The age-herald., 1901-09-15

Milburn House, Buffalo, September 4.- The official announcement of the physi- clans as a result of their autopsy on the Presidents body that death resulted from gangrene of the wounds, led to much discussion of the causes leading up to this gangrene. It devloepd that pr. Wasdin, one of the consulting physicians, and an expert of high standing In the ma rine hospital service, strongly supported the view that the murderous bullet had been poisoned, and that this was one of the primary causes of the gangrenous condition. The area of this dead ana gangrened flesh was a source of much surprise to the surgeons, reaching a cir sumference about the size of a silver dol lar about the internal wounds.
 Aside from their official signed state ment, the doctors were rather averse to discussing the autopsy but some general expressions were secured on the points involved, pr. Matthew D. Mann, the sur Eeon upon whom fell the responsibility or operating upon the President, immediate ly after was shot, in the course of a cur sory talk, said:
 First of all, there was never any con tention or unseemly discussion among the physicians as to the method of treatment of case similar to the present one in question. There was never better under standing as to what should be done. We worked together as one man. There was honest differences of opinion among us at times as t. which was the better mode Of procedure under certain conditions, but Al 1lx.,z aHA aTHNy
 About the Criticisms.
 About the criticisms that were made as to the insufficiency of the original ex- animation and the failure to locate the bullet at the time of operation, were they justified?' }.-.y et s#.s
 "The report made today" Dr. Mann 1e- piled, shows very plainly that the loca- tion of the bullet had nothing to do with the final outcome of the case. That re- suited from gangrene, which appeared in the path of the bullet. Even our efforts today to locate 1t, as stated in the report, were unsuccessful. I believe 1t went into the muscle at the small of the back We followed one hole made by the bullet until 1t went into the muscles. We searched one and a half hours for the missile of death. The X-ray instrument was not used, as the. appliances were not handy. The fatal termination was due to the or gans through which 1t passed-not to the locality where 1t now rests.'
 Your report says the first bullet strik- ing in the breast did no harm"
 First Juliet Shied Of.
 'Yes, that Is correct. That bullet evil dently struck atbutton and then shieff of without doing any damage Had it not met some obstruction 1t surely would have killed the President immediately. Below the locality where 1t struck the flesh was quite f1abby and confused. To- days investigation developed the fact that. the first bullet struck the President on the right side of the breast bone near the edge and between the second and third ribs. In our original examination we said 1t was to the left of the breast bone. The mistake in the first announce ment was due to the very nasty examina- ton we made at the time of the shooting when the question was not so much as to the exact locality of the wounds as to that of getting to work to save the Presi- dents life"
 "I'he report speaks of a lack of evil dence of repair work on the part of na- ture. Won't you explain just what bear ing this had on the case at issue?"
 By that statement We mean that the general system of the patient failed to respond ito the demand upon 1t for TeVlVdl lTOI1l the SHOCK SuIIereQ Dy the shooting. It was due probably to low state of vitality; not to poor health, mind you, but to a system that was considerably run down and needed rest and recuperation."
 Heart Walls Very Thin.
 '"The report says the heart walls were very thin. Was this condition peculiar to the President, or is 1t a common com pIaint? Did the use of smoking tobacco by the President have any important bearing on the case?'
 "A mans whose heart walls are very thin Is usually one who leads a seden- tary life and whose heart. gets no great amount of exercise This organ, like any other, requires active exercise to keep 1t in proper condition. No doubt the Presi- dents heart was sufficient for him in his ordinary business affairs of life when no strain was required. When extraor- dinary efforts were necessary the heart was unable to meet them.'
 No, I don't think the smoking habit affected the Presidents heart to the ex- tent of making it figure in the result of his case. He was not a great smoker and at one time we even considered the propriety of permitting him to, have a cigar"
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