Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-12-23
BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE
Remarkable Case of Young
 James McGaughrey.
HIS HEART HAD CEASED TO BEAT

Wonderful Operation Performed By .
 New York Surgeon-A Boy Revived Af
 ter He Was Seemingly Dead - He La Gaining Strength Every Day.
 NEW YORK, Dec 23-The medical pro fession is much stirred, so far as it is as yet familiar with the facts in the case, by the details of a remarkable surgical operation performed within a few days by Dr. Albert Skunk.
 The feat accomplished is no less than the bringing back to life of 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 12 years old.
 The physician was called to the case late in the evening, and when he reached the house the patient had very marked symptoms of Appendicitis"
 The sufferer was doomed, as far as could be determined by precedents in sim ilar cases.
 On the advice of sthe physician the fam fly wero advised of the gravity of the case, and when next morning a very siza- ble 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 tivrs 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 hastcned more than 10 minutes.
 The patient was quickly placed on the table and while under the influence of a slight anesthctiC an opening about eight inches long was made in the walls of the abdomen. From the incision there was at once q plcnteous 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 glassy eyes up turned, the colduess of the eXtremities, and the death precipitation 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 a brief interval the tuttering 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 a dazed sort of way, as if the subject was awakening from deep sleep.
 The action of the hot water having neutralzed the effect of the ether that had been given, the patient was assisted to retain the ground gained by the ad ministration of hyperdermic injections. With a new lease of life, there was chance for the surgeon to look for the seat of the absCcss.
 After several fruitless efforts to do this, it was decided to remove a portion of the intrstnes. For 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 were explored, the abscess sack l being found and carefully removed. Then the seat of the trouble was reached and 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 l 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 l age tube of about eight inches in length
 was inserted 50 as to lead to the lower l bowels.
 The wound was then closed and the l sufferer left in charge of the surgeons l assistant and trained nurse l Remarkable as the operation is, it is still more marvellous that every day since | the patient has gained in strength and is l to-day cOnValCsCent.
 Frequent examinations have been made
 of the progress of affairs in the patient s | abdomen, and as fast as eXpedient the | drainage tube is withdrawn, until now
 only about three inches remain in ser l vice.