New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-14
IMPROVED SURGERY.
LIMBS SAVED AND NOT CUT OFF.

| On July James Demsey was oiling print
ing press. when the foreman, knowing he
there' started the machinery Demsey was caught be-
tween two levers aud before the could be stopped
his right upper arm was badly broken. The flesh
lacerated the worst wound being behind. The ends or
the bone OF the upper protruded from the anterior
wound, making a very bad compound comminuted
fracture Demsey taken TO the Park Hospital and
there, after consultation the surgical staff decided
tat the arm must be amputated at the shoulder joint
OF tue patient would die. The supervising surgeon, Dr.
william +. Fiuhrer, dssented from this opinion for the
| Following reasons: There great liberation.
! put no important artery had been divided; the
wounds were opposite and would drain each
other the injury was to the night arm,
| and the boy being the only support Of his widowed
! mother the loss Of his right arm would deprive
him OF the means Of earning a livelihood even II he
recovered aud the liberation extensive that 1t
would ne Impossible to obtain flap large enough to
cover the surface exposed by the proposed amputaon
Dr. James Il. Wood. the Chief Surgeon decided with the
majority Of the staff, and DR.. Fluhrers objections were
overuled lie therefore went 10 the relatives of Demsey
ana tOii them that IL had been decided that he must
lose MS arm. II the arm was not at once taken of,
DemseY bad possible chance to recover and he might
die even IN that case but he would at least have an
other chance for his life. The surgeon added that he
wOuld expect their decision at ..
Ati p m. DR.. Fuhrer went to the hospital prepared
to amputate Demsey's arm not expecting that 1t
possible for the relatives to other decision
than TO acquesce in the opinion OF the majority
OF the surgical staff They, however refused TO permit
the arm TO be taken of. and Demsey said
to Dr. Fiuhrer why cane you save my arm the same
as you did Johnny Jordan'si [ hal soon lose my
life rs my right and 1 will abide by the conse-
duences II you will try and save It for me- Demsey
was determined and could be moved TO have his arm
amputaied the surgeons concluded ~ do their best
When d.. Fuhrcr was house surgeon in Bellevue
.af.fyl h.a
very enthusiastic upon the subject Of fractures and
great deal OF study spent improve the old
methods Of treatment. Dr. Fluhrer commended and
demonstrated that mathematical line running through
the axis OF hmb. the leg from the body 70 the foot
may be heightened, shortened. or bent. This can be
readily seen by licking and extending the leg and
watching the changes the line Of ones Dantaoons.
When the leg is fsxed the line in front heightened.
that behind shortened, and that running through
the center bent. This made basis Tor
future experiment Any fracture IS solution
continuity In a fractured limb the line Is changed
and takes other directions than are found In sound
bones. DR. Fuhrer believed that any apparatus that
compelled the line remain in fixed cOnditiOn-that
is could neither be heightened, shortened. nor
bent-nusI restore the continuity Of the unb aud cause
immediate union OF the fractured bones. He took sew
era long strips Of aaI punched holes IN them
distance Of half an ncn or 50 from each other
These strips could ne OF any required width In rae
about a quarter wide, would be laid upon the
front leg aud the number behind, extending
from the thigh 10 the tOUL Counter extension could
be made by "A simple upright post between the les
and Glove hitch about the foot, running To pulley
A plaster or starch bandage would then DO applied
and the moment the bindage had passed above the
point Of fracture. the leg could be let 20 with
perfect slfety ana no motion OF line could be
ained Before using these strips it WAS necessary to
walt until the plIsser should harden about an hour,
before the patient cOad bo placed IN bed aud made
comfortable THIS was great step IN advance. ana TINS
and admirable method Of treating fractures was
considered important photographs Of patients,
showing the method OF applying the Oindages and
strips. the YeIna Exposition. The cases
were photo -rlphel IN bellevue Hospital, and repre-
sen;cd the application perfectly. BLlroth. the
Celebrated Vienna surgeon, SAIL that though 80 very
simple, the method OF treatment was founded upon
principle anu must 90 accepted by surgeons as
tie best, pain to the patient aud the
result was perfect union Or sue broken continuity
Tie meinIi applied only TO simple fractures com
pound and cOmmInuted fractures were frcnt mat
Ter altogether. Tie hr,t OF compound fracture
that was treated the further application OF this new
principle that of john muller. He was taken INTO
the T. Ark Hospital Of February last. He nad
fracture the large bone OF the lower arm the eud OF
tho bone prOrung from the wound, fracture or the
OF the upper and Two fractures OF the SINAI!
OF tue arm Tls mlde four fractures IN AL!
Ine usual mtthOt conpouhu lidctu4c VI
this Aind been 10 lay II IN I'm spiInt upon pillow,
and stuff Oakum about 10 absorb the secretion TIs
scads skin, and must De- moved frequently
change the dressing. Tls motion Is very unfayOr-
able good union OF the ends Of the BONE anu the skin
soon becomes sOd1en anu DESTROYED. Tde object To
be attained 10 perfect rest, freedom from that
irritating secretion, and Opportunity 10 dress
the arm and examine it without moving lt.
one morning wnen the surgeon was dressing
the arm Schiller remarked. Doctor, my arm 10 smOk
ing" Every movement caused exquisite pam, aud DR..
F.uLrer determined to apply some apparatus by which
these difficulties in the way OF recovery might Dc Obyi-
ated. pulley and ,uspensory apparatus was rgSed
aud many OF these points we're gained b. continuing
his experiments Dr.. Fuhrer At length attained per
lection that may be considered as the true treat
FOR compound fractures his method OF presery-
ing the line Of continuity that fAyoraoy looked
upon by Brotl Vienna mas proved Tor simple irac-
lures.
When Demsey decided not TO have his arm amputated,
Dr. Fuhrer. recognizing the many complications that
would arise Thought SILL greater Improvement. and
applied the apparatus 20 hIs arm Al upright post was
erected at the head OF the bed, from the top
Of which piece OF small iron gis-pipe
Ike a crane, terminating IN a hook bent up
ward From this crane suspended a
small iron pulley that could back and forth, the
nook at the end preventing its sppins off Next from
The pulley piece rubber tuning aDoul Is lhcues
lnng TINS Was to prevent any jar 10 the wounded
uulD when IL mIght be mO.eu 10 prevent any pos
.lUity ace dent by tue breaking OF the rubber
Mining "A piece of iron WIRE attached, when would
save tue from failing more tnau sixteenth Oh an
tncb Below tins tuutug "A cAaln down aud hooks
we're fastened Into this which ron ire was sup
norfed the length The arm. mesh or Ddldd-e was
a,c from our side 10 me other iron frame, aud
an ms mesh ID. m-eys arm ldu. The entire front
M exposed 10 sl-nt, besides me "Ouu from
entered the hospital.
Ile mesh was opened. that the terrible ldceratOn
behind could De treated witbout moving Tue arm ana
All the secretIOns could run I'll Rely leaving the
-nu clean healthy Should ne surgeon Wish 10 re-
new tue dressing another frame Is prepared VITA
mesh Ul banlage and tie one on when the
| dressing has become -Oed Anen the HOOKS axe