The evening world., 1891-04-28
CORK STILL IN HIS LUNG,
Dr.. Bothwell's Case One Of the
Most Remarkable Known.
Tho Obstacle May BE Removed
by an Opening from the Chest.

on The very verge OF the abyss Of death.
DR.. Botnweli has an appetite and reiishea
such nourishment as the condition OF his
shroat will permit him TO indulge In. He is
alert and alive TO the AFFAIRS OF the world, aud
vniles away the days IN reading the metropolis
tan newspapers.
Though he hns suffered the operation OF
tracheotomy and now inhales the breath OF
life through a silver tube inserted In cut
made In his trachea some days ago, he is able
TO articulate, though 1t Ia not very agreeable
business.
The reverend gentleman passed compara-
lively easy night last night, and mis- massive
form showed no signs OF weakening this
morning, while his mentality was clear and
his spirit uncouded, in spite OF his CRITICAL
situation.
No other case OF the kind il known to
surgery, and the most eminent members OF the
profession are searching for treatment that
win cure this remarkable ailment
& The cork In now located by the patient him
self In his left lung. How 10 get 1t out Is the
problem which the physicians are trying to
solve.
Corks do not rot. There ia no known re-
eolyept, and II there were It is doubtful II Its
use would DO safe.
~:.Dr. Boutwell, Is @ powerfully built man. lie
stand Q feet inches In height, ana Is Of robust
bald and full nabit. his weight being nearly
three hundred pounds. lie was installed as
pastor Of the Church OF the Covenant. Ciasson
avenue, Brooklyn. but recently. lie came
from the Presidency OF the Straight
University OF Louisiana, and his fame as q
linRuist, pulpit orator and profound scholar
had presided him. He had inRra,iated himself
In the hearts Of his Brooklyn 1ock. and whether
In the pulpit OF among the sunday-schooi chill
dren, no was king oil the hearts Of all those
about him.
Tho parson lived with Mrs. Boutwell, and
their two little girls at 9sa Butler street, but
since their coming from the South the children
have not been we'll Some disagreeable medi-
cine had to be taken, and the great big parson
was most successful In "jollylng" the nasty
stun down the tnroats OF MS petR
A week ago last Saturday DR.. Boutwell, was
administering the medicine to the younger
child and beguiling her by laughter and jokes
He had drawn the cork from the bottle with his
teeth.
The cork was half ap incn in diameter and an
inch iong-such q cork rs usually stops four
ounce vial.
1uo kUOu uVCtot bhNo M hoeiv
and reassuring laugh as the nasty medicine
went down Daby's throat. III fact he ex-
hausted his lungs, and as he inhaled again,
his mouth being still open. the cork was drawn
in TO the root Of his tongue.
DIR. Bothwen gagged and choked and
gasped. He tried 10 reach the cork with his
fingers, and the gasp and the nngers together
forced the cork still further In. 1t passed the
epiglottis and into the larynx.
The next exhaiation from the lungs carried
the cork upward and against the Cloths Inc
effect was an Irritation like that produced BY
tickling the throat with feather, and causet
convulsive coughing. The coughing continued
for several hours, the parson expecting at AM
moment TO cough out the cork.
Although In these coughing ns DR.. Both.
well almost strangled to death, he stlll did moi
consider the ACCIDENT at all serious, and tn,
next day, Sunday, he actually preached tn,
usual morning sermon 10 his iock with thai
cork still In his throat. His voice was 4 littl,
hoSrse and speaking was exceedingly painful,
but his congregation knew nothing Of bill
suffering.
That day, however. the family physician,
Dr. william II. BiRgam, was sent for by Mrs.
Boutwell,, and came to the parsonage. Recog
nizing the case as Il very serious one, DR.,
Biggam consulted with Ora Wcstbrook anC
Sherlock, throat specialists, and an effort wa
made TO locate the offending cork.
The throat was painted with cocaine I,
deaden il sensibility, a small circular miro
was introduced, and by It's aid the larynx Wa
illumined, but the cork could not he seen, an,
probing was as unsuccessful In locating IT., 81
that the doctors concluded that It was locate
in the trachea at the biiurca,iou, ana that
would probably be expelled in one OF tn
coughing spasms,
Therefore. nature was given a chance. oni
agsrgIe to allsy the Irritation ,uR given, an
Dr. Boutwell, actually preached the usual even
ing sermon.
All Sunday night and Monday the big parso
coughed violently, and Monday night the cor
was dislodged sud forced up TO the glottis
again.
But the throat was closed by q spasm, an
The cork was not expelled, but with the rus
Of air back to the lungs II was carried bac
Into the tractres, and there was intense pal
resulting, aud q constant sense OF suifocRtio
and persistent oppression.
The patient was suffering Intensely an
growing weaker, and Tuesday another col
sultation resulted In his removal to the Uuip
League CLUB ana an attempt TO dislolRe ~
cork by mechanical means.
The athletic form OF the patient was au
pended upon bar. the docto. hanging dou Die
mp, the bar passing across the abdomen al
his feet and head hanging downward.
While In this position the patient was mac
TO cough until he was completely exhauste,
but the cork held on.
Then private room was secured At Il
brooklyn Hospital, and here the operation
tacheotomy was performed. long, long
tudinal incision was made IN the throat belo
the cricoid cartilage. The skin was parte,
the little nerves and muscles were severed al
along section OF The windpipe was exposed.
Then an opening was made In the inte
AnnulaT space with q probe pointed bistour
and through the opening q good view OF Il
trachea was had, but the cork was not In sigh
Long bladed forceps passed into the bronon
reached the cork, but could not be opened su
noiently TO grasp II. Attempts 10 catch 1t wi
hook were equally unsuccessful. Every 1
sirument known 10 surIery Tor ike use "
tried but without success, and the surgeo
were obliged TO deEist after two hours. as /
patient began TO show signs OF q coming G.
lapse.
Then the wound was kept open by the insr
a OE NRUkAz