Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-07-05
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HOW A BONE WAS EXTRACTED
FROM A MANS THROAT.

HOW A BONE WAS EAThACIED
FROM A MANS THROAT.
To those who are acquainted with the
anatomy of the human throat, we need not
say that one of the most difficult opera
tions in surgery is to extract therefrom a
bone which is securely lodged low: down
in the pharynx. A well-to-do farmer in the
interior of the State, few years since, was
so unfortunate as to have small, ugly
shaped, sharp-pointed piece Of bone secure,
ly lodged low down in his throat during a
meal. All his own, his wife's and his fam
ily's efforts to dislodge it were unavailing.
He sent for his family physician. He
could not succeed. Counsel was called,
with no better success. A celebrated sur
geon from a neighboring city, was sent for.
All the neighboring physicians, to the
number of some dozen, were present to
see the operation The surgeon tried his
forceps, but couldn't seize the bone. He
tried his blunt hooks with no better sue
cess. He tried his sharp-pointed hook,
making the blood flow freely, but still the
bone would not move. He gave eupin despair
of removing it through the mouth. After
consultation it was resolved, as the man
could not live many days unless the bone
was removed, to operate through the esopha.
gus, IN the upper part of which they suppos'
ed it to be lodged.
As they were about to proceed in the OF
GRAFTON, which, they admitted to be extrem
ely dangerous aud painful, neighborine
woman, who was noted for her lively dispo'
sition, garulity and good common sense,
entered the room, aud not having the feal
of the doctors, nor their fearful looking in'
struments, which were being arranged on
the table, before her eyes, she exclaimed,
Hitty y-titty, what are you doing? Are you
going to kill the man?' They explained
to her the necessity Of the operation, and
assured her that in no other way could the
bone be removed. 'And do you think that
I believe that?' says she. Il know better.
and so does any who has got common sense
I can remove the bone without using such
horrid looking knives as these The doc
tors assured her that they should be happy
to see her try the experiment. She told
them that she would do it readily, if the
farmer was willing, but they shouldn't see
how it was done. The farmer gladly assent
ed to any thing which would save the use
of the horrid instruments. She called fol
FIVE or six pounds of fresh butter, which
the good farm wife happened to have on
hand. She then began to work the butter
balls of about half pound each, drove
every one from the room, and closed the
window. shutters, so that no one could see
her operations from the outside. She or
dered the farmer to get up and strip /" "u'
DIS uotur aHbus, and get down upon bis
elbows and knees near the hearth, and en-,
joined him to retain that position until the
operation was over.
She then took her position some six feet
behind him, where he could plainly see hel
by looking between his knees. Now, said
she, brace yourself we'll, for l shall hit you
so hard and SO rapidly with these balls Of
fresh butter, that l shall knock the bone
clear out on the hearth " and she immedi
atey commenced the bombardment. The
novelty, the mode, and the suddenness Of
the attack producing fit of laughter, &C.
companied with coughing, so violent that,
aided by his position, his head being ti'e
lowest, he threw the bone out upon the
hearth. Picking it up she remarked, There,
knew I could get it out without half try.
ing; aud so could these doctors, if they had
had common sense.-Neu York. Times.