[Sherman Logan]

It’s not exactly controversial. The bullet entered the rear of his skull, transited the brain and ended up behind his eye. I’ve read a number of books about the assassination and none seriously contended there was any chance of his survival.

In particular, there was no way unwashed hands contributed to his death, since there was not sufficient time for this to have caused infection.

Here’s an article by a trauma physician who believes he would have died even with modern trauma center or battlefield emergency care.

http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/education/medical.htm

I wonder if you’re confusing his case with that of Garfield, who would almost certainly have survived with proper treatment.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I wasn't confusing the cases, I remember an article in American Heritage magazine some years ago. The unwashed hands were significant in conveying the primitive state of medical knowledge at the time. I think it is fair to say that Lincoln's doctors probably did more harm than good.