The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1893-08-04
DASHED HIS HEART,
But the Doctors sewed 1t Up aud He win
Recover.

INT the Doctors Sewed 1t Up and He win
Recover.
The Chicago Inter, Ocean reports a
Most remarkable piece Of surgery.
At ProviGent Hospital, Chicago, a few
ulgut- ago. The patient, strong,
Young colored man, had got mixed
M IN a street brawl, aud was stabbed
in the left breast by an assailaut who
welded sailors knife. When
brought to the hospital the injured
man WAS very weak from shock, in
ternal hemorrhage, aud loss OF blood,
ana by the ATTENDANTS he was thought
to be dying. The doctors saw al u
glance that his condition Was most
alarming.
On examination it was found that
yhe wound in the left breast was
diagonal cut about four inches long,
between the tifIh aud sixth rios
There was also every indication that
the cut was very deep, and it puzzled
tue surgeons not little To Bee the
man sui alive when it appeare I
probable that the knife had reached
his heart. Everything possible to
secure rest for the patient WAS done,
ana preparations were made for All
30. eratl,n carry On ne fohUwiI 9
MJtning.
On account Of the unusual interest
attaching to the operation, which was
tor injury to tue heart aud pericard-
ium, DR.. Williams notified other
members OF lie profession and a
large attendance followed. A score
81 more OF surgeons, anxious to Wit
nees the operation and note the result,
we're present in the interests OF
science. The heart being involved
il the injury, the patient Was Lot
elherlzed, bus aniesLhesia was pro-
duced by the use Of culorofUrm.
Then he was taken from the wheel
bed AMI paced on the operating table.
Dr. Williams and his Assistant, clad
IN wMlte gowns tied around the wais,,
and the Uaiued nurses on whom 90
much depends q. such critical times,
were ready Tor the ordeal. The UGn.
ers were gathered about like observ-
ers at n cllnic.
The operation did not last very
long, but it was most delic tte as well
as daring. Tue wound was carefully
opened and the walls were held apart
while the surgeon deXterOusly re-
moved parts of Two ribs. Then deep
er explorations were made, but with
the utmost care, until at last the III
conscious mans heart was laid bare.
II was found that the pericsrdium
had been cut with the murderOus
knife, aud that the point OF the weap.
gu bad actually punctured the heart
itself. The wound Wa, in fact, oil
such character that few surgeons
would have hesitated TO pronounce it
fatal.
But in this case the patients con-
ditlon seemed to be in his favor
neither his temperature nor his pulse
was extremely high. With dexterous
hands the surgeon explored every
part of the wound, while he pro
ceeded with the greatest delicacy and
caution to dress the injury and close
the cut in the pericardium. Vessels
that had been sever. d were secured
with artery clamps aud tied with
ligatures OF catgut. A call for suture:
was then made, and, after every pre-
caution had been taken, the wound
itself was partially closed at the out
or surface. A small rubber tube was
left in the wound for few days
which served to drain off into the
outer dressings all fluid exhibitions
Since the operation, which tool
place on Juiy 8, the healing process
has been going on admirably, aud the
patient gave every indication OF re-
nOVery,