The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-04-09
Making a New Arm fora Man.

finished at single sitting, but which !
must be carried through various stages
in q progressive way from the begin. !
ming to the end. II was begun about
three weeks ago, and from the present
indications there is little doubt that
the result desired will be attained.
The patient is Christopher Doll, q
German, 81 years old. He received
his injury accidentally. He was ex.
tremely fond of smoking a pipe. One
evening about nine months ago he was
enjoying a quiet smoke in his room,
and while reading 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 on fire. 1t
smothered a 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 wrist TO the
shoulder was terribly burned, and it
looked as if the desh could be scraped
from the bone without trouble. The
pain was intense, and from the nature
of the wound it appeared as if the arm
would have to be amputated close mp
to the shoulder Private medical treat
ment was tried for time, but as it
did not accomplish any material bene-
fit Doll went to a hospital. lie re-
mained under constant care for two
months. BY this time the forearm
had healed, leaving frightful scar,
with the cicatrical tissue drawing in
every direction. Despite the most per-
severing treatment the upper portion
of the arm from the elbow to the
shoulder could not be healed. The pa
tieut 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 un-
usually large, and the antiseptic pre-
cautions which were taken did not pre-
vent the absorption of the poisonous
matters into the patients system.
Thus dangerous condition of blood
poisoning was set up. He grew pale
and emaciated, lost his strength and
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.
As soon as he was admitted meas
ures were taken to stamp out the blood
contamination, which were eventually
successful, and patient began to recov-
er 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 upper 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 taken from various parts
Of his body and placed in different
spots upon the raw shoulder as a mat
ter of experimental determine whether
the flesh could be successfully grated.
The experiment was successful. The
little pieces of flesh and skin united
and made little oases on the diseased
shoulder. These minor operations
were performed several days apart and
without the use of any other than a
local anasthetic. Everything had
gone on 30 we'll that about ten days
ago it was determined to begin the
more important part of the operation,
which consisted in covering up large
portion of the arm at one time with
flesh. The patient was first put under
the influence of an an;esthetic. Then
all the electrical tissue upon the upper
arm was scraped with knife until il
bled profusely and was entirely raw
While the arm was held away from
the body two incisions were made abou,
three inches apart running upward
from all the ribs for about seven inches
AT the lower end of these incisions g
crosscut was made, and then the STRIP
of flesh was dissected up from the ribs
the full length of the incision, making
a large flap. This was. left united al
the upper end. Then the patient
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 inso position. Wher
this had been done there was still {
large section of the upper bach
arm remaining uncovered. Two in
cisions were again made similar to tn,
first two, running up and down tn,
upper portion of the side of the back
The flesh was thick at this point, anC
permitted free dissection. Will,
the upturned flesh was yet palpitatins
with the heart influence, it was pu
over the beeding surface of the arm
and fitted into place. Then the twt
flaps were securely fastened into posi-
ton by long bands of sticking plaster
while larger bands were run over tn
lower portion of the arm and aroun
the abdomen and back, and interlace,
so that all motion of the arm was STOP
ped. After the whole wound had bee
covered with an antiseptic dressing
the ether cone was taken off the pa
tents face, and ne soon recovere
consciousness. He suffered little fror
shock, and the hemorrhage was con
paratiyely slight.
The arm was kept securely fastene
to his side for week, and the woun
was carefully dressed every day.
first it was not thought that the files
from the side would adhere To the flies
on the arm, but after two days it too
firm hold and grew as if it belonge
there, and little shoots of new flies
branched out in every direction. .
few days ago the ends uniting the tw
flaps to the body were severed, th
loose portions were drawn around I'll
under side of the arm, the edges trim
med so as to make perfect fit, an
We're then united with sutures. |
continuing the operation it will /
necessary to alter the shape of the Haf
in some places. Only little slougl
ing has taken place, and this has ha
40 injurious effect. The arm no,
presents comparatively natural al
pearance The biceps muscle will b
somewhat restricted until IL gets use