Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-03-05
A WONDERFUL OPERATION.


The following account ofan extraordinary
surgical operation appears in the New York
Tribune of recent date In the last few years
surgeons have grown more bold, and sur
gerry has consequently made great advances
particularly in dealing with tumors situated
in the abdomen. Surgeons of another age
would have tainted at the suggestion Of
sinking knife into the abdomen and re-
moving tumor, yet to-day the operation is
frequently performed and the death rate is
not more than ten in one hundred cases.
Even portions Of the bowels have been cut
out and the severed en- DIS united by stitches,
in removing tumors, and recovery has fol-
lowed in large number of cases. But the
most brilliant case yet recorded, where the
newer methods ofsurgery were prominently
brought into use, is an operation recently
performed at the Chambers street hospital.
In this case precedent was openly defed,
and the attending surgeons, with courage
and boldness equaled only by their skill and
delicacy, saved human life in all probabil.
ity, and performed an operation of kind
that never before had been attended with
success.
William McElroy, truck driver, age
twenty-four, was accidentally shot in
liquor store Oh November 2, 1854. with
thirty-two calibre pistol He fell to the
floor, but remained conscious. An ambu-
lance took him to the Chambers street hos
pital, where an examination showed that
the ball had entered the abdomen about
two inches to the left of and little below
the navel. The external wound WAS slight,
and tho ball had stopped at some point
within the abdominal cavity. The patient
was put to bed, suffering greatly from
shock, and carefully watched. Within
few hours signs of extravasation appeared.
His features were pinched, his pulse feeble
and tremulous. Excrucating pains radiated
from the seat of injury over the whole ab-
dominal region, and were attended with
signs of collapse. The muscular effort of
breathing was confined to the thorax, and
there was look of great anxiety upon the
face. It was evident that the dreaded
peritonitis would soon be fully developed.
A consultation was held it was determined
that death would speedily ensue unless re-
lief was afforded in some manner, and he
roic treatment was decided upon. With
in twenty hours after being shot Nc
Elroy was transferred to the operating
table. Ether was administered and
he soon became unconscious. Elaborate
precautions were taken to prevent the in
PRODUCTION of disease germs into the wound.
A spray of vapor of carbolic acid was played
constantly into the room, which, to main.
tain the temperature of the body, was kept
at q uniform temperature of eighty degrees.
The knives. forceps, needles and spouges
that were TO be used were kept i'll warm
solutions. An incisiou was first made in
to the external wound and it was found to
extend into the abdominal cavity. Consid
erable hemmorrhage began, but the blood
was absorbed by sponges. The incision was
then increased to about light 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
began A small section of the intestine
was drawn carefully through the open.
ed for decorations, and laid upon
the breast between layers of cloths
that had previously been wrung out
of warm water. This process was con-
tinued 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 discov-
cred further search was stopped until the
lacerated portion was sewed with extremely
fine silk thread The knots made in draw
ing the wounded surfaces together were left
in position.
After all the wounds were closed the
cloths were carefully removed from the in
testines and they returned to their proper
position 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 was kept under the influence of
ether the whole time. Measures were at
once taken to prevent peritonitis. Morphine
was given in small doses by hypodermic in
jections. A large coil Of rubber tube was
placed on the abdomen, through which
stream of ice water was constantly kept
running. For two days no nourish-
ment was given through the mouth,
the patients strength being kept up by
enemata of beef-juice This was done to allow
the stomach and bowels to rest, and permit the
wound made by the bullet to heal. As soon as
food could be given properly, McElroy gained
strength, and in comparatively short time was
| able to sit up in his cot, and atterWard 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,
and about week afterward he was discharged
cured.
The only drawback in the progress of the case
| to convalescence was an abscess that formed ID
the wound made by the bullet few weeks after
the operation. This, however, was finally sub.
dued by soothing treatment, though the edges OF
the wound remained stubborn and would not
close. The difficulty was overcome by skin graft.
ing, the skin being taken from another part OF
the abdomen and planted over the open wound,
and healing soon followed. The patient was ad.
vised when discharged to abstain from heavy
work, as the abdominal wall may not be as strong
| as before
FoUR-FIFTHs of our American people are
afflicted with sick headache in either its
nervous, bilious or congestive forms, caused