New-York tribune., 1901-09-16
DOCTORS DISCUSS AUTOPSY
GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT THE
PRESIDENTS SURGEONS FOUGHT
AGAINST INEVITABLE DEATH.

The report Of the autopsy performed on Presi-
dent Mckinley thoroughly discussed by
many leading physicians in this city yesterday
TO these men the autopsy revealed the fact that
the physicians who attended the President were
trying to conquer inevitable DEATH for in the
tract Of the bullet gangrene developed, and this
gangrene involved the pancreas. In the opinion
OF some OF these the formation Of gangren-
Gus processes in the stomach following gun
shot wounds is unusual thing. These proc
esses gave rise to no symptoms which would
cause alarm or give warning that they were
doing deadly work. Some thought the theory
that the bullet was poisoned might prove to be
well founded. DR.. George G. Van Schaick, visit
ing surgeon to the French Hospital said
such as IT ks to the Ra kidney m
At the time Of he It is eVdsH 10
the Presidents general condition was rather below
toward repairing processes. The President did
well. well for time because the early operation pre-
due to the same lack Of vital power which pre-
toeeb.r the & fh o5 Of
pancreatc juices within the neighborng parts
POISONED BULLET THEORY.
,haor there be any truth in the poisoned bullet
portant bearing the case
Snsl excepting the fact that the tract Of the
puzzng features Gangrene Of the stomach is a
occur without the presence of some severe Injury.
IN eersn OF ulcers @ M in which there is
II is impossible to tell how this gangrene
early; The wound of the pancreas and the wound
OF the kidney are also very important factors
much about wounds of the pancreas: The pancreas
an r. ana ~ is one OF the most mpor
create Juice, which is important in intestinal d-
sestion Wounds of the pancreas are not neces-
hat
cannot be injured by bullet and recover
MORE DETAILS NEEDED.
Dr. Edward j. Donlin. who is said to have had
as large an experience in autopsical work any
physician or surgeon in this city. said:
:! am Of the opinion that the report of the autop-
sS sy Is ba e. and that fuller one viii prob
the theory that the bullet was poisoned. This
Wheh to 20 suoS tt
believe S the bullet caused the gansrenous proc
matter It.r 1t caused the gangrenous or sloughing
in her % Its to pepar be s
injured tissues. caused a soughing. which pre-
M s of 5ee @ oedH b ba IN
sense sense resulted from any poisoI Gus matter the
the bullet into the body 'A'''se
THE PROCESS OF sLoUGHING
sioughing Is process OF throwing off dead tissue.
Wien Wien bullet enters the body 1T kills all tissues
quarter Of inch of the tract OF the bullet there
such injury to tissues first causes a soughing or
disintegration OF the injured diseased parts in
It's EFFORTS to bring about healing process. IL
the vitality of the patient Is at par, nature Will
heal the wound kindly and quickly. but II the
patients system is impaired from cause. nature
is SLOW to bring about a union OF healthy tissues,
and gangrene is liable to occur as IL did evidently
occur in the Presidents
The report says that both holes found to
be perfectly closed by the stitches, tissues
around each hole had become gangrenous. / inter
pret this to mean that the sutures closed those
holes In the stomach. but complete union did not
take place as evidenced by the gangrenous condi-
tion around those holes. This condition about the
area OF the holes made by the bullet leads to
think that President Mckinley was in impaired
health at the time OF the shooting: but there is
no doubt judged from the report OF the autopsy
as printed. that everything done for the Presi-
dent that could possibly have been done, and that
his death was only question Of time.
HEART WALL WEAK
The report Of the autopsy plainly shows that
could not bear for long time a severe strain OF
sickness The only organs shown by the report 10
have been Injured are the stomach and the upper
END OF one of the kidneys. The pancreas showed
evidences OF gangrene. but signs. according to
the report. of having been struck by bullet The
its purpose is the emulsifcation Of fats AS a rule
injuries to the pancreas fatal.
The ganErenous condition involving the pancreas
impaired Its functions. but | do not think tim Z
symptoms OF such impairment could have been
determined Few cases OF diseased pancreas are
recognized in life. -
If the bullet had been poisoned the poison would
have manifested itself think early in the case
The injury to the kidney was not fatal