The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-11
ALIVE WITH HEART EXPOSED.

The Strange Case of Man Who Works
Daily. though with Bare Heart
New York World.
John j. Norris, boiler-maker. had q very
hard days work on Sept g. 1890 He was
hammerlDg rivets that day from in the
morning until 10 at night. 1t made HIM
356Lafayette avenue, Brooklyn, that night.
he was so weary that he sat down on the
front door stoOp to rest q minute. He fell
asleep. He slept on until midnight, when
his wife. worried over his absence, opened
the front door to watch for his approach.
She Was glad to find her husband on the
steps. but directly became deeply con-
cerned to find that he was in stupor and
almost liable to move.
For three weeks Norris lay sick with q
violent fever. On Nov. l. 1890. he went
back to work. but he missed his old-time
strength. He consulted physicians at
Roosevelt Hospital. One of them discov-
cred that the sometime strong boller-maker
was suffering from suppurative pieurisy. 1t
had been caused by the fever. Its seat was
on the left side, in the region OF the heart.
Ordinary treatment failed to give Norris
relief. Then II was explained to him that
there was but one course to pursue. That
WAS to make an opening and remove parts
OF three or four ribs The doctors said this
was the only way In which the sick mans
life could be saved.
The danger of the operation and the
chances of its resulting in death were ex-
planned to Norris. He resolved to take his
chances. The operation was performed on
Dec. 3. 1890, by DIR. McBerney. Ittook fifty
minutes to remove the flesh and saw away
the ribs. When the ordeal was ended there
was an opening in Norris,s left side fully
four inches in diameter. Through it could
plainly be seen the mans pulsating heart
and q portion of his loft lung.
Norris lived. Careful nursing brought
him back to health and strength. To he
sure. there was the hole in his side, the
opening that exposed that vital part. the
blood-pumping heart. But the doctors had
q way of dressing it with antiseptic cloths
that prevented poisoning and kept the pa
Trent from catching cold. At first 1T had to
be dressed very frequently, then 1t was
found that new dressing every three or
four days would suffice.
And this being the case, Norris felt that
he could, that he ought to- go to work again.
And he did. BOiler-making. though. was
too severe for man with his heart exposed.
SO he sought lighter employment A job
was given him by George BrOadhurst ~
Son, makers of manicure goods, at No. 4
Howard street. There Norris is working
now. lie is getting along pretty well and
is rather happy. His disposition is cheer
full and he is philosopher enough to look on
the best front of affairs. Over in Hoboken,
ut No. LOG Second street, he has as coy
q home 10 q man with his wages can have,
and there Norris manages to get good bic
girl of five and q boy of six years.
Sometimes Norris holds small mirror to
his side and sees his thrObbing heart re-
Elected In the glass. 1t Is taking great risks,
though, for him to meddle with the dress
ings and bandages. aud therefore he seldom
does so. His condition is such that it is
prudent for him to see doctor often, and,
BESIDES q doctor is the only one who can
properly place the antseptic cloths in posi-
tiOE. OF late he has been going to the
Chambers-street Hospital to have this
service performed. The doctors there are
interested In the case. They say it is re-
markable. There have been instances"
said one of the physicians. yesterday,
where operations have been performed
rendering it necessary for incisluns to be
made in the side. but in such cases the
wounds soon healed and the opening W as
closed. In Norris's case there is no prospect
of healing, the opening is too large. Norris
suffers no pain now, and If he has the dress
ings attended to properly he 10 likely to
live for many years. He is thirty-twO
years old now, is five feet ten inches tall,
and while not robust is wiry and quite
active"
For some weeks Norris has been having
the dressings changed every third night
This evening he is to call at Chambers
street Hospital and once more the doctors
will have an opportunity to look at living
mans beating heart