OPERATION AT SEA

Manawatu Herald, Volume LV, Issue 4521, 23 July 1935, Page 3

OPERATION AT SEA

LOCAL BOY’S ORDEAL

PROGRESSING FAVOURABLY

While the engines on the mail liner Makura were 'kept idling for an hour near the tropics an operation for acute appendicitis carried out on the latest voyage from San Francisco by the ship’s surgeon and two medical passengers under most difficult circumstances saved the life of a young man, one of the crew. Tlie Makura arrived at Wellington yesterday morning carrying the patient, Mr G. A. Perreau, son of Mr and Mrs M. E. Perreau, of Foxton, the baker on the ship, who is now well into the convalescent stage.

The operation may be described as an international affair. It.was conducted by an Australian, Dr. C. S. Laurence, the Makura’s surgeon; lie was assisted by an American passenger, Dr. Luckie, of Pasadena, who disembarked at Papeete; and the anaesthetic was given by a Christchurch Hospital dental sqjgeon, Dr. E. B. Reilly, who was returning from a year spent in the United States.

After Dr. Laurence’s diagnosis of acute appendicitis had been made the operation was performed immediately on July 6, when the ship was three days out at sea. Emergency precautions that are not generally taken in appendicitis onerations had to be observed because of the tropical weather pro vailing on that day and for 12 days afterward in which high temperatures made great care necessary. Further difficulties were added by the surgeon’s work having to be done on a' table in the hurriedly cleared ship’s nursery. The patient had a large appendix with a dangerous abscess. Having no nurse to depend on for the twice-daily dressings and general after-care treatment, Dr. Laurence had this work also to do. He was assisted greatly by the patient’s brother, Mr H. M. Perreau, a steward, who was allowed off duty and watched at the bedside day and night for a great part of the voyage. Dr. Laurence remarked yesterday that although he had had, medical experience in many parts of the world, including some of the Pacific Islands, lie did not enjoy being responsible for such a “ticklish” operation at sea. The only previous shipboard operation he had performed had been twelve years ago on the Morcton Bay in one of its London-Anstralia voyages.

The patient will spend a week’s convalescence in Wellington Hospital before going on leave. ,