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

William McElroy, truck driver, age
twenty. four. of No. "a Rutgers str e.,
WAS accidentally shot in the liquor store
No. 20 Essex street, on November 2,
1884 with so 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 atop
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 piuched, his pulse feeble
and tremulOus. Excruciating pains
radiated from the seat OF injury over the
whole abdominal region, aud were at.
tended with signs of collapse. The
muscular effort OF breathing was confined
To the tlIorax, and there was a look OF
great anxiety upon the face. 1t was
evident that the dreaded peritonitis
would soon be fully developed. 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 McElr0y
Vas transferred to the operating table.
Ether was administered aud he soOn
became unconscious. Elaborate preLau
tions were taken TO prevent the introduc
ton Of hiscase germs into the wound. A
| spray of vap0r of carbolic acid was
played constantly into the room, which,
to maintain the temperature of the body,
was kept at a uniform temperature 0i
eighty degrees. The knives, torceps
needles and sponges that were 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
the abdominal cavity. Considerable
hemorrhage began, but the blood was
absorbed by sp0nges. The incision wac
then increased to about eight incher
through the abdominal wall, the wound
was opened wide, and the intestines were
exposed The flow of blood increased
aud il 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 Gaze
fully through the opening ut a time
thoroughly inspected for lacerations, and
laid upon The breast between layers o
cloths that had previously been wrunp
out of warm water. This process wa.
continued until the entire intestines were
taken out of the body. The bullet wa
found in the last section and removed
1t was found TO have penetrated tht
intestine in seven places. AS fast al
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 th
cloths were carefully removed from tn
inlesines aud they returned to thei
proper positions within the abdomua
walls. The large incision WAS thei
closed and it as well as the bullet wount
WAS sewed up with silk. The operation
lasted two hours and the patient wa
kept under the influence Of ether til
whole time. Measures were at one
taken to prevent peritonitis. Morphin
WAS given in small doses by hypodermi
injections. A large coil Of rubber tub
was placed OH the abdomen, tliroug
which q stream Of ice water was con
| h<Ps W wv ooyo ~
nnuri.hment was given through tn
mouth, the patients strength being kep
up by enemata of beef juice. This wa
done 10 allow the stomach and bowels L
rest. and permit the wound made by til
bullet To heal. As soon as food could b
given properly. McEiroy gained strength
and in a comparatively short time wa
able TO ait up in his cot, and afterward L
walk about the hospital wards. He wen
out of the hospital for the first time o,
Christmas day, less than two month
from the time he was Injured, aud abnu
u week aiterward he was discharg, {
cured.
The only drawback in the progress %
the case IL convalcscence was an abscrs
that formed in the wound made by the
bullet, n few weeks after the operation
This, however, WAS finally subdued b,
soothing treatment, though the edge. {"
the wound remained stubborn aud wouic
not close. This difficulty was overcome
by skin grating, the skin being taker
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
NIT be US strong as before.--Ne'o Yor4
Tribune.