Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-03-19
CHlSELLlNG A MANS BONE.
A DELICATE OPERATION PERFORMED ON
A PATIENT AT A NEW YORK HOSPITAL.

An interesting surgical operation wa:
performed Saturday in the operating
room of the New York Hospital on West
Fifteenth street. Prof. Wier of the Col
lege of Physicians and Surgeons took
charge of the case, assisted by nine med
zeal students. Before beginning the OPP
Grafton Prof. Wier stated to the class that
the results of typhoid fever were fire.
quently felt in the system for many
years, and often for the rest of life. In
the case under treatment the patient re-
covered from the disease seventeen years
ago, and when he supposed that he had
been cured began to have trouble with
his right leg. After some annoyance
which resembled the pains of acute rheu-
matsm an absCess formed below the hip.
Not caring to be operated on in the viii
scess to break and for a time felt relief.
Before long, however, a second gathering
of pus made its appearance, which was
neglected as was the first. In Il short
appeared one after another.
At three o'clock last Saturday he was
etherzed and fifteen minutes later
brought out ON stretcher into the oper-
ating theatre of the hospital. Prof. Wier
explained that the patient was troubled
with what is commonly called "A bone
sore. The object of the operation was to
remove the portions of dead bone. \
tight elastic bandage was wound around
the leg for the purpose of preventing
large loss of blood. An inciSion eight
inches long was then made along the an
terror part of the leg. After laying open
the thigh the leg was placed upon a
">and bag and the flesh forced back
from the bone. Clasps attached to the
flesh were held by the assistants to allow
free access to the bone. Prof. Weir then
took Il sharp chiscl and mallet from his
case of instruments and slowly Clipped
of Segments of the diseased bone. Grad
ually the doctor worked down to the
knee-ioint, where it was believed the dead
bone ceased.
ON the contrary it was found that
portion of the socket. under the patclla
or knee-pan. was affected. 70 get at thi,
a very delicate operation was necessary.
and the knee-cap had to he lifted from
among the cords and tendon> that pass
over and around it. Slowly the muscles
and ligament> were displaced and the pa
tella lifted out of it, position covering the
knee Joint. \ lateral nci>ion about four
inches in length was then made and the
application of the mallet and chiscl re-
peated. The diseased bone was Clipped
away and the rough and irregular sur
faces were >moothcd. The flesh was then
carefully laid over the bone. the cords
and muscles having first been replaced.
y small incision was then made in the
posterior portion of the thigh. and then
through this Il rubber tube was forced.
ions. The wounds were thoroughly
washed out by the application of an an
tiseptic dressing. and the incisions sewed
up with silver wire. The leg was then
bound with splints and bandages and the
sponge and ether removed from the pa
tents mouth. The operation required
two and Il half hours, and was entirely
successful. The pain from the limb has
disappeared, and in Il short time the pa
ticnt will have the full use of his leg.