Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-05-11
From the Philadelphia Saturday Courier.
a SURGICAL BLUNDER.
mr. DR. RErSELL Goa rEs.

Br DR. RETNELL Goa rE5.
Many years ago. hale old sea captain resident
ui this city. had the misfortune L. break buih his
legs, and the accident was accompanied by many
wounds ui the limbs; that both fractures Were
supposed To be what is termed compound" or ia
other words. the wounds were deep enough To com.
municHie with the fractured bones; which renders
such injuries peculiarly dangerous. Several Of The
most eminent surgeons OF the day. all al w.tum
however, are now at rest with the patient. net ia
consultation on The case, and. universally de-
clded that one OIthe i'm rs be sacrificed as Il
was impossible for the vital powers al the palcr
To a' c"mpsh the cure Of ~ many complicated IN.
Jnrles, One lInh was broken ia n single spot; the
other VAS absolutely crushed, and. uf course, the
surgeons decided ca The nmPuiali of The latter
But The condition Of the patient compelled them
at er dressing The limbs delay the uperuiion nil
The succeeding day wi en- they met. by Appointment
at an early hour Arrangements beng completed.
without removing the envelope; The uIIcEdrug sur.
geon proceeded with the operalnn. aud when II
Was completed, with all The Il, LEGACY. rapIIty and
skill i'r which lac vas justly celebrated. he dscoy.
cred that he amPHtaied the wrong limb
The patient was vigorous; and ia due process Of
me- The Task OF healing the more severely frnctued
| leg-"nh which alone hls constitution had now 10
cunicnd-wPs successfully ncrnmp ishcd
The grave hal long covered uhls surgical alrnh,T
when The busy tongue OF fame ut last whispered the
truth iu the ear ui The fiery tempered old man. " no
vas Tot IN the first instance aware OF the error aud
Ihe-very naturally, though error euusly cuucud n
that II his constitution was adequate 10 the cure
"i The worse injury could not have been emba-.
rassed with the healing 81 the ii hIer hur-mne-
dnely had the bInes uf his leg diSner RED ard pre-.
served Them ever after. in paror c'user. whence
IN very early bnyh~d, have repeatedly seen him
lake Them. shake the dry relics while rep ning Ih"Ir
unhappy history, uIieTing scarce uucrIble anaIhe
mas against The whole h'nornble fraternity OF sur.
gems, past. present and u come
The power nl healing extensive wonrds appears
." be enJ 'yeJ by animals in degrees of per ftrtur,
inversly pr"poHIoned To The cumpleIriy of their
structure. Ii we cut human being in half beth
pieces must die; buI il - sid that when an earth
worm - treated IN Che banner both pieces 1--we
and become perfect animas
There ure many other qnim IL that perish when
their hends stricken Oft yet live for considerable
lime Every chI'd Is aware Of Inc propensity Of The
hind legs OF he buIl-frug 10 'Jum, o At "f The ryn.
pan inIo The fire." when being preparation an cpl
curchn palate The head Of the swapping turtle
VII bite severely. many days after !, is severed
from the bndy. IL will not d,e-as the popular
iaHh erronionsy teaches us that the toll Of a SIN al
snake VIII do-"at sun sell" I was once dIuins
upon delightful dish o. soup, made from, he bod
Oi one OF these reptiles. when my favcn-iie water
spaniel commenced bowling most pitenusIy IN The
yard. aud servant grl rushed iuIn The drawing
ROOM pale with fright, eXclaimIug. "Oh, Mr. -
Cnsrr's mld!' glance from the window crn.
ync6d me that there wa, too Durh .'meihnd in his
madness. To be s, mpIOmarc uf hydruphIahia; and
gong out used every eudcav"r TO seize him aud
examine INTO the casse Of his sufrungs but IN VAN
Tossing has head ~ the air and then Ihrus ing his
m"zZle violently against the ground. he carerred
many Iimes mrsl iuruusly around The yard. yelling
and eludmg me Of Q cry. Al length the race was
suddenly ancsed. With his leei thrown 70 ward
ms nose signi6cany pointed To a spDl on The ground
Immediately before him. and au expression . cuun-
Isnarce ~ winch hewIldsrRent aud pain were ra.
pidly giving way TO knowing but very drgecd
look OF satisfaction, he siuud tiuuless and client
The mystery was explained. In SINE ling about fOr
dinner. he had encountered the amphtaIed head
I oi The turtle. upon which we had been making our
/ repasi' and had been Instantly caught N The trap
/ mere lay the head discovered from The trunk murs
ihan twenty four hours previously, aud IN The vice
HE Jaws was seen the eHI Of the dogs nose-com
/ pletely bitten uf