Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-09-25
M KINLEY'S WOUNDS.
Medical View Of the Late Presi-
dents Case.
NO FAULT FOUND IN TREATMENT
Been Done. Says The Medical Jour
nal-Pofsoned Bullet Theory Is Not
Aceepted-Case said to Be a Unisne
One.

One.
The current number OF the New
York Medical Journal deals at length
with the surgical aspect of the case of
President Mckinley. The Journal is
not disposed to find fault with the sur
geons who attended upon the late
president. 1t believes that all that hu-
man skill could do for him was done.
If the surgeons were at one time
more hopeful than was justifiable by
the condition OF the patient, it was an
error. 1t says that was excusable and
asserts that. so far as the facts were
then known to them. the surgeons were
warranted in expecting the recovery
of their illustrious patient. The edito-
rial says in part:
1T is a melancholy consolation to
know that the fatal termination of
President Mckinley's case was not in
the slightest degree due TO any onis-
sion to give him the full benefit of all
the present resources of our art, and
there is nothing humiliating in the fact
that the favorable prognosis which for
five or six days seemed justified should
have finally proved fallacious.
ut is expected that an official report
of the case will be given to the profess
sion in the course of a short time.
Pending the issue of the report let US
briefly review the case. At the time
of his assassination President Mckin-
ley was probably in better physical
condition than most men of his age
hfty-eight years-who lead a sedenta-
ry life. So Far as is known. he was
free from all organic disease. though
his vitality may have been somewhat
impaired by the fearful mental strain
to which the duties of his office and its
responsibilities and anxieties had long
subjected him. He was suddenly cut
down by a cruel wound, but he bore
it bravely. and there was little of the
condition known as shock.
This freedom from shock was cor
rectly interpreted as showing that no
considerable internal hemorrhage was
going on. Without delay he was taken
to well equipped hospital and attend
ed by surgeons of worldwide reputation
and vast experience. The operation it
self was performed by an exceedingly
capable gynecologist, who was assisted
by equally capable general surgeons
It is perfectly certain that there was
no technical fault in the operation, and
it may be said with equal positiveness
that it would have verged on madness
to prolong the search for the bullet aft
er it had been ascertained that it had
not inflicted any very grave injury be
yond that of the stomach-aScertained
that is to say, within the limitations of
warrantable efforts. The amount of
time consumed in a major operation.
especially one dealing with the abdom-
inal organs, is of vast Importance as
affecting the patients chances of recov-
cry.
THE operation having been finished
without seriously taxing the distin-
guished patients vital powers, there
followed at least five days of freedom
from serious symptoms. This we say
with full appreciation of the fact that
the record of the pulse and respiration
seemed ominous, for the high rate
might have been due TO any one OF
number of conditions not in themselves
of grave import. The hopeful view was
taken, and quite naturally, that ii could
be so explained. 1t is easy TO be wise
after the event and TO say that in this
respect the surgeons were in error.
Err they certainly did, as the result
shows, but to err in such way argues
no incapacity or avoidable lack of judg-
ment- 1t simply, we repeat, illustrates
the fact that the medical man is not
perfect being"
In speaking of the poisoned bullet
theory the editorial says:
1T is not at all improbable that there
were pathogenic bacteria on the sur
face of the missile, but so there often
are on every ordinary ma terial used by
man. We know of no poison in the
ordinary acceptation of the word, that
in only such minute amounts as could
be smeared on a bullet-or In any
amount, for that matter-coud when
driven into the body set up gangrene
after at least five days Of inoffensive-
ness.
'Gangrene was probably established
two or three days before the fatal is
sue followed. but it could hardly have
occurred very early without giving rise
to more disquieting phenomena than
dUguSUtdtlOU OF Tue purse duo Etspiid-
ton rates, which, as we have said be-
fore. might well have been due TO some
comparatively unimportant disturb
ance. To the wound Of the kidney we
attribute little importance further than
arises from the fact that ii made one
more ira umatic surface to become gan
grenous There is said TO have been
a trifing degree OF hamaturia of brief
duration. but not enough to Indicate a
very serious renal lesion.
The case of the profoundly iamented
president may be set down as unique
in some Of its features. not so much
perhaps as regards the actual trauma-
tism inflicted by the assassin's bullet
as with regard TO the deferred appear
ance of the gangreuo1s process that
bl0red out his fair prospects OF recov-
cry The profession eagerly awaits
the appearance Of the authoritative
statement which. il is understood. his