Shot In The Throat

[Herbert Blenner]

One single sentence from the report of the Forensic Pathology Panel is perhaps the most underrated disclosure in the assassination literature. This sentence described those features of the remnant throat wound which enabled the panel to argue that entering bullets made the transverse back wound and the scalp wound.

Source: Report of the Forensic Pathology Panel - 7HSCA, 93

http://history-matters.com/archive/jfk/h..._0052a.htm

(262) There is a semicircular missile defect near the center of the lower margin of the tracheotomy incision, approximately in the midline of the neck, with margins which are slightly denuded and reddish-brown.
End of quotation.

The denuded and discolored margins are evidence of an entry wound. In fact, this same panel cited these features while arguing that an entering bullet made the transverse wound of the back.

Source: Report of the Forensic Pathology Panel - 7HSCA, 86

http://history-matters.com/archive/jfk/h..._0048b.htm

(246) There is a sharply outlined area of red-brown to black around the wound in which there is dried, superficial denudation of the skin, representing a typical abrasion collar resulting from the bullet's scraping the margins of the skin at the moment of penetration. This is characteristic of gunshot wounds of entrance and not typical of exit wounds. This abrasion extends around the entire circumference, but is most prominent between 1 o'clock and 7 o'clock about the defect (with the head at 12 o'clock). In addition, there are several small linear, superficial lacerations or tears of the skin extending radically from the margins of the wound at 10 o'clock, 12 o'clock and 1 o'clock. These measure 0.1, 0.2 and 0.1 centimeter respectively. Photographically enhanced prints of photographs Nos. 38 and 39 reveal much more sharply contrasted color determination and, to some degree, more sharply outlined detail of the abrasion collar described above.
End of quotation.

The pathology panel also cited denudation and discoloration of the margins to argue that an entering bullet made the scalp wound.

Source: Report of the Forensic Pathology Panel - 7HSCA, 104

http://history-matters.com/archive/jfk/h..._0057b.htm

(296) Accurate reconstruction of the exact dimensions of the wound is difficult because the ruler and wound are in different planes of focus. The long axis of the wound more closely approximates a vertical angle than that depicted within the "Autopsy Descriptive Sheet." (See fig. 6.) The inferior margin of this wound, from 3 to 10 o'clock, is surrounded by a crescent-shaped reddish-black area of denudation, again presenting the appearance of an abrasion collar, resulting from the rubbing of the skin by the bullet at the time of penetration. From 12 to 3 o'clock, there is a suggestion of undermining, that is, tunneling of the tissue between the skin surface and the skull. Three small linear lacerations or tears of the skin, measuring less than 0.2 centimeter, in length, extend radially from the margins of the defect at 11 o'clock, 12 o'clock, and 3 o'clock. (See fig. 14, a close-up photograph of this wound.)
End of quotation.

The Forensic Pathology Panel did not explain why denuded and discolored margins are evidence of entry wounds in these two cited cases and are unworthy of elaboration in relation to the throat wound.

[Drew Phipps]

I agree with you about the medical evidence, but that begs the question, "Where did that bullet go?" There really isn't anything in the neck solid enough to stop a bullet, except possibly the spine, but that would have fractured the spine and killed him PDQ. It is hard to fathom how an extra bullet hole in the back of the neck could have passed unnoticed by doctors, or fail to appear on the shirt collar, or how a bullet might have travelled upwards into the skull to exit there.

[Herbert Blenner]

Hiding an extra bullet hole in the clothing was as easy as removing material from the garment for testing.

I agree with you about the medical evidence, but that begs the question, "Where did that bullet go?" There really isn't anything in the neck solid enough to stop a bullet, except possibly the spine, but that would have fractured the spine and killed him PDQ. It is hard to fathom how an extra bullet hole in the back of the neck could have passed unnoticed by doctors, or fail to appear on the shirt collar, or how a bullet might have travelled upwards into the skull to exit there.

The bullet which entered the throat exited the back and made the 7 mm by 4 mm wound whose longer axis was nearly parallel to the spinal column as described by Commander Humes. This longitudinal wound was ignored by the medical panels who described their 7 mm by 10 mm transverse back wound with its longer axis approximately perpendicular to the same spinal column.

Boswell and Humes were aware of both wounds and took steps to misplace their reported 7 mm by 4 mm wound at the location of their unreported 7 mm by 10 mm wound. This trick enabled Bethesda and the medical panels to speak of only one wound of the back.

Hiding an extra bullet hole in the clothing was as easy as removing material from the garment for testing.

[Drew Phipps]

There's a second problem with a 7mm by 4 mm hole: The alleged bullet is ~6.5 mm in diameter and 30 mm long. Bullets don't punch clean holes in flesh, it's true, but you can't fit a bullet into a hole that is 60% of its radius. You especially won't see that in an exit wound, which tend to be much larger than the bullet itself.

[Herbert Blenner]

There's a second problem with a 7mm by 4 mm hole: The alleged bullet is ~6.5 mm in diameter and 30 mm long. Bullets don't punch clean holes in flesh, it's true, but you can't fit a bullet into a hole that is 60% of its radius. You especially won't see that in an exit wound, which tend to be much larger than the bullet itself.

There is no evidence to argue that the bullet which made the 7 mm by 4 mm hole had a diameter of 6.5 mm. Further a bullet stretches tissue before penetration which relax and swell after passage. So there is no coincidence between the size of a bullet and its hole.

