Recoveries in Similar Cases Average Fifty Per Cent

     BUFFALO, Sept. 7.—The operation upon the president last night lasted almost an hour. Ether was administered. A five-inch incision was made where the ball entered the abdomen and its course was followed until the physicians became satisfied that the kidney had not been touched or the intestines perforated, and that it had lodged, probably, in the muscles of the back, where it could do no harm for the present. The intestines were lifted out through the incision and carefully examined, and the utmost confidence exists that there was no injury. The physicians were exceedingly gratified at the result and pronounced the operation a complete success.
     In response to a request from the Associated Press for an opinion as to the probable result of the president’s wounds, Surgeon General Wyman of the marine hospital service, said:
     “The fact that the president was in such good health; that skilled surgical assistance was immediately available; that the necessary operation was not postponed, and the fact that the percentage of recoveries in similar cases is large, all give good ground for anticipating a favorable result.
     “The fact that the wound was received at [sic] late as 4:10 p. m., probably some hours after lunch and before dinner, the stomach being comparatively empty, is in his favor. It is difficult to find statistics based on a large number of cases with wounds of this character, but in a general way it may be said that recoveries average about fifty percent. With a man like President McKinley, it is safe to say that the percentage of chances in his favor is much greater than this. Cases with numerous perforations of the stomach and intestines, even accompanied by wounds of the liver and kindnes [sic], have recovered.”