The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-07-14
DISSENTING DOCTORS
On the Gnitcau Antopsy-Report OF Drs.
Sewers and IIartISRn.

Sewers and IIartIEnu.
WASHINGTON, July l3.-The report OF
Doctors Sewers and Hartigan upon the
Guiteau autopsy, is completed.
In the preface to the report the physi-
clans say $50 much contention has grown
out OF the making OF this autopsy, and re.
Gently there has been so much controversy
made public through the press concerning
it that we are constrained to give-a brief
history OF the case.
DIS. Sewers and Hartigan then tell their
story and it differs little from the story
already told for them in the newspapers.
From the report Of the autopsy the follow.
ing is taken:
Brain Membranes: The dura mat or
quite strongly adhered in many places to
the inner surface OF the skull, viz, near
the trunks OF the middle meningeal ar
teries, also near the longitudinal sinuses in
front, but could be stripped closely from
the bone at all these points OF attachment,
as there was no roushing OF the skull here
or elsewhere. There was no exuda.
tion OF the dura mater. Quite
a number of pacchionion granulations
were distributed along the course OF the
sinus. The cerebral sinuses contained but
little blood. The dura mater, pia mater
and brain were adherent TO each other on
both sides along the limited portion OF the
longitudinal tissure adjacent to the
pacchionion granulation. Arachnoid
there were very well marked milky opaci.
ties OF archnoid, but no apparent thicken-
ing extending over the upper portion of
the convex surface OF the hemi.
spheres only. us elsewhere, the
membrane was perfectly normal.
These opacities were confined to the upper
portion OF sulci in this vicinity ex-
clusively and were such as are often found
without previous history Of disease. The
sub.archnoid space contained very little
fluid. The pia mater was easily stripped
from all parts OF the brain. The blood YES.
sells OF the membranes and brain were
empty and the general appearance OF
the brain was an@mic, or bloodless.
Both these considerations can be readily
accounted for by the unfortunate removal
OF the lungs and heart, and the severing OF
large blood vessels by DR.. Lamb before the
brain or its membranes were expelled or
examined, and on this account nothing OF
importance was attached to this condition,
as the blood that was in the brain at the
time the autopsy was commenced had IN
opportunity, at least, OF making its exit into
the chest cavity. A sufficient examination
WAS made OF the large blood vessels OF the
brain to determine that they were in 4
healthy condition.
Brain-The brain entire, with portion
OF the aura mater attached, weighed 49l
ounces, about the average weight for an
adult male. Just how much more it might
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 that it would have been.
considerably moro. The consistence OF
the brain was normal Its specific gravity
and measurements, its chords and arcs,
could not be obtained, owing to the lick OF
facilities There was no apparent asynl.
metry 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
ccrebellum was well covered. The oc.
cipital lobes were not noticeably bl.nt or
sharp. p
DIS. Hartisan and Sewers say in con.
clusion: 81; 4.
ave desire to state we were not In
accord with DR.. Lamb in the order adopted
by him in making the autopsy. We did
not object moment, for the reason il had
been agreed that he lamb should do the
cutting, and after this agreement we did
feel at liberty TO interpose objection
Mt the very. instant OF beginning the work,
with q number; Of gentlemen present to
witness the operation. We thought then
and think now that the brain should
first have been opened and examined,
instead OF which the : first incision
made by Lamb was in the region OF the
heart, and when the thoracic, cavity was
laid open we had ro idea it was the inten.
ton OF the operator to sever the large ves-
sells which must necessarily be cut in the
removal Of the heart before the ,examina.
ton OF the brain was had. :. a
The cutting OF these vessels was the work
OF IN instant and was done before objection
could be interposed. z: Y. That the brain had
been cut into pieces and .E;thc parts dis.
tributed. and this before its examination
under the microscope s is true. q was
done without consultation with, or. au.
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