The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-11-12
A LIVING MANS HEART OPEN TO IN
SPECTION.

SPECTION.
Some three years ago our physicians witnessed
the process of digestion through an orfce left by
gun-shOt wound in the abdomen of Alexis st. Mar
tin. But greater curiosity was yesterday exhibi-
ted to the students of the University Medical Col
lege at the hour of Prof. Motifs clinique.
1t was a case of deficiency of the sternum breast
bone), which enables the several movements of the
heart to be 1t has excited intense interest for
several years past throughout the cities of Europe
and Britain. The subject of the defect is very in
tellgent gentleman, NJ. Groux, native of Ham
burg, twenty-elght years of age, somewhat under
the average height and rather pale, though he ap-
pears to be in health. He was introduced by Dr.
Mott, who thought that the substance which occu-
pied the place of the sternum might be cartilage
NJ. Groux then showed the peculiar conformity of
his chest and gave an excellent lecture on the
hearts action, demonstrating his remarks with col
ored plates, an artificial heart and his own body.
The collar bones are not connected, (neither are
the ribs to their opposites but there is a groove
where the sternum should be; the skin Is natural
In its natural state this groove is about an inch and
half wide, but it be distended to three inches
On looking at the groove pulsate swelling is dis
cernabe opposite the third and fourth ribs if respi-
ration be suspended it rapidly rises to an enormous
extent and remains full and tense until the breath
ing is restored, when it soon subsidies. This is the
heart Between the clavicles there is another pull
satile swelling, easily felt which is the aorta the
great artery from the heart The dlatation and
contraction of the lung is also seen. In coughing
the right lung suddenly protrudes from the chest
tance above the right clavicle into the neck
The technical details of these wonderful disclo-
will interest professional men, and to general
readers of physiology the sight will be extremely
interesting 1t would be well if it could be exhibit
ed in all public schools
NJ Groux remembers being taken by his family
doctor to medical society in Hamburg, when
about two years old but he did not know for what;
did the full Importance of his case occur to
him till he was over twenty years of age. In ls49,
while on a visit to London, he was attacked with
cholera and then it that his defect was made
known to the profession. He was shown to several
distinguished medical men as a great curiosity, and
advised to travel through Europe for the bene-
fit of the profession. Not long after, while attend
ing to his business, which was very conining, he
was attacked with hamoptisis (spitting of bloody.
He then concluded to abandon his occupation and
follow the suggestion often made to him, viz: to
travel and show himself to the medical men of the
countries of Europe, Britain, and now of America.
lie has an album OF two volumes, which are nearly
filled with the autographs of the chief members of
all the important medical societies and universities
Of Europe, from St. Petersburg to Madrid, and
from Vienna to Galway, testfying to their great
interest in the case. The signatures of professors
and celebrities who have examined him number
over two thousand.
AT the close of his lecture yesterday Dr. Mott pro-
posed a collection in NJ. Grouxs behalf though
his regular fee had been paid by the faculty.
Scarcely had he said the word when the silver be-
gan to fly into the from the seats of the vast
amphitheatre Nearly all the three hundred stu
dents were present, and the shower of quarters
greatly jeoparded the lecturer Or. Motif and his
attendants, together with DR.. Alexander B. Mott
who seemed to be target in the innocent amuse-
ment.
We were favored this morning with a call from
NJ. GrOux, the congenital fssure of whose sternum
created such interest at the Medical College to-day.
Ills case is most remarkable one, and is rare op-
portunity for studying, risu the actions of the
heart great vessels, and lungs
1t solves several doubtful questions in regard to
the action of the heart and gives quite as vivid an
idea of the great strength and vigorous movements
of the 'little le-machine, as if the ribs were cut
away and it exposed; more vivid indeed for in the
latter case there would be no action such as is now
plainly visible under all conditions of the svstem
beneath only thin veil of flesh.
Somebody's desire that there might be a window
in the breast of all men, Charles Lambs equiva-
lent pane in the hestomach, seems nearly realized in
NJ. Grouxs case.-N. Y. Ecening Post.