Evening star., 1942-10-25
BY ALFRED TOOMBS.

This is the tale of the indestruct-
ible patient who is doing very nicely
these days, and the unpredictable
up so we'll under the strain.
The locale is a little operating
room, set up at one end of Uline S
Ice Arena. A strange place for an
operating room, even in Washington.
The explanations: It's part of the
Community War Fair.
Last night a goodly crowd gath
cred in the seats which look down
on the operating room and focused
its eyes on a greengowned surgeon
who stood on the stage, microphone
in hand
Tonight we are going to perform
an appendectomy," he announced
casually.
AS the announcer explained the
process, three nurses and three sur
geons came in and made ready for
the operation-washing their hands
for 10 minutes and donning sterile
equipment. Then came the patient,
a young lady-obviously real and
very much alive. An anesthetist
placed cone over her face.
Announcer Describes Each Step.
The patients abdomen was barred,
painted with a red antiseptic and
the surgeons stepped up instruments
in hand.
He is making the incision,
droned the announcer. There are
five layers of the abdominal wall
ais now going through the first
layer. He calls for sponges."
The announcer took the audience
through each layer. He described
how the flow of blood was being
stopped and what instruments were
being used.
The audience was beginning te
weaken. A few of them had reac
that this was to be simulated
operation. The rest, who had just
wandered in, were plainly puzzled
by the fact appendectomies were
being performed in Uline's Ic'
Arena.
Yet the audience could plainly SET
the abdomen being opened layer by
layer. They could see the sponges
The description of each step, as il
was performed, was superb.
Sweat began to stand out or
policemens brows. Women chewins
gum began to quicken the pace O.
their jaw movements. Everyone
began to fidget.
The Appendix Comes Out.
The surgeon is now searching TO
the appendix, said the announcer
and few seconds later statet
triumphantly that the surgeon hat
found it and secured 1t.
A young Navy officer got up ant
headed for the exit, and he WASH
walking slowly.
The announcer then pointed ou
the surgeon had brought out tn
appendix and delivered it. Thi
was fairly obvious to the audience
because they saw the swift move
ment of the knife and watched a.
the surgeon dropped the appendi!
in tray.
II can see by the color of th'
appendix that. it was very badl.
infected" said the surgeon
A young woman tainted and fire
men stepped up to help her.
Gosh, that's really something,
said policeman.
Then the announcer described tn
sewing up process. step by ster
Some pale faces were drifting away
The patient, at length, was wheele,
away and the audience departed il
rush. That is, all the audienc
save a reporter, a policeman an,
one spectator, who was apparently
rooted to the SPOT.
Patient Receivers" Quickly.
The patient was wheeled back o.
the stage a few minutes later, smil
ing happily, and the reporter wen
down to talk to her. Her recover
seemed to have been speedy.
tits an artificial abdomen" sh
explained. They've got 1t strappe,
around me. Here, I'll show you"
And she exposed stretch of thicl
padding which bore scars of a YER
recent appendectomy.
Artificial appendix. too," she saio
"They tied that under the artif1cia
abdomen"
The patient sat up, chatted- for {
few minutes. and the reporter re
turned to the audience area. Th'
policeman was still there and 50 wa
the incredulous spectator.
| The policeman was plainly puzzled