Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-05-02
SWALLOWED A CORK.
A Ministers Mishap-One Half oft in Eli
Lungs.

Lungs.
New YORK, May 1.-The Rev. DR.. Geo.
w. Boutwell, OF the Church OF Covenant
OF Brooklyn is believed TO have got rid of
one-hfteenth part of the cork tina has
stopped up one of his bronchial tubes
for more than week. DR.. Boutwell,
was giving a dose of medicine TO one Of
his children ten days ago. lie held the
cork of the bottle that contained the
medicine between his teeth. Another
one of his children cut up monkey
shines to amuSe the child that was
being dOSed and DIR. Boutwell, himself
burst out laughing.
The cork slipped from between his
teeth, ard when he drew long breath
it was sucked down his throat.
The victim of the accident has been
in the Brooklyn City Hospital now for
a week
DIR. Boutwell, was laid on the opera
ting table on Il rubber sheet, his head
resting on a rubber pillow. Ether was
then administered and work was begun.
DR.. RuchmOre and DR.. Bates opened
was made last Wednesday, and the tube
was very carefully inserted about one
half its length. Then the probe was
put in it,, but the cork could not be felt.
The tube was pushed down gradually
until about twO-thirdS its length was
in the throat, the end being in
the bronchial tube. Then the
probe was used again. and this time
the cork was found. 1t was near the
lower end of the bronchial tube, where
the bronchial tube begins TO send out
branches into the lungs. The tube was
pushed further down until the end
touched the cork, and then the screw
was inserted very slowly and carefully
into the flexible tube. The doctors had
gathered very close about the table in
tenSely interested. The screw was
turned into the cork, it was thought,
and gentle pressure was brought to
bear, but it did not hold and slipped off.
Then the tube and all was taken out.
A severe fit OF coughing followed. and
it was during this that the doctors
thought that the One-ffteenth OF the
cork was coughed up. The piece was not
found, but the doctors were very certain
that it had been broken off by the screw
and diSlOdged. The tube was inserted
again and the screw put down, this time
not with so good result. The screw
could not be forced into the cork. There
was another coughing fit. The inStru-
ment was taken out and inserted a third
time with no better result, and then
fourth time without success. The pa
tient was growing rapidly weak. Final
ly it was inserted a fifth time again
without result, and then it was decided
that in the weakened condition the pa
tient was it would be dangerous to con-
tinuo the experiment, and it was defer
red until Friday or Saturday.
DR.. Boutwell, was taken back to his
room and he slowly recovered from the
effects of the operation. Last night he
was reported TO be almost as well as he
was before the unsuccessful operation,
and rapidly recovering his strength.
After the operation both DR.. RuShmore
and DR.. Bates expressed great hopes OF
being successful in drawing out the OBJ
StructiOn next time, and the others
agreed with them that the chances
were, if anything, in favor Of the cap
ture of the cork. If it is extracted in
this way DR.. Bothwell's life will, in all
probability, be saved. Reaching the
cork and getting the screw inserted in
il far enough TO hold without breaking
the cork is, of course, very delegate
operation, but it is not half so delicate
as the work of pulling the cork out will
be. 1t may be that the bronchial tube
will be badly congeSted and swollen.
Then there will not be nearly so much
room TO pull the cork up as there was TO
let II 20 down. 1t is very likely, too,
that the cork itself is swollen and is now
considerably larger than it was when 1t
was sucked down toward the lung.
There is no record of case where so
large an article rs this cork has got so
far down. DR.. Boutwell, is large man
aud possesses unusual strength. He
has especially strong lungs, the doctors
say. These things are greatly in his IA
vor, and therefore his chances Of recoy-
cry are better than the chances of other
persons who meet with similar accidents.
His family are greatly encouraged at the
reports Of the doctors, and have very
strong hopes of his ultimate recovery.
DR.. Boutwell, himself is resigned He
says he hasn't by any means given up
hope, but he is prepared for his fate
whatever it is.