Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1884-07-03

The skin of a Suicide Successfully Trans
ferred TO the Arm of a Boy,

The skin of Suicide Successfully Trans
fcrred to the Arm of Boy.
DIR. Gerdner, surgeon attached to
the staff of Bellevue Hospital, recently
performed successfully an operation
whereby he removed large piece of
skin from the body of 4 suicide and
transplanted it upon the arm of
patient whose flesh had been denuded
of its covering. The operation con-
ilicts with the prevalent theories which
maintain that the fluids of the tissues
become poisonous after death, and
when placed in contact with the fluids
of the living body produce pyamia, or
blood poisoning, which is generally
fatal.
The causes that led to the operation
are as wonderful as the successful is
sue itself. Charles johnson. little
boy, during the summer Of 1888 was
struck by lightning, the electric cur
rent passed through his body, tearing
oil the clothing. The boy, who was
sitting by an open window, was thrown
to the floor, where he remained uncon-
sciOus for several hours. He was sub
scQuently removed to the hospital,
where ii was found that the greatest
injury was done to the brain. Con-
tlary TO all expectations the lad re-
covered and regained the full posses
sion of his faculties. 1t was noticed,
however, upoa his admission that the
skin on his left shoulder and arm to
the elbow had Il peculiar dark purple
hue suggestive of gangrene. The ap-
plication of stimulating lotions failed
10 restore .he activity of the blood YES
sells. Gradun.lj the parts died and
dropped oil, lowing the muscles en-
posed, with ragged edges that blcd
under the slightest provocation.
Dr. Gcrdncr, under whose attention
the sufferer came, resolved to try the
experiment 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
Dr. Gcrdner was obliged to look about
for some other means. 1t is we'll
known fact that the skin is one of the
tissues of the body that will not repro
ducc if once its functions are DESTROYED.
To avoid the evil results of Il pressing
cicatriN the doctor hit upon the idea of
using the skin of some body us soon
after death as possible. Anopportun-
ity presented itself a few days after,
when the body of 4 young German sui
eide was brought into the Morgue
about three hours after life was extinct
and while still warm. DR.. Gcrdncrrc-
gardcd this us the most favor
able time for his operation, and
he prepared his patient for the expert
mcnt. A few clever strokes from the
scalpcl blocked out n piece of skin
slightly larger than the area to be COW
cred ON the boys arm. to allow for the
shrinkagc Of the intcgumcnt, which is
very elastic, and in Il few minutes
more the piece was disScctcd Off clcaI
down 10 its muscular attachments.
The boys arm was cleaned Of the
sears and rXcoriations and the piece
about foot square, cut up into small
lSttllOllN ABOUT Onc-Vu;ltlcf Ol an lncl
Quarc, was placed upon the arm
The work occupied about two hours
at the end Of which the arm was com
plctcly covered with the new skin
ranged like tiles upon the hall floor
Bandagcs were applied and stimulat
ing lotions spread over it. The littl,
vessels from the muscles penetrate,
lh" new tissue and sci up 4 health,
circulation and the new skin took upon
itself all the functions of the origina
intcgumcnt. Two of the little piece
; refused 10 attach themselves and died
Sloughing away without doing damage
TO the surrounding parts. Nerves up
pcarrd and sensation in the new coy
. cring became almost perfect in abou
> Il month afterwards.
= The operation, in the face of an arti
Gle which lately appeared in Il Gcrma
medical paper, which described sim
liar case, proves that the work of tn
American surgeon antcdatcd the Ger
l man operation. NcW York Word.