The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1901-11-01
DOCTOR RIKEY'S REPORT.
DR.. P. NJ. Rixey Makes an Official
Statement of the Treatment
of President Mckinley.
FILED WITH SURGE0a-GENERAL OF NAVY
The Report Exhibits In the Closet
Detail the State of the Patient, In
the Shape of a Ships Log, From
the Time of the Operation Until
Death EnsueG,

the Time of the Operation Until
Death Ensuee,
Washington, Oct. 26.--"In the line
of duty, while receiving the people,
was shot by Leon +. Czolgosz,' is the
Official statement filed by the sur
geon-general of the navy, DR.. Presley
NJ. Rixey, medical inspector, United
States navy, as the introduction for
his report upon the wounding, illness
and death of the late President Nc
kinley. The cause of death is thus
stated: 'Gangrene of both walls Of
the stomach and pancreas, following
EunShot wound"
The report itself is remarkable for
its exhibition in the closest possible
detail of the exact state of the pa
tient during his mortal illness. 1t is
in the shape of a ships log almost,
showing at intervals of a very few
minutes, sometimes a single minute,
rarely more than an hour, the pa
tents progress towards the end. But,
perhaps, the most valuable data con-
tanned, from a medical point of view,
is the accurate registering of the
morsel of food, nor dose of
medicine, or bath is omitted in this
account. Included in the running
story, at the proper intervals, are the
bulletins which were given to the
public as the case progressed.
The Report.
The report begins with an account of
the first operation at the emergency hos
SeDtemher 6
ing described exactly as they. have been
treated in the preceding medical reports.
DR.. RiXey, stating that all the physicians
present agreed to immediate laparotomy,
makes his first entry at $50 p. M, when
DR.. Mann made a vertical incision pass
ing through the wound, and found at the
very beginning piece of cloth carried in
by the bullet Eight minutes later
StrYchnine was administered hypoderm-
administered in the same manner and
morphia was administered. This same
application became necessary when the
patient arrived at the Milburn house, the
result being an improved pluse but with
some nausea The first bulletin issued
scrined the characgfr IF the wound the
general outline of the operation and
spoke of the condition of the patient as
gratifying and justifying hopes of recov-
cry. The next entry, at o:43, declares that
he rested quietly for eight minutes, but
tity of partly digested food and a blood
clot. Vomiting followed at $40, also. At
1910 bulletin was issued, stating that
the president was rallying satisfactorily
and resting comfortably. At 10:45 p. m,
there were occasional twinges of pain and
slight discoloration of dressings. At L
tanned. At l a. m, an hour later, the
bulletin described the president as free
from pain and resting well.
The Second Day.
The notes followed at Intervals of less
than an hour until ABS. the second day,
September Z. The patient was sleeping
but at the latter hour large amount Of
gas was expelled, and ten minutes later,
the entry reads: Pain severe on deep
inspiration At $40 the patient is said
to be restless after retaining one pint of
letin announced: 1.-The president has
passed a good night" Fifteen minutes
later an injection of morphine was given,
and at a. m. it was announced that the
president had passed a fairly comfortable
night and no serious symptoms had de-
veloped. At noon on the second day
more morphine was administered hypo-
dermically; at lis there was a saline
enema, and at 4:So there was a hypo-
passing much gas by the mouth. The
first alcohol bath was given at $50 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
hYpodermc injection of morphine. No
and rested quietly for half an hour. The
official bulletin announced mo change for
p.
administered hypodermically, and the
bulletin at $50 declared that the condi-
tions continued much the same, the
president responding well to medication.
He had Is minutes quiet sleep, when n
saline enema with Somatose was admin
fstered. part of which was rejected. Then
there was another hypodermic injection
of digitaliS a 10:40 and Is minutes later of
morphine, the patient being very rest
less.
The Third Dny.
vry, Q
the entry at 1890 restless during sleep.
Limbs sponged with alcohol. Quiet and
slept tr9m b1,ein fW9 TO a thref the
passed a fairly good night. At $3.50 there
was another enema of salt and somatoSe.
From to 4:30 the patient was said to be
CONFUSED and very restless" At a. m,
complains of feeling chilly, but it passed
in moment" The patient was restless
and talkatiVe from five 20 six O'Clock a.
M, expelling brown fluid and gas
There are frequent entries of these
were two hypodermic injections of NOR
phine and digitalis. A hypodermic of
strychnine was followed, at so p. m, by
a 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 was given
sweet oil, soap and water brought away
some slightly colored fluid and very
little mucuous At a. m. there was a
was set down as very restless" At 500
a great deal of gas was passed and some
fluid.
The Fourth Day.
On the fourth day, September 9, the pa
tient is recorded as restless from l to 1:20
o'clock. At 3:15 p. M, ss very restless y
and mind much disturbed Codeia phoS.
was administered hypodermically. After
an hours sleep the record is made at 7:10
a. m, 'mind clear. feels chilly" The pa
tient drank water frequently in small
quantities. At $40 the bulletin was is
sued: 1.-The presidents condition is be-
coming more and more satisfactory" ETC.
At ten o'clock on this morning the doc
tors began to administer hourly doses of
calomel Meanwhile, following a nutri-
tive enema of egg. whisky and water,
there were two high enemas, one with
soap, water and ox-gal, which brought
away a copious discharge, with gas. At
D. m the bulletin said: 1.-The presi-
dents condition steadily improves and he
is comfortable without pain or unfavora-
BILE symptoms. Bowel and kidney func-
tions normally performed" AT 4:20 OF
this day. following a dressing of the
wound of about an hour, the patient spat
up greenish, bitter fluid. Hot water was
given at $50 and half an hour later the
patient complained of nausea.
The Fifth Day.
The hftn day, September 10, began at
1:46 a. ~. after a short sleep, with this
entry: "Comfortasle. turning frequently
Thare are three entries. "SleepiuG quiet