Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-08-04
A Fatal Operation.


about 23years OF age. some time since
called ut the Office of q physician and
surgeon for consultation. She and her
friends had become extremely anxious
in regard to tumor ON the right side
of her neck. just below the angle of the
jaw. Little or 10 Inconvenience was
caused by its existence. The chief
sources of anxiety were the question as
to its termination, and the fact tnat it
presented a very unsightly appearance.
Its size and shape were not unlike those
OF an ordinary goose egg. A careful
examination proved that it was an en-
cysted tumor. lying superiicially be-
meath the tissues. An operation was
recommended, after due deliberation.
After few weeks of hesitation and
doubt on the part of her friends, Miss
D. decidedto allow the operation to
be performed. The day was set, and at
the appointed time the medical gentle
men who were to perform it made their
appearance at the residence of the pa
tient. They consisted of the then lead
ing surgeon of the city. his son. the,
first consulted physician and 4 medical
student, from whom the following facts
are cleaned:
The patient was Immediately put
under the influence of ether, and a
careful examination revealed the fact
that it would be unsafe to remove the
tumor with knife. because of its re
latiOn to important blood vessels con-
tiguOus thereto. After consultation
it was determined TO draw OFT the fluid
contained in the sac, and inject the
tincture of iodine into it, III place of the
Guid removed. with Il view of causing
an irritation of the inner walls of the
sac. when the iodine was to he with
drawn. The hopcd-for result was that
che sac would then collapse. and the
internal surface unite, and thus the
sack would be destroyed, which would
render its rehlling impossible. TO ef-
feet the drawing off of the contents of
the tumor, an incision some half an
inch in length was made. a trochar WAS
introduced. and the fluid drawn through
\ canula of ordinary size. The fluid
was of . dark coffee color. and in
quantity would fill an ordinary teacIp.
In attempting to inject iodine. it was
discovered that the canula was, un-
fortunately, unSuited to the size of the
syringe. The canula was withdrawn,
and an endeavor was made to insert
one of suitable dimensions. From the
fact that the sac had collapsed, great
difficulty was experienced in bringing
the external aperture in opposition 10
the incision in the sac. A series of
attempts were made in this direction.
as the sequel shows, without success.
The fact that when the iodine was
injected the tumor did not assume the
original share. suggested that the
iodine had not entered the sac. The
aperture was closed with q stitch and
the fluid was thus confined within the
tissues. In u few moments the patient
recovered from fhe influence of the
ether. but seemed to be suffering from
the most excruciating pain. At first it
was thought her agonizing groans and
shrieks were induced by a hysterical
tendency; but such proved not to be
the case. Nothing but repeated ad-
ministratiOn OF ether had the least ef-
feet in quieting the patient. She lay
in spasms two or three consecutive
hours. Opiates were administered
WltllOul duy idtOIdUlc TcSult, anu Lnc
patient died in about sixty hours after
the operation But the most singular
feature of tl.l case is not yet related.
Eighteen hours after the operation q
light tint of a saffron colOrei hue was
diffused over the whole body, from sole
to crown. The remarkable phenome-
non presented could be accounted for
in no other way than that the iodine
had been absorbed through the walls
of the sack, or had been simply injected
into the subcutaneous tissues, followed
by absorption and diffusion throughout
the whole surface of the body. thus act
ing rs an irritant poison; hence the ago
nizing pain and fatal result.
The whole case. from its inception to
its close, created much comment among
scientific men. Speculation was rife as
to the propriett of injecting iodine at all.
rs well rs the skill of the operators. but
rs they were surgeons of acknowledge
cd skill in the community, the public
generally deemed death a natural Sc
quence to the serious operation. While
many sorrowing friend dropped a tear
over the remains Of the unfortunate
lady. the soft mellow tint of the deli
cate textures of the skin relieved death
of many of its disagreeable character
istics, and attracted large number of
curious spectators, who followed her to
her last resting place. .-ProWdence Or.
~ Star.