The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-09-11
WOUNDS oFTBE STOMACH.

President Mckinley was fortunate in that he fell i'm
mediaey into the hands Of surgeons of national
ternaonal reputation The men who took charge Of him
big enough for the occasion and him the treat
which they would have given the unknown victim
Of street quarrel whose personality was not considered
but whose life to be saved
There were no prolonged consultations while important
time was being lost. There were no blind probings
The patient prepared for operation that might
prove necessary. He was made unconscious by gen
era anaesthec and the wounds examined and discovered
be follows:
First, wound in the breast which was explored and
found to lead to the breast bone along which the bullet
had glanced spending its force and lodging the flesh
This wound was cleaned and dressed It should not
affect the patient life any way It was probably stun
ming at the time OF infection contributed the pr
mary shock but internal injury of the throax
dcated need hardly be considered in the prognoss
The second wound of the abdomen. five inches
below the left nipple and and onh inches from the
median line.
As the bullet fred from hand concealed in sling
probably about the belt line the bullet which struck
the chest glanced upward chances were that the
abdominal wound made by bullet entering almost
perpendiculary to the abdominal The probabilities
then were thar the wound perforatng It may be
said in passing that if bullet strikes at oblque angle
the hardening Of tie abdominal muscles sometimes causes
it to glance as effectively as bone
The wound below and inside Of the borders Of the
ribs The stomach lay directly below it. The left lobe OF
the liver could have been not according to its
size the possibility being increased according the obi
guilty Of the Of the bullet to its dedexon by any
obstacle The same possibilities held good with regard
to the intestines
Doubtless. having these possibilities in mind the doc
opened the abdomen in track of the bullet The
front wall of the stomach found to be perforated
This peroraon closed by silk suures after which the
stomach raised sufficiently explore its posterior wall
and wound Of exit discovered and closed in the same
way No other injuries TO the organs or important blood
vessels contained in the abdomen were discovered The
further course Of the bullet was not traceabIe
The wound in the abdominal wall was closed without
drainage The PATIENTS condition after operation was
considered good The pulse rate was 100 the quality Of
the pulse was good.
The reports indicate that the treatment was prompt
skilul>and effective favorable outcome would be as
follows. according to a noted New York surgeon. For
several DAYS there woud he ranging from l01 70
lo5 f. rapid pulse ana respiration due to the shock ana to
the absorption before operation Of material carried with the
bullet particles of cloth or stomach contents If the
patients strength is good the system win take care Of
what is left of these poons after the careful oeansne
done du-ine The operation and after enc al two yeess
they vili be completely eliminated.
During tlar time. i rhe course IS favorable the pat
fem WI 3e fe5 by reCtam VITA partially prelseestei IS
cci1s AFTER about seventytvo hours if The conditions
permit the patient may Be given water to drink in tea
saooa1al doses e this is wen taken durns the next few
GAYS. HQuids VII be given in increasing doses
kt tae end Of about twelve days II all has been favor
ahe wound ~ the stomach shold be healed The fore
e.as is the most favorable oBtoof
other possibilities manv Anour them
these aye Important. There may have been leakage
from the interior wall OF the stomach Ths IS likely to
hsve beeR slight because She nuet passed from wth9u
inward and in So doing carried the coat of tie stou
Rch inward. making wound which does noy easily admit