Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-05-12
A NEW ARM FOR A MAN.
A SURGICAL OPERATION THAT WILL
PROBABLY PROVE SUCCESSFUL

A SURGICAL OPERATION THAT WILL
PROBABLY PROVE SUCCESSFUL
a Case Of Exceeding misunderstanding
Large Surface Of Exposed Flesh with
Pieces Cut from Various Parts Of the
Pasaent's BODY.
A surgical operation Of exceeding inter
est is being performed at the Hahnemann
hospital. It is one Of those cases that
can not be finished at a single sitting but
which must be carried through various
stages in progressive way from the be-
ginning to the end. It was begun about
three weeks ago, and from the present
medical indications there Is little doubt
that the result desired will be attained
The patient is Christopher Doll, Ger
man 81 years old. He received his in
jury accidentally. He was extremely
fond Of smoking pipe. One evening
about nine months ago ne was enjoying
quiet smoke In his room, and while reac-
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 sleeves and set It
on fire. 1t smoldered for time. and
burned several small holes in the sleeve,
and then it burst into fame and the
sleeper was aroused The fire had reached
his flesh, and he tore at the burning cloth
madly. He rolled over on the floor, and
finally the fame was extinguished. His
right arm from the waist to the shoulder
was terribly burned, and it looked as If the
flesh could be scraped from the bone with
out trouble The pain was intense, and
f1a pf ha nd n onylQarQd
as If the arm would have to be amputated
close to the shoulder. Private medical
treatment was tried for a time, but as it
did not accomplish any material benefit
Doll went to hospital He remained IN
der constant care for two months.
LARGE SURFACE OF EXPOSED FLESH.
By this time the forearm had healed,
leaving frightful scar, with the cicatri-
cial tissue drawing in every direction
Despite the most persevering treatment
the upper portion of the arm from the
elbow to the shoulder could not be healed.
The patient went to several hospitals, but
could get no relief. There was such
large surface of exposed flesh in the wound
that the pus formation was unusually
large, and the antiseptic precautions which
were taken did not prevent the absorption
Of the poisonous matter into the patients
system. Thus u dangerous condition Of
blood poisoning was set up. He grew pale
and ernaciated, lost his strength and
courage, and when he was admitted to the
Hahnemann hospital, about two months
ago, he was a living skeleton, with hardly
muscular power enough left to raise his
hand
As soon as he was admitted measures
were taken to stamp ont the blood conta
mination, which were eventually success
full, and the patient began to re-
cover strength. When he got strong enough
and his body was sufficiently free from the
Incidental disease, it was determined by
the attending surgeon to make new up
per arm from the flesh of the patients
body, and to heal up the wound by cover
ing it over with healthy tissue. At first
small pieces Of flesh were taken from var
ious parts Of his body and placed in differ
emit spots upon the raw shoulder as a
matter of experiment, to determine
whether the flesh could be successfully
grated. The experiment was successful.
The little pieces of flesh and skin united
and made little GASES on the diseased
shoulder These minor operations were
performed several days apart, and without
the use Of of any other than local
hhdootACtiC. IvCi tA<AiiS AAthu tohAS oA ~
well that about ten days ago it was determ-
ined to begin the more important part
Of the operation, which consisted in cover
ing up a large portion Of the arm at one
time with flesh.
HOW THE ARM WAS PATCHED.
The patient was first put under the in
fuence of an an@sthetic. Then all the
cicatricial tissue upon the upper arm was
scraped with knife until it bled profusely
and was entirely raw While the arm was
held away from the body two incisions were
made about three inches apart running up
ward from the small ribs for about seven
inches At the lower end of these incisions
q crosscut was made, and then the strip Of
fie1h was dissected up from the ribs the
full length of the incision, making 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 position.
When this had been done there was still
large section of the upper back arm re-
mairing uncovered. Two missions were
again made similar to the first two, run
ming up and down the upper portion of the
side of the back. The flesh was thick at
this point, and permitted free dissection.
While the upturned flesh was yet palpitat
ing with the heart influence, it was put
over the bleeding surface of the arm and
fitted into place. Then the two flaps were
securely fastened into position by long
bands of sticking plaster, while larger
bands were run over the lower portion of
the arm and around the abdomen and back,
and interlaced SO that all motion of the
arm was stopped. After the whole wound
had been covered with an antiscptic dress
ing, the ether cone was taken of the pa
TENTS face, and he soon recovered con-
sciousness. He suffered little from shock
and the hemoThage was comparatively
slight.
The arm was kept securely fastened to
his side for a week, and the wound was
carefully 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 firm hold and
grew as IL 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 wore severed. the
loose portions were drawn around the
under side of the arm, the edges trimmed
20 q to make q perfect 1T, and were then
united with sultures. In continuing the
operation II will be necessary to alter the
shape of the flaps in some places. Only q
little sloughing has taken place, and this
has had no injurious effect. The arm now
presents . comparatively natural appear
ance The hiceps muscle will be somewhat
restricted until it gets used to the new COW
ering, and then it win move As freely as
ever The patient is physically strong, and
sinee the pain subsidized in his arm has i'm
proved peroeptibly, and the prospects are
that he win be able to leave the hospital in
about week with new arm.-New York
nibune.
A Trainer OF Four-Legged Pets.
In Paris there are numerous professional
affaiteurs or trainers, who undertake the
education of any winged or fourlegged
net or make a speciality Of dog-trainiAg.
Their charges vary with the desired grade
of education The trainer Of four1egged
circus performers may charge 1000 francs
for q single scholar, but even for francs
suburban tutors will undertake TO teach q
dog quite a number Of tricks. They keep
sample scholars, accomplished balloons
that could give a .ropedancer points on
his own game; dancing and card playing
poodles; begging monkeys, waiting hand
kisses and acknowledging favors with
deep salaams.
Tuition, however, is invariably impaired
with closed doors. The trainers do not