Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-08-15
COILS GOLD WIRE
AROUND HEART TO
SAVE MANS LIFE
New York Physician Performs
Rare Operation-Uses SO
Feet Of Wire.

New York. Special: An aneurism op-
Grafton was performed In Bellevue hos
pital by DR.. William G. Lusk, in which
Sc feet OF gold wire was wrapped around
the aorta. and a current OF electricity
sent through the wire. which reduced
the swelling Of the artery sufficiently
to allow 1t to perform it's natural func-
ton.
The operation was in the Crane room
and was witnessed by the medical fac
ulty of Bellevue and about 50 of the
leading surgeons of New York. No
anaesthettc was used during the opera
ton, the %incision. which was made in
the back OF the patient. between the
Nth and sixth ribs. being sprayed with
cocaine. leaving the patient conscious.
At the end OF the operation. which
lasted about four hours. DR.. Lusk ex-
pressed himself as satisfied, and while
the operation Is not looked upon as .
life saver 1t liz expected to prOlong the
life OF the patient.
Case Thought Hopeless.
The patient who underwent the oper-
alton is Oscar Nelson. so years old.
a cabinet maker. h was taken from
the Pennsylvania hotel, Thirty-fifth
street and Eighth avenue. on July 16.
He was examined by several surgeons.
III Shtu IlG case was uOp0I008. LIT.
I.usk was called In. and after an exam
ination decided there was a possible
chance. The patient was found to he
suffering from Il swelling of the aorta.
which had grown to such an extent
that IL was only q question of a short
time when the vessel would break.
causing death.
The patient was told OF the risk OF an
operation. but readily consented. He
was taken into the operating room on a
animation was made by DR.. Lusk. who
that the administering OF
an anaesthetic sue as ether or chloro-
form would he a needless risk. and he
decided to substitute cocaine.
Current Turned On.
The gold wire. to a canula
around the aorta. the swelling Of which
had Increased 1t to five or six inches
In diameter.
The wire used by DR.. Lusk was thin
ner than Il human hair and after 1t had
been wound around the artery, like q
spring, the end in the needle was taken
out and attached to an electrical ma
chine, the current of which was turned
on and sent through the wire. The
electricity hardened the artery md in
Were witnessed by those present. The
blood started to circulate freely
through the aorta. which was being
strengthened by the wire and electricity
reducing tne sWelllng ana at the same
time allowing the heart to perform its
functions.
Second Operation Of Kind.
The patient was under observation
for a period. after which the wound
was closed. The wire will act as a
sort of artificial wall and will hold the
current for an indefinite time.
This is the second operation Of it's
kind performed In this The
previous operation was performed in
Bellevue by the same surgeon. The op-
Grafton took place five months ago, the
patient at that time being Henry Crit
An. Twelve feet of gold wire was used
on Griffin. after which 1t was said that
he would not live q week. Two weeks
later he left the hospital and il today
we'll and hearty.
1t was said at the hospital last night
that Nelson had already shown i'm
provement and that 1t was only a mat.
ter of time when he would be ready t.
leave the hospital in Il strengthened
condition..