The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-11-05
COL. FRANK LYNCH,
And the Desperate Wound re Received ut Allan


And the Desperate Wound lie Received at Atlanta.
To THE EDITOR: Col. Frank Lynch, OF
Cleveland, O., carries with him the vivid
memories of Atlanta i'll one of the most remark
able wounds on record. i had long talk with
his physician yesterday, DR.. H. J. Herricl, one
of the leading Army Surgeons in the war. He
removed parts of four ribs from Col. Lynch's
side, and saved the life of a valuable officer
when he had been given up as hoPelessly
wounded.
THE excelsior of rib, said Dr. Herrick, is
of such rare Occurrehce that the operations
On Col. Lynch attracted the wonder of the
medical world"
The subject of the operation was Col. Lynch,
late of the 9th Ohio Before receiving his
wound he was in full health. weighed on an
average I65 pounds, and was five feet nine
inches in hight. On the 22d of July, 1854, he
was at Atlanta in command of his regiment
and actively directing its movements, when he
was struck by mimic ball, which entered
| about midway of the anterior margin of his
right shoulder blade, passing through the flu
eral membrane along the thoracic cavity, and
lodging just beneath the tissues to the left Of
the sternum at its jurcture with the sixth rib.
The ball was easily removed. The edge of the
shoulder blade was injured, and the ball in its
course SO fractured the inner surface of the ribs
that modification shortly set in. His wound
was Immediately considered fatal, and orders
were issued lamenting the loss of SO valuable
| an officer and SO brave man.
He was removed to the field hospital ut
Marietta, Ga. where the wound was examined
by Il number of Surgeons, all giving it as their
unquestioned opinion that the patient could
not recover After the capture of Atlanta Col.
Lynch was removed there, where he remained
until Oct 81 when he was sent to Chattanooga.
Unable to endure further travel, he remained
at the latter place until the January following,
wasting away gradually under the exhaustng
sUppuraton and constant discharge from the
opening of the wound He was finally removed
to Nashville, and in February received a leave
of absence to 20 to his home in Cleveland to
await his discharge from the army, or, as was
supposed his final discharge from bodily suffer-
ing. He was transported all the way to his
home on his bed, being unable to stand mo-
mcnt on his feet. So weak and exhausted was
he on reaching home that his friends had no
hone that he would live longer than a few days.
But with careful nursing he rallied q little and
chung almost impcrceptiby to life until the 1st
of August. Since his wound the proluse dis
charge had continued undated. But OH Aug.
/ very decided change for the worse was
manifest, and the attending Surgeons at last
gave up all hope for his recovery. His right
arm become wholly powerless; raging hectic
fever set in, and the discharge became more
profuse. The air entered but small portion
of his right lung, the lower three ourths of it
having been converted into a solid substance
resembling the liver. Until October he con-
tinued to drag out a hopeless existence.
1t finally became necessary to take desperate
measures with scarcely any chance of saving
the sufferers life. DIR. Herrick was called to
Col. Lynch's bedside. He found the patient on
the verge of death. His right side was f;atten-
cd in the upper portion, while the lower was
filled out as though crowded with pus The
mil
breathing was confined to the left SIDE the
right lung making no motion 1t was found,
on examination, that four or five of the ribs on
the right side had been injured by the ball. and
that the mortified condition of the bones was
the cause of keeping UP the discharge.
1t was suggested that the only and final hope
for the patient was to remove the diseased ribs.
The severity of the operation was considered
and as there had been no similar case known,
the Surgeons could not be guided by expe-
rience from others. The operation, in fact, had
been called SO unusual and startling, as not to
be entitled to consideration. But 1T was the
only hope left, and DR.. Herrick and the Sur
geons he had called into consultation decided
to hazard it.
Col. Lynch was himself consulted and the
danger explained. He was informed that his
chances of living through it were very slight
indeed.
However, he and his wife consented. and on
y.
after the battle of Atlanta, the operation vas
begun. An iucision was made in the right side
along the fourth rib The fbrous membrane
was separated, after which the keen chain-saw
was passed around the rib and a portion of it
taken out. Further examination showed that
the sixth rib was also splintered by the ball,
and another incisiOn was made in order to re-
move it, After several weeks, during which
time the patient suffered intensely, but had
evidently rallied from the effects of the daring
OPERATION it became evident that the fifth rib
was also in such state OF. modification that it
was necessary TO remove il. At the same time
the remainder of the fourth rib was taken out
While the patients side was opened the Sur
geOn made All examination He found that the
right lung was compressed fattened, and
that its functions III respiration had ceased.
After the final operation Col. Lynch rallied
rapidly. The Surgeons were criticized severely
for the daring operation and charged with
hopelessy torturing doomed victim. But as
the operation proved a success, the torrents of
abuse were withheld.
Col. Lynch gradually improved and for
nearly 90 years has been in the enjoyment of
good health. The right wall of the chest be-
came tattened, and is in that condition day.
Since hope began to brighten, life became
pleasant duty, and for 20 years he has held
public Offices of various kinds, never having
lost days duty from sickness. l called on
Col. Lynch at his home on Clinton street and
was permitted to see his wound. His right side is
almost fiat. while his left side is full and round
showing that the left lung has taken up the
duties of its in ured companion, and is satisfac-
torily performing them. The opening near the
shoulder blade is still dscharging pus and the
Colonel is compelled to keep it plugged up with
silk or cotton. So complete is the opening into
the little remnant of the right lung remaining
that medicine put in the wound is Immediately
tasted by Col Lynch and expcctorated from the
mouth He, however, enjoys good health and
continues active in his business. He is exceed
ingly popular among all classes of citizens |
especially the soldiers and has been mentioned
prominently as mayoralty and Congressional
candidate He has wife and several children
and bright prospects of long life before him.
IL. II. BURGESS, Cleveland, ..
Liquidated Military Science.
To THE EDITOR: An eminent Major General |
of the Union army during the late unpleasant |
l1.x.A