The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-09-18
AUTOPSY ON The PRESIDENT.
Bullet Caused Gangrsns Where It
Penetrated Walls Of the Stomach.

Milburn House, Buffalo, September
1.-THE following report of the
autopsy upon the remains of President
Mckinley was isused at o'clock:
1.-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
the stomach near its lower border.
Both holes were found to be perfectly
closed by the stitches, but the tissue
around each hole had become gan
grenous. After passing through the
stomach the bullet passed through
into the back walls of the abdomen,
hitting and tearing the upper end of
the kidney. This portion of the bull
let track was also gangrenous, the gan
creme involving the pancreas. The
bullet has not yet been found. There
was no sign of peritonitis or disease Of
other organs. The heart walls were
very thin. There was no evidence of
any attempt at repair on the part of
nature, and death resulted from the
gangrene, which affected the stomach
around the bullet wounds as well as
the tissues around the further course
of the bullet. Death was unavoid-
able by any surgical or medical treat
ment and was the direct RESULT of the
bullet wound:
"signed: Harvey D. Gaylord, N.
D.; Herman G. Matzinger, NJ. D.
P. NJ. Rizey, NJ. D.: Mathew D.
Mann, NJ D. /; Herman Mynter, NJ.
D.; Roswell Park, NJ. D.: Eugene
Wasdin, NJ. D.; Charles G. Stockton,
M. D.; Edward G. Janeway, NJ. D. !;
". D. jackson, M. D. W. P. Ken
dali, surgeon United States army;
Charles Cary, M. D.; Edward L.
Munson, assistant surgeon in United
States army; Hermanus L. Baer,
NJ. D."
The report of the autopsy has again
given rise to theory limited at a day
or two after the President was shot
that Czolgocz, in order to insure. the
accomplishment of his purpose, poison
ed the bullets which he fred. The
gangrene found in the path of the bull
let is thought to be strong evidence in
support Of his view by DR.. Wasdin,
one of the consulting physicians. DR..
Wasdin is considered an expert of high
standing in the marine hospital
service.
A chemical and meteorological ex-
animation of the remaining bullets in
the pistol will, however, confirm or
abolish this theory, and such an ex-
animation will undoubtedly be made
at once by the authorities. But wheth-
er this, theory is established or not it
seems probable that the result of the
autopsy will give rise to medical
controversy. The gangrened condition
of the interior wounds which the
physicians thought were healed, and
the fact that the physicians announc-
ed positively that the kidney, which
the bullet tore in its passage through
the abdomen, was. uninjured, were SO
contrary to what was expected by the
public, after the statements of the
physicians during the progress of the
case, that discussion seems inevitable.
The poisonous bullet theory might, of
course, account for the sudden and
puzzling reversal of President McKin-
ley's condition just when the physi-
clans laid such great stress upon his
improved condition and gave such
strong hope Of his recovery. The bull
let itself was not found, although an
hours search was made for it. The
X-ray appliances were not at hand for
the use of the physicians and the
location of the bullet is still unknown.