Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-02-20
A Remarkable Operation.

The New York Tribune gives the fol-
lowing particulars of an interesting
surgical operation sail to have been
successfully performed I'm that city re-
Gently:
civilian McElroy, a truck-driver,
aged "a, was accidentally shot in liq-
uor store on November 2, 1884, with
32-calibre pistol. He fell to the floor,
but remained conscious. An ambulance
took him to tie 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 the ball had
stopped at some point within the alb
dominal cavity. The patient was put
to bed, suffering greatly from the shock,
and carefully watched. Within a few
hours signs of extravasation appeared.
His features were pinched, his pulse
feeble and tremulous. Excruciating
pains radated from the seat Of injury
over the whole abdominal region, and
were attended with signs of collapse.
The muscular effort of breathing was
confined to the tlorax, and there was
look of great anxiety upon the face. 1t
was evident that the dreaded peritonitis
would soon be fully developed. A con-
sultation was held, it was determined
that dea h would speedily or sue unless
relief was afforded in some manner, and
heroic treatment was decided upon.
Within twenty-four hours after being
shot McElroy was transferred to the OPP
Grating table. Ether vas administered
and he soon became unconscious. Elab-
orate precautions were taken 10 prevent
the introduction Of disease germs into
the wound. A spray Of vapor of car
bolic acid was played constantly into
the room, which, to maintain the tenn
perature of the body, was kept uni
form temperature Of eighty degrees.
/ 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
il was found TO extend into the abdomi-
nal cavity. Considerable hemorrhage
began, and 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 fiow Of blood increased,
and il ran into The abdominal cavity.
After the hemorrhage was brought nn-
der control the cavity was sponged out
and the search for the hall begun. A
small section of the intestine was drawn
carefully through the opening at time,
thoroughly inspected for decorations.
and laid upon the breast between lay
ers of cloths that lad previously beer
wrung out Of warm water. This pro-
cess was continued until the entire In
testines 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 discovered
further search was stopped until thu
lacerated portion was sewed with ex
tremely fine silk thread. The knoti
made in drawing the wounded surfaces
together were left in position.
"After all the wounds were closed
the cloths were carefully removed frou
the intestines and they returned to theii
proper position within the abdomina
walls. The large ineision was theL
closed, and it, as well as the bullet
wound, was sewed up with silk. The
operation lasted two hours, and the pa
tient was kept under the influence OF