A REMARKABLE SURGICAL CASE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 6693, 29 September 1882, Page 3

A REMARKABLE SURGICAL CASE.

The celebrated Vienna surgeon, Professor Billroth, has at present in his hospital a case which will shortly create some sensation in the medical world. One of his patients has been in the habit for the last six months of “rinsing” his stomach daily. This manipulation, one of the wonders of modern therapeutics, consists in inserting a tube into the stomach, through the gullet, and pouring lukewarm, or medicated, water through the tube by means of a funnel till the stomach is full. Then, by simply lowering the end of the tube to the waist a siphon is formed, and the stomach is emptied. The patients who undergo this operation suffer mostly from chronic catarrh of the digestive organs. The process is so simple that they soon learn to perform it unaided, and this was the case with the above-mentioned patient. Un * fortunately for him, he had not thought it necessary or did not possess the means of purchasing a new tube, but contented himself with mending and patching and tying defective parts with thread. The inevitable took place. A portion of the tube, measuring eight inches at least, remained in his stomach, and he is now awaiting Professor Billroth’s decision as to the’ best means of treatment. The skilful surgeon is still hesitating between the two courses open to him: he must either attempt to extract the intruder through the sesophagns, with the help of gastroscopy, or he must resort to gastrotomy. Meanwhile the patient enjoys a good appetite. —■“ Loudon Life.”