Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-05-24
A PECULIAR CASE.
SIMILAR TO THE ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED
DR.. BOTHWBLL'S DEATH.
A Pirsburg Boy Swallows Piece Of Clay
Plps-Ths Surgeons Operate On Him Without
SucceS-They Reach the obstacle Vita
Probes But Cannot Remove II.

PITTsBURG, May 23.-Pittsburg has a
case similar to that of the late Rev DR..
Boutwell,, of New York. The case is at
the West Penn Hospital, and the patient
little sufferer is David Williams, from near
Petrolia, Butler county One week ago
the little fellow, while at play, came run
ming to his mother, who was engaged at
her household duties. He was gasping for
breath and showing signs of strangulation.
The anxious mother hastily sent for doc
tor. The lad was unable TO tell what the
trouble was, but grasped his throat and by
signs made known to the doctor that there
was something in his throat.
All efforts of the physician to dislodge
the obstruction were fruitless. When the
mother went to where the boy had been
playing, she found pieces of clay pipe, and
at once suspected that one of them had
lodged in the sufferers throat.
Yesterday the boy was brought to the
West Penn Hospital, and the faculty de-
cided to operate to-day At II 30 the pa
tient was taken into the clinic. Dr. James
McCann was to do the operating. Besides
him there were several of the hospital visit
ing physicians and the resident doctors of
theinstitutiOn, and also the students of the
West Penn Medical College.
DR.. McCann, before beginning the opera
tion devoted several minutes TO explaining
the delicate nature Of the operation. The
knife was then used to open the throat, so
that the tube might be inserted to allow
breathing, which was heavy from the
effects of the an2sthetic.
After few moments probe was insert
ed. and the skilltul hands of DR.. Mccain
detected the hard substance, which during
the time intervening since the accident, had
forced its way into the left bronchus. Each
time the probe was lifted and gently
dropped it was plain the substance was
encountered.
In probing it resisted the instrument,
showing that it had firmly lodged. The
action Of the substance, as explained by the
operator, had caused Inflammation and ex-
pansion of the tube, ceits positive resis-
tance against being dislodged.
Probes of different descriptions were in
serted. The grating Of their sensitive
points could be easily detected each time
the obstruction was touched. 1t was try
ing operation on the nerves of the surgeon,
and those present held their breath. AT
u o'clock the doctor rested and prepared
for a third attempt. This was as unsuc-
cessful as the others in the attempt to
loosen the substance. The operator then
decided to cease for the day. The opera
tlon being one hour in length, and the con-
tinued inserting and working of the probes
he feared would incite too much inflamma-
ton. Tomorrow at noon the operation
will be continued, provided the patient is
conditioned to stand the strain.
The difficulty rests in the doctors not re-
ceiving the patient sooner. Had they a
chance the day Of the accident, but a few
minutes would have been required to dis
lodge it, However as far as has been
gone, they are sanguine of good results.