[Bob Prudhomme]

Hiding an extra bullet hole in the clothing was as easy as removing material from the garment for testing.

I agree with you about the medical evidence, but that begs the question, "Where did that bullet go?" There really isn't anything in the neck solid enough to stop a bullet, except possibly the spine, but that would have fractured the spine and killed him PDQ. It is hard to fathom how an extra bullet hole in the back of the neck could have passed unnoticed by doctors, or fail to appear on the shirt collar, or how a bullet might have travelled upwards into the skull to exit there.

The bullet which entered the throat exited the back and made the 7 mm by 4 mm wound whose longer axis was nearly parallel to the spinal column as described by Commander Humes. This longitudinal wound was ignored by the medical panels who described their 7 mm by 10 mm transverse back wound with its longer axis approximately perpendicular to the same spinal column.

Boswell and Humes were aware of both wounds and took steps to misplace their reported 7 mm by 4 mm wound at the location of their unreported 7 mm by 10 mm wound. This trick enabled Bethesda and the medical panels to speak of only one wound of the back.

Hiding an extra bullet hole in the clothing was as easy as removing material from the garment for testing.

Herbert

One of the main arguments against the SBT is that it could not have traversed from the entrance wound on the back, to an exit wound on the throat, without smashing through vertebrae on the way through.

Why would it not hit vertebrae going the opposite direction?

[Bob Prudhomme]

I agree with you about the medical evidence, but that begs the question, "Where did that bullet go?" There really isn't anything in the neck solid enough to stop a bullet, except possibly the spine, but that would have fractured the spine and killed him PDQ. It is hard to fathom how an extra bullet hole in the back of the neck could have passed unnoticed by doctors, or fail to appear on the shirt collar, or how a bullet might have travelled upwards into the skull to exit there.

Hi Drew

Believe it or not, there is a type of bullet that can be stopped going through flesh. Actually two but the second one I'm thinking of, the hollow point bullets, might need more flesh to travel through.

Once I've gotten through all the inaccuracy myths about the Carcano rifles on the other thread, I'm going to share my theory on just what became of the bullet in the throat. Hint: it didn't go very far.

[Drew Phipps]

There's a second problem with a 7mm by 4 mm hole: The alleged bullet is ~6.5 mm in diameter and 30 mm long. Bullets don't punch clean holes in flesh, it's true, but you can't fit a bullet into a hole that is 60% of its radius. You especially won't see that in an exit wound, which tend to be much larger than the bullet itself.

There is no evidence to argue that the bullet which made the 7 mm by 4 mm hole had a diameter of 6.5 mm. Further a bullet stretches tissue before penetration which relax and swell after passage. So there is no coincidence between the size of a bullet and its hole.

Scientific studies do show a significant difference between holes left by small and large bullets, so there is a correlation. It would be difficult to tell the difference between a .22 caliber bullet and a .25 caliber, but easy to spot the difference between a .25 and a .38 (52% bigger). For reference only, the MC rifle and ammo alleged to be used is normally .267 caliber (but see Bob P.'s research on the caliber of the WCC ammo); and 4 mm is .157 caliber (70% bigger).

[Drew Phipps]

If it stopped, it would still be in there. If the back wound and the throat wound were separate shots, there should be 2 bullets left in the body.

[Herbert Blenner]

Hiding an extra bullet hole in the clothing was as easy as removing material from the garment for testing.

I agree with you about the medical evidence, but that begs the question, "Where did that bullet go?" There really isn't anything in the neck solid enough to stop a bullet, except possibly the spine, but that would have fractured the spine and killed him PDQ. It is hard to fathom how an extra bullet hole in the back of the neck could have passed unnoticed by doctors, or fail to appear on the shirt collar, or how a bullet might have travelled upwards into the skull to exit there.

The bullet which entered the throat exited the back and made the 7 mm by 4 mm wound whose longer axis was nearly parallel to the spinal column as described by Commander Humes. This longitudinal wound was ignored by the medical panels who described their 7 mm by 10 mm transverse back wound with its longer axis approximately perpendicular to the same spinal column.

Boswell and Humes were aware of both wounds and took steps to misplace their reported 7 mm by 4 mm wound at the location of their unreported 7 mm by 10 mm wound. This trick enabled Bethesda and the medical panels to speak of only one wound of the back.

Hiding an extra bullet hole in the clothing was as easy as removing material from the garment for testing.

Herbert

One of the main arguments against the SBT is that it could not have traversed from the entrance wound on the back, to an exit wound on the throat, without smashing through vertebrae on the way through.

Why would it not hit vertebrae going the opposite direction?

The shapes of the vertebrae of the upper spine roughly resemble wing nuts. So it is possible for a bullet to pass between the wings of adjacent vertebrae and merely scrape the recessed surface of a vertebra. This possibility is consistent with a finding of the FPP.

Source: Report of the Forensic Pathology Panel - 7HSCA, 96

http://history-matters.com/archive/jfk/h..._0053b.htm

(275) The panel noted a number of small, radiopaque densities apparent in the No. 8 film and not apparent in No. 9. With one exception, these densities measured less than 0.1 centimeter in diameter and appeared to be more densely aggregated in the area immediately lateral to the right transverse processes of the seventh cervical (C-1) [sic] and first thoracic vertebrae (T-1). The panel took special note of a slightly larger shadow immediately lateral to the right transverse process of the seventh cervical vertebra. (See figs. 10 and 11, photographs of X-rays 8 and 9.)