The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-12
A NONAN'S
+. BREAST REMOVED.
TAKEN COMPLETELY OFF BY
THE SURGEONS KNIFE.

Radical Operation Made Neces-
essary by the Growth of Large
Cancerous Tumor-The Breast
Removed by Drs. Abbo and the
Patient Able to Move About
Within Four Days-A Descrip.
ton of the Operation by an Eye
Witness.
One of the most remarkable and inter-
esting of surgical operations has just been
performed in Savannah, with success
that shows the progress which the science
of modern surgery has reached, and the
adoption to which it can be put by skill
full hands.
The patient was Susan Stripping, q wo-
man of fifty years, who lives at President
and West Broad streets. Within four or
five days she has practically recovered
from the i'll effects of the amputation of
her left breast, made necessary by a large,
hard cancerous growth which took in the
ping away her life and energy The oper-
alton was performed by Drs Abbo care
fully, but with rapdity and dispatch, in
dicating a thorough knowledge of the
work with which they have to deal.
The operation was performed in the
presence Of a reporter, who will certify
to the facts as stated. The patient was
Y,Ia atr
administered and the breast barred to the
surgeons knife. The amputation of the
breast is known in surgery as a radical
operation, and, from all Indications, the
term is an apt one. But with the chloro-
form as a sweet, obHvious antidote."
carefully administered, the patients suf-
fering was naught
The cancerous formation had grown to
an enormous size, it appeared, just above
the nipple. and was almost ready to burst
It's hardness was almost that of a stone,
and 1t was from three or four inches in
diameter. The surgeon made an incision
from the middle of the breastbone up to
the armpirt and around the breast.
Blood began to flow at the first entrance
of the knife, but several missions were
made before the first artery was struck.
It was a small one easily caught with
stopped. Other arteries were severed and
likewise stopped with nea tness and ease,
but In a moment the surgeons knife sew
cred what seemed to be one of the largest
of the blood vessels. The stream flowed
freely for a second and, in an effort to
catch 1t as the others, 1t was turned up
ward. a stream of blood squirting over the
face and shirt of the surgeon, but only
for the briefest moment, for 1t was soon
caught as the others, and closed to be
tied with a sllken chord a moment later.
One other large aud several small ar
ferries were struck, but each was quickly
caught. and the flow of blood stopped.
The small flow of blood from such an am
putation of gland and muscles all seemed
to the reporter remarkable. The blood
from the wound altogether would hardly
have filled a small teacup.
The arteries caught with the nippers,
IL was an easy matter to take off the
breast with several careful strokes of the
surgeons knife. and with It came not only
the gland, but a portion of the pectoral
muscles which lay at the base Of the cam
Ger. and the removal Of which was there
by made necessary. Within three quarters
of an hour from the time the chlorotorm
had been administered, the diseased breast
was upon the table nearby, and the sur
veon was engaged in tying the arteries
and effectually stopping all further loss of
blood.
This over. there began one of the most
difficult parts Of the operation, the proper
sewing and bandaging Of that wounded
portion of the body so as to remove all
danger of after effects. The wound was
sewed from side TO side as well as across,
and a rubber tube inserted for drainage
from the wound. That tube has now been
removed within four days after the oper-
alton was performed, and the patient is
able to get up from her bed and to get
around the room.
TO one not accustomed to bloody sights
and scenes, the operation had it's horrors
but a touch of science taught the lesson
that there must be such scenes and such
suffering to prevent more extreme suffer
ing. and to save life. The proper care pre-
vents much physical pain and suffering
at the time the operation is performed
aud the judicious use of antiseptics in the
performance of It, and the proper sewing
and healing of the wound keep out after
ill effects. This work was seen in all It's
details, and to be appreciated II must be
seen. The patient knowing what she had
to undergo. gladly submitted though with
a tremor of fear in the hope that life
might be prolonged. So II may be with