BLOOD-POISONED ARM

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 88, 12 January 1928, Page 6

BLOOD-POISONED ARM

AN IMPROMPTU OPERATION An Auckland doctor, who was cruising in a yacht in the Far North during file holidays, performed an impromptu operation on a Native who was suffering a blood-poisoned arm, and the .Maori is now thankful that adaptability to circumstances is one of the essential qualifications of the medical profession (says the Auckland “Sun”). The boat was anchored in a peaceful little bay when the member of a- party from another yacht. ■on going ashore to borrow a net, discovered the suffering Maori, and called in the medical man.

Implements of a various characterwere gathered, and when the little settlement had quietened down a.ter the evening meal, the doctor operated. The Maori mind was highly disturbed by the formidable display of instruments, and beads of perspiration appeared on his dusky brow as the half-moon incision was made in the injured arm. “Hold him. He’s troing off,” said the doctor, as the patient swooned. The assistant doctor, who was holding air electric torch, grasped the fainting Native by the hair and held him till the lint was applied and five tablets swallowed bv the frightened man Nature was left to finish the job. In the morning the patient was quite chirpv and well.

The sequel to this strantre little operation was experienced with disconcerting suddenness As soon, as the news of the feat snreatl, the bait and the lame o f the village turned, up in force ; a bushfeller suffered much pain from a nastv axe wound : and toe and fintrerc in Efferent stages of damage were freelv xbibited. So struck was one Native in the change that had overcome her relative that she pleaded for an incision in her toe which she said was suffering great agonv She was ouieflv informed that too much “wainlro” and too many ouster natties was the fundamental cause of her ailment, and it was with a bad grace that she submitted to treatment with a bottle of iodine and a brush for gout.