Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-11-13
A WONDERFUL OPERATION.
How Nourtshment was Intxsamesa late
Little Girls Stomach

Little Girls stomach.
San Antonio, Texas, contains a won
der, the like Of which cannot be found
IN the United States. II is nothing
more nor less than child, seven years
old, that instead OF mnsticatiuR and
swallowing Its food in the usual man
ncr, Is fed through an aperture in the
stomach made for that purpose. The
child is gaining strength, can walk and
play, and bids fair To soon be AS stout
and healthy as any other child. The
facts are as follows: A bout two years
ago Mr.. 5. T. Lumley. at this time liy-
ing in Pennsylvania. had the misfortune
TO have his daughter Jessie drink solu.
ton Of lye, which a colored woman
had carelcssly left on the table. A large
quantity Of the corrosive liquid was
swal owed. Death Is the certain results
IN such cases. The lye DESTROYED the
mucous membrane, and structure of
the msophaZus Is formed, which means
that the throat. or at least the channel
through which the food goes into the
stomach, is drawn together or contract
ed u such "A degree that only liguids.
and not much Of them, canpaSs through.
such was the condition Of the little
giri Jessie Lumley when she was brought
10 San Antonio for treatment. The
child was very much imaciated, could
not swallow even liquid food for days
i't tlmc. AS IT was the only possible
chance she had for life, her parents con-.
scnted that the operation Of making AN
opening in the stomach should be at
tempted. The operation has been per-
formed in England, but this is believed
10 be the first time 1t has been attempted
in the United States. An incision four
inches long was made a few inches 10 the
icit oi the pit Of the stomach. At the be-
ginning Of the short ribs, much stitch
ing being required. Through this in
cisiOn the stomach il reached. The next
part Of the operation requires the most
delicate handling imaginable. II con-
sistz Of sewing the stomach 70 the walls
OF the abdomen. but great care must
be taken not 10 penetrate the stomach
ilsclL The needle and stitches only
penetrate the skin Of the stomach. The
result IS that the stomach, as the wound
gradually heals, grows 10 the wall Of
the abdomen.
Ihc patient WAS put under the in
iluencc Of chlorOiOrm and the operation
successfully performed. Unfortunately,
the child had an attack of chills and
ever, which had 10 be cured, which gave
II set back. The operation described
took place few weeks ago. The stom-
ach had grown on the sides Of the abdo-
men, and in two weeks the operation Of
making incision in the stomach. through
which the food was 10 pass. was per-
formed. and twice a day thereafter a
beefsicak. cut up fine, has been passed
with the forccps into the stomach, md
the child is steadily gaising strength.
The writer visited the child. in com
pany with DR.. HerT. and saw it fed.
We halted in front Of small. one-story
house, which we entered. A little girl.
with light hair and blue eyes, was sit.
ting up in bed surrounded by play
things. Her mother. "a young woman Of
thirtyfyears ofage, was busy in the room.
Don't you want your supper,
Jessic?n said the doctor. q" want
steak. ! don't want any bread, COS it
hurts, said the little girl, whose thin
features and pale complexion showed
the result Of her long fast.
The mother brought in n rare beef
steak. which the doctor proceeded To cut
up in small pieces. crumbling up some
bread al the same time. Tie food being
prepared. the child lay back on the bed,
and the opening in the side was ex-
posed, ii was only an inch in length.
and presented ;he appcaran ce of badly
healed cut. 1t was a little inhamed. /
. hAobN - anu saw Nlc GOCtOr take one
piece after another and carefully intro
duce il with the forceps into the stom-
ach, until the plate was nearly empty.
The child complains a little at times,
but did not appear 10 suffer any. She
finally said my stomach is full, and,
rs there was no more steak, the doctor
desisted. Finally some cotton was
placed in the opening. n bandage put on,
and she sat up and wac soon fondling
her playthings.
No particle Of solid food had passed
through the child's throat since the
accident. A grain of rice nearly
strangles her. Milk Is also injected
into the stomach through the opening.
/ The only possible danger is from the
wound closing up. hence 1t is kept open
with cotton. Atfirst plug of expan-
I sive sponge was used. There IL no rea-
son why the child should not become
stout and healthy The food digests
j readily. Just the same as If chewed and
swallowed. To the inquiry If this mode
/ Of taking nourishment would have to
be kept up through lite. no definite
answer was given. as II depends on tho
/ possibility Of reducing the structure Of
Z the throat.