The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-11-21
MERCURY POISONING
YIELDS TO The KNIFE
Two Surgical Operations on the
Kidneys Promise to
Bring Cure.
ONE WOMAN ALMOST WELL
Mrs. Janin Will Leave Hospital
SOOn-AnOther Patient
Much Better.

With one victim Of bichloride Of mer.
curry poisoning apparently well on the
road TO recovery and another slightly i'm
proved New York physicians are in hopc
that the surgeons knife has found a way
out Of what has been considered an al
most certain fatal condition.
Mrs. Helen Janin. wife Of J. A. Janin.
of so FELTON, avenue. West Brighton,
Staten Island. operated on a week ago by
DR.. Alfred Thomas OF New Brighton. was
said yesterday to be practically well. Her
physician expects that she will be able
TO leave the hospital within a week. She
Is at the Smith Infrmary
Mrs. Agnes Peasants Of $50 East ls4th
street. The Bronx, operated on Wednes-
day night by DR.. Alexander Nicoll Of 81
West Fifty eighth street. was reported
better last night. but still In danger.
The operations performed on the two
patients differ somewhat. DR.. Thomas
performed what surgeons know as "Ede-
bohl's operation but on a theory which
he believes to be new in dealing with
bichloride poisoning. DR.. Nicoll contends
that his operation is new. Both aim at
the same result, to relieve the kidneys.
New Operation Devised.
As far as hospital records show the
operation on Wednesday night was the
third to be performed In New York for
mercurial poisoning. The hrst was at
Bellevue three months ago on a woman
who subsequently died.
DR.. Nicoll who is professor OF surgery
In Fordham College. has devised the new
operation. one which differs radically from
''Edebohrs." lie used his method for the
first time in the case OF Mrs. Peasants.
DR.. Ncoll cut into each kidney and in
serted a small tube. Through these tubes
flows a salt solution at body temperature.
This solution washes into the kidneys and
is discharged by the natural outlets Of
the organs.
As DR.. Nicoll has pointed out to his
students. there are two phases of bichlo-
ride poisoning. the general condition anI
the local burning Of the tissues OF the
throat and stomach By the poison. His
method aims at the general condition.
salt Water FIushes Poison.
e He contends that the circulation Of salt
water. which will be continued until the
recovery Of Mrs. Peasants. will nush out
whatever poison there Is In the kidneys
and also SO dilute 1t that there will ue no
danger Of reabsorption In the bladder, and
they can do their work properly. He De-
lieves that II the patient can he tided
over to a point where the restorative
powers OF the system will act the local
burns from the poison In the throat and
stomach will heal themselves.
In the operation performed last weel:
Dr. Thomas first cut down to the kid
neys and brought them to the surface,
then removed the capsule OF membrane
which envelops the kidneys, and after
washing the kidneys and the wound
with magnesium sulphate put the kid
neys in place again.
When Mrs. Janin was operated on. It
was said yesterday. her kidneys had
ceased operation. She had swallowed
twenty-one grains OF bichloride on No
vember II. DR.. Thomas has given orders
that she be allowed to sit up to-day. Sh.
will suffer no inconvenience. 1t was said.
from the loss OF the kidney capsules, ~
the membrane In merely a protective
measure OF nature to shield the organs
from blows and outside pressure.
Thinks External Treatment Futile.
DIR. Thomas has told those who fol-
lowed the case that ne believes the sweat.
Ing and external treatments resorted to
in bichloride poisoning cases have no
effect.
Mrs. Peasants took thirty grains of
bichloride of mercury Monday evening.
mistaking II for headache medicine. Her
husband was not home but when he came
she told him that she had taken poison
by mistake and was hurried to Ford
ham Hospital and as n last resort the
operation was decided on DR.. Kirsch.
baum Of Fordham assisted DIR. Nicoll.
DR.. Nicoll believes that II Mrs. Pleas
ants can be tided through the next few
days she will recover. II was said a.
the hospital last night that while the
kidneys were imperative before the op-
GRAFTON they have resumed their func-
tions and that. although there Ia svi-
dence Of severe burning In the throat and
stomach. Mrs. Peasants has good
chance to get well.
Mrs. Mary Browning. 26 years old. had
a dispute with her husband in their home
At 1872 Barnes avenue. The Bronx, last
night. Then she went to the medicine
chest and took four seven grain bichlo-
ride OF mercury tablets. Her husband
called for help and Mrs. browning was
taken to Fordham Hospital.
The woman's condition is serious do
spite tho quick administration Of restora-
live. Mrs. Browning's fve-months- old
son In III. and worrying over his condi-
hon caused her dependency.
MARRIAGE A LA NODE,