Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-12-21
FyrroRs OF THE TRrpUSr:-As much

the case reported by you in your paper
of the 30th u.t., and all SORTS Of opinions
seems 10 have ben entertained and ex-
pressed in relation 10 the cause or causes
which produced that result, it IS, perhaps, !.
due from me TO the public to state that Mr.. I
Fox for nine days subsequent to The acci-
dent had not one symptom that portended
anything but a most perfect and speedy
recovery.
Twen.y-four hours prior to the first no
tice Of danger dressed the shoulder, and
found the parts involved in the injury in
a most favorable condition. No bleeding
except at the time of the injury, and then
only from superficial vessels. The pain,
swelling and inflammation had quite dis
appeared, and suppuration and granula-
lion Che healing process) had actually
commenced Indeed, his whole appear
ance general, as we'll as local, was most
/ 6attering and encouraging, so much so
that | did not entertain doubt of his
safety, either in the present or prospec-
tive. Thus encouraged from the past and
present, and thus confding IN the future,
I left him, not intending to see him again
until the third day, unless sent for. To
my surprise, late in the evening of the
next day, messenger came for me In
great haste. He Informed me that the
family were greatly alarmed at the rapid
bleeding from the wound. And when
arrived 1 found their fears too well
grounded. Still there had been bleed
ing since about the time the mess aDger
left Mrs. Fox informed me that he
was, when the bleeding commenced and
had been through the day, very comfort
able The flow of blood came on with
out the least warning and in a perfect
gush = bled rapidly for, perhaps, five
minutes, and then stopped. After an
) interval of a few moments the bleeding
again returned in the same manner, but
; IN much less quantity and occupied less
time. Although found my patient very
weak and feeble did not for moment
anticipate his death from the loss of
blood. | knew the shock was great, but
believed that reaction in the course of a
{ few hours would bring him up, especially
as the prosiration seemed to have affected
. the nervous more than the vascular svs-
tenn. It is true the pulse was very quick.
yet until three hours before death, they
kept up a very good show Of strength
Ny greatest fear was that the bleeding
might come on again, and if so l knew
quite well that there would be no hope of
his railying.
Early in the morning was called to
the bedside by the patient. He had
fears that the wound was bleeding. On
a close examination I became satisfied
that this was not the case, at least it was
mol apparent either in flow or in effect
! upon any of the functions of the system.
1t was about the middle Of the night
that l arrived, and wish the closest watch
ing from that lime until afternoon Of the
5 day following, there was no particular
: change for the worse, bGt hen there was
d a manifest tendency downward. Ano-
: dynes, tonics and stilnuiants appeared to
e have the desired effect when administer.
e ed, Tut. after all, the sudden and rapid
e drain from the circulation had been toe
overwhelming for recuperation. lie dice
T about three o'clock in 10 afternoon.
u The question has been often asked
e & would not his chance for life been I'M
J proved BY amputation at the shoulder
II Joint 3 Ii we bad ampuJated his chance
for recovery would have been precisel,
: the same. No vessels would or could
q have been lied that did not bleed, and the
}, vessels that did the mischief in this case
$ were 1bose that were given of for the
IA support Of the joint, aud its appendaces
+ independent OF the main artery of The
arm. Therefore they would no, have
g been reached Ly the knife, consequently
J. although injured and torn, ould no, have
f. b!ed as they were at this time, and for
r nine days subsequent plugged with coagu.
E Ia. 1t was not until supPuralion lool.
o place in the Immediate neighborhood az
q these lacerated vessels, that the coaqula
that protected Them became detached AID
ioosencd. and the blood as a consequence
allowed to escape. Hence any person
cannot faiI 10 see at a glance, that the
same Thing must have happened in the
one case thai y ou'd in the other. found,
on examination after death, the whole
wound filed with blood almost as hard as
liver, and ihls had protected the exposed
vessels entirely from further bleeding
even up 10 The las, moment of life.