PROFESSIONAL EXPLANATION.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3058, 15 May 1867, Page 6

PROFESSIONAL EXPLANATION.

To the Editor of the Wweut N*w«. Sib,— ln reading this week's paper I notice some remarks concerning the son of Mr. Marshall, Grey-street, Auckland, and find that the skill of a local surgeon is most unwarrantably condemned. I am, I believe, the one alluded to, and therefore beg to answer the observations adduced. In furtherance thereof I will add that I was called to see the lad a distance of twelve miles, and proceeded to the spot immediately, where I arrived at 6 p.m., April 28, Sunday. 1 found the contents of the carbine had entered the fleshy part of the upper part of the right arm. I examined the limb, and told Mr. Marshall it was my opinion the brachial artery was wounded, and that if so amputation would be necessary. The limb was very cold, extremely swollen, and utterly devoid of sensation, while I could detect no pulsation at the wrist. At the time I first saw it the limb was extensively swollen over its whole extent, and the tumidity extended over the whole surface of the pectoral miucles. I could readily pierce the limb with a knife from below tlie wound t© the tips of the fingers without it» being perceived by the patient. A bandage had been tightly bound round the arm to arrest the haemorrhage. This I removed, when haemorrhage again took place ; seeing this I again applied the bandage and carefully watched the patient until 2 ».m. Monday, when I loosed the bandage to that the handle of a good-sized scalpel could be easily pasted between it and the arm. The , tumefaction continued to increase, no pulsation at the wrist could be felt, and the sensation of the limb continued as it was. Mr. Marshall suggested his removal to Auckland, which I readily assented to, knowing that his remaining where he was would be fraught with the utmost danger to life. His father decidedly told me, on the day of bis departure at 8 a.m. Monday, he would not have had his arm amputated here, which, in my humble opinion, was the only practice to resort to. It notifies in the account in this week's paper that ho was unskilEully treated. This I most emphatically deny, and will assert on oath, for the benefit of those who last saw him, thaf J never pursued any treatment at all ; and, in addition to this, J should, if another surgeon had been nearer me than Auckland, have called him in. Mr. Marshall told me he coul4 get to town on Monday evening ; and lastly, here he could not have done well, living in a tent, and unable to obtain the requisite attention, and other necesiaries in for such a case. — I am, &c, Fredk. A. Dixton, M.R.C.S., England, F.M.S S.A., London, late House-surgeon, Alnwick infirmary, and late House-surgeon, Lying-in- Hoa* pital, Birmingham. Te Arai, May 10, 1867.