The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-29
His Death

His Death
Washington, October 26.-"In the line
of duty, while receiving the people, was
shot by Leon F. CzoIgosz," is the Of
fetal statement filed with the surgeon
general of the navy by DR.. Presley NJ.
Rixey, medical inspector, United States
navy, as the introduction for his report
upon the wounding. illness, and death
Of the late President Mckinley. The
cause of death is thus stated: Can
grene of both walls of stomach and
pancreas, following gunshot wound"
The report itself is Iemarka BILE for its
exhibition in the closest possible de-
tail of the exact state of the patient
during the mortal illness. 1t is in the
shape of a ships log almost, showing
at intervals of every few minutes,
sometimes a single minute, rarely more
than an hour, the patients progress
toward the end; but perhaps the most
valuable data contained, from a med
ical point of view, is the accurate reg
istering of the mendication of the case
not a single morsel of food nor a dose
of medicine or q bath is omitted in this
account. Included in the running story
at the proper intervals are the bulle-
tins which were given to the public as
the case progressed.
The report begins with an account
of the first operation at the Emergency
hospital, September 6th, the two wounds
being described exactly as they have
been treated in the preceding medical
reports.
DR.. Rixey, stating that all the physi-
clans present agreed to immediate
laparotomy, makes MS first entry at
$50 o'clock p. m, when DR.. Mann made
a vertical incision, passing through the
wound, and found at the very begin
ming a piece of cloth carried in by the
bullet.
Eight minutes later strychnine was
administered hypodermically. Sometime
after that brandy was administered in
the same manner, and then morphine
likewise was administered This same
applica ton became necessary five min
utes after the patient arrived at the
Milburn house, the result being an i'm
proved pulse, but slight nausea. The
first bulletin issued to the public was
dated Z o'clock p. m. 1t described the
character of the wound, the general
outline of the operation and spoke OF
the condition of the patient as gratify-
ing and justifying hopes Of recover.
The next entry at S:43 o'clock. de-
clares that he rested quietly for eight
minutes. but at 9:15 o'clock the patient
vomited small quantity of partly di-
gested food and blood clot. Vomiting
followed at $40 o'clock also. At 1910
O'Clock, the bulletin was issued stat
ing that the president was rallying sat
isfactorily and resting comfortably. At
10:45 o'clock p. M, there were occa-
sional twings of pain and slight discol-
oration of dressings. At II o clock mid
night, a saline enema was retained. At
1 o'clock a. m, an hour later, the bull
letin described the president as free
from pain and resting well.
The notes follow at intervals of less
than an hour until ass o'clock the sec
ond day, September 7th. The patient
was sleeping, but at the latter hour a
large amount of gas was expelled and
ten minutes later at sos O'Clock a. m,
the entry reads: Pain severe on deep
inspiration"
At 500 o'clock, the patient is said to
be restless after retaining one pint OF
saline enema. At 6 a. m, the official
bulletin announced: 1.-THE president has
passed a good night Fifteen minutes
later, an injection OF morphine was
given and at 9 o'clock a. m, it was an
nounced that the president had passed
a fairly comfortable night and no Sc
rious symptoms had developed.
At noon on the second day more NOR
mime was administered hypodermically;
at Ills o'clock, there was saline
enema; and at 4:3O o'clock there was
bvnodermic injection of digitalis, the
patient passing much gas by the mouth,
The first alcohol both was given at 5:SU
O'Clock on this day. while the patient
was sleeping but passing gas by the
mouth.
At $50 o'clock p. m, the patent COM
planned of intense pain in the pit OF the
stomach. He was given hypodermlc
of morphine No pain but restless.
sponged with alcohol and rested quiet