Evening journal., 1901-09-20
MEDICAL VIEW
OF M'KINLRY CASE
Nothing Humiliating in Doc
tors Mistaken PrOgHOSiS
in the Case

New York, Sept. 1S.-lhe fourth
coming edition Of the New York Medt
cal Journal will discuss the case OF the
late President Mckinley in a lengthy
article. II will say:
1T is a melancholy consolation to-
know that the fatal termination Of
President McKinley's case was not in
che slightest degree due to any omis-
sion To give him the full benefit of all
the present resources OF our art, and |
there is nothing humiliating in the fact |
that the favorable prognosis which for
ave or six days seemed justified should |
have finally proved fallacious.
1T Is expected that an official re-
mort OF the case will be given to the
profession I'm the course OF short
/ time Pending the issue of the report !
let us briefly review the case. AT the
time OF his assassination, President
! Mckinley was probably in better
physical condition than most men OF
his age. SIS years who lead sedentary
life. So far as is known, he was free
from al organic diseases, though his
vitality may have been somewhat inn
lpaired by the fearful mental strain to
which the duties Of his Office and its
Responsibilities and anxieties had long
lsubjected him He was suddenly cut
down by a cruel wound, but he bore 1t
bravely, and there was little of the
condition known as shock This
freedom from shock was correctly in
lterpreted as showing that no consider
liable internal hemorrhage was going
on without delay he was taken to a
well equipped hospital and attended by
dungeons OF worldwide reputation and
vast experience.
THE SURGICAL OPERATION.
The operation itself was performed
by an exceedingly capable gynaecolo-
lgist, who was assisted by equally capa-
BILE general surgeons. 10 is perfectly
certain that there was no technical.
fault In the operation, and II may be
said with equal positiveness that It
would have verged on madness to pro-
Hong the search for the bullet after 1t
had been ascertained that 1t had not
inflicted any very grave injury beyond
that OF the stomach-ascertainc that
IS to say. within the limitations OF
warrantable efforts.
"The operation having been finished
without seriously taxing the distin-
guished patients vital powers, there
followed at east Eve days OF freedom
from serious symptoms This we say
with full appreciation of the fact that
tho record of the pulse and respiration
seemed ominous. for the high rate
might have been due to any one Of a
number of conditions. not in them
selves of grave import. The hopeful
view was taken. and quite naturally,
that It. could he so explained. 1t is
easy to be wise after the event. and to
say that in this respect the surgeons
were in error: err they certainly did
as the result shows; but to err in such
way argues no incapacity or avoid
able lack of iudgment-dt simply, we
/, repeat. illustrates the fact that the
medical man is not a perfect being.
lDEFERRED APPEARANCE OF THTi
GANGREsNFl.
"Gangrone was probably established
, bwo or three days before the fatal issue
followed. but it could hardly have Oc-
CURED very early without giving ris,
AAV. lNNAt| hAHNNlNAAAAa IhAh0AhNNtA AhNA
augmentation Of the pulse and res
lpiration rates. which as we have saic
BEFORE might well have been due tc
some Comparatively unimportant dis
thfbance,
O. TO TIE 'w8und Of the kidney we at
, lthluie mf1e importance. further thar
q leriigs from the fact that it madc on,
n lgpre trqumatic sWface 90 become gan
greaous. There is said to have been
a trining degree OF haematuria OF brie
+. duration. but not enough to indicate
"a very serious renal lesion. The easl
j Qfithe profoundly lamcnted Presiden
i may be set down as Unique in som,
4 ~ hts features. nor so much. perhaps
rs regards the acfial trannatism in
hicted 5y the assassins bullet as will
regafd to. the deferred appearance o
Tho ganerenOus process that blottel
out his fair prospects of rec0tery."