Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1849-05-31

A DISTRESSING SCENE IN THE WILDER>
NESS The following touching narrative
is taken from Judge Thointon's Oregon and
California in ls48:
"The Rev. Mr.. Cornwall had made am
appointment 10 preach at an encampmens
OF emigrantS. about One mile and half dis.
.anl and we were about 20 set of, when a
messenger arrived, desiring me TO 60 over
for the purpose Of amputaiing boys leg
,hat had bees fractured below the knee, and
also above it. We went over, and upon ex-
animation OF the limb, gangrene was found
To have commenced abUu! the wound mads
below the knee by protrusion Of the fyac-
tured hone. The friends Of the lad had sent
hack 10 the California company FIR Mr.. Ed>
win Bryant, who h; d, ] believe, in the ear
| ly part Of his life, studied medicine, aud per.
haPs anatomy and surgery, but has never
practised professionally. had read books
upon these subjects, for the sake OF gener.
I nj information, and in connection with med
icai Jurisprudence, which constituted para
Of my studies as lawyer. But ! had no
so much as seen limb nmputated. de-
cIined amputaung the limb, until Mr. BrY>
ant should have had time 10 come Up
There was cattle driver in camp, who had
been several years servant in French
hospital, and had frequently been present
! when limbs were taken off. He commenced
making prepaI atoms tor the work. Butch.
er knives and whet stones were 5000 IN re.
QUESTION. There was not surgical in>
slrument Of any kind ia either camp
Laudnum was given to the boy repeatedly
without any effect, and he was takea
from the wagon, aad his body SO bound to
shse box that his limbs did No, rest upon
il. The operator had just commenced on.
| Grating Immediately above the lower frac-
| ture. that is to say, about three inches be-
low the knee although advised him to take
(, Il off above the upper fractute.
About this time Mr.. Bryant arrived, but
declined to operate. lie, however, con-
| versed with me. and concurred with me in
the opinion that II should he amputated, IL
at all, above The upper fracture. But onr
surgeon proceeded, until he had completed
the incision in the flesh to the bone, all The
way round, when an offensive matter hav>
ing followed the knife. my worst fears were
realized, and the operator was al length eon>
WINGED. A tourniquei was then applied
above the upper fracture, and the operation
vas renewed. The boy bore this suffering
with the mast wonderful fortiiude and he.
roism. He seemed scarcely 10 move mus
Gle. a death-iike paleness would some>
times cover his face, and there cannot be
doubt that the pain was most intense; but
instead Of groaniag, he would nae some
word ofenconraee ment 70 the almost shfink-
Ing operator, or some expressions OF COM
fort 10 his afflicted friends. a was aniy
when the person who held the phial OF the
spirits of camphor to his noslfila, chanced
10 r.move II, In his eagesnesS 70 watch The
operation, THAI the boy manifested ANY ex.
lravrd,nary degree Of Suffering. Thea
his lips would become bloodless, and he
would exclaim. whlls he eagerly s0ughl
with bis hands 10 restore the phial, s0ht
oh, oh Yet me have Ito my nOse.'
The limb was n length severed. che arr
aegies were aecnfed. aad the Dap brought
aaw ID one hoaF and forty I've mlhules
fsom Inc slms The lnelslon wa made In tha
lower pags az The llmh. haa fleaaeailv
been compelled 10 HsllHs from he palnhaI
,,na mnnl alalntlpa nrecsanles hi a i've
tlne whsn sAe Mh9Ia walh Wss e9NFiSlS
] We pFessaA AAa akAsEeH# shAs ~ MAA