SKILFUL SURGERY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 183, 6 July 1931, Page 6

SKILFUL SURGERY.

WAR BULLETS REAIOVED

PATIENCE REWARDED

AUCKLAND, July 3

War wounds have often given rise to very interesting operations by surgeons, and two cases which illustrate the patience needed for the location of bullets in certain portions of the body were recently brought to a successful conclusion in Auckland Hospital. In these cases bullets were removed after having been in the bodies of the two, men concerned- for periods of 15 and 13 years respectively. The first case was that of Mr Ronald F. Johnston, of Auckland, who, after being wounded in the first Battle of the Somme in September, 1916, underwent a successful operation the other day for the removal .of a bullet from his thigh.

A bullet from a- machine-gun had entered liis left side near the hip, and after passing nearly through his body lodged itself near the sciatic nerve. The position of the bullet was known to the doctors, but owing to its nearness to tlie nerve it was considei ed inadvisable to disturb it. Tlie formation of abscesses as a result of irritation by fragments of the bullet and pieces of cloth necessitated seven operations, three being performed in England and four in New Zealand. By means of X-rays it was possible to trace the path of the bullet, and a shred of cloth, presumably from Mr Johnston’s uniform, was removed. The last operation was of a delicate nature and was due to the formation of an abscess around the bullet. The operation was commenced in the operating theatre, but owing to a slight difficulty in locating the exact site of the bullet, Mr Johnston was put under an X-ray screen and the operation was successfully completed. As the bones showed white under the X-ray it was difficult to determine on which side of the bone the bullet- lay. The operation was performed by Dr McGregor Grant, and the bullet is now an object of interest among Mr Johnston s friends and fellow-patients. The nose of the bullet is completely shattered Mr Johnston being of tlie opini°n that it struck his equipment, including his bayonet scabbard and water bottle, before it entered his body. Another interesting case is that of Mr J. Cunningham, an inmate of the Evelyn Firth Home at Parnell.' "While on active service with the First Battalion of the Rifle Brigade in the second Battle of the Somme in 1918 Mr Cunningham was wounded in the spine by a niacliine-gun bullet. Although he was able to get about a year later he bad a dull feeling in his spine, and on being examined by English specialists lie was told that it was imposisftie to remove the bullet.

. Among those who examined him was Colonel Rigby, now Sir Hugh Rigby the King’s surgeon. Two spinal operations were subsequently performed in Sydney,’but tho bullet could not be re moved.

In May last an operation was carried out m Auckland Hospital bv Sir Car rick Robertson who succeeded in re" moving the bullet. Except for a slicht burr on the tip, the bullet was perfect in shape, and Mr Cunningham now treasures it in a cardboard box as one of liis war souvenirs.