Warren Commission (04 of 26): Hearings Vol. IV (of 15)United States. Warren Commission
History
Warren Commission (04 of 26): Hearings Vol. IV (of 15)
United States. Warren Commission
Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 -- Assassination; Oswald, Lee Harvey
Dr. SHAW. This is the first X-ray that was taken, which was taken in
the operating room with the Governor on the operating table, and at
this time anesthetized. The safety pin that you see here is used, was
used, to secure the tube which had been put between the second and
third rib in expanding the Governor's lung.
We can dimly see also the latex rubber tube up in the chest coming to
the apex of the chest.
The variations that we see from normal here are the fact that first,
there is a great amount of swelling in the chest wall which we know was
due to bleeding and bruising of the tissues of the chest wall, and we
also see that there is air in the tissues of the chest wall here and
here. It is rather obvious.
Mr. SPECTER. When you say here and here, you are referring to the outer
portions, showing on the X-ray moving up toward the shoulder area?
Dr. SHAW. Yes; going from the lower chest up to the region near the
angle of the shoulder blade.
The boney framework of the chest, it is obvious that the fifth rib,
we count ribs from above downward, this is the first rib, second rib,
third rib, fourth rib, fifth rib, that a portion of this rib has been
shattered, and we can see a few fragments that have been left behind.
Also the rib has because of being broken and losing some of its
substance, has taken a rather inward position in relation to the fourth
and the sixth ribs on either side.
Mr. SPECTER. What effect was there, if any, on the upper portion of
that rib?
Dr. SHAW. This was not noticed at the time of this examination, Mr.
Specter. However, in subsequent examinations we can tell that there was
a fracture across the rib at this point due to the rib being struck and
bent.
Mr. SPECTER. When you say this point, will you describe where that
point exists on the X-ray?
Dr. SHAW. This is a point approximately 4 centimeters from its
connection with the transverse process of the spine.
Mr. SPECTER. And is the fracture, which is located there, caused by a
striking there or by the striking at the end of the rib?
Dr. SHAW. It is caused by the striking at the end of the rib.
Mr. SPECTER. Fine. What else then is discernible from the viewing of
the X-ray, Dr. Shaw?
Dr. SHAW. There is a great amount of, we would say, obscuration of
the lower part of the right lung field which we know from subsequent
examination was due to blood in the pleural cavity and also due to a
hematoma in the lower part of the right lower lobe and also a severe
laceration of the middle lobe with it having lost its ability to
ventilate at that time. So, we have both an airless lung, and blood in
the lung to account for these shadows.
Mr. SPECTER. Is there anything else visible from the X-ray which is
helpful in our understanding of the Governor's condition?
Dr. SHAW. No; I don't think so.
Mr. SPECTER. Would it be useful--As to that X-ray, Dr. Shaw, will
you tell us what identifying data, if any, it has in the records of
Parkland Hospital, for the record?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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