The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-05-17
TRACHEOTOMY TUBES.
an EngIisliman WHO Has Worn Ono fo
Fully six Years.

Fully six Years.
A case in which the operation Of tracheot-
omy proved strikngly successful has Just
como under our notice. says tho PaI Mai
Gazette. 1t is that of Il man, formerly q SOL
der, who had the mcson into tho wind
plpo made SIX years ago, and who wears
tho trachcotOmy tube at the present mo-
ment be was Il private in the Royal En-
g1neers, and took part in the Egyptian cam
pngn OF 1881, being present at Tcl-cl- X ebir
While in Egypt he drank some bad water
and this induced q blood poisoning, which
ultimately took tho form of deep seated alb
scesses in the neck. He returned from
Egypt, arriving in this country some time
IN October, 1852, and at once became o pa
uent at the Royal Military Hospital, South
amptOn. The man describes the oDcration
as bong only little painful. The previous
difficulty in breathing had been so great
that If the incisiOn into the windpipe had
caused much pain that pain was over
Whe!med by the great relief which followed
the operation. Ho remained in the hospi-
tal Tor somo months, but finally left quite
cured.
He finds but little discomfort or incon-
Venlencc in wearing the trachcOtOmy tube
he can not speak without first putting bls
hnger to his neck to close the orifico of tho
tube. The reason for this is obvious. Voice
ls caused by the vibration of tho vocal
chords in the larynX, and to set them vibra-
tlng current of air from tho lungs is re-
qmred. Tho incision of tracheotomy being
made in the Windpipc below the arynx,
enough air to Vibratc the vocal chords can
not be obtained until the orificc is closed.
Inc closing is, in most trachcotomy tubes,
erected by an automatic valve but the
soldier now in question will have mono Of
thcm. lie wore the automatic valve for O
SNORT 1Inc, 1t IS true, but when he was COM
ing down Regent street one day it flew Off
and was lost, and he has done very we'll
without it since He can also talk by put
tlng his head down, in which case the orifice
Is closed by his chin instead of by his finger
ao possesses a duplicate tube for use in case
Of accident.
a brief description Of tho tube NAV be
found interesting. 1t is made Of silver that
being the metal least likely to be acted upon
by any fluids TO be found in the WindDipc or
by the condensed aqueous Vapor of the
breath. 1t lS in reality no I"N"o than tho
name impcs--that is, Il tube It's bent mt,
tho form OF quadrant, and the outer pOr-
tlon has shield, which presses against tho
flesh Of the neck. 70 the shield arc attached
tapes, which pass around the neck and arc
Iled' IhcSc servo to keep the tube securely
IN position. The instrument IS further sup
plcd with smaller inner tube and guido.
me former can easily be removed and re-
placed for the purpose Of cleaning, which,
however, is not necessary more than once q
day, unless tho weather bc very foggy. But
the inner tube is not an essential, and tho
soldier OF whom we write never wears it,
Ho removes the tube itself the tissues
around 1T having become so hardened that
1or short time they answer all the PURPOSES
or the trachcotOmy tube itself. The person
who is compelled to use traChcOtomy tube
generally wears high collar, and all chat is
seen is q small hole