The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-07-27
GUTTEAU's BRAIN.

The Report of Drs. Sewers and Hartsgan.
Under the date of July l3 Washington
Assoc -ated Press telegram says:
The report of Drs. Sewers and HartigRn upon
the Guteau autopsy is completed. In the pref
ace to the report the physlc ans say:
- So much contention has grown out of max
ing this autopsy and recently there has hpen
SO much controversy made public through the
press concerning it, that we are constrained
10 give brief history of the case"
Drs- Sewers and HRrtigan then tell their
story, and it differs little from the story already
told for them in the newspapers From the re-
port of the autopsy the following is taken;
BRAIN MEMBRANES.
The dura mater was quite strongly adhe-
rent in places to the inner surface of the skull
viz; near the trunks of the middle menin-
geal arteriesl also near the longitudinal sinus
in front, but could be stripped deanly from the
bone at all these points of attachment, as there
was no roughening of the skull here or else
where. There was no emulation on any part
of the inner surface of the lura mater. Quite
n number of pacchionian granulations was
distributed along the course of the sinus. and
the cerebral sinuses contained but little If any
blood. The dura mater. pia mater and brain
were adherent to each other on both sides
along limited portion of the longitudinal fis-
sures adjacent to the pacchionian granula-
tions.
ARACHEoID.
"There were very well marked milky opaci-
ties of the arachnoid, but no apparent thioken-
ing extending over the upper portion of the
convex surface of the hemispheres only. As
elsewhere the membrane was psrfectly nor
NAL. These opacities were confined to the
upper portion of the sulci in this vicinity ex-
clusively, and were such as are often found
without previous history of disease. The sub
arachOid space contained very little Huid.
The pia mater was easily stripped from all
parts of the brain. The blood vessels of the
membranes and brain were empty, and
the general appearance of the brain
was anaemic or bloodless. Both of those CON
ditions can be readily accounted for by the
unfortunate removal of the lungs and heart
and the severing of the large blood vessels by
DIR. Lamb, before the brain or its membranes
were exposed or examined, and, on this ac-
count, nothing of Importance was attached to
this condition, ms the blood that was in the
brain at the time the autopsy was commenced
had an opportunity at least of making its exit
into the chest cavity. Sufficient examination
was made of the large blood-vessels of the
brain to determine that they were in a healthy
condition
BRAIN.
'The brain entire, with portion of the dura
mater attached, weighed forty-nine and a half
ounces, about an average weight for an adult
male. Just how much more it would have
weighed had it not been drained of its blood,
and had the scales been more delicate, we are
unable to say, but certainly it is safe TO assert
it would have been considerable more. The
consistence Of the brain was normal It's spe-
7 cific gravity and. the measurements of the
chords and arcs could not be obtained, owing
to the lack of facilities. There was no appar~
ent asymmetry of the two hemispheres AS
regards contour and shape exact studies were
not made, and the comparative weights of the
different parts were not obtained. The cere-
| bellum was well covered. The occipital lobes
were not noticeably blunt in shape"
Drs. Hartigan and Sewers say in conclusion:
I'VE were not in accord with DIR. Lamb I'm
the order adopted by him in making the au-
topsy. We did not object at the moment, for
the reason that it had been agreed that he
Lamb should do the cutting, and, after this
agreement, we did not feel at liberty to inter
pose an objection at the very instant of begin
ming the work. with number of gentlemen
! present to W stness the operation. We thought
| them and think now, the brain should first
/ have been opened and examined; instead Of
! which the first incision made by Lamb was iT
| the region of the heart; and when the
thoraic cavity was laid open we had
no idea It was the intention of the op
orator to sever the large vessels which
/ must necessarily be cut In the remoVa
/ of the heart before the examination O1
the brain was had. The cutting of these yes
| sells was the work of an instant and WAS done
| before objection could be. interpOsed. That
! the brain had been cut in two pieces, and part
| distributed, and this before its examination
| under the microscope, is true. 1t was done
without consultation or authority from us
! and furnishes another instance of what hat
| been apparent all through this proceeding
| viz: the unwarranted assumption of author
/ ity and responsibility by DIR. Lamb"
4 Washington special of the 18th says: 'This
report, which is by the majority of the com
mittee. ought to settle the question as TO Gut
i toaus sanity. Drs Sewers and Harttgan, II
/ short, find Gufteaus brain in a generally
/ healthy state.'