The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1898-01-07
THE KNIFE IN APOPLEXY
Remarkable Operation on Dying
Patient at New York.
Skull TrrpsIned and the CIot OF
Biood Removed = Proves n Drill
IIaat and Successful
Treatment.

One Of the most notable surgical op-
eratious performed recently, and one
which may furnish a prevalent for the
treatment Of apoplectic cases In which
the pressure Of clot OF blood formed
on the brain can be localized. took
place at the New York Post Graduate
hospital The operation was that Of
irephiuing. the cutting Of hole in the
skull Of the patient through which the
efIuscd blood, resulting from a stroke
Of apopleNy. was allowed 10 escape. and
1t was performed by one Of the visit
ing staff of surgeons, l6sal ply stefan.
who lectures and operates at the Post
Graduate and other hospitals, before q
body OF clinical students, doctors from
all parts OF the country who were In
New York with a view 10 brushing
up on the latest developments of work
in their profession.
The patient was Henri Chevallier. q
French dressmaker. IS years old. NJ.
Cheyallier is man OF good physique.
not unusually plethoric, and at the
time OF his apoplectic stroke. which
occurred on December i6, was Rppor-
emily in good health. Nine. Chevallier
said that her husband had been well
man most Of his life, and had never had
an attack of apoplexy before, and that
this one seemed quite unaccountable-
When NJ. Chevallier was seized. and his
family physician had been summoned.
IL was seen that he was in a condition Of
imminent danger. The surgeon referred
10 beforehand, an acquaintance Of ths
family physician. was called In about
an hour after the attack, and discov-
cred that the patient was fast dying.
1t was decided TO perform an operation
as quickly as possible, as that was the
only way TO save the patients life. and
to that end he was removed 10 the am
phitheater Of the Post-Graduate hos
pital. The operation was performed as
a part OF the usual clinic. witnessed by
the physicians attending the Postcard
nate school in the hospital. The OPP
Grating surgeon had sent for a neurol-
ogist, Of whose services as n consultant
he wanted TO make use, but the latter
physician was late in arriving. and sothe
surgeon went ahead with his work. As
the apoplectic attack had rendered NJ.
Chevallier almost totally unconscious
by paralyzing the nerve centers. the
efTused blood having penetrated TO all
parts OF the brain, very little ether had
10 be used The skull was trephined.
and the clot OF blood formed by the
bursting of some Of the smaller arteries
on the left side OF the head was allowed
20 escape. Some 20 seconds after the
brain pressure which was killing the
patient had been removed his pulse and
respiration. which had almost stopped,
began to approach their normal Gc-
tions. From that time he has steadily
improved. Not the slightest setback
has occurred 10 reflect discredit on the
Judgment used in performing the op-
eration. and the surgeon who carried II
through looks for the patients re
covery. Just what his state Of mind
and body for the rest of his life will be
is n matter of future Development
The operation seems 70 have beer
thoroughly successful, as II was prac
ticaly certain when It was decided or
that without It the patient would hay'
died in a few hours. The method o.
treatment heretofore used, according
10 the statement of physician seer
at the hospital. has been OF very con
servatiye character. The princlpa
thing done was to keep the patient guile
and to provide as far as possible for hi
comfort.