The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-02
DOLL IN THROAT.
Little Gladys Farrell, of Chap
man, Suffers Odd Accident.
Portion Of Doll Lodges In Her
Windpipe.
HER LIFE is SAVED.
Brought to Topeka and Under
goes Delicate Operation.
WindpIpe Is Severed and China
Picked Out.
HER LIFE is SAVED.

With but a few more moments of
life, little 4-year-old Gladys Farrell,
of Chapman, Kas., was brought to
this city Thursday afternoon by her
parents, anxious to try to the utmost
the resources which expert medical
science could afford in defeating
death. The attendant circumstances
of the case, its origin, the apparent
death awaiting, and finally the child
restored well and happy to the arms
of its parents, are interesting to those
interested in the technical side of sur
gerry as well as to the ordinary lay
man.
AS related by Mrs. w. P. Farrell,
the mother of the child, little Gladys
was playing about the family resi-
dence at Chapman on last Tuesday
afternoon. and in childish fashion,
unknown to her mother, placed in her
mouth a remnant of a small broken
doll. A very short time later, when
the little child discovered that she
was about to be disappointed in secur-
ing a buggy ride, she gave vent to her
grief in tears. and in so doing swal-
lowed the piece of china which she
had been holding all the while in her
mouth.
No apparent difficulty resulted i'm
mediately following, and it was not
until the child pointed to its throat
and stated to it's mother that she had
swallowed something mat it became
known to the remainder of the family
that the child was in trouble. Even
then Mrs. Farrell considered it but
a temporary ailment and one which
would readily give way to the COM
mon home remedies usually applied
in such emergencies Towards night
the little one appeared to be suffering
more, and breathing with more of an
effort Food was given to the child,
and the eating of 1T appeared to afford
some relief, as shortly after she gave
a small gulp and then said, Il am
real well again, mamma, just like
was before" At about 8 in the even
Ing turn for the worse came, how
ever, and every breath that was
vouchsafed the little one came only
after a hard struggle. Together with
only at intervals could she make her
wants known above a whisper. This
was followed again by an interval of
favorable reaction, maintained until
child's condition swung to and fro
between these two states for the next
succeeding "a hours, though the re-
lapSes in each instance were becoming
a physician summoned from out of
town the small child was hurriedly
brought to Topeka and placed in the
hands of DR.. J. c. McClintock. Two
child's throat, one at the Office of DR.
McClintock and the other at the office
of DR.. w. f. McVey, throat specialist
By this means the piece of china was
partially located, though the examina-
ton was interfered with through the
presence of the bones in the neck
Quickly finishing this examination lit
tie Gladys was taken to Christ hos
pital, where the operation which
saved the life of the child for it's
mother took place.
windpipe severed, revealing the piece
of china lodged between the vocal
chords. 1t was a matter of difficulty
even then to remove the obstruction.
for the windpiDe had 50 swollen above
the place of Judgement that it was
impossible to insert forceps for the
removement of the piece of china and
it was an utter impossibility to pull
the obstruction from beneath without
tearing cruelty the vocal chords al
ready lacerated. The plan of opera
ton was to insert the forceps from be-
meath and shove the obstruction up
ward, which was successfully done.
The whole operation took place with
out the administration of chloroform,
for the child was found too weak to
survive any such administration. I'm
mediately as the air rushed through
in it's uninterrupted course the normal
color came back into the face colored
deep blue. from the exertions of the