The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-18
SURGEONS REPORT.

CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PACED
silk sutures. but the area of stomach wall
around il was discolored. grayish-green
and easily torn. The area around the
wound on the posterior wall OF the stomach
was also of a dull gray color, but the SUI
lures held the wound intact. Behind the
latter wound there was a spot OF discolora-
ton which showed that the sloughing pro-
cess had gone i'm the track OF
the bullet. The gangrenous cavity found
behind the stomach involved the pancreas
and the sTIrroundinR loose TISSUES the hot
tom Of the blind pocket being formed by
the upper end of the left kidney. which was
extent of about two centimeters.
BULLET NOT FOUND.
The track of the bullet was then traced
through gangrenous tissue in the fat be-
hind the kidney to the muscles of the back
wall of the abdomen: the direction of the
bullet, however, could not be traced any
further. The search for the bullet was
most thorough and painstaking. but in spite
of all efforts it could not be found. and the
autopsy had to be discontinued because the
time allotted to II by the family of the late
President already had been exceeded. DR..
Gaylord adds: LAS we were satisfied that
nothing could be gained by locating the
bullet which had set up no reaction, search
for II was discontinued" Examination OF
the heart muscle showed that il was af-
ItCleO Win NeIl-fndFheu IallN regeneration
anu In some places the muscle nbreS showed
groups of dark brown granules, demonstrate
ing a diseased condition Of the cardiac
muscle.
/ DR.. Gaylord believes that the repair TO the
stomach wounds had been effective and
that the gangrene around these wounds
does not seem TO have had any well de-
fned cause. He attributed the gangrenOus
condition OF the tissues solely TO lowered
vitality in the parts. The appearance OF
the gangrenous tissues shows that the gan
EaF. ooh nlan Ia-F1r 70 An~
In speaking or the cauSatiOn OF the cavity
behind the stomach. he says that it must
largely be attributed 10 the action OF the
missile. II may have resulted from the
rotation OF a nearly spent bail, or from the
simple conclusion of the bullet as ii passed
into the soft tissues. The injury TO the
pancreaS, producing a cavity within IL. Oc-
CURED during the passage Of the bullet. be-
cause the cavity was found walled off by
fbrin in an advanced stage OF organization.
There was no leakage OF pancreatic fluid
into the surrounding tissues. The extensive
gansrene Of the pancreas seems to have
been an important factor in the case.
though IL had never been shown how much
of this organ must be destroyed TO cause
death. The wound in the kidney is OF no
importance, except as showing the track OF
the bullet. The diseased condition Of the
frequent ana why it did not respond to
stimulation at the critical time.
The report of the bscteriolosist is largely
what the doctors call negative" l. e, II
concerns rather the absence OF germs than
their presence. A culture taken from the
wound during life showed several varieties
or germs, but such "a showing is rather eN-
pected in such cases. There were present
two OF the ordinary germs OF suppuration.
and one gas forming germ OF unknown
Identity. As the result OF an examination
OF various tissues and fluids removed.
DIR. Matzinger concluded that the
absence OF known pathOgenic baC-
terra, particularly in the gangrenous
cavity. warrants the conclusion thar
bacterial infection was not a factor in the
production OF the condition found in the
autopsy A chemical analysis by DR.. HIN
Of the remaining bullets and OF the contents
or the cartridge chambers In the murderer's
pistol showed that there was no poisonous
material. thus disposing OF the theory OF a
poisoned bullet.