The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-08

Olduc Win nrin nOlu, anu InuS prevent
1t from slipping in and out. This is a
very fortunate occurrence, but one which
will cause pain for some time. The aorta,
you may understand, pulls the heart back
ward and forward with every breath you
take, but that organ, though now I'M
doubtedly much surprised will accustom
| itself to its new condition.
What fear, however, is the forma-
ton OF a clot around the blade You see,
the presence of the blade in the aorta has
already reduced the blood-carrying capac-
ity OF that vessel; a clot, therefore, need
| not be very large to stop up the aorta and
OF course if that should occur death would
ensue. But the clot if one form, may be
dislodged by the heart and driven for
ward, In which event it may lodge in any
one OF the numerous branches from the
aorta and produce results more or less
serious, possibly fatal. If, for instance, il
should choke either the right or the left
carotid there would ensue atrophy of one
side OF the brain, aud, consequently, par
alysis of half the entire body; but it is
possible that in time there would come
about secondary circulation from the
other side OF the brain, and thus restore
a healthy condition. Or the other clot,
Which, in passing always from larger ar
terles to smaller, must unavoidably find
one not large enough to carry il, and
must lodge somewhere, may either ne
| cessitate amputation of one of the four
! limbs or lodge itself so deep within the
body that it cannot be reached with the
knife. You are beginning to realize some
OF the dangers which await you.
Arnold smiled family.
But we shall do our best to prevent the
| formation of a clot," continued Entrefort /;
/ there are drugs which may be used with
| effect"
"Are there more dangers ?"
MANY more some of the more serious
| have not been mentioned. One of these
is the liability of the aortal tissues press
ing upon the weapon to relax their hold
! and allow the blade to slip. That would
| let out the blood and cause death. l am
uncertain whether the hold is now main
tanned by the pressure of the tissues or the
adhesive quality of the serum which was
| set free by the puncture. | am convinced,
though. that in either event the hold is
easily broken, and that it NAV give way
at any moment, for it is under several
| kinds of strains. Every time the heart
contracts and crowds the blood into the
aorta, the latter expands a little, and
then contracts when the pressure is re-
moved. ANY unusual exercise or excite
ment produces stronger and quicker heart
| beats and increases the strain N the adj
hesion OF the aorta to the weapon. A fall
jump, a blow on the chest-any of
these might so jar the heart and aorta as
to break the hold"
Entrefo't stopped.
lis that all ?" asked Arnold.
'No; but is not that enough ?"
More than enough" said Arnold, with
a sudden and dangerous sparkle in his
eyes. Before any OF us could think, the
| desperate fellow had seized the handle OF
| the Stilett0 with both hands in a deter
mined effort to withdraw 1t and die |
had no time to order my faculties to the
movement of a muscle, when Entrefort,
with incredible alertness and swiftness,
had Arnold's wrists. Slowly Arnold re-
Taxed his hold.
"There, nowl" said Entrefort sooth-
| ingly; 'that was a careless act and might
have broken the adhesion You'll have
to be careful"
Arnold looked at him with a curious
combination of facial expressions.
"Dr. Entrefort. he said.
"Well ?"
you are the devil"
| Bowling profoundly, Entrefort replied:
"You give me too great honor" then he
| whispered hurriedlyto Arnold, 'if you do
that''-with a motion toward the hilt-"I
will have her hanged for murder"
Arnold, almost choking, and with alook
| of horror, withdrew his hands, took one
of mine in both of his, and placed them
on the pillow above his head.
Proceed with your work, he said to
Entrefort.
Come closer, Hippolyte," said Entire
fort, land observe narrowly. viii you
kindly help me, DIR. Rowell ?" The latter
| had sat helpless, wondering.
Entrefort's hand was quick and sure,
and he used the knife with marvellous
dexterlty. First, he made four equidist-
ant incisions outward from the guard and
just through the skin. Arnold WINGED
and held his breath at the first cut. but
soon gained command of himself. Each
incision was about two inches long. Hip
polyte shuddered and turned aside his
head. EntrefOrt, whom nothing escaped,
said:
STEADY, Hippolyte, Watch"
Quickly was the skin peeled back to the
limit of the missions. This was excru-
ciatingly painful. Arnold groaned, and
his hands became moist and cold. Down
went the knife into the flesh, and blood
flowed freely. DR.. Rowell sponged it off.
ln6 swirl killi6 Wcub again dJ MOTk.
Arnold's marvellous nerve was breaking
down. He clutched my hands with un-
conscious strength. His ewes danced. His
mind was weakening. Almost in a mo-
ment the flesh had been cut away and re-
moved down to the bones, which were ex-
posed-two ribs and the sternum. A few
quick cuts cleared the blade of the weapon
between the guard and the ribs.
"To work, Hippolyte-be quickI'
He had evidently been coached. With
slender, long-fngered hands, which
trembled at first. he selected certain tools
with nice precision, made some quick
measurements of the weapon and of the
cleared space around it, and began to adj
Just the parts of queer little machine.
what -" Arnold started to say, but
a deeper pallor settled on his face, his
hands relaxed. his voice was hushed and
his eyes closed.
THANK Godw exclaimed Entrefort;
che has tainted. He can't stop us now.
Quick, Hippciyte"
The machinist attached the queer little
machine to the handle of the weapon.
grasped the handle with his left hand, and
with his right began series of short,
sharp, quick motions backward and for
ward.
Hurry, Hippolyte" cried Entrefort.
"The metal is very hard"
"Does it cut?"
IT u s..