Gunshot Wound

[wsanto]

Heath, here is what Dr. Lattimer thought. In his book he writes, There seems to be no reason to disagree with those who have stated that Lincoln could not possibly have survived this wound, even in modern times, and that, indeed, it is remarkable that he survived for nine hours, as he did, after the shooting. Even if he had survived, he most certainly would have been a decerebrate 'vegetable'; a cruel transformation from the sensitive, compassionate, and thoughtful chief of state which he had been.

I should add that Dr. Lattimer's book was published in 1980. Possibly medical advances made in the past 30+ years would make the outlook more positive than what Dr. Lattimer writes?

Roger,

Dr Lattimer was probably correct in 1980 but there would be cause for much more optimism today given the advancements in Trauma Surgery, ICU management, and rehabilitation over the last 33 years.

Assuming the bullet hadn't crossed the midline (per Dr. Woodward's report), Lincoln's entire right hemisphere was uninjured. The bullet did not significantly injure any major centers in the brain (except Broca's area that controls speech, and some motor and sensory regions). His right hemisphere could have potentially learned, with a lot of rehabilitation, some of the functions that were damaged on the left. I disagree that he would have survived as a "vegetable". He very well may have survived and been able think, learn, and communicate in a useful way.

Of course it is all moot because under no circumstances could he have survived in 1864.