Dr. Presley Marion Rixey (born 1852)

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Rear Admiral Presley Marion Rixey (14 July 1852, Culpeper, Virginia – 17 June 1928) was a Surgeon General of the United States Navy (1902–10) and personal physician to Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.

Biography

The older brother of John Franklin Rixey,[1] Rixey earned his medical degree at the University of Virginia in 1873. On 25 April 1877, he married Earlena J. English, daughter of Rear Admiral Earl English, United States Navy.

He was commissioned Assistant Surgeon in the Navy on 28 January 1874. He served on the Sabine, Congress, Tallapoosa (1879–82), Lancaster (1884–87), Dolphin (1893–96), and Solace,[2]receiving promotion to Passed Assistant Surgeon on 18 April 1877, to Surgeon on 27 November 1888, and was commissioned as a Medical Inspector on 24 August 1900.[3] He was assigned as the personal physician to First Lady Ida McKinley in 1899 and spearheaded her improved health during the following few years. As he traveled with the McKinleys during this time providing personal care of Mrs. McKinley, he was present when President McKinley was shot in Buffalo. He attended President McKinley after he was shot in Buffalo, New York, in 1901.[4]

Rixey was appointed Surgeon General of the United States Navy on 15 February 1902 and served as Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, with the rank of rear admiral, until his retirement on 4 February 1910.[5]

During his tenure as Surgeon General, Rixey strongly supported the foundation of a women's nursing corps for the Navy. In his 1902 annual report, he stated that, "There has been a growing conviction in the minds of many of the most experienced medical officers of the service, especially since the war with Spain, that the employment of women for the nursing of the sick in our large hospitals would result in greater efficiency than has been obtained heretofore by the use of male nurses alone, and that such employment would not conflict with the conditions arising from the military character of the institution." With his help, the Navy Nurse Corps was finally established in 1908.[6]

He accompanied President Theodore Roosevelt during his November 1906 visit to the Panama Canal Zone, and reviewed health and sanitation procedures there.[7]

From 16 January 1913 to 16 April 1917, Rixey served as a member of the Naval Examining Board, presiding over it during the last four months of that period. He died at his home in Rosslyn, Virginia., on 17 June 1928.[5] He is interred in Arlington National Cemetery.

Awards

Rixey received the Spanish Order of Naval Merit from King Alphonso XIII of Spain for assistance he gave to the crew of the replica of the Santa Maria after that vessel suffered an explosion in New York Harbor on May 26, 1893, on its way to the World's Columbian Exposition.[8][9]

Legacy

References

Further reading

External links

Historic photo - Sep 6, 1901 - with President William McKinley

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1901 (Oct 27) - NYTimes : "DR. RIXEY'S REPORT ON MR. MCKINLEY's DEATH : Details of the Medical Treatment Given the President"

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Morphine used Freely at all Stages - The Patient Suffered More than Bulletins Indicated.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26. -" In the llne of duty, while receiving the people, was shot by Leon F. Czolgosz," is the official statement filed with the Surgeon General of the Navy by Dr. Presley M. Rlxey, Medical Inapectcor, United States Navy, as the introduction to his report upon the wounding, illness, and death of President McKinley. The cause of death is thus stated: "Gangrene of both walls of the stomach and pancreas, following gunshot wound."

The report itself is remarkable for its exhibition in the closest possible detail of the exact state of the patient during his mortal illness. It is in the shape of a ship's log almost, showing at intervals of a very few minutes, sometimes a single minute, rarely more than an hour, the patient's progress toward the end.

But perhaps the most valuable data contained from a medical point of view ls the accurate registering ot the medication of the case - not a single morsel of food nor a dose of medicine nor a bath is omitted in this account. Included in the running story at the proper intervals are the bulletins which were given to the public as the case progressed.

The report begins with an account of the first operation at the Emergency Hospital, Sept. 6, the two wounds being described exactly as they have been treated in the preceding medical reports. Dr. Rixey, stating that all the physicians present  agreed to immediate laparotomy, makes his first entry at. 5:30 P. M., when Dr. Mann made a vertical Incision passing through the wound, and found at the very beginning a piece of cloth carried in by the bullet.

Eight minutes later strychnine was administered hypodermically. Some time after that brandy was administered in the same manner, and the morphine likewise was administered. This same application became necessary five minutes after the patient arrived at the Milburn house, the result being an improved pulse but slight nausea.

The first bulletin issued to the public was  dated at 7 P. M.. It described the character of the wound, the general outline of the operation, and spoke of the condition of the patient as gratifying and justifying  hopes of recovery. The next entry, at 8:43,  declared that he rested quietly for eight minutes, but at 9:15 the patient vomited a small quantity of partly digested food and a blood clot. 

Vomiting followed at 9:40 also. At 10:40 a bulletin was Issued stating that the President was rallying satisfactorily and resting comfortably.  At 10:45 P. M.. there were occasional twinges of pain and slight discoloration of dressings. At 12 o'clock midnight a saline enema was retained, At 1 A.M., an hour later, the bulletin described the President as free from pain and resting well. The notes follow at intervals of less than an hour until 4:55 the second day, Sept. 7.

THE PRESIDENT'S SUFFERING.

The patient was sleeping, but at the latter hour a large amount of gas was expelled, and ten minutes later, at 5:05 A.M., the entry reads: '"Pain severe on deep inspiration." At 5:20 the patient is said to be restless after retaining one pint of saline enema. At 6 A.M. the official bulletin announced:  "The President has passed a good night." Fifteen minutes later an injection of morphine was given, and at 9 A.M., it was announced d that the President had passed a fairly comfortable night, and no serious symptoms had developed. 

