The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-03-17
A Great Surgical operation.

AGrent Surgical operation.
A most extraordinary and, we believe, unpar
alleled operation was lately performed by J. NJ
Carnochan, head of the surgical department of
the New York Emigrants' Hospital, upon the
entire lower jaw Of Nicolas Donegan, aged 43,
a farmer by occupation. This mans jaw be.
came so diseased, from blow received on board
ship, on his way to this country, and from
other causes arising out Of general debility that
it was found necessary to amputate it as last
means of saving his life. Upon the poor fel.
lows being transferred from the New York
Em'grants' Hospital, in March, 1851, to the
surgical department, it was found that his face
presented much tumefaction, and h- complain
ed Of great pain, seated chiefly in the region
occupied by the inferior ma xilla. Upon carry
ing the examination further, the lower jaw was
found 70 be extensively affected with necrosis.
All the external appear ances denoting each
ec';c condition Of the constitution, with extreme
debility and general prostration Of the vital
functions, were present.
1t is unnecessary to follow up the history of
the treatment he was subjected to. In a short
time the teeth became loose, and had t. be ex.
tracted; 'the alveolarridge because partially
denuded; the swelling increased towards and
over the raemi and cendyles; and the patient
complained of excruciating suffering and de-
preston. At last, when il became apparent
that the speedy death Of the patient could only
be avoided by removing the source Of such
intense suffering and constitutional derang-
ment.' the amputation was made, in July, with
out the aid IF either chloroform or either. The,
account Of this operation, which is given by the
operator himself, with illustrations, in pamph-
lie, published at 759 Broadway, is interesting,
hut 50 necessarily technical, that it would be
sGreek' 10 the majority Of our readers. 1t is
enough here that we briefly state the result,
which was a most triumphant one for the opera
tor. The operation lasted fifty five minutes,
(which must have seemed fifty five centuries to
the poor fellow operated upon,) during which
he was allowed intervals Of repose to recruit,
and on the fourteenth day he was pronounced
cured, not having had tan untoward symptom
since the performance Of the operation
The appearance Of the man now is not one
of such deformity night be expected from
the severe Inutilation he has undergone. His
general condition and health are good, and he is
now able to perform any ordinary vocation =
He is able to articulate SO as TO be Ineligible,
and although he cannot masticate his food, he
complains of no difficulty Of eating.
If an operation ofthis kind had been perform
ed in London or Paris. and brought to the tri-
umphant issue this was, the operators name
would have been Immediately made famous in
the mouths Of men. But Dr. Carnochah being
a native here, his name is best known, and is
comparatively confined to his patients, faculty,
and students of medicine.
Although ours is not medical work. we have
thought it in accordance with the humanitarian
course we marked out for ourselves long ago,
to notice snch advances in medical speculation
and surgical science as might be Of service to
our fellow beings. Those who suffer intense
pnin from disease Of any kind, or from acct
dent, can best appreciate the motives that led
us 10 adopt this course, and that continue in
it.-Sunday Mercury.
THE MEHTIxc on SAruRpAY.-The meet
ing Of the Democracy at tie Court House on