The herald., 1896-10-08
UNDER THE KNIFE
Nine De|lCQ|e 0nd Difficult SuTgIcQl
0peI0llQRs m One D0y
HIS LEG OR HIS LIFE
A Young Man Makes His Choice
Between the Two
IN THE LAND OF ANESTHESIA
People Who Go There and Come Back
Minus Their Legs and Arms aud
Tumors, ETC., Etc.
SURGERY AN EXACT SCIENCE
But. Like Mathematics. if the Sum
Is Not Worked Right the Result
Will Be All Wrong

The thousands of happy, ~ell-content-
ed, well-conditioned people of Los An
geles go about their daily business and
pastimes without giving a thought to
the hundreds, even in this healthful city.
who are prone upon sick beds or
stretched upon operating tables under
the surgeons knife.
One had his mind turned in this de-
rection Monday by visit to the Sisters
Hospital, which in turn led to visit
to the model medical Institute of the
English and German Expert Specialists,
in the Byrne building, corner Third and
Broadway. .
At the hospital, among other interest
ing patients, was young man who had
just had his good right leg amputated
near the thigh. It was learned that
the operation was most remarkable
one in many ways, and had been per-
formed by the English and German Ex-
pert Specialists, SO away to the insti-
tute hies the interviewer to get the par
ticulars.
He arrived there after office hours
in the evening, and the doctors were
discussing the cases of the day. They
were very many and very interesting,
even to the lay mind of the reporter.
But the great ate.Scnterest centered in the
surgical operations of the day-no less
than seven in number, as 1t transpired,
and all of very delicate and difficult
character.
I'm glad poor Gleason is doing 80
WE'LL" said DR.. O'Brien, in a tired but
satisfied tone.
Yes" said Dr. Hopkins, "that was
shaky case, and no mistake
Instantly the visitor recognozed his
man at the Sisters Hospital, and he
wanted to know who poor Gleason was,
and what was the operation, and ali
about it.
Well. the doctors gave the history of
the case, and barring the breaks the
layman is liable to make in technicali-
ties, the story is substantially as fol-
lows:
The interesting patient is Mr.. U. o.
Gleason. of Cotton, Cal, a highly edu-
Gated and popular young man in both
the social and business circles of that
city. His trouble was tuberculosis of
the kuee joint, and the case came into
the hands of the English and German
Expert Specialists in a very advanced
stage, some six months ago. after other
doctors had given the young man up to
die. They at once saw that they had a
bad case on their hands, but resolved
to make desperate fight for the young
mans life. and If possible to save his
leg. Every means known to medical
and surgical science were brought to
bear on the case, and at times 1t looked
very hopeful. But latterly 1t became
apparent that the leg must come off
or the life must go out. And yet the vi
tality of the patient was so low from the
constant sapping of his strength by the
great suppurating sore on his knee, that
it seemed almose homicidal to attempt
an operation. However, Gleason was
brave, and so were his family and
friends, and the operation was decided
upon.
Last Saturday he was brought to this
city, and his friends at Cotton thought
they had taken final farewell of him.
And indeed their worst expectations
were nearly realized. Twice the patient
died." as the doctors say, on the oper-
ating table. At one time respiration
ceased for full three minutes; at an
other the hearts action stopped full
two minutes, and evidently it was only
his life was preserved. To add to the
difficulties under which the surgeons
labored, 1t was found on making the
primary incisions, that the pus had
burrowed out great hole and channel
along the anterior of the thigh bone,
almost to the hip, making 1t necessary
to amputate higher up than was origi-
nally intended, and also requiring the
cleansing Of the cavity by surgical
means, all greatly prolonging the oper-
alton.
But, despite all the untoward primal
SOHuAtioiiS criiu LIE ulIllculLleS encounter
ed,the patient came out of his anaesthes-
ia as from refreshing sleep. He was
free from the usual vomiting in such
cases lowing, no doubt, to the use of
an anaesthetic of peculiarly pleasant
properties,) and has rallied rapidly and
Is taking nourishment and resting ess-
lily. The nurses declare 1t to be most
wonderful case in these respects.
But what of the other six cases?
The fact Is, SO much space has been
given to Mr.. Gleason's remarkable case
that he will have to cut the others short.
There was young Clark, of No. 103
Newell street, this city, came with a
bullet in his hand and the doctors took
it out.
Then there was lady (who shall, for
obvious reasons, be nameless,) who had
a uterine tumor removed-a very deli
cate operation, but performed, as it ap-
peared. in a highly successful manner.
Mr.. Blank of this city was operated
on for piles, and also another gentle
men for the same trouble These oper-
ations, from the talk of the doctors,
We're not everyday affairs by any
means. In fact, 1t appeared all through
the talk that only the most difficult
cases came to the English and German
Expert Specialists.
There were two operations for rup-
ture and two others Of character that
suggests sacred religious rite, though
they We're performed IN these cases for
purely physical reasons.
The doctors told Of all these operations
very interestingly. clearly demonstrat-
ing the high art of surgery.
Before saying good night, the visitor
asked If surgery was not almost an ex-
act science these days.
Eyes, my boy" answered DR.. Janss.
$50 Is mathematics. But If you don't
add and subtract and multiply and
divide correctly your result is all wrong.
So is surgery. You must cut out at the
right time and in the right place, Just
deep enough, and not too deep, not too
long or too short. In short, you must
know your business"