New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-02-26
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TracheotO my,

The following communication is from the pen O
an old and well known citizen of New Orleans
Having been present when the operation was per
formed, and having been fully conversant with tn,
case through all its stages, believe it but an &C
of simple justice, to add our testimony, to thu
skill and judgment displayed by the operating sur
geons, Doctors Chopin and Beard:
| Editor Cfescent-For the sake of suffering hu
manity and for the benefit of those who might be
unfortunately afflicted with the same disease,
which came so near fatal termination with me,
desire to give you synopsis of my case in which
odema of the glottis " was successfully treated
and cured by " Tracheotomy," in the skillful and
experienced hands of IS. Chopin, assisted by
his partner, DR.. G. Beard.
had been suffering since January 18th with
severe Inflammation of the throat Quincy, which
had not yielded to the ordinary treatment of strin.
gent garges and cauterization with the nitrate of
silver, when, on the night of the 18th of January
was suddenly seized with great difficulty of breath
ing and, springing out Of bed found myself nearly
strangled. My respiration becoming every mo-
ment more embarrassed l sent for DR.. Chopin,
who very fortunately was near at hand.
When he entered my room las he has told me
afterwards), he found that each inspiration was
accompanied with distressing growing and str
dulous sound the hearts action was so acce-
Grated thatthe pulsations could not be counted
and that my countenance expressed the most in
ense anxiety, the eyes injected and starting from
their sockets. l felt, myself, that suocation was
imminent in fact from the Doctors examination,
he found that Inflammation had extended to the
larynx, the mucous membrane of which was so
inflamed and infltrated with the serum, that
air a4aJ no
tunately, DR.. G. Beard arrived at this moment with
the instruments, and, as an artificial opening into
the wndppe was the only recourse left, the opera
ton was at once decided upon and, with the
assistance of DR.. G. Beard and two old and intimate
friends (who had been summoned by me, as Il be-
lieved, topwitness my last moments), an inolsion
was made by DR.. S. Chopin in the middle line Of
the neck, the trachea, or windpipe, exposed, and,
with stroke of the scalpel, the air necessary to
nv existence was admitted and immediate relief
afforded. l fesl satisfied that ten minutes later
all efforts would have proved unavailng.
Lis impossible to express the feelings Of joy,
thankfulness and relief that experienced when
drew the first, long, life-giving inspiration. The
silver tubes were Immediately inserted, and,
thank G. cd, with most enduring and religious care
of nv doctors and many friends, I am now well
enough to attend to my business matters and to
make this simple statement; not with any desire
to make fulsome laudations of any particular par
ties, whose reputation in their profession is SO
highly established in this community that they
need no encomiums from this humble pen, but
that the world may know that even in such des.
perate cases as mine, relief can be afforded by
skillful operators.
/ To the courtesies and kindness of the proprietor
of the St. Charles Hotel, and the assiduous atten-
tons of all connected with the house am under
the deepest obligations.
C. T. N.