Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-07-20
Scientific Surgical Operation.

NEW \ oEK. July IA some surgical expert
meats oa>,.d on suuUd scientific principles have
beer cot.jurtcd by one Of The hospital surgeons
IN THIS city. recently. that have already dorc
s2nc good, All II l. hoped vii lead 70 great
deal lnGrc. he NJ st Interesting case i that
III James D>m>cy, who on the 81 of July wDS
"l'lDga piIntIDg-pr the machinery OF which
the I~Gcrnan started up mol Knowing he was
there. DctuScy WIS c,ught between two lev
ers and his r;ght arm terribly crushed. The
flesh was badly lac rated, the worst wound
being behind, while Ihc ends OF the bone of
the upper arm protruied from the Wound, MAX
ing Il very bad compOund c1mm'nutcd fracture
lie sufferer was Ia kru to the Park Hospital,
aud the surgical staff decided that the pa
teut's only chauce OF life was the amputariou
OF the arm at the shoulder The chief sur
s"on decided with the staff, but DR.. Fuhrcr
| the SUPERVISING >urge)u. dissent"d, though his
objections We're ov>ruicd He went to the
hos.'lta prepared 10 ampu,atc D@m>cy' arm,
but the Snrj ct and his friend, Il ,t!y rc'lls d 10
allow any such operation to take place. D-ni
>cy SAID lie would as soon lose his HE as his
right arm, AMI would abide the coDs qurnce II
an attempt WIS made 10 save it. Dr.. L uh. CT
had previously paid unusual attention TO trac
lures, aud in the ease Of simple ones had con.
| trivci an Apparatus that would t cure trcrduIn
| flom irritating stcrrtUa aud give opportunity
10 III $ AID rxa;nluc the ann without moving
it. VI hen Dcln>ry decided not to >ublnl; to an
ampnratlun he I'll, uslt OF an improve mrnt to
his app .ratuS aud applied ii to lis arm An
apr gil l,,s was erected at the head OF the be-,
iruD top # which ran apiece of sluall iron gas
| pipe, Ike craze, terminating in Il hook. bent
upward. From this crane was suspended Il
Sna lru; pulley THAI could he run back anC;
lnrii'.;hc nook AT the end preventing its Siippin4.
ii. \ x troaJ the pulley ran piece Of rubber
tuulDg, about eighteen iGchcs long T,ls was 70
prevent any jar to The wounded limb when it
might be moved. 10 prevent any possibility OF
all accident by tie breaking OF the rubber tubing
l"ce Il iron wire Was attached, which would
savc the iInt trJm falling more than Il sixteenth
al Nj nch. Below this tubing chain ran
down, and no ks were fastened into this by
| which Nh ir"n frame Was supported the length
o.! the AIN. 4 mesh Of bunjisge WIS made from
one SIDE - til" ulhc: it, this iron Irame,u IN this
mesh pcr So : arm WAS laid. The entire front
O. the arm was exposed to sight, besides the
w"und from winch the bone protruded when he
entered the h.>pItai. The mesh wa: open ed SC
That the terrible accrat!un behind could DC
treated wllECut moving the arm, and al the sc.
cr-ti"ns Cu:d run oil freely, leaving e skin
clean and healthy Now Dem$ey can mnrc
xb"u. get up and SIT in - chair while his bed i:
being made. all with ut j,,rring hi: arm, wliIc
h lie would have been he forfeit had he beer!
treated by the nlI lnnlh.d Tie experiment h.:
been q d".ic.te on, Bat ~ it Low looks the pa
tart wi not on: recpT"r, but his right aTn
will be good ~ new ard til Tor service III
few months.