Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-25
IMPOSSIBLE NO MORE.
A Goitre Removed by Local Surgeons
From the Neck of a Woman.
THE PATIENT FULLY RECOVERED.
First Operation of the Kind Performed in
Western Pennsylvania.
THE NEW ANTISEPTIC METHOD USED

A week ago yesterday nine physicians
gathered in the Office of DIR. j. B. Dickson,
Penn avenue, to assist in and witness an
operation which, if successful, would revo-
lutionize one branch of surgery in this Sec
tion and would carry hope to the hearts of
many afflicted beings. The operation was
that of removing goitre.
Nearly everyone has a friend or has seen
persons who were afl icted with these un-
slightly excrescenses, which could not be
hid. and though not of necessity fatal or
painful, are like crosses to carry around.
They are an enlargement of the thyroid
gland of the neck, constantly increasing in
size, until they often grow to weigh as much
as eight pounds, and by their growth sap
the system of the person until life is misery
personifed
No one is exempt from these ugly growths,
but women, Tor some cause unknown to
scientists, are most subject to them. Again,
they are most common in Switzerland and
some parts of Italy, and on people who are
natives of these countries.
Up to short time ago it was considered
impossible to remove golfers, and the books
on surgery have denounced an attempt as
unsafe and out of the power of the surgeon
to accomplish.
FIRST IN THIS VICINITY.
Within the past few years the operation
has been successfully performed in the East
and in London, but never tried in Western
Pennsylvania. but the surgeons of Pittsburg,
ever known to be on the alert for new truths
in their rofession, were not to be left be-
hind, and proposed demonstrating that one
more supposed impossibility In surgery
could be safely accomplished.
Mrs. E. j. PrItchett, living at the head
of South Twenty-second street, was the sub
ject. She bad been afflicted with goitre
since she was IA years old, now being about
so. She had tried III every way to remove
it, and spent hundreds of dollars, and at
last submitted to the operation, without
fear. DIR. Alan T. Gentry took charge of
the operation, and Drs. Hartmeyer, OF Allie
gheny, and Buchanan, of this city, assisted
him. DIR. Dickson had hurt his thumb and
would not take part. The other doctors
stood by and watched the operation.
Mrs. Prichett was first put under the in
fuence of anesthetics. An Incision was
then made, about four inches long. the
length of the goitre, and the excrescence
was removed. 1t weighed 214 pounds, ana
was hard and about the consistency of liver.
In the operation 40 arteries and veins were
tied, antiseptic methods being used, and the
same course followed as outlined by those
who had before reformed the feat.
The operation lasted one hour and 35
minutes, and at the end of that time Mrs.
Pritchett was taken home.
THANKFUL FOB RELIEF.
Last night it had been just a week since
she was freed from the enlarged gland. She
was found by DISPATCH reporter, sitting
in a chair and feeling very we'll. All san-
ger has passed. She does not court pub
licity, but nevertheless felt so thankful
to be relieved of her 'cross" that,
when questioned, she could not refrain
from giving the information desired. Her
neck was again its normal size, and, since
the operation, her temperature has not been
over 1907, or her pulse over 100. She feels
very well, and with no evil effects except the
soreness that was expected. The cut made
will not leave bad scar.
Mrs. Pritchett said she had been able to
cover the goitre pretty well, but of late it
had affected her nerves and was supping her
system OF its proper nourishment, and If al
lowed to remain would have grown larger
She had no thoughts of dying
from the operation, and says her strong will
kept her up.
The whole success of the operation is due
largely to the new antiseptic methods OF
surgery and the ligaturing of all vessels be-
fore being cut. Not over three ounces of
blood were lost by the patient.