The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-13
HIS SILVER ABDOMEN.
Hurt Many Times Worse than the
President, Yet Lived.
Baltimore Sun.

Baltimore Sun.
Speculation as to the prospects of the
President recovering from the wound in
his stomach, has recalled to many Balti-
moreans the desperate wound received by
Colonel r. Snowden Andrews, of the Con-
federate artillery service, now living at
No. 107 West North avenue.
Colonel Andrews was riding on his horse
at the battle of Cedar Run, when a shell
struck him on the right side, completely
ing the bones Of the hip and narrowly
missing the intestines as 1t passed out.
Colonel Andrews was placed by the road
side by some friends. Messengers were
sent for surgeon, but none could be
found. The colonel lay by the roadside
from noon until night, when an ambulance
suffering, fully conscious, without any re-
lief whatever. and no dressing to his
wound. In falling from his horse, and
afterward as he lay PROSTATE, much dirt
and other foreign substances entered the
wound
After being iolted over the rough ground
for eight miles he was deposited in farm
house, still alive, much to the amazement
OF the driver and all that were aware Of
the case. When told of the wound the
army surgeon who had been unable to re-
spond had declared that his services would
have availed nothing. AT the house the in
mates thought he was about to die at any
minute and said it was useless to send for
Il doctor, but the colonel insisted that he
going 10 get WELL and to satisfy him
a country doctor who was passing by was
called in. This physician also said ii was
useless to do anything, especially as he had
no instruments with him save such were
carried in the usual assortment Of country
physicians. Colonel Andrews declared that
he was not going to die without a strong
tight for life and ordered the doctor to
proceed.
Acting under these positive instructions
the doctor pulled out the intestines with
hi. bare hands, the colonel. who was under
no anaesthetic, bearing the suffering in a
stoical manner. Pure spring water was
used TO wash the intestlnes, after which
the doctor replaced them as carefully as
he could and sewed up the wound. He
then set the injured les.
II was slim array of instruments with
which this feat was accomplished, and even
they were not of the best, for some of them
were 50 rusty from long lack of use that
the operation had to be stopped while they
were sharpened and cleaned on an emery
stone. That the wound itself did not kill
the colonel is a wonder, but that he did not
die anyhow OF blood poisoning is something
that has never been understood.
When the doctor has finished his work
the soldier was laid fiat on his back in bed
and left TO be treated by his orderly, as
sisted by the occasional visits Of the sur
geon Of the battalion. They were absolutely
without medical appliances OF any kind,
medicines being scarce in the South in
those days. and all they could do to
battle the wound every half hour with cold
water. This they did with the remarkable
result that no fever developed, and in six
weeks the patient had recovered his
strength to such an extent that he was
able to be carried 10 Richmond on a train,
partially supporting himself on crutches.
At Richmond he remained as a GONZALES
cent for several months. and then returned
10 active duty In the field. But the actual
work Of soldering was too much for even
his wonderful strength and constitution at
that time. SO he was withdrawn and was
sent abroad I'm the interest OF the Confed-
eracy serving there for many months but
was not able 10 again take his command
When Colonel Andrews reached Rich
mond the best doctors in the Confederate
capital took charge OF his case, and he was
fitted out with a silver plate TO wear across
his abdomen. and he has worn II ever since
After the war he became almost as strong
as he was before the wound, and frequently
went fox hunting IL is related that ono
day he rode fiftv miles on business ard
pleasure combined without feeling any seri-
Gus effects from the unusual exertion.