Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-06-10
REMARKABLE SURGICAL OPERATION.
A dispatch from Chicago, dated yesterday

A dispatch from Chicago, dated yesterday
says:
"The Inter- Ocean and the Tribune publish
this morning what is claimed to be the an
nouncement of one of the most remarkable
surgical operations ever performed. 1t was
made as follows: Thirteen years ago lady
now over so years old whose husband died
eight or nine years ago, and whose name
and address is Mrs. L. J. Putnam, No. 467
La Sale avenue, became enciente, and
everything seemed perfectly natural until
one day, about nine months later, she ven
tured out in rain storm and caught cold.
Immediately after this she began to expe-
rience peculiar sensation which she could
not understand, and from that time on she
was taken sick and an enlargement, suppos-
ed to be tumor, commenced forming in the
abdominal region. After many vain con-
sultations with various physicians she sent
for prominent physician in st. Louis, who
told her that it was utterly impossible as
we'll as impracticable TO remove the sup
posed tumor by surgical operation, that it
could only be done at the cost Of the patients
life. He advised her to come to St. Louis
and go through medical treatment instead.
Accordingly, in the fall of 1872, she pro-
ceeded to ST. Louis, and remained under his
care for several months, but she received no
benefit from his efforts and returned home.
From that time until 1878, although under
the hands of various physicians, she could
get no relief In 1881 she commenced hav-
ing spasms, which physicians generally
agreed were epileptic fits. Previous to this
she had been troubled with periodical pains
in the region of the abdomen. The con-
vulsions have been increasing in number
until finally she endured as many as six per
day. These spasms were accompanied by
no pain and always came on without
the slightest warning, oftentimes while
length from five minutes to an hour
and q half Under these circumstances
she became fearful of going outside the
house She also, at length, began to lose
her reasoning power, her mind being ma
terialy affected. During all these years
she has been under constant treatment from
the best physicians in Chicago, they all be-
lieyiug the tumor could be absorbed or that
it would disappear at the change of life.
About month ago she consulted DR.. j. i.
McFatrich, asking him to give her treat
ment for its removal with medicine but was
told by him that no medicine could ever cure
her, and that nothing could save her but u
surgical operation, which might very likely
be attended by loss of life. At a consuta-
ton less than week ago between a num-
ber of prominent physicians it was decided
that the tumor could not be successfully
removed without its proving fatal to the
patient during the operation. The patient
was Informed of The result of this consulta-
tion, and after several moro attempts to
effect relief with medicine, she at last de-
cided to allow the operation to be performed.
Yesterday morning DR.. McFatrich, assisted
by Drs. Melton Jay and A. l.. Clark, met at
the residence of the lady, on LaSale avenue,
and after an affecting farewell between the
patient aud her family and friends, she lay
down for the ordeal from which she ex-
pected never again to rise. She was kept
under the influence of ether for an hour (; an
ncison was made in the abdomen, and the
supposed tumor removed, when instead of
a lumor, the surgeon drew out fully
formed and we'll developed child. The
supposed tumor was removed and the in
cision carefully stitched, the patient sue
cessfully surviving the operation. No ex-
planation Of the phenomenon is attempted.
The operation was both delicate and terrible,
and the escape from death nearly miracu.
lous The patient, however, is conscious
and doing we'll"