Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-29
A WONDERFUL OPERATION.
The Skin OF a Suicide Successfully Trans
ferreh to the Arm of a Rnv


The Skin of Suicide Successfully Trans
ferred to the Arm of Boy.
DR.. Gerdner, a surgeon attached to the
staff Of Bellevue Hospital, says the New
York World, recently performed success
fully an operation whereby he removed a
large piece Of skin from the body Of sui
eide and transplanted it upon the arm of
a patient whose flesh had been denuded of
its covering. The operation conflicts with
the prevalent theories which maintain
that the fluids of the tissues become poison
GUS after death, and when placed in contact
with the fluids Of the living body produce
pyemia, or blood poisoning, which is gen.
orally fatal.
The causes that led to the operation are
as wonderful as the successful issue It
self. Charles johnson, a little boy, dur
ing the summer of 1888 was struck by
lightning. The electric current passed
through mis- body, tearing of the clothing.
The boy, who was sitting by an open VIM
dow, was thrown 10 the floor, where he re-
manned unconscious for several hours.
He was subsequently removed to the hos
pital. where il was found that the greatest
injury was done TO the brain. Contrary to
al expectations the lad recovered and re-
gained the fun possession of his faculties.
1t was noticed, however, upon his admis-
sion, that the skin on his left shoulder and
arm to the elbow had peculiar dark pur-
pie hue suggestive Of gangrene. The ap-
plicatiOn Of stimulating lotions failed to
restore the activity Of the blood vessels.
Gradually the parts died and dropped of,
leaving the muscles exposed, with ragged
edges that bled under the slightest provo
cation.
DIR. Gerdner, under whose attention the
sufferer came, resolved TO try the expert
ment of transplanting a large piece of
skin at one time. As living prisoners
were not very willing to part with that
useful part of their anatomy DIR. Gerdner
was Obliged to look about for some other
means. 1t is a well known fact that the
skin is one Of the tissues of the body that
Will not reproduce If once its functions
are destroyed. To avoid the evil results
Of pressing cicatriX the doctor hit upon
the idea Of using the skin of somebody az
soon after death as possible. Ap oppor-
tunitv presented itself a few days after,
when the body Of a young German suicide
was brought into the mOrgue about three
hours after life was extinct and While
still warm. DIR. Gerdner regarded this
as the most favorable time for his opera
ton, and be prepared his patient for the
experiment. A few clever strokes from
the 5calpEl bAochtu Jul q pACNC VI nhAu
slightly larger than the area to be cover
ed on the boys arm, TO allow for the
shrinkage OF the integument, which is
very elastic, and in a few minutes more
the piece was dissected off clear down to
its muscular attachments.
The boys arm was cleaned Of the scars
and excOriatiOns and the piece about a
foot square, cut up into small sections
about One-quarter of an inch square, was
placed upon the arm. The work occupied
about two hours, at the end of which the
arm was completely covered with the new
skin, ranged like tiles upon hall floor.
Bandages were applied and stimulating
lotions spread over it. The little vessels
from the muscles penetrated the new It's
sue and set up a healthy circulation and
the new skin took upon itself all the func-
tions of the original integument. Two of
the little pieces refused to attach them
selves and died, slOughing away without
doing damage to the surrounding parts.
Nerves appeared and sensation in the new
covering became almost perfect about
month afterwards.
The operation, in the face Of an article
which lately appeared in German medi-
cal paper, which described a similar case,
proves that the work of the American sur
oaou antadafan tho German oparatiOn