Lincoln Lincoln Autopsy - Description by Charles S Taft

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Charles Sabin Taft, Acting Assistant Surgeon US. https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=97939731
Taft was present at Ford's Theater and attended President Lincoln at his deathbed. He was also one of seven men present at the autopsy.

From
The Chicago Medical Examiner, May 1865, p 310 - 314.

The Philadelphia Medical and Surgical Reporter, of the 22d of April, contains a paper on the last hours of Abraham Lincoln, by
C. S. Taft, Assistant-Surgeon, United States Army, which, as he says, "will doubtless prove of much interest to the profession, and may be relied on as correct in all particulars, the notes from which it was written having been submitted to comparison with others taken, and corrected, by the highest authority."
.....The surgeon says: —

"AUTOPSY, FIVE HOURS AFTER DEATH.

"Present — Surgeon-General Barnes, Col. Crane, Dr. Stone, Assistant-Surgeon Woodward, U.S.A., Assistant-Surgeon Curtis, U.S.A., Assistant-Surgeon Notson, U.S.A., and Acting-
Assistant-Surgeon Taft, U.S.A.

"The calvaria was removed, the brain exposed, and sliced down to the track of the ball, which was plainly indicated by a line of coagulated blood, extending from the external wound in the occipital bone, obliquely across from the left to the right through the brain to the anterior lobe of the cerebrum, immediately behind the right orbit. The surface of the right hemisphere was covered with coagulated blood. After removing the brain from the cranium, the ball dropped from its lodgment in the anterior lobe. A small piece of the ball, evidently cut off in its passage through the occipital bone, was previously taken out of the track of the ball, about four inches from the external wound. The hole made through the occipital bone was as cleanly cut as if done with a punch.

"The point of entrance was one inch to the left of the longitudinal sinus, and opening into the lateral sinus. The ball was flattened convex on both sides, and
evidently molded by hand, in a Derringer pistol mold, as indicated by the rigid surface left by the nippers in clipping off the neck.

"The orbital plates of both orbits were the seats of comminuted fracture, the fragments being forced inward and the duramater covering them remaining uninjured. The double fracture was decided to have been caused by contre coup. The plug of bone driven in from the occipital bone was found in the track of the ball, about three inches from the external wound, proving the correctness of the opinion advanced by the surgeon-general and Dr. Stone, as to its nature, at the exploration of the wound before death.

"The ball and fragments, together with the fragments of the orbital plates, and plug from the occipital bone, were placed in the possession of Dr. Stone, the family physician, who marked and delivered them, pursuant to instructions, to the Secretary of State, who sealed them up with his private seal. The Nelaton probe used was also marked by me, and sealed up in like manner." https://archive.org/stream/chicagomedicalex6186unse/chicagomedicalex6186unse_djvu.txt
upload_2017-4-26_21-39-44.png

https://boothiebarn.com/2012/06/29/artifact-history-nelaton-probe/
 
Last edited:
View attachment 134337
Charles Sabin Taft, Acting Assistant Surgeon US. https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=97939731
Taft was present at Ford's Theater and attended President Lincoln at his deathbed. He was also one of seven men present at the autopsy.

From
The Chicago Medical Examiner, May 1865, p 310 - 314.

The Philadelphia Medical and Surgical Reporter, of the 22d of April, contains a paper on the last hours of Abraham Lincoln, by
C. S. Taft, Assistant-Surgeon, United States Army, which, as he says, "will doubtless prove of much interest to the profession, and may be relied on as correct in all particulars, the notes from which it was written having been submitted to comparison with others taken, and corrected, by the highest authority."
.....The surgeon says: —

"AUTOPSY, FIVE HOURS AFTER DEATH.

"Present — Surgeon-General Barnes, Col. Crane, Dr. Stone, Assistant-Surgeon Woodward, U.S.A., Assistant-Surgeon Curtis, U.S.A., Assistant-Surgeon Notson, U.S.A., and Acting-
Assistant-Surgeon Taft, U.S.A.

"The calvaria was removed, the brain exposed, and sliced down to the track of the ball, which was plainly indicated by a line of coagulated blood, extending from the external wound in the occipital bone, obliquely across from the left to the right through the brain to the anterior lobe of the cerebrum, immediately behind the right orbit. The surface of the right hemisphere was covered with coagulated blood. After removing the brain from the cranium, the ball dropped from its lodgment in the anterior lobe. A small piece of the ball, evidently cut off in its passage through the occipital bone, was previously taken out of the track of the ball, about four inches from the external wound. The hole made through the occipital bone was as cleanly cut as if done with a punch.

"The point of entrance was one inch to the left of the longitudinal sinus, and opening into the lateral sinus. The ball was flattened convex on both sides, and
evidently molded by hand, in a Derringer pistol mold, as indicated by the rigid surface left by the nippers in clipping off the neck.

"The orbital plates of both orbits were the seats of comminuted fracture, the fragments being forced inward and the duramater covering them remaining uninjured. The double fracture was decided to have been caused by contre coup. The plug of bone driven in from the occipital bone was found in the track of the ball, about three inches from the external wound, proving the correctness of the opinion advanced by the surgeon-general and Dr. Stone, as to its nature, at the exploration of the wound before death.

"The ball and fragments, together with the fragments of the orbital plates, and plug from the occipital bone, were placed in the possession of Dr. Stone, the family physician, who marked and delivered them, pursuant to instructions, to the Secretary of State, who sealed them up with his private seal. The Nelaton probe used was also marked by me, and sealed up in like manner." https://archive.org/stream/chicagomedicalex6186unse/chicagomedicalex6186unse_djvu.txt
View attachment 134338
https://boothiebarn.com/2012/06/29/artifact-history-nelaton-probe/
A bit gruesome but very cool. I wonder where the probe and fragments are now.
 
Another GREAT post @lelliott19 I didn't have to open this one as it was already kinda open so I figured it was safe.:D
 
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