At noon on the second day more morphine was administered hypodermically;  at 1:15 there was a saline enema, and at 4:30 there was a hypodermic injection of digitalis, the patient passing much gas by the mouth. The first alcohol bath was given at 5:30 of this day, while the patient was sleeping. but passing gas by the mouth. 

At 6:30 the patient complained of intense pain in the pit or the stomach. He was given a hypodermic injection of morphine.  No pain but restless. Sponged with alcohol and rested quietly for half an hour. The official bulletin announced no change for the worse.  At 7:40 P. M. digitalis was administered hypodermically, and the bulletin at 9:30 declared that the conditions continued much, the same, the President responding well to medication. He had fifteen minutes' quiet sleep, when a saline enema with somatose was administered, part of which was rejected. Then there was another hypodermic Injection of digitalis at 10:40, and fifteen minutes later of morphine, the patient being very restless. 

The third day. Sept. 8, began with the entry at 12:30.  " restless during sleep. Limbs sponged with alcohol. Quiet, and slept from 2 to 3 o'clock."  The 3:20 A.M. bulletin said the President had passed a falrly good night. At 3:30 there was another enema of salt and somatose. From 4 to 4:30 the patient was said to be "confused and very restless." At 5 A.M., "Complains of feeling chilly, but it passed in a moment."

The patient was restless and talkative  from 5 to 6 o'clock A.M., expelling brown fluid and gas. There are frequent entries of these eructations, and before 9 o. clock there were two hypodermic injections of morphine and digitalis. A hypodermic of strychnine was followed at 12:30 P. M. by a sallne enema with ,somatose, which was not retained. and an alcohol rub. At 4:45 P. M. the patient was restless and talkative, and for the first time was given water by the mouth.

THE PATIENT "VERY RESTLESS." 

At 4:55 an enema of sweet oil, soap and water brought away some slightly colored fluid and a very little mucus. At 8 P. M. there was a discharge of water from the bowels and the patient was set down as "very restless." . At 8:20 a great deal of gas was passed and some fluid.

On the fourth day, Sept. 9, the patient Is recorded as ""Restless from 1 to 1:20 o'clock."  A.t 3:15 P.M. "As very  restless and mind much disturbed." Codelaphos was administered hypodermically, After an hours sleep the record Is made at 7:10 A.M., "Mind clear; feels chilly." The patient drank  water frequently in small quantities.

At 9:20 the, bulletin was issued: "The President's condition ls becoming more and more satisfactory." &c.    At 10 o'clock on this morning the doctors began to administer hourly doses of calomel. Meanwhile, following a nutritive enema of egg, whisky,  and water. there were two high enemas, one with soap, water, and ox-gall, which  brought away a copious discharge, with gas.

At 3 P. M. the  bulletin said: "The President's condition steadily improves and he is comfortable without pain. Bowel and kidney functions normally performed." &c .  .At 4:20 of this day. following a dressing of the wound or about an hour, the patient spit up greenish. bitter fluid. Hot water was given at 5:50, and a half hour later the patient complained of nausea.

The fifth day. Sept. 10, began at 1 :46  A.M., after a short sleep. with this entry, "uncomfortable , turning frequently." There are three entries of "sleeping."' and then the 5:20 bulletin stating that the President had passed the most comfortable night since the attempt on his life.

The 9 A.M. bulletin predicted a rapid convalescence, falling complications. The bulletin at 10:30 said  the President"s condition was unchanged, and described the removal of the stitches and the cause thereafor.

The sixth day's treatment was marked by the administration of the first food Into the stomach, beef juice, which the note says "tasted good."  There were seven administrations of this beef juice between midnight and 9 o'clock the next rnorning.

HAS HEADACHE AND IS CHILLY.

The patient complained of feeling chilly, but is recorded as sleeping more than usual, and the bulletin at 9 o'clock said that he rested comfortably and his condition was excellent. The patient complained of headache at 2:15, and camphor was applied to the head. The bulletin at 3 :30 stated that the President continued to gain and the wound was becoming healthy. 

The seventh day began with the administration of beef juice, and the diet was varied this time (the patient complaining of pain in the abdomen) by whisky and water and chicken broth.  At 1:30 P. M. digitalis and strychnine having been Injected hypodermically meantime, the patient was given the second piece of toast and one egg.  The entry reads:  "Did not relish it, and ate very little. Quieter and more cheerful since having last strychnine."

At 4 :45.; It Is said "mind wandering, and restless." Calomel,  whisky and water, and digitalis were again administered. The skin was moist and cold, and the 8:30 bulletin reported the President's condition was not quite so favorable and his food had been stopped. At 9:35 Dr. Rixey writes: "Whole body moist and cold. Pulse weak and thready. Slept quietly twenty minutes."

At 11 o'clock or that night normal salt solution was Injected beneath the skin. At midnight whisky and water were given, with an Infusion or digitalis. For the first time resort was had to Inhalations of

oxygen. The bulletin issued at that time read: "All unfavorable symptoms in the President's condition have improved since the last bulletin." &c

The eighth and last day or the President's life - Sept. 13 - opened with this entry at 12:20 A.M. : " Restless, and complains of headache."  Whisky and water were given, and a perspiration was induced, but at 1 A.M. it is this entry: "Very restless and wants to get up; tired!."

The same medical treatment was continued, involving a plentiful use of oxygen, digitalis, strychnine and morphine, and peptonoids.  Still at 4:55  o'clock the patient's condition is reported as grave. The oxygen was continued. There was no response to stimulants. Atropine and morphine were injected: the patient was almost pulseless. The last entry was made at 9 P.M., and there was a gap of five hours between that and the end. It read: " Heart sounds very feeble. Oxygen continued. Slight reflex movements." and at 2:15 A.M., Sept. 14, 1901, " the President died."

Attached to the report are the results of the autopsies and the chemical and bacteriological examinations. which already have been published in the medical journals.