The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1886-07-15

teresting. The first was that of man,
who, in August, 1874, while asleep,
swallowed a gold tooth plate with one
false central incisor attached. The plate
was of crescent shape, measured one and
a half inches from point to point, and on
it's outer edge were eight sharp and ir-
regular projections to hold it in position
when worn. Physicians were called, but
being unable to discover the presence of
the plate in the Gsophagus expressed the
opinion that it had passed down into the
stomach. The patient, however, contin-
ued to suffer from the accident, aud in
September following entered the hospital.
The surgeon attempted to remove the
plate by grasping it with a par of for:
ceps, but found it SO completely impacted
as to render its removal in that way ex-
tremely dangerous. He then performed
the operation Of esophagotomy, the del
cate and difficult nature of which is thus
described in the report of the case.
"Chloroform having been administered,
the patient readily yielding to its infiu-
ence, the neck was outstrctchcd and m
incision made on the left side. midway
between the margin of the sterno"l lido
mastoid muscle and the thyroid carti-
lage, extending to within one-half inch
of the sternum. The parts containing
the carotid were then separated from the
trachea and held aside by retra"tors, rs
was the left lobe of the thyroid body
after careful dissection. The inferior
thyroid artery having been exposed and
pushed aside, the Gsophagls was plainly
seen. A large-sized li:hotomy staff was
| then passed through the mouth, it being
more easily introduced than stomach
tube, and the 9sophagus pushed we'll
forward and to the left. This served as
, a guide and held the Tsophagus in posi-
ton, rendering the incision into it less
difficult than it would otherwise have
been, owing to the spasmodic efforts at
swallowing, which wee very frequent
after the administration of the anps-
thetic. The incision was made longitu-
dinally over the staff 20 the side of the
cricoid cartilage, a finger introduced,
and the plate, which was strongly i'm
pactcd. removed with some difficulty
, from it's resting place behind the thyroid
cartilage. The wound in the Psophagus
was not closed; but two small arteries,
muscular branches, were tied during the
operation. Morphia was administered
hypodermically and the patient put to
bed in n cool room.
The patient resumed business twenty
days after the operation.
The next case was that of NC. Palmer
of Glen's Falls, who swallowed a silver
plate with four upper teeth attached. IT
remained in the usophagus eleven
months and seven day.. when it was re-
moved by the operation above described.
The plate was found impacted in the
psophagus eleven and one-half inches
below the front of the lower jaw when
the head was thrown back. On the f.
teenth day after the operation the patient
attendtd d church.
The third Gaze was that of resident
of Albany who swallowed a tooth-plate
/ in 1869. and twelve years afterward came
to Troy. after visiting numerous cities. to
secure relief. He was then greatly ema'
ciated, and showed evidence of the suf,
ferings he endured throughout all those
trying years. The operation was fol-
lowed hy death, the autopsy leading to
the conclu icn that du ing violent fit
of coughing at the time of the admins
tration of the anrsthctic the exploratory
effect ruptured one of the air-re*icles.
the air entering the lungs and producing
dvsnnaa which resulted fatally.
The fourth case was perhaps the mo Il
intricate and delicate Of all. The paticat
swallowed i to9tl-plate with four faI {
teeth while asleep. Ills Su er!ngs ' cr'
intense, and five days after the accident