The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-02-26
.sK1LFULLY TREATING A WOUND.
A Remarkable Operation at the Chambers
Street Hospital, New York City.

TREATING A NVUND'
A Remarkable Operation at the Chambers
Street Hospital, New York City.
William McElroy, truck. driver, age
twenty.four. of No. 81 Rutgers str e.,
was accidentally shot in the liquor store
No. 20 Essex street, on November 2,
1884, with 30 calibre pistol. He fell
to the floor, but remained conscious. An
ambulance took him to the Cham bers
street hospital, where an examination
showed that the ball had entered the
abdomen two inches to the left of and a
little below the navel. The external
wound was slight, and the ball had stop.
ped at some point within the abdominal
cavity. The patient was put to bed,
suffering greatly from the shock, and
carefully watched. Within few hours
signs of extravasation appeared. His
features were pinched, his pulse feeble
and tremulous. Excruciating pains
radiated from the seat of injury over the
whole abdominal region, and were at
tended with signs Of collapse. The
muscular effort Of breathing was confined
to the thorax, and there was look of
great anxiety upon the face. 1t was
evident that the dreaded peritonitis
would soon be fully developed. A con-
sultation was held, it was determined that
death would speedily ensue unless relief
was. afforded in some manner, and heroic
treatment was decided upon. Within
twenty hours after being shot McElroy
was transferred to the operating table.
Ether was administered and he soon
became unconscious. Elaborate preCau
tions were taken to prevent The introduc-
ton of disease germs into the wound. A
spray of vapor of carboic acid was
played constantly into the room, which,
to maintain the temperature of the body,
was kept at uniform temperature OF
eighty degrees. The knives, forceps
needles and sponges that we're to be used
were kept in warm solutions. An incis.
ion was first made into the external
wound and it was found to extend into
tile abdominal cavity. Considerable
hemorrhage began, but the blood was
absorbed by sponges. The incision was
then increased to about eight inches
through the abdominal wall, the wound
was opened wide, and the intestines were
exposed. The flow of blood increased,
and it ran into the. abdominal cavity.
After the hemorrhage was brought under
control the cavity was sponged out, and
the search for the ball begun. A small
section of the intestine was drawn care.
fully through the opening at time,
thoroughly inspected for decorations, and
laid upon the breast between layers OF
cloths that had previously been wrung
out of warm water. This process was
continued until the entire intestines were
taken out of the body. The bullet was
found in the last section and removed.
1t was found to have penetrated the
intestine in seven places. AS fast as
each wound was discovered further search
was stopped until the lacerated portion
was sewed with extremely fine silk thread.
The knots made in drawing the wounded
surfaces together were left in position.
After>all the wounds were closed the
cloths we're carefully removed from the
inteslines and they returned to their
proper positions within the abdominal
walls. The large incision was then
closed and it as we'll as the bullet wound
was sewed up with silk. The operation
lasted two hours and the patient we'
kept under the influence of ether the
whole time. Measures were at once
taken to prevent peritonitis. Morphine
was given in small doses by hypodermie
injections. A large coil of rubber tube
was placed on the abdomen, through
which stream Of ice water was con
stantly kept running. For two days nc
nourishment was given through the
mouth, the patients strength being KEEP
up by euemata of beef juice. This was
done to allow the stomach and bowels tt
rest. and permit the wound made by the
bullet to heal. As soon as food could be
given properly, McElroy gained strength
and III comparatively short time was
able to sit up in his cot, and afterward to
walk about the hospital wards. He went
out of the hospital for the first time on
Christmas day, less than two, months
from the time he was injured, aud about
a week afterward he was discbarg' d
cured.
The only drawback in the progress ot
the case To convalescence was an absces>
that formed in the wound made by the
bullet, few weeks after the operation
This, however, was finally subdued by
soothing treatment, though the edges OF
the wound remained stubborn and would
not close. This difficulty was overcome
by skin grating, the skin being taken
from another part Of the abdomen and
planted over the open wound, and heal
ing soon followed. The patient was
advised when discharged to abstain from
heavy work, as the abdominal wall may
mt be as strong as before. .-Nev YORK.
Tribune.