Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-10-31
A CURIOUS CASE.
A Young Man Who Takes His Meals
Through Tube.
From the St. Louis Republic.


From the st. Louis Republic.
The medical profession of St. Louis is
just now intensely interested and not a
little excited over the presence in their
midst of one of the surgical marvels of
the age-a youth with fstula in his
stomach. The subject is German boy
named Charles Schau, 10 years of age.
He has for the past two months lived
with friends in Chicago. About six
weeks ago certain surgeons of this city
learned of his wonderful case, and at
once steps were taken to induce him to
come to st. Louis for the benefit of the
profession here.
The operation which has SO miracu-
lousy saved Schau from certain death
by starvation is one which has been
many times attempted during the pres
ent century, but has rarely succeeded
as in his case, death usually resulting in
a few days or weeks. The disease which
rendered this operation necessary is
known as stenosis of the esophagus or
structure of the food passage of the low
er throat. This is not an uncommon
disorder, and, as no cure is known for
it, it in almost every instance results in
death by starvation. It is usually of
cancerous nature and of slow growth.
In the case in point-the youth Schau-
however, the esophagus became choked
In single night, and until more light
can be shed upon the matter the actual
nature of his case must remain in doubt.
Experiment and experience shows that
the only method of prolonging life in
such case is by the establishment of a
gastric fstula, or external opening into
the stomach, through which the neces-
sary food supply can be introduced into
that organ. This, as will be readily per-
celved, is very delicate operation.
An opening is made through the abdo-
men into the interior of the stomach, Of
which small circular portion is re-
moved of the size required for the pur-
pose of the operation. A plug of car
boliZed gauZe, or other suitable material
is introduced into the opening, and the
wound is allowed to heal, leaving the
small opening into the stomach. AS
soon as the state of the wound will per-
mit a silver tube fitting the opening is
introduced into the stomach, and
through this the food is passed.
In the case in point, however, no sill
yer tube can be discerned. The patient
feeds himself tarough red rubber tube
about three-elghthso of an inch in dame
ter, and eighteen inches long, which APP
pears to pass directly into the stomach
1t is held in place by means of two or
three strips of sticking plaster, the ends
of which adhere closely to the skin on
either side the tube, thus preventing it
from slipping. When not in use the
outer end of the tube is plugged with a
roll OF cotton and coiled up IN the pa
TENTS bosom. When he wishes to feed
himself the plug is removed and the
taper end of a small tin funnel is intro
duced. Into this the food, i'll liquid or
semi-Iquid state, is poured and finds its
way naturally into the stomach. AS the
food SO introduced is necessarily very
light and of a kind readily digestibie,
Schau is obliged to iced himself about
every two hours.
AS the food can readily be withdrawn
from the stomach at any stage in the
process of digestion, for the purpose of
examination and ANALYSIS, the value of
such case as Schau' to the students of
physiology is inestimabie, as it will en-
able the student to reach conclusions
and establish facts of the utmost i'm
portance with a certainty that could be
achieved IN no other way.
1T is understood that Drs. Richter and
Lutz have made arrangements to keep
Schau here during the winter for the
purpose of experimenting on all sub
iects connected with the stomach and
digestion, and for the particular benefit
OF the students Of Beaumont College.