The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-15
WAS THE BULLET POISONED.
DIR. Wasdin's Theory Not Supported
by the other Physicians.

President Mckinley had been shot rumors
of anarchy. the assassin had probably poi
soned the bullets. The early days Of splen-
did improvement in the patients condition
dispelled these rumors. but they were re-
newed when the final collapse began. This
morning they found their way into the au-
topsy room, and when the gangrenous con-
dition of the tissues in the course of the
bullet were discovered discussion was had
as to whether or not the assassin had used
work.
Of the doctors who have attended Pres
ident Mckinley through his struggle for
life, and who were at the autopsy this
morning, but one can be found who def
nitely and positively stated his belief that
the bullet of the murderer was poisoned.
This is DR.. Eugene Wasdin, an expert in
yellow fever cases, who has lately made
this city his home, and who is familiar with
the action of poisons in the human body.
Dr. Wasdins opinion during the progress
of the case was much valued by the other
physicians and his theory as to the poison
Gus matter upon the bullet are herewith
given:
1.-THE breast bone wound showed big
impact. Still the area of infltration of
simultaneous tissues was entirely too ex-
tensive 20 be accounted for from confusion
or the force of the bullet. The subcutane-
Gus tissues were in partially gangrenous
condition. The bullet that went into the
abdomen and penetrated the stomach also
was followed by extensive necrosis of
tissue or gangrene wherever it passed. The
livid gangrenous and this process extended
to the entire line of invasion made by the
surgeons through the abdominal walls.
The point of entrance into the stomach was
necrosic or gangrenous. The sutures made
by the surgeons were still intact at the
autopsy, but the lines of sutures were sur
tire thickness of the stomach wall and ex-
tending on all sides about one and one-half
to two inches. The same is true of the
wounds of exit of the bullet on the pos
still closed by sutures. in the center of an
extensive area of necrosis. The further
passage of the bullet through the soft
tissues of the back, where it became i'm
bedded was also surrounded by necrotic
tissue. These different necrotic areas all
had the same appearance as to time of
influence acting about the same time. All
these conditions lead me to believe that
there has beer an influence exerted by the
passing bullet through these tissues en-
tirely dissimilar to the influence exerted by
an ordinary missile. In this case there
was not the appearance of a single effort
at natural repair a. any point along the
track of the ball.
1.-THE influence speak of might be either
bacterial, the microbe being carried in on
the bullet and giving rise to a growth of
bacteria in the abdominal cavity with re-
sulting peritonitis and possible abscess, or
in the case of some rare germs. to necrosis
of tissue. From meteorological observa-
tions made thus for this does not seem to
be the case. There was no pus formation
at any point within the abdominal cavity.
only the gangrenOus influence from the
bullet, which, from these facts, believe to
have been due to some possible organic
poison placed on the bullet. Further bac-
THEOLOGICAL tests are in progress and posi-
bly, a germ capable of giving rise to this
gangrenous condition of tissues may be
found. But the presence of gangrene only
at points of passage of the bullet and the
length of time, seven days. required for
the necrosic or gangrenous changes rather
convince me that it is not a bacterial in
| fuence but must be due to some organic
poison. Tests were made of gangrenous
material when the stitches in the Presi-
cents wound were removed and the wound
redressed. They have not shown as yet the
presence of a gangrene producing organism
leading inferentially to the opinion that
the bullet was coated with some poisonous
| substance"
| DR.. Roswell Park, when asked as to the
| likelihood of the now much-talked-of bullet
being poisoned before it crashed into the
body of the President was somewhat cate
| gorical in declaring his position In re-
| spouse to questions put by a reporter he
said: II do not think that the bullet was
poisoned"
How, then, do you explain the gangren-
Gus conditions found along the track of the
bullet as outlined in the official statement
of the doctors?" was asked.
THAT hypothesis is not workable. 1t can
be stated very simply. 1 fail to subscribe
to the theory that the bullet was poisoned,
for the simple reason that l have often
seen bullet wounds similar to those sus-
tanned by the President. and have seen
conditions similar to those which resulted
in the Presidents death in cases where no
question of poisoned bullets was raised.
l do not share the belief Of those who feel
that the bullet was poisoned"