The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-07-10
HIS LEFT SIDE CUT away
Nm, Green's Arm, Collar Bone and
q. Shoulder Removed.
"a Remarkable Surgical Operation
Performed Upon New Yorker.
4 1t was Rendered Necessary by
Cancerous Growth. Pa
tent Will Recover.

a Uue of tho most renarkaple surgical
operations recorded in tho past year was
performed on William Green, former
theater usher, at the charity hospital
ON Blackwell's island, New York, last
week. 1t is tho second of it's kind ever
performed in this country and was en-
tirely successful
Several months ago Green, while at
work in q thcater sustained severe
fall At the time no refused to 80 to "a
hospital and was not properly attended
! This resulted in tho growth Of tunlor
In wound over his shoulder blade.
4 Finding tho shoulder painful, one day
Green sought n doctor, who only aggra-
waited the trouble. Finally he went to
the. hospital, where it was discovered
thata canoerous 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 pny
his former physician, who said he could
cure him for $50. Tho money was raised
paSly by Green's savings and partly by
the kind donations of sympathizing
friends, but all to no avail
In his extremity tho sufferer again
sought the hospital and consented to
amputation. 1t was then found neces-
Sary to remove the collar bone, shoulder
blade aud arm, instead of only the lat
ter. The most eminent surgeons in New
York were called in to act in council.
BY ssvaring the cartilage which attached
the collar bone to tho breastbone and
cutting through the muscles holding the
shoulder blade to the ribs it became
possible to remove the entire "pectoral
arch with tho left arm attached.
An assistant raised the loft arm and
held ut in position. The operator, with
his 1ilfife, with one long, clean, sweep.
ing movement, made an incision the en-
tire. length of tho collar bone and down
tho back over the shoulder blade. There
was q 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
cops and tying the vessels with catgut
hgatures as he proceeded. The CARTILAGE
Joining the collar bono to the breast
bone was next severed, and then tho
clavlclo was raised and entirely remov-
ed. The operator then proceeded TO dis
sect tho skin, exposing the shoulder
blade, after which he severed the mus
Giles Which held it to tho back. Then he
made q circular incision beneath the
arm ana through tho muscles Of the
breast The arm and shoulder blade
We're then free, and the operator set
them down on tho table with the CLAY
icle
The entire left side had been removed.
and yet not more than IA, tablespoonful
or bfQcd was lost. Ali tho customary
and Still greater precauG.ons were taken
In dressing the wound. The loose flaps
OF skin We're brought together and sewed
with silk, and several small rubber
drainage tubes We're inserted to keep
the. inside Of the wound free from the
gathering of pus.
AND SO. the patient was returned to
the sick ward much easier than when
ne was, srought-into the operating room,
but n,inus his left arm, shoulder blade
and collar bone The operation took just
hour and 40 minutes, and the patient
has been steadily gaining strength ever
since
. Only three 'other operations of the
kind gre recoy ded in medical records
Stne OF tIese was in France, ono in Eng
!anu and, one in America New York
journal.