Mr. Specter. Did you have occasion to discuss that wound on the front side of the President with Dr. Malcolm Perry of Parkland Hospital in Dallas?
Commander Humes. Yes, sir; I did. I had the impression from seeing the wound that it represented a surgical tracheotomy wound, a wound frequently made by surgeons when people are in respiratory distress to give them a free airway.
To ascertain that point, I called on the telephone Dr. Malcolm Perry and discussed with him the situation of the President's neck when he first examined the President, and asked him had he in fact done a tracheotomy which was somewhat redundant because I was somewhat certain he had.
He said, yes; he had done a tracheotomy and that as the point to perform his tracheotomy he used a wound which he had interpreted as a missile wound in the low neck, as the point through which to make the tracheotomy incision.
Mr. Specter. When did you have that conversation with him, Dr. Humes?
Commander Humes. I had that conversation early on Saturday morning, sir.
Mr. Specter. On Saturday morning, November 23d?
Commander Humes. That is correct, sir.
Mr. Specter. And have you had occasion since to examine the report of Parkland Hospital which I made available to you?
Commander Humes. Yes, sir; I have.