The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-02
TOES NAILED TOGETHER.
PEMARKABLE SURGICAL FEAT AT
A MEDICAL COLLAGE

Brought About Through Relieving a
Case of Bone tuberculosis, and Its
complete Success VIII Save the Lad
From Becoming q Cripple.
CINCINNATI, Nov. 29.-The severed bones
aohilds leg fastened with a couple of
s,aal nails and the wound allowed 10 20 un-
attended for month.
This statement would seem to be the be-
ginning Of a denunciation Of q case of
cruelty to a little sufferer, but it is not. On
the contrary, it is but the announcement of
two remarkable features 10 delicate bit Of
surgery that has been the means Of saving
a child's leg and preventing him from be-
coming helpless cripple.
This surgical operation, which has been
the talk of the medical aud surgical profess
sion acquainted with the facts, was per-
formed over month ago at the Pulte
Medical College, but it was not until re-
Gently that it was known that it
HAD TERMINATED SUCCESSFULLY.
About month ago George Kaiser, a
sedamsville saloonkeeper, took his son Ed
ward, aged ~ years, to be operated upon
for the relief of 'white swellingn at the
knee White swelling. it should be stated,
il tuberculosis Of the j0int. 1t was decided
by the surgeons that to relieve the sufferer
il would be necessary to completely excise
the knee joint and bring about q resection
of the bones Of the leg.
The surgeon in charge was DR.. T. f.
Linn, professor of surgery at the college,
and his assistants were three members Of
the graduating class-Dr. j. G.. Keelor of
Warren, Pa; Dr. S. B. Whiting of ST.
Paul. Mimi. and DR.. Wiggers of this CITY.
Besides the students of the clinic there were
present number OF leading physicians, in
Guiding Dr5. Pauly, Walton, Buck. Nc
Dermott, Mccormick and others. The lit
tie fellow was firm and was brought into
the operatiDg>room by his father, who held
bis hands
THROUGHOUT THE OPERATION.
The proper antiseptio preparations hay
ing been made, the chief operator laid open
the knee-joIut, the patient being first placed
under the Influence Of an anesthetic the in
cision being from one oondyle to the other.
transversely. The knee-oap was carefully
removed from the constructing muscles and
the joint proper was exposed TO view. This
was found to be structuraliy disorganized.
the disease being of about nine months
duration. The joint being opened, it was
found that the ends OF the bones meeting
there we're eroded and covered with q tuber-
culsr deposit resembling fungus growth.
"A JULIO sCOOD was 6BlLbu ana the fungus
was carefully removed until the sound bone
was seen. The wound was flushe out with
an aceptic preparation and the operation
resumed. A fine saw was introduced and
the heads Of the femur, or thigh bone, and
tibia, or shin bone, sawed of oleanly. The
sawed ends were brought together and
firmly held. Then came the peculiar part of
the operation. DR.. Linn seizinq a hammer
and two sharp-pointed nails about three
trnh in A.,
side surfaces of the leg through both bones
in an upward direction in the style
KNOWN AS DovETAILrNG.
The child's bones being soft, the nails
went through as easily as though they were
being driven into soft pine. This had the
effect Of making a rigid joint. Two drain
age tubes Of rubber were inserted on either
side behind the bone, and the flaps made by
the incision brought together and fastened
with catgut. While this was going on the
most minute aseptic regulations were OBJ
served. The closed cash was dressed with
iodiform gauze. A splint was adjusted,
secured with bandages and the whole COW
cred with plaster Of paris. which at once
hardened, forming rigid brace.
The hoy was then removed to the Ohio
hospital. not far away, and two days after
ward was taken home in q cot placed In
spring wagon. The operation was intended
to bring about knitting Of the bones by
the process known as blood-clot In this It
was successful, not the slightest amount of
pus being discharged. thus showing that the
wound was thoroughly aseptic. Day before
yesterday the bandage was removed by
Prof. Linn, and 1t was found that the
wound had healed completely, although Il
1t had not been touched for four weeks. The
nails were withdrawn without. q fresh
dressing placed in position. and light coat
ing OF plaster laid on to assist q splint
When this hardened the boy was provided
with pair Of crutches, which he will have
to use
FOR A SHORT TIME.
Next a cane will be required. and after
that he will be able to walk without sup
port, as the bone that was resected Is now
almost as solid as the rest of the leg. The
lex will be shortened but three-quarters of
an inch, aud but for the rigidlty of the
knee-jolnt the deformity would never be
noticed.
The complete success Of the novel methods
used In the operation has been the cause of
much favorable comment among surgeons.
The total suppression of suppuration Is val
uable In that it goes to show the necessity
Tor rigid observance of the aseptic regula-
uons usual in surgical operations. There
VIII be no recurrence Of tuberculosis in tits
case Usually second operation follows
that OF amputation--for cases Of excision of
Une knee-Jolnt are rarely successful.
HAVE you an y idea why this Worcestershire
sauce bottle has such peculiarly shaped stop
per! asked notorious bon vivaut Of Tho Man
ABOUT Town, in the st. Louis Republic, the
otner evening over a bit of cold roast, horse
TSdlsh jar and some "steins " The Man About
IoWn had often noticed the long, slender glass