Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-11-13
Wonder1nI R1hIbItIo1,..
\ LIVING Mans HEART OPEN 10 INSPECTIONS
EXCITEMENT AT rHR MEDICAL .co11pcr
sPECr1oS

2g-0GE1ul ISLhtDIGAOms
= LIVING A&Ns HEART OPEN 70 INSPECTION
EXCITEMENT AT rHE MEDICAL .co1LEGE.
Some three years ago,our physicians witness.
cd the process of digestion through an orifice
let oy gunshot wound IN the abdomen of
Alexis 81 Martin. But greater curiosity was
yesterday hlbited to the students of.the Uni
yerslty Medical College at the hour Of Professor
Motifs clinique.
1t was case of deficiency of the sternum
(breast bone, which enables the several move.
ments OF the heartto be seen. Itzhas excited
intense interest for several years past through
out the cities OF Europe and Britain. The sub-
lect OF the defect is a very intelligent gentleman,
NJ. Groux, native of Hamburg. twenty. eight
years OF age, somewhat underthe average height
aad rather pale, though he appears tosb in
health. He was introduced by Dr. Mott, who
thought that the substance which occupied 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
colored plates, IN Artificial heart, and his own
body The collar-bOnes are not connected,
lnelther are the ribs to their opposites, but
there is groove where the sternuln should be:
the skin is natural In its natural state this
groove is about an inch and q half wide, but it
can beEdistended to three inches, On looking
at the groove pulsatile swelling is observable
SPHSSAIS LLlTu rlDSs II respiration
be suspended itrapidly rises to an enormous ex-
tent, and remains full andtensc until the breath
ing is restored, whenit soon subsidies. This is
the heart. Between the claYicles there is anoth-
er pulsatile swelling, easily felt, which is the
aorta the great artery from the heart Tho di.
laton and contraction of the lung is also seen.
In coughing the right lung suddenly protrudes
from the chest through the groove, and ascends
a considerable distance above the right clavicle
into the neck
The technical details ofthese wonderful dis.
closures will interest professional men,, and to
general readers of physiology the sight will be
extremely interesting. 1t would be well if it
could be exhibited in all public schools.
MIR. 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; nor did the full Importance of his case
occur to him till he was over twenty years Of
age. In l949, while on a'viSit to London, he was
attacked with cholera, and then it was that his
defect was made known to the profession He
was shown to several distinguished medical men
as great curiosity, and was advised to travel
through Europe for the benefit of. the profession.
Not long after, while attending to his business,
which was very combining, he was attacked with
h9emoptisis ECspitting of blood) He then con-
cluded 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 Amer
ica. he 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, testify
ing to their great interest in the case. The sig
natures of professors and celebrities who have
examined him number over two thousand.
AT the closesof his lecture yesterday Dr. Mott
proposed a collection in Mr.. Groux's behalf,
though his regular fee had been paid by the fac
ulty. Scarcely had he said the word when the
silver began to fly into the arena from the seats
of the vast amphitheatre. Nearly all the three
hundred students were present, and the shower
ofquarters greatly jeoparded thelecturer Or.
MOTIF and his attendants together with DIR. Alex.
d. Mott, who seemed to be a target in the inno-
ceut amusement y. Post.