El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-11-17
DOCTORS DISAGREE
As to Whether Bacteria or
Another Substance Caused
Hahway's Death
EACH EXPERT POSITIVE

EACH EXPERT POSITIVE
That His Theory Is the Correct One
and no End of Authorities Are
| Invoked for Support-physi
clans Testify for Defendants.
An eminent French physician cres-
ted furor some time ago among the
medical fraternity by makiug the state
ment in pu biic that medicine was not
a science and had never been reduced
to a science, in spite of the claims of
doctors all over the world.
From the many conflicting state
ments made by physicians on the wit
ness stand in the district court during
the past few days it appears to the
mind unversed in medical or legal lore
that modern surgery is nothing more
than experimental and that no two
doctors agree as to the proper treat
ment in a case where the symptoms are
plsin.to all.
For instance, DR.. Villas, surgeon
| whose reputation in the community is
is without blemish, tes-
titled that Hanway's life was endsn-
gere by delay. DR.. Sem, DR.. Bron-
nagal and others from distance make
oath that to delay the operation was
the best thing that could have happen
ed to the patient
The patient died.
| DR.. Senn's deposition was read last
evening. In it he commended the
physicians in charge of the hospital
department of the G. 81. & S. A. rail-
| way for the course pursued by them in
treating Hsnway, and said it was the
only proper one under the circum-
stances.
DIR. BRONNAGAL.
This morning DIR. Bronnagal, of San
Antonio, was called to the stand on
behalf of the three defendants. He
had heard the preceding testimony
and said that had he been called in to
treat Hanway he would first have re-
moved the injured man to a suitable
place and put him in charge of skilled
nurses. He would have applied solu-
tiou to destroy germs and cleanse the
wound,
"To what, in your opinion, was the
death of Hanway 6ue?" the witness was
asked.
ITO fatty embolism. or the introduc,
tion of fatty substance into the veins
and through them to the lungs and
brain. The terrific weight of the cars
passing over the mans leg would mash
the bone and flesh to pulp and force
the fatty substance into the veins"
Judge Newton conducted the ex-
animation of the witness and was fre-
quently interrupted on account of ask
ing questions that were alleged to be
leading.
How do you know that Hanway
Gied of fatty embolism?"
From the clinical or bedside picture
of the case. 1 can see no other cause
for the death, from my own experience
and that of other .practitiopers.''
DR.. Bronnagal was asked in regard
to dozen'or more surgical works by
as many physicians and admitted tn at
he was acquainted with each. DR.. Sem,
he said, was one of the foremost sur
geons of the orld.
Being asked to c escribe the symptoms
of fatty embolism, DR.. BronnaRal
said that the disease usually developed
in from "a to 4S hours and was charac- |
terlzed by high temperature, dificult
respiration, violent delirum and death.
He said he had assisted in treating one |
case and WAS present at the autopsy |
and knew the symptoms by exper- |
fence.
The records of the treatment of |
Hanway were read to the witness and |
he agreed that the treatment was pur-
sued properly. The condition of the |
patients pulse and respiration soon |
after he was Injured was cited and the |
said that had the operation
been performed then there was great |
danger OF Hanway dying on the table.
Cross examined by p. 81. Clarke,
witness said that q normal pulse for
Hanway's age would be Is beats per
minute and his normal temperature
9S3 degrees.
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE'S PULSE.
The pulse Of all men varied, he said,
but temperature was about the same.
He said that Is pulse beats per minute
would be curiosity.
''You have heard of Napoleon Bona
parte?" asked Mr.. Clarke.
Eyes; his pulse beat was only 40, but
ne was not healthy man."
''He lived long enough to do a great
many things. did he not?"
Yes, but he was not healthy"
"How is fatty embOlism produced?"
Fatty su stances are forced into the
veins, aud after being broken up into ,
ylobules by the circulation and heart =,
beat, the glObules find their way to the ,
brain, the lungs aud the kidneys, and
cause death by interrupting their func-
IONS"
The physician went on to say that as
'Oon as vein was cut it collapsed and 9
prevented the entrauce of fat or other :
halter. :
"Would not the pressure that crush
ID Hanway's leg close the veins?'
"Yes. sir.' n
"Then how would the fat get into the I
7eins?" lc
~ don't know how it got in, but in
he case in which 1 held an autopsy r
he fat got there somehow" !
might not the process of rubbing d
ng 1t have opened the veins?''
The doctor didn't thirk SO, and ex-