The Washington times., 1901-09-16
President Mckinley and His Physi-
clans.

| According to yesterdays reports from
Buffalo concerning the autopsy which
was performed upon the body of the
late President Mckinley, people in a
| position to know all the facts and to
| weigh tie evidence intelligently and
| scientifically, are entirely convinced
| that the case was an utterly hopeless
one from the moment the abdominal
wound was inflicted by the bullet of the
assassin. The autopsy developed the
| fact that the full extent of the injuries
was unknown to the surgeons and ply
sicians in attendance. They were con-
fdeat that, when the bullet made its
wound of exit in passing through the
posterior wall of the stomach, it had
completed its destructive work, had en-
bedded itself harmlessly in the muscles
of the back, and need not further be
reckoned with. That view at least was
the official one. given to the public in
the early surgical bulletins. Why it
should have been assumed, If it was,
that the track of the bullet after it
disappeared behind the wall of the
stomach and went. no one knew where
into the abdominal cavity. should
not furnish an element of danger, is a
mystery to the lay mind, that, perhaps,
the inevitable professional discussion
which will be carried on through the
medical journals and the press gener-
ally, may serve to clear up.
AS matter of fact, the autopsy
shows that the fatal bullet lacerated
the upper part OF the kidney, leaving a
track which became swiftly gangren-
Gus. and, with the development of gan
creme around the stomach wounds,
made death inevitable.
Since the probable verdict of science
will be that no human means could
have saved the life of the late Presi-
dent, any inclination to criticise the
medical staff in the case may be mini
mized. The truth remains, however.
that the country today is not thorough
ly satisfied that temporary symptoms
which had a favorable look were not
given undue prominence, and undevel-
oped or partially developed factors of
danger ignored or CLOSED over in the
bulletins. Thus. the first depressing
announcement given out at 1O:S0 p. m.
Il
of confidence and rejoicing, read as fol-
lows:
''l0:3o p. m.-The condition Of the President
is unchanged in all important particulars His
temperature is 1905; pulse, ia; respiration. IS
When the operation was done Friday last it
was noted that the bullet had carried with il a
short distance beneath the skin fragment of the
Presidents coat. This foreign material was OF
course removed, but a slight irritation OF the
tissues produced, the evidence of which
has appeared only tonight. 1t has been neces-
sary on account of this slight disturbance TO
remove few stitches and partially open the
skin wound. This incident cannot give rise to
other complications, but it is communicated 10
the public, the surgeons in attendance wish
to make their bulletins entirely frank. In con-
sequence OF the separation of the edges Of the
surface wound, healing Of the same will be some
what delayed. The President is nov well enough
to begin to take nourshment by the mouth in
the form of pure beef juice"
When we compare the above bulletin
with the official report of the autopsy, it
is rather difficult to escape a suspicion
that in the former the whole truth was |
not told. notwithstanding the declara-
ton that the surgeons in attendance |
wish to make their bulletins entirely !
frank" The report of the autopsy |
reads:
THE bullet which struck over the breast bone |
did not pass through the skin and did little harm |
The other bullet passed through both walls OF |
tie stomach, Its lower border. Both holes |
were found 10 be perfectly closed by the stitches
but the tissue around each hole had become gan |
grenous.
after passing through the stomach tho bu1 |
let passed into the back walls OF the abdomen
hitting and tearing the upper end Of tho Kid |
ney This portion of the bullets track was also |
gsngrenous. the sangrene involving the pancreas.
The bullet has not yet been found.
There was no sign Of peritonitis or disease |