Helena weekly herald., 1884-06-12
DISCOVERY IN SURGERY.
An Examination of Majors Body Fur
nIshes Important Information.
San Francisco Bulletin, May 26.

TSan Francisco Bulletin, May 26.l
After the execution OF Lloyd l.. Majors
on Friday last port-mortem examination
of the body was held by Dr. 4. ii. WOOL
sey, of Oakland, in the presence of several
other physicians. This examination gave
an unusual opportunity to observe the ini
tial stage of repair after fracture of the
bone. Just one week before Majors was
hung, in his attempt to escape, he received
fracture at the middle of the right ulna,
one of the bones of the forearm. This was
simple comminuted fracture that is, the
skin was unbrOken, bat the bone was
broken in several pieces. A compound
fracture communicates with the air by
means of the wound The fracture of
Majors arm was carefully dressed with
spEnt. At the post-mOrtem examination
the fracture was examined and the entire
ulna was removed. There was no bOny
union nor any union whatever at the
broken surfaces but the callous material,
which unites the broken fragments per-
manently after fracture had just begun to
be secreted, There was just little tenaci-
GUS material perceptible on the broken
surfaces. That the beginning of the secre-
ton of callous material at the end of the
first week is noticeable, has been accepted
as the rule by surgeons but in practice it
has been found that this callOus material
has not been sufficiently abundant and
condensed to yield signs of repair until
about the tenth or twelfth day after in
jury-that is to say, the sO-called knitting
of the bone does not occur until about that
time. An opportunity was offered in this
case of studying the earliest processes of
repair in fracture, such as has very seldom
before been afforded to surgeons. 1t is un-
derstood that the books contain no parallel
case. Whenever an opportunity has been
given to observe repair of fracture, 1t has
been in subjects who have died from in
Jury or disease and not in one who was in
other respects perfectly healthy, and hav
ing, as this one did, all the forces in active
operation. To the surprise Of DR.. WOOlsey,
it was found that temporary union OF the
broken bone had already taken place, not
by callous material, but by means of the
organization of the blood which had been
poured out about the fracture at the time
of the injury This organized blood EN-
braced the bone at the point of fracture
and for about two inches above and below.
The fracture showed that originally it had
been oblique, and that by a continuation
fracture the lower projection or point of
| the upper part of the bone was broken off
! This little fracture projected a little from
its place, but it and the two main portions
| of the bone were held together by the grasp
! of this organized blood so firmly as not to
give away in the least upon the disarticu-
laton and entire removal of the bone from
the arm This provisional clasp, as it may
/ lo laJ WI hnpa
was grasped at one end and shaken it
would yield and give at the point of frac
! ture, but it was sufficiently strong to pre-
vent any dropping of the distinct fragment
at the other end when the bone was held
still.
| From this examination this much has
| been learned that was not known before :;
or at all events, was not sufficiently known
to be recognized and laid down as prin-
ciple, namely, that the early and perfect
adjustment and perfect maintenance in po-
sition of fractured bones is necessary to
perfect repair. The prevention of irrita-
tion of tissues and of consequent pain and
constitutional disturbance and the like
have been the special reasons for the early
proper adjustment of fractures, but all that
has been deemed absolutely necessary to
|
been a perfect adjustment of fractured
bones prior to the eighth or tenth day after
injury and maintenance afterwards in
place. But this case furnishes most signi
ticant proof of the great value of the per-
feet adjustment of fracture before coagu-
lation of the blood at the seat of the injury
has had time to occur
Dr. Woolsey remarked to the reporter
who questioned him about this examina-
ton, that he never before in all his prac-
tice had a similar opportunity offered to
examine fracture in the first stages of
repair, and also that he deemed the dis
closures of great scientific value.
A singular discovery was made in the
examination of the skull OF Majors. Stick
ing in the back part Of the top of the head
was little piece of steel about the size OF
darning- needle. 1t protruded about one
tenth of an inch and penetrated the skull
about an equal distance. 1t was firmly
imbedded in its position and could not be
removed with forceps. No explanation is
given of this singular discovery. The
needle, or whatever it is, had been in its
position for months and possibly for years.