Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-01-20


respondent of the New York journal Of
Commerce has the following -
"A most extraordinary surgical operation
has been performed, the particulars of which
will be found detailed in couple of col.
umns of the London Morning Herald of the
18th of November. James Wombell, aged
AZ, laboring man, had suffered for period
of about FIVE years with a painful affection
of the left knee Joint. lie was admitted in
TO ihe hospital at Mellow, in Nottingham
shire, and il was decided that ampulation
should take place above the knee Joint, and
it was accordingly done while the patient was
under the influence Of mesmeric sleep. On
the first of October this wonderful operation
was thus performed, as given in the words
of the mesneriser, one Mr. w. Topham, a
lawyer of the Middle Temple, London =
81 again mesmerscd him in four minutes.
In quarter of an hour | told Mr. w. Ward,
1.-THE OPERATOR that he might commence.
then brought two fingers of each hand gen.
lily in contact with Wombelrs closed eyeIids,
and there kept them still further to deepen
the sleep. Mr. w. Ward, after one earnest
look at the man, slowly plunged his knife in,
to the centre of the outer side of the thigh
directly to the bone, and then made a clear
incsion round the bone, to the opposite
point, on the outside of the thigh. The still.
ness at this moment wss something awful
The calm respiration of the sleeping man
alone was heard, for all others seemed sus.
pended In making the second incision the
position of the leg was found to be more in.
convenient than appeared, and the operator
could not proceed with his former facility
Soon after the second incision, moaning
was heard from the patient, which continued
at intervals, until the conclusion. Ii gave
me the idea of a troubled dream for hi:
sleep continued as profound as ever. The
placid look of his countenance, never chan
ged for an instant his whole frame rested
uncontrolled, in perfect stiffness and repose
not muscle or nerve was seen to twitch
To the end of the operation, including tho
saving OF the bone, securing the arteries
and applying the bandages- occupying
period Of more than twenty minutes--he la,
like statue. With strong sal volatile an'
water, he gradually aud calmly awoke, ant
when asked to describe what he had felt
thus replied-"I never knew anything NOR
latter his being mesmerised) and never fel
any pain at all | once felt as if 1 heard
kind of crouching" He was asked if tina
was painful; he replied, "No pain at all.
never had any; and knew nothing, till wa
awakened by that strong stuff" The crouch
ing was the saving of his own thigh bone
The first dressing was performed in mesmer
&c sleep, with similar success, and absence
of all pain. This case is so important tina
have condensed its principal features, AM
when consider the gravity with which tn
operation was surrounded, the numbers VIII,
were preseat, the unquestionable rank an'
responsibility of the professional gentlemen
and the utter absence of all afiectation,
must candidIy admit that scepticism is stag
gered, and that we are no longer in posi-
ton to deride or despise influences so extra
ordinary, important, and practical"