Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-17
WOUND HEALING NORMALLY

free Day, Seemingly Least
Concerned of Those
about Him.
Chicago. Oct. 16.--The bullet wound in
flicted in Col. Theodore Roosorelt's chest
at Milwaukee Monday night. 1t wGs OFF,
cially announced tonight for the first
time, Is healing normally without infcc-
tion The statement that no cOmplica-
tons have shown themselves was made
after a day during which the first sue
cessful X-ray picture Of the wound in the
oolonel's chest was examined By the sur
eeons. The fact developed that the
would-be assassin's bullet fractured the
colonel's fourth rib. The missile remains
imbedded, apparently in the bone. The
fracture, however, 1t Is stated, will not
affect the treatment in any way, but will
be allowed to heal untreated. as will the
wound.
A description of the wound given to-
right by DR.. w. B. McCauley is the first
to be given to the public by the surgeons
He said that the bullets path through
the muscles of the chest is lacerated to
some extent by the battered lead but that
there was little confusion and no extern
sive area of bruised and extravasated
surrounding tissue.
THE bullet did not mushroom as
might have been expected, said I-r
McCauley For that reason IL cut a
comparatively small hole in the skin
and did not reduce a large portion of
the nearby tissues to pulp as Is the
case in soft bullet that mushrooms
in animal tissue after it hits a hone.
think the bundle Of papers in COL
onel Roosevelts pocket checked il
and the spectacle case for some rea-
son failed to spread the bullet much.
WOUND A CLEAN ONE
'"The wound is about big enough &c
put your finger in at the surface and
1t does not appear to get very much
bigger ! would call it a very clean
wound. The skin is torn at the sur
face in a ragged way but not badly
and there is little bruising.
There is not sign of suppuratior
in the wound. The flesh Is in goot
condition and seems to be healing
without complication. IF there wa:
! pus forming deep in the wound. W,
would know it at once by an unusua
rise of temperature"
DR.. McCauley added that it is now
certain from the N-ray pictures tina
the bullet has not entered or injured
| the plural cavitG removing grav,
possibility in the case.
| He pointed out the normal condition
of the patient indicated by the officia
chart taken at 1000 p. m.
| DR.. McCau!ey's statement was giver
after leaving the colonels room and aft
er 4 consultation with the other sur
geOns.
He confirmed previous announcement.
that no attempt would be made at pres
ent to remove the bullet which Is no
expected to hinder the healing of tn,
| fractured rib
| Colonel Roosevelt spent quiet anC
| apparently care-frcc day, seemingly TIL,
least concerned of all. He was cheeret
| by the appearance of Mrs. Roosevelt
who arrived early In the day from New
York and remained with him constantly
He felt no pain. he said and move'
about at will on his bed. reading o
debating kilograms or talking wit
members OF his family. In the afternoon
he slept for a time
MRS. ROOSEVELT IN CHARGE
AS soon as Mrs Roosevelt reache
the hospital this morning she tool
lcharge of affairs. She was accom-
lpanied by Theodore. Jr., Mrs. N'cho
las Longworth and Miss Ethel Roose
welt. Later in the day Congressma
LonGworth arrived Mrs. Roosevelt
installed herself in a room ADJOINING
that of her husband and during tn
day seldom left his bedside.
Mrs. Roosevelt's first move was I
decree that the colonel must see n
visitors except members of his fam
lily. Once or twice during the day sh
made exceptions. but otherwise sh
adhered firmly to her resolutions. Tn
colonel was feeling fine and read
to receive visitors. but Mrs. Roosevelt
gave him no opportunity to pass upo
her ruling. for she made 1t on her ow
authority. and saw to 1t that 1t wa
enforced. She received the cards an
messages for her husband and sen
back her replies. with the result tina
the colonel himself did not know WI
wished to see him.
It was learned to-day that the N-ra
photograph which was taken in Milwa,
kee "A few hours after Colonel Rooseve
was shot, did not show accurately III
location of the bullet. and another photo
graph was taken this afternoon. I'll
bullet is resting against the fracture
rib, the fourth one on the right sid
and the proximity OF the rib rendered
difficult to obtain the desired result wit
the N-ray. The fracture of the rib e,
planned the pain which Colonel Roos,
Welt felt in breathing deeply.
WANTS TO SPEAK ONCE MORE.
The impres sion grew to-day tha
Colonel Roosevelt would be able to do HIT
or nothing more in the campaign. a
though he expressed the hope of leav.n
for oyster Bay on Sunday. 1t Is proba b
he will he compelled to remain In til
hospital for at least week longer an
that after his arrival at home he will nj
lae permitted to plunge into the campa.g
sgain
Associates of Colonel Roosevelt sat
that while he was deeply disappointed
being obliged to leave the fight during tn
II Ia eh Atrvfs.