The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-26
Detailed Account of President
McKinIey's Treatment
And Progress of His Last Ill
ness by His Physician.
NOTHING is OMITTED.
To the Unprofessional Reader
1t Must Seem
That He Never Had Any Great
Prospect of Recovery.

Washington, Oct. 26.-'In the line of
duty, while receiving the people, was
shot by Leon f. Czolgosz, is the official
statement filed with the surgeon gen
eral of the navy, by DR.. Presley NJ.
Rixey, medical inspector, U. S. N, as
the introduction for his report upon the
wounding, illness, and death of the late
President Mckinley. The cause of
death is thus stated:
'Gangrene of both walls of the stom-
ach and pancreas. following gunshot
wound"
The report itself is remarkable for it's
exhibition in the closest possible detail
OF the exact state of the patient during
his mortal illness. 1t is in the shape OF
ships log almost, showing at inter
walls of a very few minutes. sometimes
a single minute, rarely more than an
hour, the patients progress towards the
end But perhaps the most valuable
data contained from medical point of
view is the accurate registering of the
medication of the case-not a single
morsel of food nor a dose of medicine,
or bath is omitted in this account In
cluded in the running story at the pro-
per intervals are the bulletins which
We're given to the public as the case
progressed.
The report begins with an account of
the first operation at the emergency
hospital Septen Der 6, the two wounds
being described exactly they have
been treated in the preceding medical
reports. DR.. Rixey stating that all the
physicians present agreed to immediate
laparotomy makes the first entry at
5:30 p. m, when DR.. Mann made a YER
tibal incision, passing through the
wound and found at the very beginning
a piece of cloth carried in by the bull
let Eight minutes later strychnine was
administered hypodermically. Some
time after that brandy was administer
ed in the same manner and then NOR
phine likewise was administered. This
same application was necessary five
minutes after the patient arrived at the
Milburn house, the result being an in
proved pulse, but slight nausea. The
first bulletin issued to the public was
dated at p. m. 1t described the char
acter of the wound; the general outline
of the operation and spoke of the condi-
ton of the patient as gratifying and
justifying hopes of recovery The next
entry at SAB declares that he rested
quietly for eight minutes but at 9:15
the patient vomited a small quantity of
partly digested food and a blood clot.
Vomiting followed at $40 also.
AT 10:40 the bulletin was issued stat
ing that the president was rallying sat
isfactorily and resting comforta bly,. AT
10:45 p. M, there were occasional
twinges of pain and slight discoloration
of dressings. At u O'Clock midnight a
saline enema was retained.
letin described the president as free
from pain and resting well. The notes
follow at intervals of less than an hour
until 4:55 the second day, September Z.
The patient was sleeping, but at the
latter hour a large amount of gas was
expelled, and ten minutes later, at
sos a. M, the entry reads: Pain Sc
we're on deep inspiration" At $40 the
patient is said to be restless, as retain
ing one pint of saline enema At a. IN.
the official bulletin announced: 1.-The
president has passed q good night"
Fifteen minutes later an injection of
morphine was given, and at 9 a. m. it
was announced that the president had
passed a fairly comfortable night and
no serious symptoms had developed.
At noon on the second day more NOR
phine was administered hypodermically.
At IL rs there was a saline enema, and
at 4.30 there was a hypOdermic injec-
ton of digitalis, the patient passing
much gas by the mouth The first
alcoholic bath was given at 1:30 of this
day while the patient was sleeping but
passing gas by the mouth At $50 the
patient complained of intense pain in
the pit of the stomach. He was given
a hypodermic injection of morphine.
No pain, but restless. Sponged with
alcohol and rested quietly for half an
hour. The official bulletin announced
no change for the worse. At 7:40 p. m.
digitalis was administered hypoder-
mically, and the bulletin at $50 de-
clared that the conditions continued
ing we'll to medication. He had Is
minutes quiet sleep, when a saline
enema with somatose was admin
istered, part of which was rejected.
Then there was another hypodermic in
lection of digitalis at 10:40, and fifteen
minutes later of morphine, the patient
being very restless.
The third day, September g. began
with the entry at 1870: Restless dur
ing sleep. Limbs sponged with alcohol.
Quiet and slept from to o'clock
The 1920 a. M bulletin said the presi-
dent had passed a fairly good night At
$3.50 there was another enema of salt
and somatose. From 4 to 4:30 the pa
tient was said to be confused and very
restless At 5 a. m tCOmplains of
ment'' The patient was restless and
talkative from to 6 o'clock a. M, ex-
pelling brown fluid and gas. There are
frequent entries of these eructations.
Before o'clock there were two hypo-
dermic injections of morphine and digi-
tails hypodernic of strychnine was
followed at 1890 p. m. by saline
enema, with somatose, which was not
retained and an alcohol rub. At 4:45 p.
m the patient was restless and talka-
tive, and for the first time were given
remedies by way of the mouth At 4:44
an enema of sweet oil soap and water
brought away some slightly colored fluid
and a very little mucus. At a. m.
the patient was set down as very rest
less" At S:20 a great deal of gas was
passed and some fluid.
On the fourth day, September 9, the
to 1:20 o'clock At 3:15 p. m. as very
restless and mind much disturbed"
Codeiaphos was administered hypoder-
mically- After an hours sleep the rec
ord is made at 7:10 a. m, mind clear,
feels chilly" The patient drank water
f~nfr ant Y in on Mi o.