cH>t Is ended and IT'S otraita
ii.