The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-04
A TRIUMPH IN SURGERY.

aid afforded by two recently adopted adJuncts
electricity and the new anasthetic, hydro
chlorate of cocaine. The operation in ques-
ton was performed in New York city, by DR..
Clarence j. Rice, specialist in throat dis
eases, and resulted in the removal Of nasal
tumor, without the loss Of drop of blood, and
without resorting to any surgical operation
except that directed Immediately upon the tu-
NOR. The patient upon whom the opera
ton was performed had been treated
for hay fever, the case not having been
diagnosticated. When he came to DR.. Rice
he was greatly reduced in flesh, and was
alarmed at his condition. By the aid of a
laryngoscope, it was discovered that instead
of any Inflammation, a tumor had formed,
brance at the top of the nasal passage, just to
the rear Of the two openings leading into the
nose. The tumor had also grown forward into
the left nostril, and covered the opening into
the right, so that no breath could be taken
through the nose, and the mouth hung open
nearly all the time.
The removal of tumor of this kind has al
ways been attended with great danger and
generally resulted in death. The patient had
first to be etherized. AS preliminary STEP
the windpipe was opened externally and
tracheotomy tube inserted, so that the patient
could breathe through it, after the mouth and
throat had been packed firmly with cotton to
prevent the blood from runninginto the lungs.
Then an incision was made from point near
the inner corner of the eye along the side of
The nose, through the upper lip, and the cheek
was laid open. The upper jaw bone was cut
through and section removed suf-
fciently large to permit the tumor
to be handled. A knife was
applied to the root of the tumor, and it was
cut off or forcibly torn out with forceps. The
great danger was from hemorrhage, on account
of the large number of blood vessels located
in this region, and great difficulty was ex-
perienced in binding and tying lacerated ar
The wonderful advance made in science
was beautifully illustrated in this case. In
stead of the extended cutting detailed, open
ing the windpipe and skinning one side Of the
face, to say nothing Of cutting through the
jaw, the entire operation was neatly
and swiftly performed, and with
out the patient losing CONSCIOUSNESS
for moment. The operation was begun by
painting the mucous membrane Of the mouth,
throat, tongue, nostrils and rear nasal pas
sages with 4 per cent. solution of hydro
chlorate of cocaine. This was kept up for
about ten minutes, and until the parts were
found to be state of perfect an@sthesia. An
elastic probe, to the end Of which was at
tached piece of whipcord, was passed through
the left nostril until it appeared in the throat
The cord was then seized with a pair of for
ceps, and drawn through the mouth, one end
being left suspended through the nose
To this end fine piece of platinum
wire, bent in the form of loop, was
attached, and slowly drawn through the nos
tril. The tunlor was then drawn through the
loop and as far into the mouth as possible, the
loop being pulled through the nostril at the
same time, until it reached the point where
the tdmor was suspended. After insulation,
except where in contact with the tumor, the
platinum loop was drawn tightly around the
neck of the tumor. An electric current
passed through the wire then caused it to
burn its way slowly through the tumor, when,
after desisting occasionally to rest the ratient
and tighten the loop, it came away within five
minutes without single drop of blood hav-
ing been spilled.
Gradually the awful horrors of surgery are
being succeeded by methods comparatively
painless and free from danger. 1t is scarcely
generation since the turnkey" wrenched re-
sisting molars from jaws that often split, with
what fortunes to the sufferer may be imagined.
Chloroform and ether mitigated these tortures
somewhat, though not always without en-
dangering the life of the patient. Came then
the forceps and other even less formidable APP
pliances, and now the happy discov-
cry, Cocaine" or hydro-chlor ate of cocaine
'comes to the point" and spares the sufferer
pain, and saves him from the danger of dying
while chloroformed or etherized. The men
who dclve into the mysteries of chemistry, or
who go exploring up and down, and in and out
of the human frame, are deserving of human
ity's blessing. They are steadily smoothing
the way from deformities and manglings to
perfect restoration, and that, too, with less
and less pain, and less danger, as the years go
by. A review of the surgical methods of a