Birmingham state herald., 1896-11-08
A SURGEONS MIRACLE.

ton once performed in the transmission o blood. Some months ago I was intro- ced to an English gentleman who was king San Francisco his headquarters I the expectation of meeting his son, Who had set out about a year before to lake the tour of the world by the eastern route. Community of tastes threw us much together, and one day it was ar- ranged that we should make a duck shooting expedition to some convenient quarter.
 Females bay was the locality selected, and thither we went with the intention or taking three days holiday. On the sec ond day, however just as we were in the act of pushing off shore-I was already ln the boat-Wycherly made a spring and Handed just where his left foot caught somewhere about the lock of one Of the guns, thus letting 1t off and pouring the whole charge of shot into his right reg. He fell upon the stern seat While the man who was just springing Tn aitef him, turned his energies to dragging the boat back to land. In moment was at the wounded mans side, and at length got him upon the beach.
 In few moments I had ripped open nls trousers leg. From the position of the wound and the spouting of the blood IL was easy to see that the post erior tiblal artery had been severed, and that 1T prompt measures were not taken he would SOOn Dleeu lO uedlll 1LlplOfASiiS eOt niquet out of handkerchief and bit Of stick, I temporarily stopped the flow of blood and the attendant and I carried my now unconscious friend to dalry ranch near by where the hospitabie farmer put a comfortable apartment at our disposal Nor was 1t a bit too soon, for the system of compression had been obliged to use proved to weak for the great lilac artery, and, just as we laid Wycherly on the couch, the torrent or ,iaI hol onnrphnnGiUa nn hllrSf forth again. I was now, however, in a better position to act, and by the time the man-whom I had dispatched on horse- back for an nstrument-returned,l han the case well under control The oniy cause of alarm now was extreme weak ness and secondary hemorrhage.
 It was while watching by Wycherlys bedside that I formed the plot Whlcn forms the gist of this story deter mined to try transmission, and, to tell the truth I rather congratulated myself from a professional point of view, that chance had thrown in my way such splendlo opportunity.
 I watched the men when they came into their monday meal, and among the dozen or two I saw two of them whom I singled out as those who must serve my turn. It did not require second glance at the ruddy cheeks to assure one less knowing than surgeon that they possessed a practically unlimited store, so far as my purpose was concerned, or the pure life-fiuid in which was in quest. When broached my project they were at first averse to 1t, but finally they agreed to the terms, provided it did not entail much pain. Luckily I had some cocaine with me, and so anaesthlzed the region of the median vein that they did not even feel the incison, and accom- plished a satisfactory transfuslon Into Wycherly's arm at the same spot, despite the fact that I had to improyise an ap- paratus out of syringe and some tubing which I found in my case. My point, however was gained l had succeeded in saving my friends life for the mo- ment at least; I had also sent the two youths away in high spirits at having earned two months wages in couple Of hours and with the admonition not to do any more work until I saw them again. l had telegraphed down to San Francisco, and received, by the first train, such in struments and appliances as l had or dered to be sent me.
 I had left the room for few minutes with my patient resting comfortably, but on my return what was my horror 10 see that the ligature had burst, the bed clothes were drenched with blood, and the deadly pallor on my friends uncon- scious face, with the weak and inter- mittent jects of blood from the reopened artery told me but too plainly that he was already almost past human aid. Has tily applying a styptic and compress, again tied up the blood vessel meantime shouting lustily for Fritz and Wilhelm, who happened to be near by, and came running in with some other members oI the family.
 Before Fritz and Wilhelm had barred their arms my plan was laid. recolect- ed that morning of having seen the car cass of newly killed calf hanging up Tn the slaughter shed l bade someone fetch me the heart and neighboring or gsns. When these arrived, finding them still warm, I selected blood vessel somewhat larger than those was about to cut and speedily laid four pieces Of qhout an inch in length ready for use. I t9n led Fritz to the left hand side of the bed, and at once severed the cephallc branch of the median vein Of his right arm at the elbow. Raising the left arm Of fle dying man from the bed, I made Trna sit down so as to bring them nearly to d level, and cut the same vein at the same place. My purpose was to connect the lower extremity of Fritz's vein with the upper of Wycherly's and vice versa. To do this slipped the cut pieces of the calfs blood vessel over the cut extremi- ties of Wycherly's vein, and then inserted thr corresponding ends of Fritz's into the other end of the calf's vein. which served precisely the same purpose as the Joint used in connecting two pieces of metal pipe. After completing the connection l brought the arms of both men close to- cether, bandaging them tightly in that n9sition, so as to obviate any risk or
  Wilhelm around to the right side of the bed and connected his left arm in the same manner with Wycherly's right complete and perfect connection had now been formed with the circulatory organs of the three men-they formed, in fact, one circulatory system.
 No perceptible effect was noticeable upon Wycherly for half an hour. It IS true he was being supplied wi.h me tte,, uae- giving fluid from two sources. but they were by no means abundant ones, and besides out of thirty odd pounds of blood which a healthy man possesses, l am afraid to say how much he had lost In the case of the youths, however. crit teal observer would have detected very appreciable diminution in the color of their faces, and in order that they might not become alarmed at any feeling Of weakness, I ordered some bottles Of the best wine the establishment afforded to be brought. and administered 1t to them freely. at the same time diverting their thoughts as much as possible soon noticed that the color was returning to Wycherly's cheeks. It was evident that his life was saved. and that the mas