The Arizona champion., 1889-03-16
A NEW ARM FOR A MAN.
A SURGICAL OPERATION THAT WILL
PROBABLY PROVE SUCCESSFUL.

which must be carried through various
stages In a progressive way from the be-
ginning to the end. 1t was begun about
three weeks ago, and from the present
medical indications there is little doubt
that the result desired will be attained
The patient is Christopher Doll, a Ger
man 81 years old He received his in
jury accidentally. He was extremely
fond OF smoking a pipe. One evening
about nine months ago he was enjoying q
quiet smoke In his room, and while read
ing fell asleep. In some way the pipe,
which he still held in his mouth, was
overturned, and the hot ashes fell from
the bowl upon his shirt sleeves and set it
OH fire. 1t smoldered for a time, and
burned several small holes in the sleeve,
and then it burst into flame and the
sleeper was aroused. The fire had reached
his flesh, and he tore ut the burning cloth
madly, He rolled over on the floor. and
finally the fame was extinguished. His
right arm from the waist to the shoulder
was terribly burned, and it looked as II the
flesh could be scraped from the bone with
out trouble The pain was intense, and
from the nature of the wound 1t appeared
as If the arm would have to be amputated
close to the shoulder. Private medical
treatment was tried for time, but as IL
did not accomplish any material benefit
Doll went to a hospital. He remained un-
der constant care for two months.
LARGE SURFACE OF EXPOSED FLESH.
BY this time the forearm had healed,
leaving frightful scar, with the cicatri-
cial tissue drawing in every direction.
Despite the most persevering treatment
the upper portion Of the arm from the
elbow to the shoulder could not be healed.
The patient went to several hospitals, but
could get no relief. There was such a
large surface Of exposed flesh in the wound
that the pus formation was unusually
large and the antiseptic precautions which
were taken did not prevent the absorption
Of the poisonous matter into the patients
system. Thus q dangerous condition of
blood-poisoning was set up. He grew pale
and emaciated, lost his strength and
courage, and when he was admitted to the
Hahnemann hospital, about two months
ago, he was living skeleton, with hardly
muscular power enough left to raise his
hand.
As soon as he WAS admitted measures
were taken to stamp out the blood conta-
full, and the patient began to re-
cover strength. When he got strong enough
and his body was sufficiently free from the
incidental disease, 1t was determined by
the attending surgeon to make new up
per arm from the flesh Of the patients
body, and TO heal up the wound by cover
ing it over with healthy tissue. At first
small pieces Of flesh were taken from var
ious parts Of his body and placed In differ
ent spots upon the raw shoulder as a
matter Of experiment, to determine
whether the flesh could be successfully
grated. The experiment was successful
The little pieces Of flesh and skin united
and made little oases on the diseased
shoulder. These minor operations were
performed several days apart, and without
the use OF Of any other than local
aniesthetic Everything had gone on so
well that about ten days ago it was detern-
ined to begin the more important part
Of the operation, which consisted in cover
ing up large portion Of the arm at one
time with flesh
NOW THE ARM WAS PATCHED.
The patient was first put under the in
fiuence of an auRsthetic. Then all the
cicatricial tissue upon the upper arm was
scraped with a knife until IL bled profusely
and was entirely raw. While the arm was
held away from the body two incisions were
made about three inches apart running up
ward from the small ribs for about seven
inches. At the lower end Of these incisions
crosscut was made, and then the strip Of
flesh was dissected up from the ribs the
full length Of the incision, making a large
flap This was left united at the upper
end Then the patients arm was brought
close to his side, and this loose flap was laid
over ON the raw flesh on the arm and
carefully pressed and fitted into position.
When this had been done there was still a
large section OF the upper back arm re-
manning uncovered Two incisions were
again made similar to the first two, run
ming up and down the upper portion of the
side of the back The flesh was thick at
this point, and permitted free dissection.
While the upturned flesh was yet palpitat-
ing with the heart influence, 1t was put
over the bleeding surface of the arm and
fitted into place. Then the two flaps were
securely fastened into position by long
bands Of sticking plaster, while larger
bands were run over the lower portion of
the arm and around the abdomen and back,
and interlaced so that all motion of the
arm was stopped, After the whole wound
had been covered with an antiseptic dress
Ing, the ether cone was taken off the pa
TENTS face, and he soon recovered con-
sciousness He suffered little from shock
and the hemorrhage was comparatively
slight
The arm was kept securely fastened to
his side for week, and the wound was
dressed every day. At first 1t
was not thought that the flesh from the
side would adhere to the flesh on the arm
but after two days it took a firm hold and
grew as II It belonged there, and little
shoots of new flesh branched out In every
direction. Two days ago the ends uniting
the two flaps to the body were severed, the
looso portions were drawn around the
under side of the arm, the edges trimmed
so as to make perfect fit, and were then
united with sultures. In continuing the
operation IL will be necessary to alter the
shape of the flaps in some places. Only
little sloughing has taken place, and this
has had no injurious effect. The arm now
presents comparatively natural appear
ance. The biceps muscle will be somewhat
restricted until it gets used to the new COW
srine and then II viii move as freely as
ever The patient is physically strong, and
since the pain subsided in his arm has i'm
proved perceptibly, and the prospects are
that he will be able to leave the hospital in
about week with a new arm.--New York
Tribune.
VIII Not Sell Out Cheap.
The duke OF Edinburgh wants $780, 900
l. L. in,,a ria fc In nf