The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-03-05
SCIENCE TRIUNRHs.
A Living Mans Bowels Removed. Exam-
ined by Sections, and Seven Perfora-
lions Sewed.

The abdominal cavity of a man has
always been avoided by surgeons. Men
of greater or less eminence, who would
look with a certain degree of profess
ioual pleasure upon an operation in al
most any other portion of the body,
have hesitated when the question of
exploring this region was raised, and
listened to and shaped their action up
On Ine principle, when there is
wound in the bowels from whatever
cause it is bad surgery to touch or
probe il"
William McElroy. a truck-driyer, in
New York was accidentally shot Nov.
81. 1884, with a thirty-two-calibre pis-
toll He fell to the floor, but remained
conscious. An ambulance took him to
the Chambers Street Hospital, where
an examination showed that the ball
had entered the abdomen about two
inches to the left of and a little below
the navel The external wound was
slight, and the 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 Lrem-
| ulous. Excruciating pains radiated
from the seat of injury over the whole
abdominal region, and it was attended
with signs of collaspe. The muscular
effort of breathing was confined to the
| throat, and there was look of great
anxiety upon his face. 1t was evident
| that the dreaded peritonitis would soon
be fully developed. A consultation was
| held, it was determined that death
inf
| afforded in some measure, and heroic
| treatment was decided upon.
Within twenty hours after being shot
| McElroy was transferred to the operat-
| ing table. Ether was administered,
and he soon became unconscious. Elab-
| crate precautions were taken to pre-
| vent the introduction of disease germs
| into the wound. A spray of Vapor of
| carbolic acid was played constantly in
| to the room, which, to maintain the
| temperature of the body, was kept at a
uniform temperature of 80 deg. The
| knives, forceps, needles, and sponges
| that were to be used were kept in
warm solutions. An incision was first
| made into the external wound, and it
was found to extend into the abdomi-
nal cavity. Considerable hemorrhage
| began. but the blood was absorbed by
sponges. The incision was then in
creased 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 I'M
der control the cavity was sponged out
and the search for the ball begun.
A small section of the intestine was
drawn carefully through the opening
at a time, thoroughly inspected for
decorations, and laid upon the breast
between LAYERS of cloth that had pre-
viously 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 some
places As fast as each wound was
di covered 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 were carefully removed from the
intestines, and they returned to theil
proper position within the abdominal
walls The large incision was ther
| closed, and it, as well as the bulle
wound, was sewed up with silk. The
| operation lasted two hours, and the
patient was kept under the influence o
/ ether the whole time.
Measures were at once taken to pre-
vent peritonitis. Morphine was giveI
in small doses by bypodermic injec
, tons. a large coil of rubber tube wa
placed on the abdomen, through which
stream of ice water was constant.
kept running. For two days no nour
ishment was given through the mouth
) the patients strength being kept up b,
enemata of beef juice. This was dom
I to allow the stomach and bowels t.
rest and permit the wound made b.
the bullet to heal.
As soon as food could be given prop
e erly McEIroy gained strength. and il
: comparatively short time was able t,
, sit up in his cot, and afterward to wall
about the hospital ards. He went gu
of the hospital for the first time Christ
mas-Day, less than two months from
e the time he was injured. and about I
!, week afterward he was discharges
] |