New-York tribune., 1901-09-08
WHAT EMINENT SURGEONS THINK.
VIEWS OF SURGEONS GENERAL VAN REY-
PEN AND WYMAN AND DRs NC
BURNEY AND MURPHY.

Washington, Sept. Naturally the officials OF
the Navy Department turned TO Surgeon Cen
eral Van Reypen for an expression OF opinion as
10 the Presidents condition. The Surgeon Gen
eral was optimistic. He declared positively that
the fact that the President had escaped primary
hemorrhage and had rallied from the first ter
rife shock was greatly in his favor. The opera
uon, which is not unusual I'm war time surgery
in these later days Is not regarded as extra
hazardous when performed. as this was In II
quiet hospital and with all modern appliances.
point TO be feared was blood poisoning and
that depended entirely on wh4tner the opera
tors had succeeded in removing all foreigu met
ter such as bits OF cloth. grease from the bullet
and rver dust. that might have been carried
into the wound. The means Of steriiizlng such
tracts We're now ample and there was no reason
to believe that any precaution had been omitted
The butiet itself. not having been reached as
yet, was source Of danger. for 1t might not
have been perfectly clean.
1t would be impossible to administer nourish-
ment to the President In the usual manner for
some days, and resort must be had to artificial
means. The presence Of food in the stomach
could not be permitted until the wounds made
by the bullet and the cut made IN the opera
ton had healed. This might be expected TO
occur in about a week
In response TO a request for an opinion as TO
the probable result of the Presidents wounds
Surgeon General Wyman Of the Marine Hospital
Service said "'
The fact that the President was in such good
health, that skilled surgical assistance was i'm
medately available, thai the necessary opera
ton not postponed and the fact that the
percentage OF reCOVeries in similar cases is
large all give good ground for anticipatns a.
favorable result. 1t is not unlikely there will
be some rise in temperature which follows
wounds of this description due either to gen
eral disturbance following the wound and oper-
alton, possibly due 10 some localized perito-
nitis. The fact that the wound was received as
late as. 40 d. m--probably some hours after
luncheon and before dinner, the stomach being
comparatively empty-is IN his favor II is
difficult 10 find statistics based upon large
number of cases with wounds of this character
but in a general way II may be said that re-
cOVeries average about 30 per cent With a
man like President Mckinley il Is safe TO say
that the percentage Of chances in hts favor is
much greater than this. Cases with numerous
Derforations of the stomach and intestines. even
accompanied by wounds Of the liver. and kid
news have recovered. as many ten or more
DerforatiOnS of the tntestlneS with recovery
being by means a great rarity.
stockbridge, Mass. Sept 7.-President Nc
Kinley's wounds should heal rapidly, in the
opinion of DR.. Charles McBurney. the eminent
New-York surgeon. who is staying here, if in
flammation does not set in. DR.. McBurney also
said that ne had known many cases much more
serious than that of the President appeared TO
he TO recover DR.. McBurney spoke in answer
~ a request for his opinion. He said that If the
bullet penetrated the abdominal wall the injury
,,,os a grave one; If the bullet penetrat ted both
walls the case was still graver, and If the in
testines were injured. it would make recovery
more doubtful. Injury to the liver would make
the chances -of recovery still less
.senyar where the walls and intestines We're in
snred, but from the reports he had read OF the
Presidents injuries. he did not consider them
axtrernelv serious Had the wounds extended TO
the 'intektines the surgeons would have taken
mnch longer time in performing the operation
IDr McRurney said he could tell nothing from
H. nuIse temperature and respiration
nounced this forenoon. as AL three nuxnt nave