The sun., 1897-12-25
LIVING WITH NO STOMACH.
THE 4 AUTHENTIC STORY 0FA UNIQUE
- SURGICAL OPERATION

SURGICAL OPERATION
Hroun which u bs Concluded THAT the Huuaan
stomach ls Net vital OrEan-Ssrs. Lands's
EssphnEus Connected Directly with the
Intrstinr - she Eats, Now. as Usual.
surgical operation by which the entire stom-
ech Of woman, aged 56 years. was removed
successfully moro than three months ago, with
out any material injury to tho health or ac-
tivity of the patient, is fully described in to-
days number of the Medical Record.
Tho case is described by DR.. Carl Schlntter OF
the University OF Zurich Who performed tho
operation. Anna Lands was silk weaver OF
Zurich and according to her own story had
from childhood had abdominal pains with vom
iting. Medical treatment afforded no roief
and the progress of tho disease drove her TO the
hospital on Aug. 20 Of this year.
On examination it was found that hard
oval-shnpcd tumor as large as n mans two fists
had grown in OF on rhc stomach. She was una
bic to retain any kind of food or nourishmont in
her stomach aud "shc clamored for relief by
surgical interference"
Accordingly, after such preliminarystrcngth-
ening of her vital forces as was necessary, she
was placed on the surgeons table on the 9Th OF
last September. When her stomach was dis
closed glance was sufficient to show that the
entire stomach was hopelessly diseased al
thOuRh the Channel from inc mouth 10 Une
stomach and the intestines leading from the
stomach were in a normal condition. To leave
the stomach in place was to condemn the wo.
man to certain and speedy death. For rea-
sons that will be given further on there was a
slight hope that she might survive IL the
stomach were wholly removed.
Accordingly the surgeon clipped OF the
cesophagus close to where it entered the
stomach and then cut Off the intestine perhaps
two or three inches below the stomach. Tho
walls of the stomach were also freed from such
connections as existed with surrounding parts
Of the body and then tho entire organ was re.
moved.
Having tho stomach out Of tho way, It be-
came necessary to unite tho intestine with the
end of tho nsophagus. On attempting to unite
tho two ends 1t was found tnat they could with
difficulty be made to touch; in fact, the strain
of bringing them to q juncture was 30 great
that to unite them permanently was mani
festly out OF the question.
In this predicament Surgeon Schlatter found
that what he calls the knuckle Of the intestine
below the severed end lit might well be called
the first bend in the intestine, as it lay co!lod
in the abdomen could easily be brought to join
the end Of the Gsophagus. Accordingly he
closed up the end OF the intestine absolutely
as one might close the end of a severed artery.
cut q slit in It that would just f1t the severed
end Of the oesophagus. and sewcd the end and
This done, there, was then q direct channel
from the patients throat down through the intes-
tines while in place Of st ssI Was the end
The entire operation required two and half
The pulse, Immediately after the operation.
was 90, hut it rose to 140 later and eventually
70 160; and the temperature became as high as
For two days the patient was nourished with
e milk, eggs, q boaien and nd wine We're fed to her
at intervals Of two hours. On the 9Th the
abdominal wound was found to be healing ad.
mirably and the temperature and pulse were
steadily approaching normal condition. BY
the 16th as much as cup Of milk and an egg
eat half a young'chicken. This, however. ap-
stomach, and she vomited up ten ounces Of
milk and meat fbres.
Not to give tedious details. It may be said
bed, and that when she , was examined y, nine & on Dec
Of all Joetor ore. moderately full and vigor-
relished her meals, and her taste was unim-
twenty-four twenty M hours hours Her sleep was morn normal L.
She complained of no pain. In word. save.for
skin, and her abdominal cicatrix, the woman
average health. she has gained more than
three pounds in weight since the operation. In
commenting on the case, DR.. Wendt says:
'While 1t would be manifestly unfair to in
dulge in sweeping CONCENTRATIONS on the strength
Of this single case SO boldlyfescued:and ably de-
fable to formulate the following conclusions:
II. The human stomach Is not a vital organ.
80. The digestive capacity OF the human
stomach has been considerably overrated.
..''3. The fluids and solids constituting an or
dinary mixed diet are capable of complete di-
gestion and assimilation without the aid of tho
human stomach.
place in spite Of the total absence of gastric ac-
%S: Typical vomiting may occur without a
20. The general health of a person need not
immediately deteriorate on account Of removal
~. Tho most important office Of the human
stomach is to act as reservoir for tho recep-
Of ' fcod:snd faias Il also fuiis usefpi p1r
pose in regulating the temperature of swal-
lowed solids and liquids.
"s. The chemical functions Of the human
stomach may be completely and satisfactorily
performed BY the other divisions of the aliment-
-. Gastric Juice is hostile to the development
OF many micro-organisms.
40. The free acid Of normal CASTRO secre-
tions has no power to arrest putrefactiye
changes In the Intestinal tract. It's antiseptic
ana bactericide potencyhas been oyerestimated.'
In explanation OF the daring Of DR.. Schlatter
in removing the woman's stomach. 1t should be
said that casos record where patients
have survived for considerable periods tho re.
moval Of the greater part of the stomach while
no stomach at all. But this is the first case OF
authentic record where a human being has
been subjected to such an operation.
0ORONER's JURY OUT ALE NIGHT