Dr. CARRICO. This was probably a 4-7 mm. wound, almost in the midline, maybe a little to the right of the midline, and below the thyroid cartilage. It was, as I recall, rather round and there were no jagged edges or stellate lacerations. Mr. SPECTER. You said you felt the President's back? Dr. CARRICO. Yes. Mr. SPECTER. Would you describe in more detail just what the feeling of the back involved at that time? Dr. CARRICO. Without taking the time to roll him over and look or to wash off the blood and debris, and while his coat and shirt were still on his arms--I just placed my hands at about his beltline or a little above and by slowly moving my hands upward detected that there was no large violation of the pleural cavity. Mr. SPECTER. Why did you not take the time to turn him over? Dr. CARRICO. This man was in obvious extreme distress and any more thorough inspection would have involved several minutes--well, several--considerable time which at this juncture was not available. A thorough inspection would have involved washing and cleansing the back, and this is not practical in treating an acutely injured patient. You have to determine which things, which are immediately life threatening and cope with them, before attempting to evaluate the full extent of the injuries. Mr. SPECTER. Did you ever have occasion to look at the President's back? Dr. CARRICO. No, sir. Before--well, in trying to treat an acutely injured patient, you have to establish an airway, adequate ventilation and you have to establish adequate circulation. Before this was accomplished the President's cardiac activity had ceased and closed cardiac massage was instituted, which made it impossible to inspect his back. Mr. SPECTER. Was any effort made to inspect the President's back after he had expired? Dr. CARRICO. No, sir. Mr. SPECTER. And why was no effort made at that time to inspect his back? Dr. CARRICO. I suppose nobody really had the heart to do it. Mr. SPECTER. You had begun to describe some of the action taken in order to endeavor to revive the President. Will you continue with that description, please?