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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. VI - Page 4« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Dr. Charles J. Carrico)

insert chest tubes, thoracotomy tubes. At the beginning of the resuscitation attempt intravenous infusions had been started using polyethylene catheters venesection, lactated renger solution, and uncross-matched type O Rh negative bloods were administered and 300 mg. of hydrocortisone were administer Shortly after the completion of the tracheotomy, Dr. Bashour arrived and had connected the cardiac monitor. Although I never saw evidence of cardiac activity, electrical cardiac activity, Dr. Clark stated that there was a perceptible electrical beat which shortly thereafter disappeared, and closed cardiac masses was instituted. The cardiac massage was successful in maintaining carotid a radial pulses, but the patient's state rapidly deteriorated and at approximately 1 o'clock he was pronounced dead.

Mr. Specter.
What, in your opinion, was the cause of death?
Dr. CARRICO. A head injury.
Mr. SPECTER. Have you now described all the treatment which was given the President as best you recollect it?
Dr. CARRICO. As I recall; yes, sir; that's all---I'm sorry.
Mr. SPECTER. Did you have any occasion or opportunity to examine the President's clothing?
Dr. CARRICO. We did not do that.
Mr. Specter.
And was no examination of clothing made, Dr. Carrico?

Dr. CARRICO. Again, this was a matter of time. The clothes were removed the nurses, as is the usual practice, and the full attention was devoted to trying to resuscitate the President.
Mr. SPECTER. On the examination of the President's back which you described that you performed, did you note any bleeding from the back?
Dr. CARRICO. There was considerable blood on the cart and on his back. could not tell if this came from his back or had fallen down from the head injury There was also some cerebral tissue there.
Mr. SPECTER. What did your examination by feeling disclose with respect whether he had any back wound ?
Dr. CARRICO. I did not feel any. Now, this certainly wouldn't detect a sins bullet entrance. All this examination is designed to do is to establish the fact that there is no gross injury to the chest posteriorly.
Mr. Specter.
Is that a routine type of examination, to ascertain whether the
is a gross injury to the chest posteriorly?
Dr. CARRICO. Yes, sir.
Mr. SPECTER. What did you observe as to the President's clothing with respect to the presence of a back brace, if any?
Dr. CARRICO. There was, on removing the President's shirt and coat, we note he was wearing a standard back support.
Mr. Specter.
Would you describe that back support, please?
Dr. CARRICO. As I recall, it was white cotton or some fibrous support, with

staves, bones and if I remember buckled in the front.
Mr. Specter.
How wide was it?
Dr. CARRICO. How wide?
Mr. Specter.
Yes, sir.
Dr. CARRICO. I don't know; I didn't examine below---you see---as I recall, came about to his umbilicus---navel area.
Mr. SPECTER. Was there any Ace bandage applied to the President's hips that you observed?
Dr. CARRICO. No; I didn't remove his pants.
Mr. SPECTER. Did you have any opportunity to observe that area of his body when his pants were removed?
Dr. CARRICO. I had the opportunity, but I didn't look.
Mr. SPECTER. What doctors were involved in the treatment of President Kennedy?
Dr. CARRICO. Well, of course, Dr. Perry, Dr. Clark, Dr. Baxter, Dr. McClelland, Dr. Peters was in the room, Dr. Bashour, Dr. Ronald Jones, Dr. Curtis, I believe Dr. White was there initially, at least, I don't recall right offhand anyone else There were other doctors in there, I just can't specifically remember-there were 10 or 15 people in the room before it was over.
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