West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1891-08-13
THRINcisIoN

most careful examination OF the
stomach and othst organs externally
failed to show the slightest cvi-
dencc Of sarcoma, and there was
nothing to warrant the continuance
Of the operation. The stomach
Was enlarged somewhat, but moth
ing remarkable. The Atund was
closed IN the abdomen.
IL was evident afterward that
there was some trouble with the
stomach and not with the intestines.
The patient was losing strength
and vitality every day. Something
had to be done for her. 1t vas set
tied that there must be another
operation, though for what pur-
pose was net apparent. An incision
vas made IN tie mcdian line of the
abdomen, and the walls were held
apart with retractors.
The surgeon cautiously slit upon
the stomach, and remarkable dis
covery Mas iiiade. The whole m
terror was filled with long growth
of hair, which grew from the bot
tom OF the organ upward. There
was also lot OF loose hair. Such
a condition had never been seen
before, and the surgeon did not
know what to do. The hair when
touched had waving motion that
was very peculiar. Some oft was
cut out, and on every hair there
were number of small bugs that
seemed to be all legs. Tie bodies
were blue and heads red. 1t was
an entirely new addition to the bug
tribO. All Of the bair was cut
from the stomach and the bugs
saved. Some was pulled out BY
the roots, and produced an active
hemorrhagc. An incision was
made in the small intcstines, but
there was no hair there. The
stomach was carefully suturcd, the
abdominal wound closcdj and de-
yelopments awaited.
The patient was greatly improved
and when the wound in the stomcch
was healed, was able to take nour-
ishmcnt through the mouth. Her
food digcsted well, and it was
thought that shc had been cured.
She stopped eating hair, but the
hair in the stomach did not stop
growing. When it became long
there was the same Interference
with digestion rs before, and there
was
ANOTHER OPERATION.
This time a radical ctre was at
tempted. Tho abdomen was open
cd, the stomach cut the entire
length, and the hair was shaved
close to the membrane. Then the
section in which the hairy growth
originated was removed with a'del.
icate pair of scissors. This was
used as pattern to obtain from
the stomach Of youGg pig piece
exactly the same sizc. This was
removed from the pig without Civ
ing an an@sthetic, ahd, while the
membrane was pulsating with life,
it was quickly transferred TO the
PATIENTS body.
To suture it nicely was q very
difficult task because the membrane
in the woman and that in the pig
were not Of the sanre quality and
elasticity. The sHtures we're made
with the finest silk, and sixty seven
little knots were tied close together.
1t was grand succcss-one Of the
boldest attempts in modern surgery
to unite two differently constructed
membranes. The patient remained
in critical condition for several
days, but, with close attention to
nursing and treatment, she became
conyalesccnt. She will leave the
hospital this week. It is believed
now that she has been permanently
cured that the hair will not grow
sgain, and that her experience will
not lead her to disgust the pg's
stomach with a diet Of mixed hair.
-.Neto York Dis6dtch
There is one practice that many
people have when attending church
or other public places, that is very