Ronald Reagan undergoes an operation, September 8, 1989
Two months ago, Reagan was thrown from a horse while riding at a friend’s ranch. At first he appeared uninjured. But a blood vessel in his head ruptured during the fall. Fluid has been leaking into his brain, causing a clot that is putting pressure on his brain. Were it not for his annual physical, his condition might never have been discovered. Surgeons drill a hole in Reagan’s skull, a procedure known as a burr. It is a success, and doctors are satisfied that Reagan shows no sign of stroke, nerve damage, or paralysis. But the fall has accelerated Reagan’s deteriorating condition.