Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1901-09-28
OPERATION ON M'KINLEY
Dr.. shrady's Views on the Cele-
! brated Case.
SAYS DOCTORS ERRED FROM FIRST

Editor of the New York Medical Rec
ord Accuses the STAFF of Surgeons
Attending the Late President.
Claims, the Case Was Fatal From
the Start.
I Dr.. George f. Shrady boldly and free
| " criticises the surgeons who attend
ed Mr.. Mckinley. DR.. Shrady writes
.editorially on The Revelations of the
Autopsy" in the current issue of the
| New York Medical Record.
i Probably no more severe criticism OF
brother physicians ever appeared in a
medical journal, although it is written
'tonly for the purpose of getting at
the truth and learning perhaps useful
| lesson"
/ DR.. Shrady is eminent in his profess
sion and is one of the physicians who
attended General Grant in his last i'll
ness. He is editor Of the New York
Medical Record, which medical men
throughout the country regard as an
authority on medicine and surgery.
Thus DR.. Shrady writes:
| 'The revelations of the autopsy on
the body of President Mckinley are
deeply significant from many patho-
| logical and surgical points. While
the report Of the physicians is meant
to be merely preliminary one, the
main facts thus far presented are sutfi-
GENTLY explicit to anticipate in all es-
sential particulars the fuller account
which is promised later.
"Taken in connection with the elm
ical history of the case and the ex-,
tremely optimistic views of some OF
the consultants the discovery of GER
tain of the LESSONS named is both sur
prise and disappointment. 1t is
pity indeed that such an evident fall
ure in diagnosis should have been so
conspicuously demonstrated to the gen
eral public. 1t has proved, in fact, the
lost opportunity for an entirely con-
trary exhibition of judgment, skill and
tact ~,s@ss- ~ . -
sIn reconciling the findings after
QE6%Iu Will lhS SymplOAnS uuAAnS AAAS
there are many relations between
causes and effects which, although hid
den before, are now very painfully ap-
parent. We may comfort ourselves by
saying that under the circumstances
events were uncomfortable and results
unavoidable, but the public, alas! view
the real situation in a very matter OF
IL
fact way. The operation Of suturlng the
stomach wounds was timely, proper
and, SO far as it went, brilliant. Med
zeal men the world over were proud to
hear that it had been done SO promptly
and so well upon person Of such i'm
portance.
''But now, in the light Of the autopsy,
we know that the operation, carefully
conducted as it was, was necessarily an
incomplete one.
''This is speaking of the procedure
from strictly surgical standpoint ire
spective of the ultimate doom Of the
patient in any event. Time was pre-
cious, and prolonged search for the ball
was impossible; consequently the con-
dition and course Of the wound beyond
the stomach could not be positively as
certained at the time. The surgeons
satisfied themselves, therefore, that it
was safe to leave this terminal wound
to itself and close up the abdomen.
They used their best judgment under
trying conditions; but, unfortunately,
that Judgment was in error.
"Then came the bulletins and inter-
views SO eagerly read by an anxious
nation. It was stated at first that the
stomach wounds were the only causes
for anxiety, that the ball having lodged
id the muscles Of the back would be-
come safely encysted and that septic
peritOnitis from possible leakage Of the
stomach contents was the only thing
to be feared.
when the latter danger was over,
there came the surprising intelligence
that the patient wotlld certainly recov-
er. This in the face Of d continued high |
temperature and rapid pulsel Then it
was announced that all the wounds had
healed perfectly and the only real dam |
ger was centered in a weak heart
Hardly had this bulletin been issued
when it was announced that the exter-
nal wound was found to be infected.
aecessitating the removal Of some
stitches. Still it was said that the dis
inguished patient was doing excellent
" well-7in fact, even better than be-
fore.
Next was the report Of &H attack Of
Indigestion claimed to be due to food
given too soon. and last Of All and
without warning came the appalling
accounts of his rapid collapse and sur
orisingly quick death.
Worst Of all, however, were the &C.
Gal facts of the autopsy. which seem
ID to prove to the public that the doc
ors had been wrong in their concep-
ion Of the case from the beginning to
he end. Sadly enough, not one of the
principal LESSONS gave any evidence Of
IS existence during life. The good con- :
lition of the wound behind the stom-
cll, Of which all the surgeons were so
confident, was an Illusion
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