Mr. Specter. Dr. Perry, was the chest tube inserted in the President's chest abandoned or was that operation or operative procedure completed?
Dr. Perry. The chest tube, to be placed there, was supposedly placed into the pleural cavity. However, I have knowledge that it was not.
Mr. Specter. And what was the reason for its not being placed into the pleural cavity?
Dr. Perry. I did not speak with certainty but at that point I think that we were at the end of the procedure and they just did not continue with it.
Mr. Specter. Had it become apparent at that time that the President expired?
Dr. Perry. That, I think, is probably true, but I did not state that with certainty because I cannot state the exact sequence. I was employed myself at the time, and I think if it had been determined that this was not in, it would have been completed, if there was still time, but I am not sure of that. That is speculation.
Mr. Specter. With respect to the condition of the neck wounds, was it ragged or pushed out in any manner?
Dr. Perry. No, it was not. As I originally described it, the edges were neither cleancut, that is punched out, nor were they very ragged. I realize that is not a very specific description but it is in between those two areas.
Mr. Specter. Was there blood in that area which tended to obscure your view?
Dr. Perry. It was exuding blood during that procedure and thus I did not examine it very closely. In retrospect, I think it would have been of much more value had I looked at these things more carefully but I had directed my attention to other things.