Dr. Baxter. I'm not sure—I just don't remember.
Mr. Specter. When you arrived, what did you observe as to the condition of the President?
Dr. Baxter. He was very obviously in extremis. There was a large gaping wound in the skull which was covered at that time with blood, and its extent was not immediately determined. His eyes were bulging, the pupils were fixed and dilated and deviated outward, both pupils were deviated laterally. At that time his breathing was being assisted so that whether he was breathing on his own or not, I couldn't determine.
Mr. Specter. In what way was his breathing being assisted?
Dr. Baxter. With an anesthesia machine.
Mr. Specter. Would you continue to describe what you observed as to his condition?
Dr. Baxter. There were no pulses that I could feel present. The anesthesiologist told me that he did still have a heartbeat.
Mr. Specter. Who is that who said that to you?
Dr. Baxter. Well, I believe this was Carrico who said that his heart was still beating. There was present at the time two intravenous catheters in place with fluids running. We were informed at that time—well, having looked over the rest of the body, the only other wound was in his neck, that we saw.
Dr. Carrico said that he had observed a tracheal laceration. At that moment Dr. Jones, I believe, was placing in a left anterior chest tube because of this information. We proceeded at that time with a tracheotomy.