New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-16
NO DANGER, SAY EXPERTS
Local Surgeons View Even In
lection Without Alarm.
CHANCE OF HEMORRHAGE
Blood Vessel Possibly Weak
ened-McKinley Physician
Talks Optimistically.

Barring infection. the chances of which
are said to be remote, many physicians
and surgeons In this city were Of the
opinion yesterday that Colonel Roose-
velts life was In no danger from the gum
shot wound he received Monday night
All acknowledged his fine power Of physi-
cal resistance, while Dr. Edward Wal
lace Lee, Of No. SIC Madison avenue, who
was one OF the surgeons who operated
on President Mckinley, declared his be-
lief that Colonel Roosevelt's stay in the
hospital would be very brief one.
"Tetanus Is the thing most to be
feared said DR.. Lee, but even that is
scarcely probable" ...
The leucocyte or blood count, this
physician said, was shown to be normal
and indicated no presence of pus In the
wound. At 10 a. m. yesterday 1t was
$500 whereas IL 1t were considerably
able sign.
1T would be impossible to compare the
wounds Of President Mckinley and the
one sustained by Colonel Roosevelt" said
DR.. Lee. ION the first examination
could see that the wounds OF President
Mckinley were fatal. He had no physi-
cal power OF resistance, either. But with
Colonel Roosevelt It is a different matter
He has splendid physique"
No Peril in Bullet,
When asked IL the bullet would endan-
ger the life OF Colonel Roosevelt II It
could not be recovered, DR.. Lee declared
Not a bit. He would never notice It
unless some one pressed on the spot
where the bullet was, and possibly not
then"
DR.. Simon Baruch OF No 81 West 10th
street, said the chance OF Infection from
modern bullets was not what It was in
times of the round ball Dr. Baruch
served as a surgeon in the Confederate
army during the Civil War. He said that
the round bullets used then not having
the penetrating power OF the present bull
ct often carried into the wound pieces of
cloth, which was favorable to infection.
Il think the coloners spunk is in his
favor said Or. Baruch, but his wound
is not a dangerous one. / do not think
the wound panied him at the time OF
MS spctNH, DtthuSc eNSH lile snBnteSt
wound when painful. often upsets the
nerviest OF men," 20 --.-- .. r.
Dr. John A. Wyeth,. OF No. "a Lex
ington avenue, head Of the Polycl!nic
Hospital and a friend OF Colonel Roose-
welt, felt confident that the latter would
recover.
mot Dangerous at Worst"
II do not believe his Commute speech
will endanger his chances OF recovery"
declared DR.. Wyeth. In the case OF Col
onel Roosevelt. owing to his splendid
physical condition, which In surgery we
term a normal resistance to infection.
there is little, II any. danger in the wound
as described. II the cavities had not been
penetrated and Infection should occur, II
could readily be relieved by operation
under cocaine anGsthesia, which would
eliminate the necessity and Inconvenience
OF a general anesthetlc."
DR.. Wyeth said that wounds OF that
sort were nearly always infected chiefly
because the bullet IS likely to carry In
fine substances through which 1t passes
As an example he cited the case OF Gem
eral Worth. upon whom he operated for
the wound received at SaE Juan. Span
ish Mauser bullet passed through tho
muscles OF the chest wall and then
through the entire arm. The wound in