Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-10-05
NEW SERIES--V0L. %, NO. 80,

certained the existence of this fracture
on the front of the spine, close to the
great vessels and surrounded by sensi.
tive abdominal organs. Knowing that
this complication existed, we may won.
der that 1t was not suspected but the
fact that halfa-dozen surgeons OF large
knowledge and experience, TO say
nothing of their outside critics, did not
suspect it is sufficient evidence that its
presence was not indicated.
But the presence of some such
trouble was indicated most distinctly,
The high fever and the irritable stom.
ache pointed to some internal cause,
and the depraved condition of the blood
was presently made further evident by
the appearance of an abscess Of the
parotid gland.
ltwas on August sthat this oompli.
cation was announced, and for a long
time after 1t was the prominent fea.
ture of the case, although every one
recognized that it was not the cause
but the result of the general prostra-
tion. The surgeons seem to have
struggled to maintain a hope OF recov.
cry because they could SEQ nothing
that positively forbade such hope but
the decaying tissue of the fractured
bone was still doing its mischevious
work, and it must have been only the
extreme care with which each passing
symptom was watched and met that
prolonged life so long and so many
times snatched him from the very jaws
Of death. After the removal to Long
Branch, which was eminently wise,
however fruitless, there was evidence
Of the formation of another abscess,
but the surgeons could not tell where
it was. There was severe bronchitis,
or inflammation of the lining membranes
of the air passages, partly from an ex-
tension Of the inflammation from the
parotid gland, but due also to the gen
eral tendency to unhealthy action, and
some Inflammation of the lung tissue
itself; but no cavity could be detected.
1t is now known that the abscess was
in the abdomen, between the liver and
the portion OF the larger intestines
that lie beneath it. There had been
also a diffused inflammation ofthc peri.
toneal covering of these organs, so that
they had become adberent. How long
life might have been prolonged under
these conditions can only be conjec.
tured. The centres of diseased action
were beyond the surgeons reach, nor
could any skill have averted the acci.
dent that brought the patients suffer.
ings so abruptly to an end, when hem.
orrhage suddenly occurred from some
of the branches of the abdominal blood
vessels at the seat Of injury, and gush
Of blood, rupturing the peritoneum
falling into the cavity OF the abdomen,
brought about the final collapse and
almost immediate death, thus sud
denly terminating a case that other.
wise must soon have ended in com.
plete exhaustion.
Looking back over this whole rec.
ord we are led TO these conclusions.
The surgeons in attendance were at
fault in their diagnosis of the wound
at the beginning, when alone any true
diagnosis could have been made, but
its most serious feature could hardly
have been recognized even then with.
out meddlesomeness that probably
would have proved fatal in itself Even
had it been accurately known, it is not
probable, it is scarcely possible, that
any hopeful interference could have
been attempted, and it is clear that
the common idea that a ball should
have been cut out was entirely erone-
Gus, The only practical difference
would have been that they might then
have decided frankly that the Presi. !
dent could not recover and that their
efforts could only be directed to the
prolongation of his life. For this they
have labored faithfully, assiduously,
skillfully, and all the success that was
within their reach they attained. In
all the ordinary features Of the case
that could be recognized by physical
signs, their opinions have been justi-
fed by the facts, but it is plain that
there are some things still beyond the
reach even of scientific surgery.-PhR- |
ddeiphia Times,