The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-05
ANOTHER SURGICAL TRIUMPH.
Severed Intestine Successfully Resected
"A Remarkable Operation in New York.

"A Remarkable Operation in New York.
The surgeons knife has achieved another tri-
umph at New York. A coored man, John
James, aged fifty seven, was brought to the hos
pital with knife wound in his abdomen. 1t
was then little after midnight and il was
thought from the first that the wounded man
could last only a little while There was saw
age cut in the abdominal wall which penetrated
clear through 1t, and a section of the inteStines
hung out of the wound, and the man was virtu-
ally disemboweled. There was a dangerous in
ternal and external hemorrhage. The full ex-
tent OF the injury could not be determined by a
superficial examination. but enough could be
seen to show that the sharp shoemaker's knife,
with which the cutting was done, had penetrated
through the intestine and opened a gap in it
about three inches long. which caused it to col
lapse If the man was left alone, it meant GER
tain death. From the manner in which the in
testnes had been lacerated, it was utterly i'm
possible to unite it with sutures as to afford
relief, as has been done several times successfully
since DR.. Bulls operation There was only one
chance left, desperate one, indeed, and that
was to perform the operation of resection, which
had for its recommendation an unbroken line of
deaths. While steady stream of the vapor OF
blchloride OF mercury was directed from an irri.
gator upon the wound in the abdomen, the sur
geon enlarged the incision, which was about two
inches to the lefto the median line, until he had
increased its length about three inches. This
gave him plenty of room to work in. AS the
body had already been drained to large extent
by the wound little hemorrhage followed the ex-
tension of the wound In the abdominal cavity
there was large amount Of blood found which
had become clothed and adhered to the neighoor-
ing organs. This was carefully taken out. The
ileum or small bowel, which the vicious lunge
of Thomas had lacerated, was found to adhere
to the abdominal wall and it was delicately
separated so that it could be readily moved
Then the ileum was drawn slowly and carefully
out of the body. Hot cloths being in readiness
the intestine was wrapped up in them so as 20
exclude it from the air, except that portion which
had been lacerated. A careful examination
showed that there were two wounds in it, one
being an inch long and the other three inches
After the exposed intestine had been thoroughly
saturated with bichloride of mercury an assist
ant submitted it to gentle tension. The sur
geon then carefully drew his knife straight
across the bowel, making a clean smooth cut at
the edge of the wound. This operation was
peated at the other end Of the wound and
piece of intestine about five inches long was cut
clear of the body and thrown into dish.
Then followed the most delicate feature of the
operation. The ends of the bowel were brought
together, and were trimmed 30 evenly as to
make perfect fit. Being in collapsed state it
was difficult to handle them at all. But they
were finally got together perfectly and held in
position by q suture of fine catgut With great
skill and delcacy the two ends were then united
firmly by a number of stitches, SO arranged and
interlaced that it would be we'll -nigh impossible
for them to be separated and to keep all irritat-
Ing uuluS out Oh the aDuOmluai cavity. ms
part of the intestine being joined strongly,
if not more so. than in natural state, search
was made for further injuries. The entire in
testines were taken out of the body and exam
ined. After they were wrapped up in antiseptic
coverings they were laid at one side aud the ex-
ploration was continued. The stomach was
carefully gone over, and the liver, kidneys and
other organs were taken up in turn and submit
ted to rigid scrutiny. But no other injury
could be found. The intestines were put back
into the body and a last look was taken at the
surgeons work. The patient at this point began
to show signs of the great shock incident to the
operation. and stimulants were freely given n.y.
podermically in the shoulder with an occasional
injection of morphine. Everything being ar
ranged in the body properly the incsion in the
abdomen was closed the peritoneum being first
united with catgut sutures and the thick wall
with heavy sutures of silver wire. Iodoform
having been sprinkled upon the wound, heavy
antiseptic dressings were wrapped around the
abdomen, and the patient was taken to his cot
For three days the patient lowered between life
and death, and then began to rally. At the end
of three weeks he was sent home we'll man.