The Arizona champion., 1886-11-13
A NEW ARM FOR A MAN.
A SURGICAL. OPERATION THAT WILL
 PROBABLY PROVE SUCCESSFUL.

est is being performed at the Hahnemann hospital IL is one of those cases that can not be finished at single sitting, but which must be carried through various stages in progressive way from the be- ginning to the eud. It was begun about three weeks ago, and from the present medical indications there is little doubt that the result de ,irel will be attained.
 The patient Is Christopher Doll, Ger man 3l years old. He received his in jury accidentally. He was extremely sfond of smoking pipe. One evening about nine months ago he was enjoying auiet 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 sleeves and set 1t on fire It smoidered for time, and burned several small holes in the sleeve, and then it burst into flame 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 flame 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 from the nature of the wound it appeared as if the arm would have to be amputgted 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 un- 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 perseveriug 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 q 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 a dangerous condition of blood poisoning was set up. He grew n/ and emaciated, lost his strength aad courage, and when he was admitted to the Hahnemann hospital, about two months ago, he was living skeleton, with hardly muscular power enough left to raise his hand
 l. As soon as he was admitted measures wefe taken to stamp out the blood conta- imitation, which were eventually success ful. Aand the patient began to re- coverlstrength. 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 ent spots upon the raw shoulder as a matter of experiment, to determine 1 whether the flesh could be successfully grafted The experiment was successful. The little pieces of flesh and skin united l and made little oases on the diseased shoulder. These minor operations were performed several days apart, and without | the use of of any other than local angsthetic. Everything had gone on so
 well that about ten days ago it was determ- | incd 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 anesthetic Then all the | cicatricial tissue upon the upper arm was [ scraped with knife until it blcd p ofusely | and was entirely raw. While the arm was | held away from tine body two incislons were made about three inches apart running up- ward from the small ribs for about seven ! inches. At the lower end of these incisions 1 a crosscut was made, and then the strip of | flesh was dissectcd up from the ribs the | full length of the incis.on, 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 l carefully pressed and fitted into position.
 When this had been done there was still a | large section of the upper back arm re- | maining uncovered. Two inc!siOns 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 a free dissection.
 While the upturned flesh was yet palpitut- l 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 I bands were run over the lower portion of
 the arm and around the abdomen and back, | and interlgced so that all motion of the
 arm was stopped. After the whole wound
 had been covered with an antiseptic dress
 ing. the ether cone was taken off the pa. | tient's face, and he soon recovered con
 sciousncss He suffered little from shock | and the hemorrhage was comparatively
 slight
 The arm was kept securely fastened to ! his side for week, and the wound was
 carefully dressed every day. At first il 1 was not thought that the flesh from the ! side would adhere to the flesh on the arm
 but after two days 1t took firm hold and l grew as if 1t belonged there, and little | shoots of new flesh branched out in every l direction Two days ago the ends uniting the two flaps to the body were severed, the loose portions were drawn around the 1 under siie of the arm, the edges trimmed
 so as to make q perfect fit, and were then
 united with sultures. In continuing the
 operation it will be necessary to nlter the 1 shape Of the flaps in some places. Only a | little sloughing has taken place, and this | has had no injurious effect. The arm now
 presents comparatively natural appear
 ance. The biceps muscle will be somewhat
 restricted until it gets used to the new GOV
 ering, and then 1t will move us freely aS
 ever. The patient is physically strong, and
 since the puin subsdesl in his arm has i'm
 proved peFceptibly, aud the prospects are
 that he will be able to leave the hospital ir
 about week with new arm.-Ncw Yorl
 Tribune.
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