Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-11-25
From the New York Evening Post, Nov l0.l
A Living Mans Heart Open to Inspec-
ti0n.

Some three years ago our physicians wltnes-
sed the process of digestion through an orifce
left by guu-shot wound in the abdomen of
Alexis St. Martin. But greater curiosity
was Yesterday exhibited to the students of the
University Medical College, at the hour OF
Prof Motifs cnique
1t was case of deficiency Of the sternum
(breast bone, } which enables the several move
ments of the heart to be seen 1t has excited
intense interest for several years past throuEh-
out the cities of Europe and Britain. The
subject of the defect is very Intelligent gen
tleman, NJ. GrauX, native OF Hamburg, twenty
eight years of age, somewhat under the aver
age height, and rather pale, though heappearS
to be in health
He was introduced 10y DR.. Mott, who
thought that the substance which occupied the
place of the sternum might be cartilage. NJ
Groux then showed tie peculiar con ormity Of
his chest, aud gave an eX, client lecture on the
hearts action, demonstrating his remarks mith
colored plates an artificial heart, aud his own
body. The collar-bones are not connected
lneither are the ribs to their opposites) but
there is groove whure the sternum should be;
the skin is natural. In its natural state this
groove is about and inch an a half wide, but 1t
can be diStended to three inches.
On looking at the groove pulSatiIe Sw eng
is dlscernible opposite the third and fourth ribs;
if respiration be suspended it rapidly rises to an
enormous extent, and remains full and tense
until the breathing is restored, when is soon
subsidies This is the heart. Between the
claycleS there is another puSatlIe swelling,
easily felt, which is the aorta, the artery from
the heart. The dilatatOn and contraction of
the lung is also seen. In coughing. the right
lung suddenly protudes from the chest through
the groove, and aScendS considerable distance
above the right clayicle into the neck.
Mr. Groux remembers being taken by his
family doctor to a medical society in Hamburg
when about two years old, but he did not know
for what nor did the full Importance of his
case occur to him till he was over twenty years
of age. In IS49 while on a visit to London,
he was attacked with cholera, and then it was
that his defect was made known to the profeS-
sion. lie was shown to several distinguished
medical men as great curiosity, and was adyis-
ed to travel through Europe for the benefit Of
the profession. Not long after, while attend
ing to his business, which was very cOnfning
he was attacked with haemoptisiS (spittng oI
blood
lie then concluded to abandon bis Cccupa
ton, and follow the suggestion often made tc
him, viz to travel and show himself to the
medical men of the countries of Europe, Britain
and now of America He has an album OF
two volumes, which are nearly filed with the
autographs of the chief members of all the i'm
portant medical societies and universities o
Europe, from st. Petersburg to Madrid, anG
from Vienna to Galway, testfying their great
interest in this case The signatures of pro
fessors and celebrities who have examined hin
number over two thousand.