Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-09-26
The MEDICAL VIEW.
TIE MEDICAL ATTENDANTS UPHELD.


New York, Sept. 19.-The forth
coming edition of the New York
Medical Journal will discuss the case
of the late President Mckinley in a
lengthy article. 1t will say:
1t is a melancholy consolation to
know that the fatal termination of
President McKinley's case was not the
slightest degree due to any omission
TO give him the full benefit OF all the
present resources of our art, and
there is nothing humiliating in the
fact that the favorable prognosis
which for five or six days seemed
justified should have finally proved
fallacious.
1t is expected that an "ofiiciap re-
port of the case will be given to the
profession in the course of shor
time. Pending the issue of the re-
port, let US briefly review the case.
At the time of the assassination
President Mckinley probably was in
better physical condition than most
men of his age who lead a sedentary
life. So far as is known he was free
from all organic disease, though his
vitality may have been somewhat i'm
paired by the fearful mental strain
to which the duties OF his office and
its responsibilities and anxieties had
long subjected him. He was suddenly
cut down by cruel wound, but he
bore it brayely and there was little of
the condition known as shock. This
freedom from shock was correctly
interpreted as showing that no con
siderable internal hemorrhage was
going on. Without delay he was
taken to well-equipped hospital and
attended by surgeons of worldwide
reputation and vast experience. The
operation itself was performed by an
exceedingly capable gynaecologist,
who was assisted by.equally capable
general surgeons. 1t is perfectly
certain that there was no technical
fault in the operation. and it may
be said with equal positiveness that
it would have verged on madness to
prolong the search for the bullet
after it had been ascertained that it
had not inflicted any very grave in
jury beyond that of the stomach-as-
certained, that is to say, within the
limitations of warrantable efforts.
The operation having been finished
without seriously taxing the distin-
guished patients vital powers, there
followed at least five days of freedom
from serious symptoms. This we
say with full appreciation of the fact
that the record of the pulse and res
piration seemed omnous, for the
high rate might have been due to
any one of number of conditions not
in themselves of grave Importance.
The hopeful view was taken, and
quite naturally, that it could be so
explained. 1t is easy to be so wise
after the event and to say that in
this respect the surgeons were in
error; err they certainly did as the
result shows, but to err in such way
argues no incapacity or avoidable
lack Of judgment-it simply, we re-
peat, illustrates the fact that the
medical man is not perfect being.
Gangrene probably YVES estab-
lished two or three days before the
fatal issue followed, but it could hard
ly have occurred very early without
giving rise to more disquieting phe-
nomena Than augmentation of the
pulse and respiration rates, which, as
we have said before, might well have
been due to some comparatively un-
important disturbance. To the wound
Of the kidney we attribute little i'm
portance further than arises from
the fact that 1t made one more trau-
matte surface to become gangrenous.
There Is said to have been trifing
degree Of haematuria Of brief dura-
ton, but notA enough to indicate u
very serious renal lesion.
The case Of the profoundly lamented
president may be set down as unique
in some of its features, not SO much,
perhaps, as regards the actual trau-
matism inflicted by the assassin's
bullet, as with regard to the deferred
appearance Of the gangrenous pro-
cass that hlotted out his fair prOs-