Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-02
THE SURGEONS KNIFE.
Remarkable Case of the Removal of
a Tumor From the Aorta.
1T WAS 100 NEAR THE HEART.
Grating Frog Skin and Taking Inches of
Steel From Q Brain.
A woMAN's EFFORT TO LIVE FOREVER

could not be delayed. The patient suffered
from the unusual complaint of tumor of
the aorta, which is the arterial trunk rising
from the left ventricle of the heart. Miss
Mamie Bernard, 26 years of age, who is the
unfortunate sufferer, is the subject of only
the fifth operation of this kind on the hos
pital records of the world, out of which only
one has been successful If she RECEIVERS it
will be one of the most heroic attempts at
llfe-saving performed by surgeons
Miss Bernard is the young housekeeper
of a wealthy family who dwell on Madison
avenue, this city. Her story, as told at the
hospital, confirmed by her friends and
narrated by DIR. j. s. Hammond, is that the
cause of the tumor is due to having been
struck in her left breast by swiftly thrown
baseball some years ago while witnessing q
championship game at the Polo grounds.
The injury was by no means small one.
Her ribs were fractured, as was also her
breast bone.
She Refused the Op sration.
Three months after the injury she grew
weak, and complained of a peculiar feeling
in the breast-not that of sharp pain, but s
supposed her heart to be. She was sent to
New York Hospital by her mistress to con-
suit with Prot. Frank Hartley. He in
formed her that tumor had formed itself
on the aorta, which should be removed at
once, to avoid death, and that she must sub
nit to an operation. This she refused, say
ing that she had a horror of the surgeons 8
knife, and would rather die than undergo
the treatment.
As a natural consequence, the poor girl
spent a small fortune in medical attend
apce, and was finally taken to Bellevue
Hospital in an unconscious state. A consul
tation of many prominent surgeons from
the different hospitals Of the city was held
over her almost lifeless body on the after
noon of the day she arrived at the hospital.
But the surgeons disagreed. Many OF them
decided that cure was impossible, and that
it would be nothing less than a human vlvi-
section to undertake an operation. But the
majority were in favor of q bold attempt to
save her life, arguing that she would die in
two or three days, and that it was the duty
of the surgeons to take up every possible
chance of recovery in such case.
The Delica acy of the Operation.
The patient was removed to the operating
amphitheater and prepared for the ordeal.
operator addressed large audience of stu
dents and professional men, saying:
The removal of aneurism of the aorta
with success is almost an unheard Of thing
in this country. recall one case, says DR..
Hammond, in which one OF these tumors was
removed with success, but this one case was
operated upon by Prof. William Il. Bull be-
fore 1t had grown to any mentionable size.
The late famous London surgeon, Prof Sir
Ashley Cooper, made three OF the five re-
ed att n ma
with this terrible aff1iction, by operations on
which he studied for years, but none of them
were successful. and in disgust, he gave up
the study. One of mis- patents lived 13 days
and the professors success made quite a stir
| in medical circles abroad. But since the
| patient died on the thirteenth day, that day
| in the life ofa patient after remarkable
operation is always one of great anxiety. "1t
is more difficult in my opinion to re-
move a tumor from this artery near the
heart than it is from the brain. That there
before US, there can be no doubt, as here in
plain sight are all the symptoms, even to
lieve the case before ME to be an exuraordi-
nary one OF its kind, too, as in none of those
have seen was the swelling in the upper
part of the back; nor had the dilitatlon
pulsatton be felt distinctly by placing the
hand against the skin. II VIC are allowed
success in the undertaking, which we hope
to accomplish, 1t will be case for the hos.
successful the patient will be saved much
suffering and probably die day or SO be-
tore the disease would have claimed her
life.
Attacked Near the Heart.
As the patient was now ready for the
knife, the surgeon began by making a
small incision in the back over the swollen
artery. AS this was done the tremendous
substance immediately projected through
the wound, and it was found necessary, in
order to get at it, to saw q piece from one
| of the ribs, which was also connected to the
| aneurism. He then pushed the sac gently
| inward, and upon inspection found that the
connection was further up the big artery
| than he could reach. AS this was discov-
cred, complete silence prevailed. Nothing,
| it was thought by those present, could be
| done under such circumstances. Thus this
| legitimately should have been the end Of
| the struggle. The tumor was evidently
| near the heart, and to touch it meant im-
| mediate death.
The operating surgeon stood for mo-
| ment in an attitude of deep thought, when
| suddenly he seized the knife which he had
surrendered and moved his hand toward the
wound. The medical men present all
| stood aghast. The surgeon appeared to be
overcome with his devotion to the noblest
of all sciences, and could not decide that
the patient was beyond all surgical aid
Exposed tho Heart to View.
The wound in the back was enlarged in
| an instant, revealing to sight the full ex-
, tent of the aorta aneurism. Even the heart
was exposed. Again the tumor as pushed
| inward, and deeper and deeper the surgeon s
slender hand sunk into the wound until he
| touched the aorta where it enters the heart
He quickly ran his fingers along the big
hat <E
| attachment was at its furthermost end-too
near the heart to even think of removing ii.
| The surgeon called tor suture, still hold
| ing the aorta with his left hand. A knot
was quickly made and passed around the
| pulsating artery with great dexterity, and
| in second a fine ligature tied.
The surgeon watched the patients face
as the knot was tightened to discover an
| expected change OF expression upon it. The
change came and for an instant he almost
broke down, but suddenly the face went
| back to its old expression This ended the
| operation. The wound was closed partly
and dressed. The patient breathed irregu-
larly at first but finally improved. The
| pulsation of the arterial tumor ceased. In
| this condition Miss Bernard was removed
| to commence the actual struggle for life, of
| which the surgeon was the only one who
had come to her aid.
Frog Skin Successfully Grated.
A little girl named Annie Green was the
| subject of the frog skin treatment at Pres
| byterian Hospital short time ago. She
| was taken from large tenement house fire
on Fitty-third street two weeks ago and in
| different places on her body the skin was
literally destroyed Frog skin was the
only treatment for cure in such cases and
| was administered with unusual success In
fact, it is not always successful The little