The Opelousas courier., 1886-01-02
AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE
How a Mans Life was Saved
by Skillful Surgery.
Breathing for Two Years Through D
Silver Tube in His Throat.

Silver Tube In bis Throat
A@reeent ~issHe~aef-the Nash
vile (Tenn.) American says: Drs.
j. W. Madden. senior and junior,
and =. Z. Watkins yesterday ex-
amined q man whose ~existance
| depends on a remarkable piece of
surgery. His name was Chas. Hin
ton, his age about twenty-years, and,
though his apparel did not proclaim
him wealthy. his conversation indica-
ted the shrewdness of one who has
seen much of the world. His life has
of late been interesting. About two
years ago he was injured in a railroad
accident near New Orleans, La. The
car in. which he was seated was
thrown down an embankment and
smashed to pieces. He was asleep at
the time of the accident and the first
thing thatghe knew he was pinned
down between two seats with blood
gushing from a terrible cut. The end
of q piece Of timber had struck him on
the right cheek andttorn a cash which
extended by the way of his throat to
his left ear. But this was not the
most serious injury. ! The hyoid bone,
which is that just above the protube-
rance in the neck popularity known as
adams apple" had been broken.
The vocal cords which are at the top
of the Windpipe were bruised and be-
gan to rapidly swell over the orifce
where air is breathed. Hinton was
removed from the wreck as soon as
possible, and carried to the Charity
Hospital at New Orleans. The cut
was sewed up with ease, but the broken
Done was a cause of serious trouble.
The swelling of the vocal cords,
it was seen, would soon completely
close up the windpipe, and some other
means of breathing had quickly to be
provided.
An ori6ce in The windpipe just be-
low the cords was made, and a silver
pipe about two and a half inches long
and a quarter Of an inch in diameter
was inserted. The tube was curved
in shapes about three-auarters of an
inch protruded out of the neck into
the air, a lange at the end preventing
it from falling back into the throat.
Through this tube the man inhaled
air. The operation was common 20
surgery as temporary expedient. it
being usual for the vocal cords whHn
bruised to 0 resume their normal
proportions and allow free access Of
airto the windPipe. In this instance,
however, the broken bone continuous
~ pressed against the cords and pre-
vented their proper healing. TO this
patient was presented the embarrass-
ing alternative of either forever utiiiz-
ing the tube as a breathing adjunct
to the demoralized windpipe or shut
fling off this mortal col.
He determined to cleaye close to his
silver pipe, and 50 far it has done him
natures service. True, he has to re-
move il for a moment or two daily to
cleanse 1t, and most unfortunately it
conveys to his lungs more than his
quota of summe dust and winters
frosty air, thereby causing his lungs
to alternate between congestion and
Inflammation; but he meets fate brave
y. and says he viii live as long as the
next man. He has been unable to
work continuously, but has eked out a
living by offering his throat for the
inspection of medical colleges and pro-
fessors, who are more than willing
to pay for the knowledge of surgery
| which his condition affords.