The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-12-23
BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE.
Remarkable Surgical Operation Of
New York Physician.
THE BODY WAS COLD AND RIGID.

During the Progress OF Delicate
Operation in Surgery the Patients
Heart Ceased Beating-Restored
by Wonderful Medical Skill.
New YoRK, Dec. 23.-Among the
many wonderful cases recorded in re,
cent years probably not one has been
marked by features as unique as that of
which Jimmy McCaughey is today the
living example.
DR.. Albert Skunk was called to the
case late in the evening, and when he
reached the house at / p. IN. the patient
had very marked symptoms OF tappen.
dicitis." or as it is popularity called, in.
fiammation of the blind intestine, The
diagnosis made plain the fact that the
sufferer was doomed, as far as could be
determined by precedents in similar
cases On the advice Of the physician
the members of the family were advised
OF the gravity of the case. and when
next morning a lump was observable
over the seat of the inflammation the
diagnosis was fully justified, and the
trouble was exactly stated to be an alb.
scess around the vermiform appendix.
An operation was at once recommended,
1t was o'clock the next afternoon
when the surgeon was finally called and
directed to proceed. When he arrived
he discovered to his surprise that the
ahscess had broken, thus covering the
intestines with the liberated matter. In
this crisis it was clear to the scientific
mind that the boy was dying. The pa
tient was quickly placed ON q table. and
while under the influence of a. a.,slight
an@sthetic an opening about eight
inches long was made in the walls OF
abdomen. From the incision there was
at once plenteous flow of pus. Nc
sooner had this taken place than the
pulse ceased to beat, the heart stopped
the jaw dropped and every evidence OF
the most complete collapse betokened
the presence of death. The CLASSY ewes
upturned, the GOODNESS of the extrem
tiles, and the death perspiration with
which the body was covered, left nc
doubt in the minds of those present that
the experiment had resulted fatally.
Brought Back from Death.
At this point the surgeons resourceful
skill was displayed With one hand he
tore open the wound, while with the
other he poured hot water from a
pitcher into the abdominal cavity. For
brief interval the fiuttering renewal OF
the action of the heart was apparent
only to the practiced medical eye, but
soon the pulsation grew stronger, and
ere long the patient gave unmistaltable
signs of returning consciousness. Then
the eyes We're opened in dazed sort OF
way, as if the subject was awakening
from deep sleep. The action of the
hot water having neutralized the effect
of the ether that had been given, the pa
tient was assisted to retain the ground
gained by the administration of hypo.
dermic injections. With a new lease Of
life, there was a chance for the surgeon
to look for the seat of the abcess. After
several fruitless efforts to do this ii was
decided to remove a portion Of the in
testines. For their better protection
they were wrapped in towel warmed
by dipping it in hot water, and placed
ON the table by the patients side.
Thus, with room TO work, the
walls of the cavity We're explored, the
abscess sack being found and success
fully removed. Then the seat of the
trouble was reached, and the foreign
substance which had caused the, intianl.
nation of the appendix was removed.
The abdominal cavity was next thor
onghly claansed antiseptically and after
the pms had been washed from the ex-