Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-05-26


ID, Late Surgeon u. y. Army, u. n.
Pension Examining Surgeon, Ex-
Member of the New SydeDham Soci.
ETY.. of London, &c, sc.
To the Editors Of the Chronicle:
Mr.. VIM. J. Alexander, whose leg
was amputated in April, by J. Nat.
Lyle, assisted by w. A. Meek and G..
B. Roberts, has so nearly recovered
that it is considered safe to send him
to his home in an adjoining county.
This operation considering the case isre-
garded by all who know anything about
it az one of the boldest and most daring
for which the operator has been so
long noted. Mr.. Alexander, prior to
this accident had been an invalid for
twenty months, his constitution broken
up by disease and medicine, he having
only recovered sufficiently to take a
pleasure ride upon a flat boat, on the
Sd OF April. Gliding along smoothly
down the Chucky into the French
Broad, until night, with her sable cur
tains, drew near, they found them
selves afloat upon eight feet of tide
water with a large and heavy laden
boat. They undertook to land Mt Tay-
lor's bend, point Is miles above
cambridge, where Mr.. Alexander sue
ceeded in getting ear enough the
bank to cast the cable twice around u
tree from the inside OF the boat, but
alas, he found his leg firmly grasped
in coil of the cable, which, within
the twinkling of au eye threw him
headlOng into the river tearing his foot
off few inches above the ankle eX-
cepting a small portion of Cuticle and
part of one tendon, meantime sever
| ing and tearing loose from attach
ments bones, blood vessels, nerves,
| tendons and in fact everything that
goes to form the symetry of well
devaOped leg This occurred about
dark. They did not succeed in reach
| ing land until about midnight at a
! point below and near cambridge.
! The patient being an entire stranger
| fearfully exhausted by shLcS and
| hemorrhage it was either a midnight
! death upon the river bank away from
| home aud loved ones dear or some one
must act the part OF the good Samari-
tan. None being found more ready TO
! do this than DR.. J. Nat. Lyle, who was
| i'm mediately called on their arrival at
| cambridge had Mr.. Alexander convey
ed to his private residence, where he
ampulated his leg ANA where he has
remained for the last six weeks, during
| which time ne has been administered
! everything that skill in surgery could
| do or the hospitality that his Christian
wife could show welcome guest. 1t
nigh be well 10 state here that Il few
! days after the first operation the pa
! tient was attacked by ii fearful disease
| known "a Hospital GanErene or
" Mobilization If tue S'ump,' which
ueceNsitated re. autpuIatlOu and was
| performed on the teI,th day after the
| first operation. The patient has just
/ been returned To his OHu hune, and is
| in a manner well.
/ We Will here state that Miss Matte
! Rankin, whose arm was ampujated
January 26, by J. MAJ. LYLE, assisted by
| DTs. JaruHgln and Rpnerts made a
quick and excellent recovery and j.
now well and happy. Mr.. Wilson,
VINO was some Time aga treated for q
gun shot wound in the throat from the
same Office recovered rapidly, US almost
/ by charm and has returned home. In
| conclusion We viii add that there is nc
one of DR.. Lyie's age or even older In
Jefferson or perhaps in many adjOin'
ing counties that has distinguished
himself 80 much for variety, boldnes'
and the daRng nature Of his operations
His operations are not only dotted
about in many parts of his own coun'
ty, but there are living witnesses il
different adjacent counties who viii
attest the skill of his knife, the sound
ness Of his judgment and discretion o.
his sagacity, knowledge of which
has extended even beyond the marrow
limits of his own State. r. b. c.
cambridge, May II, 1875,