Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1895-07-30
LEI 8! SID 3 / CUT WAY.
GREEN'S ARM, COLLAR BONE AND
$40 uLDER RENO OWED.


4 Upon Z New 'Yorier-It Was Rendered
i Necessary By. i. Caacerous. Gresth--F.a-
tient WIN Recover. SIS ]
S. One Of the most remarkable surgical
operations recorded III the past year WIS.
performed on William Green, q former
theater usher, at the charity hospital
on Blackwell's island, New. z ork, Last
week It is the second Of its hind ever.
performed in this country and was en-,
tirely successful. !, 7.z>2s ..s 81
Several months ago Green, while at
work in theater, sustained q severe
fall At the time he refused to 20 to a;
hospital and was not properly attended.
This resulted in the growth Of tumor
in q wound over his shoulder blade.
Finding the shoulder painful one day
Green sought q doctor, who only aggra-
waited the trouble. Finally he went to
the hospital, where it was discovered
that a cancerous growth had settled it,
self just over his shoulder blade. Green
was informed that amputation Of the
arm would be necessary to cure him,
but he refused to consent and went back
to work and saved some money to pay
his former physician, who said he could
cure him for $50. The money was raised
partly by Green's savings and partly by
the kind donations Of sympathizing
friends, but all to no avail
In his extremity the sufferer again.
sought the hospital and consented to
amputation. It was then found neces-
sary to remove the collar bone, shoulder
blade and arm, instead Of only the lat
ter. The most eminent surgeons in New
York were called in to act in council
BY severing the cartilage which attached
the collar bone to the breastbone and
cutting through the muscles holding the
shoulder blade to the ribs it became
possible to remove the entire ''pectoral
arch, " with the left arm attached.
An assistant raised the left arm and
held it in position. The operator, with
his knife, with one long, clean, sweep
ing movement, made an incision the en-
tire length of the collar bone and down
the back over the shoulder blade. There
was slight flow Of blood, which was
quickly sponged away by the attend
ants. The surgeon then quickly laid
bare the collar bone, checking all i'm
portant flows Of blood with artery for
ceps and tying the vessels with catgut
igatures as he proceeded. The cartilage
joining the collar bone to the breast
bone was next severed, and then the
clavicle was raised and entirely remov-
ed The operator then proceeded to dis
sect the skin, exposing the shoulder
blade, after which he severed the mus
cles which held it to the back Then he
made a circular incision beneath the
arm and through the muscles of the
breast. The arm. and shoulder blade
were then free, and the operator set
them down on the table with the CLAW.
icle.
The entire left side had been removed,
and yet not more than Tablespoonful
Of blood was lost. All the customary
and still greater precautions were taken
In dressing the wound; The loose flaps
of skin were brought together and sewed
with silk. and several small rubbe,
drainage tubes were inserted to keeI
the inside Of the wound free from thu
gathering Of pus. ,@ I ::..:. i "a
" And SO the patient was returned K
the sick ward much easier than when
he was brought into the operating room
but minus his left arm, shoulder blade
and collar bone. The operation took JUS
hour and 40 minutes, and the patien
has been steadily gaining strength eve
since.
Only three other operations Of thu
kind are recorded in medical records
One Of these was in France, one in Eng
land and one in America. New Yorl
Journal