Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-09-19
DEFENDS THE DOCTORS.

Tie Dext edition of the New York
Medical Journal will discuss the case OF
President Mckinley. l, will say:
"It is o melancholy consolation to
know that the fatal termination oil
President McKinlsy's csse was not In
the slightest degree due to any omis-
sion to give him the full benefit OF ell
the present resources OF our art; and
there ia nothing humilatipg 10 the fact
that the favorable prognosis which for
FIVE or elk days seemed justified should
have finally proved fallacious.
"At the time of his assassination
President Mckinley was probably ip
better physician condition than most
men OF his age, that is, men who lead
sedentary lite. So far ne known, he
was free from all organic disease.
though bis vitality may have been some
what impaired by the fearful mental
strain to which the duties OF bis Office
and it's responsibilities and snxieties
had long subjected him. He was sud-
denly cut down by cruel wound, but
be bore |! bravely and there was little
OF the condition known as shock. This
freedom from shock was correctly In
terpreted as showing that no consider
able internal hemorrhsge was going on.
"Without delay he was taken to a
we'll equipped hospital and attended by
surgeoos OF worldwide reputation and
vast experiences. The operation itself
vas performed by an an exceedingly
capable gyr e oologist, who was assisted
by equally capable general surgeons.
Il is perfectly certain that there was no
technical fault 10 the operation, and 1t
may be said with equal positiveness
that it would have verged on madness
to prolopg the search for the bullet
after it had been ascertained that 1t
bad not inf cted any very grave injury
beyond that of the stomsch-ssoer-
tained, that ia to ssy, within the limita-
tioDs Of warrantsble efforts.
"The operation having been finished
without seriously taxing the distin-
ouished patients vital powers, there
followed at least five days OF freedom
from eerious symptoms. This We say
with full appreciation of the fact that
che record OF the pulse and respiration
seemed ominous, for the high rate
might have been due to any OF num-
bsr OF conditions not 10 themselves of
grave import. The hopeful view was
taken, and quite naturally, that it could
! be so explained.
ut is easy TO be wise after the event,
and to say that in this respect the sur
eeons wtr9 10 error; err they certainly
did, as the result shows, but to err In
such q way argues no incapaolty OF
avoidable lack OF judgment-it simply
We repeat, illustrates the fact that the
| medical man Is not perfect being.
"Gsngrene was probably established
| two or three days before the falsl issue
folio wed, but it could hardly have oc-
Cured very early without giving rice
to more disquieting phenomena than
augmentation OF the pulse and respira-
\ ton rates, which, as we have said be-
| fore, might we'll have been due TO some
comparatively unimportant disturb
ance. To the wound of the kidney We
attribute little Importance further than
arises from the fact that 1t made one
more traumatic surface to become
esngrenous, There is said to have
been triflipg degree OF i@naturis q
brief duration, but not enough to 10
dicate a very serious renal lesion.
"The case of the profoundly lament
ed President may be set down 81
unique In some Of Its featuree, not sc
much, perhaps. as regards the actusl
traumatism Inflicted by the asssssin'i
bullet ss with regard to the deferred
appearance OF the sangrenous process
that blotted out bis fair prospects OF re
covery."