The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-10-27
RIXEY MAKES
HIS REPORT
Official Statement of McKinIey's
Death is Filed.
DETAILS ARE GONE INTO
EXACT sTATE OF PATIENT DU-
RING HIS FATAL ILLNESS.


shot by Leon r. Czolgcsz,' Is the Of
ficial statement filed with the surgeon
genera, of the navy. by DR.. Presley
N. Rixey, medical inspector, L. s. n,
as the Introduction for his report upon
the wouading, illness and death of the
late President Mckinley.
The cause of death is thus stated:
|Gangrene Of both walls Of the stom-
ach and pancreas. following gunshOt
wound"
The report itself is remarkable for
its exhibition in the closest possible de-
tai OF the exact state of the patient
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 patients prog
IeSs toward the emo. But perhaps the
most valuable data contained from a
medical point of view is the accurate
registering OF the medication Of the
case-not a single mOrsei of food nor
= dose Of medicine or bath is omitted
in this account. Included in the run
ming story at the proper intervals are
the bulletins which were Given to the
public as the cas- progressed.
The report begins with an accurate
account of the first operation at the
emergency hospital Sept. 8. the two
Wounds being described exactly as
they have been treated in the pCeced-
ing medical reports. DR.. Rizey. stating
20 immediate laparOtOmy. makes his
first entry at $3.50 p. III, when DR..
Mann made vertical inc sion passing
through the wound, and found at the
very beginning a piece of cloth car
ried in by the bullet.
Eight minutes later stryChnine was
administered hypodermically. Some
time alter that brandy was admins
morphine likewise was administered.
This same application became neces-
Eary five minutes after the patient ar
rived at tbs Milburn house. the result
being an Improved pulse but slight
nausea.
Bulletin to Public.
The first bulletin issued to the pub
lie was dated at p. m. describing the
wound ard the operation. The next
entry. at S:42. declares thai the patient
rested quietly. but at 9:l5 vOmiteC
small quantity Of partly digested food
at $40 also. At 10:40 the bulletin was
issued stating that the president was
rallying satisfactorily and comfort
Gtly. At 10:45 p. m there were occa-
siOnal twinges of pain and slight dis
celebration OF dressings. At u o'clock,
midnight. a saline enema was retained.
The notes follow at intervals OF less
han an hour until 4:55 the second day.
S>pt. 2, and ten minutes later, at sos
a. m. the entry reads:
PUN severe on deep respiration. At
5:20 toe patient is said to De restless
after retaining one pint of salt enema
At $40 the bulletin said the presi-
dent had passed good night. At 3
a. M il was. announced that no serious
symptoms had developed. At noon on
the second day more morphine was ad-
miaistered hylJodeTmically. at 1:15
there was a saline enema. and at 4.3O
there was a hypOdermic injection of
digitalis, the patient 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 mouth.
At $50 the patient complained Of in
tense pain ia the pit of the stomach.
He was given a hypOdermic injection
Of morphine No pain but restless.
SpOnSed with alcohol and rested quiet
" for half an hour. The official bull
letin announced no change for the
worse. At I,40 D. m. digitalis was ad-
ministered hypodermically, and the
bulletin at $50 declared that the con-
ditions continued much the same, the
president respor ding well to medical
ton He had fifteen minutes quiet
sleep. when a saline enema with soma
toz was administered. part of which
was rejected. Then there was another
hypodermiC injection of digftaIis at
1910 and fifteen minutes later of mos
phine. the patient being very restless.
On the Third Day.
The third day. Sept. 8. began with
the entry at 1890: Restless during
sleep. Limbs sponged with alcohol.
Quiet and slept from to 3 o'clock
The 800 a m. bulletin said the pres
ident had passed a fairly good night.
At $3.50 there was another enema of
salt and sOnlatOsc. From 4 to 4:30 the
patient was said to be confused and
very restless At a. m. complains
of feeling chilly. but it passed in a
moment" The patient was restless
and talkative from to S o'clock a. m.
Before o'clock there were two hypO-
dermic injections of morphine and digi-
tails. a hypodermic Of strychnine was
followed at 1890 p. m. by a saline
eneruH with somatose which was not
retained. and an alcohol rub. At 4:45
p. n. the patient was restless and
talkative. and for t5e first time was
given water by the mouth. At ASS
an enema OF sweet oil. soap and water
brought away some slightly colorsd
fluid and very little nsucus. At a.
m. the patient was set down as very
restless
on the fourth day. Sept. 9. the pa
tient IS recorded as restless from 1 to
1.20 o'clock At SIS p. m as very
restless and mind much disturbed
COdiaphOs was administered hypoder-
nicaUy. After an hours sleep the rec
ord is made at 7:1O a. m, mind clear
feels chilly
The patient drank water frequently
ia small quantities. At 9:20 the bui.e-
dition is becoming more and more sat
isfactory." etc. tAt 10 o'clock the doc
tors began to administer hourly dos Is
OF calomeL Meanwhile following a
nutritive enema Of egg. whisky and
water. there We're two high enemas
one with soap. wat and OK gall. Al
3 p. m. the bulletin said: The presi.
dents condition steadily improves anc
he is comfortable without pain OF un-
favorable symptoms. Bowel and kid
nev functions normally performed"
Complained Of Nausea
At 4:2O Of this day. following a dress
ing Of the wound Of about an hour. the
patient spit up greenish, bitter fluid
hot water was given at $50 and hat
an hour later the patient complained
OF nausea.
Firth day. Sept. 10. began at la
a m. after a short sleep. with this
entry: Uncomfortable. turning FIRE.
quently." There are three entries OF
sleeping" and then the $50 bulletin
stating that the president had passed
the most comfortable night since tbs
attempt on his life The 9 a. m. bulle-
tin predicted a rapid convalescence
failing complications The balletiu Al
ie.sO said the presidents condition wa,
unchanged and described the reu10va