Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-09-28

called attention to the possibility Oh
there being a wound of the pancreas or
kidney or both. Unfortunately, as the
sequel too we'll shows, we were right In
at least one particular. Another matter
is that which referred to the desirabill-
ty of an Y ray examination to locate
the ball. The Record urged this as OF
the greatest Importance, and yet, with
the apparatus at hand, 1t was repeated
" and publicly stated that such an ex-
animation was not ut all necessary. In
fact, 1t seemed safer to guess than to
be sure.
"What comment suggests itself In
this connection when even at the au-
topsy, so fNr as can be ascertained at
present, it was not considered worth
the trouble to search for the ball be-
yond certain point? What excuse
must be offered to the public for the
utter inability to find the bullet even
in the dead lSdy?
"All these matters may, however. be
properly explained when the fuller &C.
count Of the postmOrtem Is given to
the medical and lay public.
"Many different theories have been
offered by the medical attendants con-
corning the cause Of gangrene of the
bullet track. BY some the condition
is charged to a poisoned bullet, by 9TH
ers to the leakage Of pancreatic Juice
into the bullet sinus and by still 9TH
ers to mere lack Of recuperative energy
in the tissues involved.
"On these points. however. the profess
sioiial Is willing to suspend judgment
pending the completion and publication
Of the official reports Of the postmor-
TEN examiners. Viewing the strictly
surgical aspects Of the case in the
light of the autopsical demonstrations,
certain points Of treatment might nat
urally suggest themselves.
every one knows that such an In
jury as existed in the presidents case
is uniformly fatal. The most favora-
BILE result that could have been expect
ed was the healing of the wound and
the possible establishment of tistula-
In this case permanent, narrow duct
opening on the surface of the body.
This would certainly be infinitely bet
| ter even as tentative measure than
accidentally leaving a leaking kidney
or pancreas in closed cavity to work
such mischief as was manifested In
the gangrenous condition Of the sur
rounding tissues in the case in Ques-
| ton.
ALLOWING that the bullet had actual
| " lodged in the muscles of the back,
| also that the muscle was within easy
reach, 1t would be following good
surgical rule to establish drainage by
the most direct route posteriorly. This
course, however, could not be followed,
as the bullet, on account Of the I'M
fortunate conditions already noted, was
not accurately located.
"Under the circumstances. therefore,
and taking everything into considera-
ton, it is comforting to note that all
was done for the distinguished patient
that was possible. In fact, as was re-
peatedly stated by the operator, the
case was fatal one from the start
"In thus remarking upon the public
aspect Vi Tie CuSe IL Is Vlly lo1 eAe Pun
| pose of getting at the truth and learn
| ing, perhaps, useful lesson. In the
same spirit we can afford to view the
! strictly professional side. To err is hui
man, but wisdom comes from expert
ence.
ut is safe to say that under like cir
cumstances in future the gentlemen
concerned would act somewhat differ
) emily We sincerely trust that they at
least would not then be asked to eX-
! plain why they allowed lost ball to
! be buried with the victims body"