Mr. Specter. Do you recall who was placing those tubes?
Dr. McClelland. One of the tubes, I believe, was placed by Dr. Peters. The other one, I'm not right certain, I don't really recall—I perhaps better not say.
Mr. Specter. Do you know about how long that took in placing those chest tubes?
Dr. McClelland. As well as I am aware, the tubes were both placed in. What this involves is simply putting a trocar, a large hollow tube, and that is put into the small incision, into the anterior chest wall and slipping the tube into the chest between a group of ribs for purposes of relieving any collection of air or fluid which is present in the lungs. The reason this was done was because it was felt that there was probably quite possibly a mediastinal injury with perhaps suffusion of blood and air into one or both pleural cavities.
Mr. Specter. What effect did this medical treatment have on President Kennedy?
Dr. McClelland. As near as we could tell, unfortunately, none. We felt that from the time we saw him, most of us agreed, all of us agreed rather, that this was a mortal wound, but that in spite of this feeling that all attempts possible should be made to revive him, as far as establishing the airway breathing for him, and replacing blood and what not, but unfortunately the loss of blood and the loss of cerebral and cerebellar tissues were so great that the efforts were of no avail.
Mr. Specter. Was he conscious at that time that you saw him?
Dr. McClelland. No.
Mr. Specter. And, at what time did he expire?
Dr. McClelland. He was pronounced dead at 1 p.m. on November 22.