The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-05-02
Fed by Means OF a Tube.

operation Of gastrcnomy was perform
ed come time ago, was reported as
resting easier. 1t was said that his
meals were given to him regularly and
that he seemed to strengthen under the
nourishment.
The operation performed upon Mr..
Seelig recalls the fact that similar
one was performed ten years ago upon
Col. Michael G. Murphy, who is now
president of New York City's board o.
health. Col. Murphy's health has
been remarkably good ever since he
submitted to the surgeons knife and
he suffers but little inconvenience, al
though food has not passed his lips
in ten years. During all this time Col.
Murphy has been an active man Of
business.
During these ten years Col. Murphy
has had his daily meals pumped into
his stomach through hole cut in it's
walls. A silver tube is kept in the
opening and does not cause him any
Inconvenience. The food passage in
his throat is hopelcssly and forever
closed.
Strange to say, SO thoroughly accus-
toned to this mode of life has
Col. Murphy bscomc that it is
very doubtful if it ever occurs to
him that he is in any way handi-
capped.
Col. Murphy's case is one of the
medical marvels of the age. Since
1890 practically every particle Of food
that has gone to build up the wasting
tissues of his frame has been pumped
into his stomach through an incision
in his abdomen. This process has to
be gone through with every morning,
noon and night. Col. Murphy sits
back IN his easy chai. in his Of
fee. in the board of health build
ing, and smokes and laughs and chats
with his friends, and tells them
that he enjoys the unique expe-
rience Of taking his meals laying
down.
Previous to 1889 Col. Murphy was
one of the strongest and healthiest
men in New York politics. In that
year Re was serving his thirteenth
year in the Legislature, the last six as
Senator. He suffered during that
winter from what he supposed was in
digestion. Later he learned that he
was suffering from an ulcer Of the
stomach. At the end of sixty
days his stomach was pronounced
healed.
In the meantime Col. Murphy had
almost died Of starvation. From a
portly man of 225 pounds he had vast
ed until he weighed barely 100. He
was taken to Saratoga, where in 1890
it was found that he was suffering
from structure Of the oesophagus.
On December 18 it was decided to op-
crate on him, and DR.. Weir performed
the operation of gastronomy upon
him. His case was watched by the
most eminent surgeons on both sides
Of the water. Few believed that the
cure would be permanent. Dr.. Weir,
who wac naturally more interested
than anybody else, watched the case
jes!eusly and attended to the feeding
of the patient personally. He decided
what kind Of food Colonel Murphy
should receive and finally made out
list, which has been followed ever
since.
Col. Murphy receives into his stom-
ach meat, eggs, bread, milk and other
nourishing foods, but they are all one
to him. Everything is thoroughly
cooked, crushed to pulp and mixed
and strained until it is about the con-
sistency Of heavy consomme. Then
it is pumped into Col. Mu-phy's stom-
aeh With pump specially designed
and manufactured for the purpose.
For year or two after this opera
tlon was performed upon Col. Murphy
the physicians tried to operate on the
structure in his throat, but without
success. It was finally decided that
the patients health would be better
preserved by continuing tho treatment
he had been receiving FOR several
ysars.
To all appearances Gel. Murphy is
to-day in good health. He goes regu-
larly to the board Of health, at 55th
street and 9Th avenue, and during the
morning hours attends to the business
Of the Office he holds. To q stranger
nothing can be noted about Col. MUIR
phy which would lead one to suppose
that he took his meals in a way differ
ant frnrn tho ~nok of rn~cb:nJ ouj "a