The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-12-23
BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE.
Remarkable Case of Young
James McGaughrey.
HIS HEART HAD CEASED TO BEAT.

New York Surgeon-A Boy Revived AT
ter lie Was seemingly Dead - He L.
Ginning Strength Every Day.
New YORK, Dec 23.-The medical pro
fession is much stirred, so far az it is as
yet familiar with the facts in the case,
by the details Of a remarkable surgical
operation performed within few days by
DR.. Albert Skunk
The feat accomplished is no less than
the bringing back to life OF a person prac-
tically dead, as the term is usually under
stood
Among the many wonderful cases re-
corded in recent years, probably not one
has been marked by features as unique as
that Of which James McGaughry is to-day
the living example. The patient is IL
years old.
The physician was called TO the case
late in the evening, and when he reac
the house the patient had very marNeI
symptoms of Appendicitis"
The sufferer was doomed, as far as
could be determined by precedents in sim
liar cases
On the advice Of s.the physician the fam
lily were advised Of the gravity of the
case, and when next morning very siza-
BILE lump was observable over the seat OF
the inflammation, the diagnosis was fully
justified and the trouble was exactly
stated to be an abscess around the vermi-
form appendix.
An operation was at once recommended,
but was delayed until the arrival of rela-
tives who had been summoned in anticipa-
tion of the near approach of death.
Permission to proceed was then given,
it being understood that in any event of
failure to secure relief the end would not
be hastened more than 10 minutes.
The patient was quickly placed on the
table and while under the influence of
slight anesthetic an opening about eight
inches long was made in the walls Of the
abdomen. From the incision there was
at once a plenteous flow of puss.
No 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 eyes up
turned, the colduess of the eXtremities,
and the death perspiration with which
the body was covered, left no doubt in
the minds of those present that the eX
pertinent had resulted fatally.
At this point the surgeons tact was
displayed. With one hand he tore open
the wound, while with the other he emp
tied the contents of the pitcher of hot
water into the abdominal cavity.
For brief interval the futtering re-
newal of the action of the heart was ap-
parent only to the practiced medical eye,
but soon the pulsation grew stronger, and
ere long the patient gave unmistakable
signs of returning consciousness. Then
the eyes 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 patient was assisted
to retain the ground gained by the adj
ministration of hyperdermic injections.
With a new lease of life, there was a
chance for the surgeon to look for the
seat Of the abscess.
After several fruitless efforts to do
this, it was decided to remove a portion
of the intestines For better protection
they were wrapped in a 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 were explored, the abscess sack
being found and carefully removed. Then
the foreign substance which had caused
the Inflammation Of the appendix was re-
moved.
The abdominal cavity was next thor
oughly cleansed antisceptically, and after
the puss had been washed from the ex-
posed portions Of the intestines they were
returned to their place.
Before this was done, however, a drain
age tube of about eight inches in length
was inserted 50 as TO lead to the lower
| bowels.
The wound was then closed and the
sufferer left in charge of the surgeons
assistant and a trained nurse
Remarkable as the operation is, it is
still more marvellous that every day since
the patient has gained in strength a is
to-day convalescent.
Frequent examinations have been made
of the progress OF affairs in the patient $
abdomen, and as fast as eSpedient the
drainage tube is Withdrawn, until now
only about three inches remain in SER
| vice.