Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-04-02
MAKING A NEW ARM FOR A MAN.
An Operation that Will Probably
Provo Successful.

A surgical operation of exceeding
interest is being performed at the
Hahaemann hospital. 1t is one of
those cases that can not be finished at
single sitting, but which must be
carried through various stages in a
progressive way from the beginning
to the end. 1! was begun about three
weeks ago, and from the present in
dications there is little doubt that the
result desired will be attained.
The patient Is Christopher Doll, a
German, 81 years old. He received
his injury accidentally. he was ex
tremeiy fond of smoking pipe. One
evening he was enjoying a quiet
smoke in his room, and, while read
ing fell asleep. In some way the pipe,
which he still held in his mouth, was
overturned, and the hot ashes fell
from the bowl upon his shirt sleeve
and set it gu fire. 1t smothered for
time and burned several small holes
in the sleeve, and then it burst into a
flame and the sleeper was aroused.
The fire had reached his flesh, and he
began to tare at the burning
cloth madly. He rolled over on the
floor, and finally the fame was ex-
tinguished. His right arm from the
wrist toztHe@shaouldar was terribly
burned, and it lookesS as if the flesh
could be scraped from Nhe bone with
out trouble The pain was intense
and from the nature d the wound il
appeared as if the arm would have to
be amputated close up &the shoulder
Private medical treatment was tried
for q time, but as it didNnot &C om-
plish any material beneftNDoll went
10 a hospital. He remained under
constant care for two months. By
this time the forearm had healed,
leaving frightful scar, with the CT
catricial tissue drawing ia every di-
rection. Despite the most persever
ing treatment the upper portion of
the arm from the elbow to the shout
der could not be healed. The patient
went TO several hospitals,
but could not get no relief. There
was such large surface of exposed
flesh III the wound that the pus for
nation was unusually large, and the
antlseptic precautions which were
taken did not prevent the absorption
Of the poisonous matter into the pat
tents system. Thus dangerous con-
dition Of blood poisoning was set up.
He grew pale and emacIated, lost his
strength and courage. and when he
was admitted to the Hahnemann hos
pita, about two months ago, he was
a living skeleton, with hardly
strength enough left to raise his
hand.
As soon as he was admitted meas
ures were taken to stamp out the
blood contamination, which were
eventually successful, and the patient
began to recover strength. When he
got strong enough and his body was
sufficiently free from the incidental
disease, it was determined by the at
tending surgeon to make a new up.
per arm from the flesh Of the patients
body, and to heal up the wound by
covering it over with healthy tissue.
AT first small pieces of flesh were tax
ca from various parts of his body and
placed in different spots upon the raw
shoulder as matter of experiment,
TO determine whether the flesh could
be successfully grated. The expert
ment was successful. The little piec-
es of flesh and skin united and made
little GASES on the diseased shoulder.
The minor operations were performed
several days apart, and without the
use of any other than local anaeS-
thetic. Everything had gone on so
we'll that about ten days ago it was
determined to begin the more import
ant part Of the operation, which con.
sisted in covering up large portion
of the arm at one time with flesh. The
patient was first put under the use of
an anaesthetic. Then all the cieatri-
cial tissue upon the upper arm was
scraped with knife uatIl it bled pro-
fusely and was entirely raw. While
the arm was held away from the body
two missions were made about three
inches apart, running upward from
the small ribs for about seven inches.
At the lower end of these missions
crosscut was made, and then the
strip of flesh was dissected up from
the ribs the full length of the incision,
making s. large flap. This was left
united at the upper end. Then the
patients arm was brought close to his
side, and this loose flap was laid over
on the raw flesh on the arm and
carefully pressed and fitted into po-
sIti0n. Wren this had been done
there was still large section of the
upper back arm remaining uncovered.
Two missions were again made SINH
lar TO the first two, running up and
down the upper portion of the
side of the back. The flesh was thick
at this point, and permitted free dis
section. While the upturned flesh
was yet palpitating with the heart in
Huence, it was put over the bleeding
surface of the arm and fitted into
place. Then the two flaps were Sc
curely fastening into position by long
bands of sticking plaster, while larger
bands were run over the lower por-
ton of the arm and around the aldo
men and back, and interlaced so that
all motion of the arm was stopped
After the whole wound had been COW
cred with an antiseytic dressing, the
ether cone was taken off the patients
face, and he soon recovered conscious
ness. He suffered little from the shock
and the hemOrrhage was comparative
ly slight.
The arm was kept securely fastened
to his side, and the wound was care
fully dressed every day. At first it
was not thought that the flesh from
the side would adhere to the flesh on
the arm, but after two days il took a
firm hold and grew as if it belonged
there and little shoots of new flesh
branched out in every direction. Two
days ago the ends uniting the two
flaps to the body were severed, the
loose portions were drawn around the
under side of the arm, the edges
trimmed so as 10 make a perfect fit,
and were then united with sutures.
In continuing the operation it will be
necessary TO alter the shape of the
flaps in some places. Only a little
sloughing has. taken place, aud this
has had no injurious effect. The arm
now presents q comparatively natural
appearance. The biceps muscle will
be sbmewhat rescricted until it gets
used to the new covering, and then
it will move as freely as ever. The
patient is physically strong, and since
the pain has subsidized in his arm mas
improved perceptibly, and the pros
poets are that he will be able to leave
the hospital in about week with a
new arm.