Dr. Perry. Short, rather jerky contractions of his chest and diaphragm, pulling for air.
Mr. Dulles. I see.
Mr. Specter. Were those respiratory efforts on his part alone or was he being aided in his breathing at that time?
Dr. Perry. He had just attached the machine and at this point it was not turned on. He was attempting to breathe.
Mr. Specter. So that those efforts were being made at that juncture at least without mechanical aid?
Dr. Perry. Those were spontaneous efforts on the part of the President.
Mr. Specter. Will you continue, then, Dr. Perry, as to what you observed of his condition?
Dr. Perry. Yes, there was blood noted on the carriage and a large avulsive wound on the right posterior cranium.
I cannot state the size, I did not examine it at all. I just noted the presence of lacerated brain tissue. In the lower part of the neck below the Adams apple was a small, roughly circular wound of perhaps 5 mm. in diameter from which blood was exuding slowly.
I did not see any other wounds.