Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-01
TRACHEOTOMY TUBES.
An EngIishman Who Has Worn One for
Fully six Years.

Fully six Years.
A case in which the operation of tracheot-
omy proved strikingly successful has just
come under our notice, says the Par Nall
Gazette. 1t is that of man, formerly sol
der, who had the ncision into the wind
pipe made six years ago, and who wears
the tracheotomy tube at the present mo-
ment. He was a private in the Royal En-
gineers, and took part in the Egyptian cam
paign of 1881, being present at Telel-Kebir.
While in Egypt he drank some bad water,
and this induced a blood poisoning, which
ultimately took the 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 pa
tent at the Royal Military Hospital, South
ampton. The man describes the operation
as being 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
whelmed by the great relief which followed
the operation. He remained in the hospi-
tai for some months, but finally left quite
cured
He finds but little discomfort or incon-
venience in wearing the tracheotomy tube.
He can not speak without first putting his
finger to his neck TO close the orifce Of the
tube. The reason for this is obvious. Voice
is caused by the vibration Of the vocal
chords in the larynx, and to set them vibra-
ting current of air from the lungs is re-
quired. The incision of tracheotomy being
made in the windpipe below the larynx,
enough air to vibrate the vocal chords can
not be obtained until the orifce is closed.
The closing is, in most tracheotomy tubes,
effected by an automatic valve, but the
soldier now in question viii have none OF
them. He wore the automatic valve for
short time, it is true, but when he was COM
ing down Regent street one day il few oil
and was lost, and he has done very well
without it since. He can also talk by put
ting his head down, in which case the orifce
is closed by his chin instead of by his finger.
He possesses duplicate tube for use in case
OF accident.
A brief description of the tube may be
found interesting. Ii is made of silver, that
being the metal least likely to be acted upon
by any fluids to be found in the windpipe or
by the condensed aqueous vapor Of the
breath. Il is in reality no more than the
name implies-that is, a tube. 1t Is bent into
the form Of quadrant, and the outer por-
ton has shield, which presses against the
neSn OF Tue neck 40 TIC Sii4e-o Sf Z aetfaIHpU
tapes, which pass around the neck and are
tied. These serve To keep the tube securely
in position. The instrument IS further sup
Piled with q smaller inner tube and guide.
The former can easily be removed and re-
placed for the purpose Of cleaning. which,
however, is not necessary more than once
day, unless the weather be very foggy. But
the inner tube is not an essential, ard the
soldier of whom we write never wears 1t.
He removes the tube itself, The tissues
around it having become so hardened that
for short time they answer all the purposes
of the tracheo,omy tube itself The person
who is compelled TO use tracheotomy tube
generally wears a high collar, and all tina. is
seen is a small hole.