Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1896-11-20
MARVELLOUS SURGERY.
Astonishing Feats Now Being
Performed with tho Knife,
Persons Living Who Have Bssa Dspsivsa
OF Their windpipes Livss osvsA
hy Nome Wonderful Opsr.
ntt0na.

1
your Jugular vein removed and live for
years afterward without feeling tho
loss at all, says the New York World.
A few persons have been thus distin-
guished and their lives have been saved
as consequence. The operation is
exceedingly difficult and delicate. To
the lay mind it seems impossible, but
we are fast learning that the modern
great surgeon docs not include this
word in his vocabulary.
The jugular vein has had more glory
than any other blood vessel. The most
ignorant person knows its location and
that to cut it means certain death.
"l1l hit him on the jugular," is COM
mon expression among prize-fghters
and toughs. When ran gets hit on
jugular he usually goes down and be-
comes specchlcss for minute or two,
but the jugular is no more responsible
for that than the big toe. There is .
little shining cord-a nerve-just back
Of the jugular which controls speech
and respiration. When forceful blow
is struck in the region Of the jugular !
this nerve is paralyzed and what II
technically known as . knockout TO |
suits.
The jug,lar is nearly an inch in diam
eter, and it will be readily understood
how easily one can bleed to death II II J
is suddenly opened. 1t lies directly un-
derneath the great muscle on the side
| of the neck which shows up SO promi-
| nently in an athlete when he turns his
head. Except in very fleshy person,
/ l.
readily reach it.
The removal Of piece Of the jugular
| is justifiable in case of a large abscess,
tumor, or growth of any kind on the
neck or Of Inflammation Of the walls of
the vein and the tissue about it. The
latter is very rare. Unlike the removal
of the vermiform appendix, the removal
of the jugular will never become q
fad" Seldom, indeed, is there any
need Of it.
There are great number Of nerves
in the region of the jugular. To cut
one of them is serious. For instance,
the nerve already mentioned, which
lies next to the vein, controls the func-
lions of speech and respiration. These
nerves interscct each other like rivers,
highways and railroads on a very small
map. To cut out piece of the jugular
is somewhat like putting your rHncil
down on this map when you are lind
folded without touching river, n high
way, or q railroad. But the surgeon
knows the exact location Of each little
shining nerve, each little vein, from
long study, and his scalpel is sharp and
his touch is sure.
The flesh and tissue are cut away and
the vein is lifted up clear Of both, look
ing like full hose when the water ID
turned on, while all the time the great
muscle is held apart by forked steel
hooks something like sugar tongs. A
pair Of clamps, shaped like blum,
scissors, with rough surfaces, is fast
ened just above the point where the
upper cut is to be made. Suddenly the
tube collapses, just as the 70.
when the water is turned II
output Of blood from t, :
been shut Oft. A second par p
is fastened just below where Ia" 1T il
to be made. Next two strips 81 :. ?u
or Of fine silk are tied tiC'.Ny =; lnt
just above the upper pair OF clamps ant
is left to do is to cut out the int 'rveu
ing piece. The whole operation Is per
formed by the skillful hands OF two o
three surgeons more quickly than it
told.
In three months time, the catgut o
the silk will have been assimilatcd int
the system, q blood clot will hav
formed at the inlet Of the vein at tn
base of the head, and what was ono
the walls of the vein will have becom
a useless tube, which will also b
gradually assimilated, while tissue wi
o. form in its place.
- But how does tho impure blood froI
a the brain now find its way back to
purified? is the question that is natura
ly asked. Just here is where natul
asserts her versatility, adaptabilil
e' and resourcefulness She makes IL
- iupular on the other side OF the nee
and the numerous small veins do y
work, and they do it SO satisfaetori
that the patient never knows the diiie
, ence.
The first operation for the removal
the iugular was performed in India
ed an English surgeon. DIR. Smith, on {
East Indian, who had such a bad tum
on his neck that death was certain.
cut down and take out piece OF Il
famous old vein was simply rash
nv pertinent in which DIR. Smith himst
had very little confidence. As soon
no the news of its success was distribut
. through the medical world the vein i
IN mediately lost some Of its great pr z
and the tumor of the neck mn ~
horror. You may be sure tl.at D..
Smith did not tell the Indian whit
m was about to do, or the poor fell
'' would have probably died of fright
the spot, for the ignorant natives
India regard the jugular rs the seat
al life.
But the prestige of the jugular
nor. received even q greater blow. A
: Of weeks ago in a case Of Inflammation
ana both sides of the neck and the resi-
ing disease of the walls of both jugul
and the tissue around them. of n
0e tient in a British hospital, another r;
ne experiment was attempted = the
moval Of both jugulars. 1t succeed
The patient is upon his feet again I
lively as he ever was, and to be slasl
In the jugular has now no terrors
es him. In his instance It Is shown
course, that the smaller veins will 80
large their capacity that they can do
eu. work Of both jugulars-something
has even made the wizards Of surg
rub their eyes and wonder.