The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-30
MANS STOMACH REMOVED.
CIV York Surgeons Perform nm In
teresting Operation.

NEW YORK March 29.-The operation
Of gastrectomy or removal of the entire
stomach was performed at the German
Hospital in Brooklyn today on Jacob
Wichman. Though the patient was in a
Door condition TO undergo so severe an
eperation, he stood II better than the
physicians had expected. 1t Is too early
Is vet 10 know whether the operation was
ouccessful TO the extent of saving Mr..
wichman's life, he: the probability is that
Il was.
The operation was performed by the
head surgeon of the hospital, with the as
sistance of the hospital staff. 1t was
made necessary by the fact that Mr.. Wich-
man had cancer of the stomach. Mr..
wichman. who is very old, was told that
his only chance for life was that he sub
init to the operation for the removal Of
the stomach. and he consented to the
operation
comparatively new form of anaes-
thetic adapted particularly for use with
old and feeble persons, was used. This Is
the simultaneous inhalation by the patient
of chloroform and oxygen The oxygen
stimulates the patient and counteracts the
weakening effect of the chloroform. The
following is substantially the account of
the operation as given by one Of those
who were present:
"An incision was made In the abdomen
and the stomach was found and brought
down into the wound. 1T should be eX-
planned for laymen that the stomach Is
well above the abdomen in its normal po-
sition.l
lowing to the emaciated and conse-
quently lax condition of the stomach it
was quite easily brought down. 1t was
found TO be diseased in two places. This
Is not usual. Usually cancer Of the stom-
ach is found to be in tbs middle of the
organ In this case, IL was found at the
place where the food enters. and also at
the place where the food leaves the stom-
ach This had confused the symptoms
reported by the patient.
1T was then decided that only complete
excelsior OF the stomach afforded chance
for the patients recovery. All the blood
vessels leading into the stomach were
then tied. A clamp was put on the tube
connecting the stomach with the intes-
tine so that all danger Of poisoning from
a possible leakage Of the contents of the
intestines into the organs might be avoid
ed
''All the connection of the stomach and
the other organs except those which join
ed IL TO the intestines and the aesoph-
agus, or swallowing tube, were then
separated. The stomach was tied with
strings at each end near the clamps and
then a cut was made between the strings
and the clamps and the stomach taken
out entire.
The two tubes were then brought to-
eetber and Joined. The end Of the aesoph-
agus had been unduly dilated by the
efforts of the patient to force food into
fIa ton afNN md a..
make II smaller. A housewife would say
that We took tuck in IL. The two tubes
= eye sewed together with eighteen
stitches, and then were wrapped with a
-5sTt Of the loose tissue of the peritonium
This viii take hold quickly and should
p. partly grown to the othef parts within
few hours. The organs were then re-
s-OIcd TO their normal positions and the
Wound WIS closed"
- time the only nourishment the
-l1tlent can take VIII be peptonized con-
,.tnsed mix, mixed with water and eggs,
1it IN time he viii be able to digest
everything that does not need pepsin for
IS digestion Such things will have TO
be predisested for him more or less. Salt
water VIII also be used to give the sVs-
TEN moisture and for the general invigor-
ating effect of its application. IL will be
several weeks before the patient will be
able to take food through his mouth.
The operation Of gastrectomy is fire.
Quently confused with that of gastron-
tony, which is the far simpler operation
OF opening the stomach for the removal of
iDclpient cancers or for the purpose of
looking for them.
According to an eminent surgeon who
taikec with reporter about the removal
OF the stomach today the lack OF stom-
ach Is not n formidable matter The
uueodenum performs almost all of the
functions oil digestion except such as re-
puire the pepsion processes The lack
OF the presence Of pepsin juices of the
stofnach Is oDviated by peptOnzing the
FOOD before 1t is eaten and to that extent
predigesting IT,
Modern science" said this surgeon,
mas exploded the theory OF the useful
ness OF the stomach. II Is astonishing
even 10 men well acquainted with the
Operation TO learn how much patient
without stomach can eat-how many
things. that Is TO say-and how little
predigesting preparation OF food is neces-
sary."
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