The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-24
Medical Science Powerless.

"Thc wounds in the stomach" said DR.. Gay.
lord, ontnuing his testimony, ''wcrc not ncccS'
SJriy the cause OF death. The fundamental cause
Was the changes back OF the stomach. The actual
cause was the absorption of the brokon'down mat
ter OF the pancrcas, There was nothing known
to medical science which would nave arrested
the progress of the changes caused by the pas.
sage OF the bullet through the pancreaS."
lis it, or Is It Eot, tuc that antiScntcS are
used TO prevent inflammation" was asked by
the counsel for the defense,
at is not,' was the answer.
"'rhcn the popular idea is not coucct?'
"\ot exactly; no"
Judge Lewis closely oross.cyamincd Dr. Gaylord
on the question whether antseptics were used
10 prevent Inflammation. The doctor explained
that Inflammation resulted from bacteria entering
the wound aud that antScptics were used TO Kill
these germs. Judge Lewis tried 80 get Dr. Gay
lord to say that antiscpicS were used to prevent
Inflammation, but he declined to admit it,
ON redirect examination, Dr. Gaylord CN.
planned that Inflammation is popular term
which Is applied to changes in the tissues Anti
scptics are applied to prevent these changes in
tie Tissues which arc broken by the entrance
oi organisms. The cause OF the breaking down
Of the mats Of the panCrcas in the FIRST place was
the injuries produced, aud, secondly, tho escape
Of the secretion in the pancrcas. The function
Of the paucroas is to secret fluid which passes
digestion.
Operation on President Described.
Dr. Herman MyntCr was the next witness.
District Attorney Penney questioned him closely
regarding the operation performed on President
Mckinley at the exposition hospital Immediately
after the shooting. DR., Mynter said the sur
gcons found the bullet wound in the lett upper
side Of the abdominal cavity. The president
agreed to operation at once, which was
| absolutely necessary 10 save his life. Dr. Mann
was selected with Dr. Myutcr TO perform the
operation. The abdomen was opened, II was
| difficult to get at the wound in the back OF
| the stomach, The stomach was turned over and
a bullet hole was found in the back OF the
| organ, They could not follow the further course
| Of the bullet and as the presidents temperature
was rising t was agreed by the physicians
present that no further search for il was ad.
yisdhlc at that time. The stomach was re-
| placed and the opening closed with suturcs.
| On the advice Of the physicians, the president
was removed to Mr., Milbum's house,
| Dr. Myntor then described the period of ia.
yorlhle symptoms shown by the patient, his
| relapse and death. DIR, Myntcr gave the names
Of an the doctors who were associated with
| HIM in the case and described the result Of
| the autopsy, saying that it proved, first, that
| there was no Inflammation Of the bowels; sec.
ond that there Was no injury to the heart; third,
| that there was gunshot wound in the stomach
| and that there was a gangrcnous spot back of
| the stomach as large as a silver dollar.
The Cause of Death.
"Nhit was tho cause Of DEATH" asked Mr..
| Penney "Ihc cause was blood poisoning from
| the absorption oi poisonous matter caused by
| lhc gaugrcnc. Primarily, il wa, the gunshot
| wound"
| Cross examination by Mr., Titus was directed