The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-08-17

OMAHA. Aug i6.--NatuDe and sill
yer wire 20 feet long have saved the
life OF Fred Williams at the end Of one
Of the most remarkable operations on
record. II was for aneurism Of the
aorta and was performed upon Williams
in the Medico' 'Chirurgical hospital, Phila.
delphia, by DIR. james II. Mann.
The aorta Is the great parent trunk
artery through which blood 10 distribu.
ted from the heart To the smaller ar
teries which run TO all parts Of the body.
An aneurism is thickening Of the walls
o; a blood vessel. II arises frequently
as consequence Of rheumatism and
figures largely as cause Of death In the
vital statistics Of every city. The us.
nal treatment for aneurism Is the re-
moyal OF the affected portion Of the
blood vessel and the tying Of the free
ends OF the artery. When this has been
compensatory circulation Is set up
by the blood ycssels near the one
that has been removed, and no serious
results follow.
In the case OF an aneurism OF the aor-
Ia, however such an operation Ia impos.
siblc' No artery or series Of arteries
can do the work OF this great blood ca.
nal. The only thing to be done in such
case Is to strengthen the
artery wall and let nature do the rest.
Williams, who is 80 years old and a
man Of immense vitality, several months
ago noticed swelling on his breast and
went to hospital for treatment. The
young resident surgeon looked at 1t cri.
tically and said II was boil. He ap-
piled local anesthetic and prepared to
lance the lump.
Hold on therci" cried Williams. 'T
don't want any operation yet"
It was lucky he stayed the young sur.
geon's hand. Had he not done so. II
seems certain death would have resulted
almost Immediately.
The sufferer went to the Medico- CHR
rigical hospital After several days Of
he was placed upon the op.
Grating table without having been eth.
erized. A hollow needle was plunged in
to the aorta, and through this the sill
yer wire was fed from spool. The wire
was about as thick as No. 60 cotton
thread. There was little pain and Will
liamS aided the surgeon by his stoicism.
Go as far as You like, Doctor" he
said, as the operation was begun. The
blood pressure, had been reduced to the
minimum by long stay in bed and by
a starvation diet, As the wire was fed
into the great blood vessel II coiled 1t.
self closley in the form of a cylinedr
which fitted exactly the inner surface
Of the affected part, Then the needle
was withdrawn and the little wound
made by It was dressed
The process that was then set up in
the weakened part was this, The blood
clotted over the wires and organized" a
new wall, strengthening that which had
been weakened by the rheumatic growth.
The efficacy of this Organization de-
pends upon the general condition of the
patient and the quality of his blood.
The operation upon Williams was per-.
formed two months ago, Last week he
came into the hospital with blood trick.
ling from a pin-point hole in his chest.
Again he was placed upon the operating
table. The blood was found to be coming
from wound from which protruded the
tip of silver wire. With infinite care
The whole strand was taken out.
Then, to the amazement of everybody,
Lhe bleeding stopped. There is every
Indication Williams ia now absolutly
we'll and that the new inner coating Of
% oorta is sufficiently strong to re-
'nforee the weakened tissue that lies
outside ii.
= feel as well as ever did in my life
md work every day without fatigue"
ln;l Xx;lEa ai