| Publication information |
|
Source: Detroit Medical Journal Source type: journal Document type: letter to the editor Document title: none Author(s): Carney, R. Date of publication: October 1901 Volume number: 1 Issue number: 7 Pagination: 206 |
| Citation |
| Carney, R. [untitled]. Detroit Medical Journal Oct. 1901 v1n7: p. 206. |
| Transcription |
| full text |
| Keywords |
| William McKinley (medical care: criticism: personal response); William McKinley (medical condition). |
| Named persons |
| R. Carney; Matthew D. Mann. |
| Notes |
| Document |
[untitled]
Editor Detroit Medical Journal:
D S—I
read with considerable satisfaction your editorial anent the “Demise of President
McKinley.” I had followed the case, as best I could, in the newspaper reports,
and was awaiting an intelligent history of the symptoms, and the result of the
autopsy, as I desired full light as to the cause of death.
I cannot, however, agree with your remarks as
to the selection of a nurse. After an experience of over thirty years’ practice
I am compelled to conclude that the crucial point in many a case is that of
the nurse, and if Doctor Mann felt as I have, on many an occasion, he would,
particularly, under the circumstances portrayed by you, be justified in selecting
the individual (be her nationality what it may), who would implicitly carry
out his directions and conserve his professional interests. Indeed I am of the
opinion that if there was any chance of the nurse falling short in her duty
on account of sympathy for the patient, it would be quite proper for Doctor
Mann to do as he did.
By the way, can you throw any light upon the case
as regards the result to the supra-renal capsule? The top of the kidney was
pierced, and the gangrene extended to about one inch on each side of the bullet’s
track. Would this not destroy the whole of the capsule, and, in that way, cut
off from the economy one-half of the service (whatever it be), that is evidently
essential, as we know already, to the continuance of health and life itself?
I find that only one instance is recorded in the
medical literature at my command, that in the “Medical and Surgical History
of the American War of the Rebellion,” of injury to the capsule, so that the
profession has but little data to act upon in dealing with any such supposed
injury, and I feel that the surgeons in attendance upon this case owe it to
the profession at large to supply all the information relating thereto in their
hands. Kindly, then, supply all the light that you can command on this almost
unique case, and oblige,
Yours sincerely,
R. C.