The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-20

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Stranger Comfortably Resting In the
Middle Of the Hsart-Movement of thu
Heart Prevents the Expert From GET
ting % Clear Proof ~ He Desires
what Some of the Doctors Say In Be
gard to the Case.
Chicago, July 19.-Med:cal men and
scientists are amazed at the marvellous
vitality OF Charles B. Nelson. A sec
ond sciagraph, successfully developed
yesterday. clearly confirmed the belief
that the hero Of the midnight mystery
Of Washington Park has bullet in his
heart. What is more, the anticipate
that Nelson has an excellent chance of
living to ripe old age with q leaden
souvenir imbedded in his breast that will
go with him to his grave.
The last picture reveals the fact that
the bullet penetrated Nelson's body to a
depth OF two and half inches from
| the surface OF flesh line. 1t penetrated
| the pericardium, or sack which sur
rounds the heart, and lodged between the
center and left curve of that organ.
| The sack is about the thickness Of a
| linen cuff.
The pulsations Of the heart. with the
bullet located in such a position, 1t is
believed, caused the calibre Of the bullet
70 look much larger that it really is.
It resembles 80 in size, but according
TO experts Il is % calibre. The chest
| wall OF Nelson moved when he breathed
IS he sat for this picture. and made
if difficult to thoroughly develop the
| rays Of light and gauge the exact cali
Der. The bullet moved up and down
with the heart sufficiently to make a
perfect sciagraph impossible.
". c. Fuchs, the electrician who took
the picture by the x rays process, says
it is as good a reflection as can be OBJ
tanned.
After the patient was taken from the
dark room in the laboratory yesterday
afternoon DR.. Bnk1ey examined it close
iy and then endeavored to find the ex-
act location OF the bullet by measure
ment Of the interior Of skeleton which
hung near the machine. If Mr.. Fuch's
estimate that the bullet is Embedded at
depth Of two and oneLhalf inches is
correct. the doctor says it nearly reached
the center Of Nelson's heart.
DR.. Binkley has called for better
development OF the last picture and the
new print will be completed Tuesday.
1.-THE bullet sped on a straight course"
said DR.. Binkley. 1T struck near Mel
sons breast bone and headed for the
heart. It reached the sack which en-
velopcs the heart undoubtedly. The
only question now is whether or not it
has penetrated the heart to the depth Of
two and one-hah inches. Nelson's will
power had something to do with his re-
covery. Possessed of remarkable en-
durance he was superbly equipped with
determination to recover from the start.
Cases like his are very rare, indeed"
Dr.o. Frank Lydspon said: ..1t is an
extraordinary instance, but not without
precedent. IT is possible that the bullet
lodged in his heart and that he may live
for years. There g an instance Of this
possibility in Vermont, where a farmer
was shot In the heart. The bullet en-
tered the aurta, which is worse than a
wound in the heart ordinarily. II
pierced the right auricle and remained
there. Sixty days. afterward he was
we'll and went to work in his hay field.
One day he fell while at work and died
from aneur.sm. e rupture or tumor
caused by the formation Of blood near
the scar. The bullet in the heart, how
ever, did not kill him.
During the civil war there were a
few instances where soldiers were shot
in the heart and lived. Animals have
demonstrated the came vitality In sew
eral cases. It is remarkable, however.
for any human being to have such en-
durance"
DR.. William McElvane Thompson re-
nifcent constitution. backed by will
power, which made godo alliance with
prompt treatment. He had heard of
cases where victims Of the revolver and
knife had lived after receiving wounds
in the heart. but such things happened
at very rare intervals in medical his
tory.
DR.. J. Edwin Kuh said in discussing
the incident that Nelson might possYoly
live for years. He believed the bullet
was in the muscle of the heart
Dr. Arthur Dean Bevan stated It
would be possible for Nelson to survive
an indefinite period with comparatively
little physical inconvenience IL the bullet
was in the muscular tissues OF the heart.
He doubted whether it was in the cavity
II that organ. as chances Of life would in
that event be practically impossible for
a human being.
B. Dr.. Bevan cited cases of deers which
had been found with old bullets in their
heartssouvenir Of former wounds
AMI Of one instance in particular of a
deer's heart in a museum at Washing
ton which had an arrow head in It. This
deer lived long after receiving this
wound. but fell one day before the rife
Of frontiersman.
Nelson has what is known as deer"
heart. Those of facetious inclination
say that it's invulnerabie quality is due
70 being the frequent large; OF shafts
snot in loves archery game. Scared
with sentiment. small but solid. ii has
proved bullet proof Nelson leaves for
Cadillac. Mich, in few days 10 spend
several weeks at his old home
DR. BUTLER. THE DEAD PRIEST
His Wonderful Charm Over His Followers
In Chicago.
Chicago. July 19.-"Dr. Butler is dead
in Rome. Tomorrow be would have been
a bishop
The message ran through the Roman
Catholic diocese Of Chicago yesterday
with the traditional speed OF bad news.