The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-05-25
QUEER MEDICAL CASE.
A Woman Whose Left Leg Was
Larger Than Her Body


Larger Than Her Body
One OF the most remarkable cases
that has taxed the ingenuity Of New
York surgeons In long time is at pres
emit under treatment at the College OF
Physicians and Surgeons, writes New
York correspondent of the St Louis
Elobe-Democrat. The disease Is known
rs elsphantiasis Arabum. The patient
Is a colored girl, aged eighteen years.
She had, at the same time she applied
for treatment leg which measured as
follows: Around the thigh, at its
largest part, thirty-slx inchesi around
the calf of the leg, twenty seven
inches. The other leg, not affected
was measured for sake of comparison,
at the same places as the diseased
limb. 1t measured: Thigh. twenty
three inches; calf of leg, nineteen and
q half inches. This will show the
great size of the limb, which
will be still better appreciated
when 1t Is remarked that at the
waist tho girls body measured only
twenty-eight inches. The disease had
been going ON for two years and half
or more. The first symptoms were
fever and what was at the time
thought to be dropsy or 'ndematous af-
lection of the limb. As the disease ada
vanced the skin over the limb, from
the abdomen down to the ankle, be-
came red. greatly thiekened, and Of q
dull, putty-like feel to the hand. The
size rapidly increased for a few
months, then remained stationary for
some time. There was another febrile
attack and fresh growth commenced,
The leg now grew to what was then
thought enormous proportions and its
true nature became evident The skin
covering the limbs looked almost pre-
cisely like the hide of the famous Jum@
DO. 1t was concluded that the growth
could be reduced by tying a ligature
around the main artery that supplies
blood to the limb.
Ether was administered to the pa
tient, and, unlike most patients, she
seemed scarcely affected until she had
taken half u small can of the anasthe.
tic. Subsequently it was discovered
she was woman Of Incorporate habits,
which accounted for her great tolerance
OF the ether. When well under the
anRsthetic she was first thoroughly
washed with soap and watlr, a per-
Torrance she resisted before taking the
ether She was very filthy, and the
scrubbing made her copper-colored skin
at least three shades lighter. All
things being in readiness, the surgeon
selected sharp Bcalpel and made an
inclsion along the course of the femoral
artery from midway between the hip
and groin to point four inches below
the place the large blood vessel emery
es from beneath Poupart's ligament.
This incision was carried directly down
to the artery, which IS the largest in
The leg. The artery was then laid in
full view by the aid of pair of retrac-
ors-instruments that are put into a
wound, one from each side, to draw it
apart SO that its deeper parts can be
seen. The artery was seen lying
along the border of the sartorlus
but was quite deep
in the greatly hypertrophied tissue.
Its outer flbrous sheath was cautiously
opened with a sharp pair of scissors,
and an aneurism needle carrying heavy
black carbonized surgical silk was
passed beneath the vessel, and the
silk tied firmly about It, The artery
had become greatly enlarged; it was
several inches in circumference. The
bleeding from the wound was consid-
cradle, but at last all points from
which blood came were stopped, and
tho wound washed out with bichlo-
ride OF mercury solution, one part mer-
curry to one. thousand parts water.
The edges of the wound were then
brought together and sutured, a proper
dressing was applied, and the patient
sent to bed. She recovered well from
the effects of the ether, and her limb
rapidly decreased in size. No UNI
pleasant symptoms presented them
selves. Five weeks after the operation
the leg was reduced to almost its nor
NAL size, when attack of fever took
place and the leg commenced to in
crease rapidly in size, but the increase
was not long continued, and after two
weeks it again began to diminish and
kept on diminishing to the present
time. The patient has now left the
hospital and comes only to see the sur.
geon twice weekly, and is regarded as
cured.