MODERN SURGERY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6493, 13 April 1908, Page 2

MODERN SURGERY

THE LATEST MARVEL. An astounding surgical operation in reported by Professor Sultan in the ' German Mcrlicnl Weekly.” The heart of a person who attempted suicide, and fired a bullet into it, was taken out and sewn up, and the patient dracherrged from hospital eii weeks later absolutely cured. Professor Sultan gives the following account of the operation, which is believed to be without parallel;— "On Jtme 2iJrd last the patient, n cabinet-nwtker, 33 years old, fired at his heart with a small' calibre- revolver. Examination showed a small powder-black-ened hole in the heart, through which hardly any blood issued. Labs in the evening of the second clay, 30 hours after the shooting, we decided to operate, and made an incision in the sternum. £f As soon as the cardial «uc was opened a great quantity of dark blood oozed : forth. The heart, lying quite free for its entire length, was carefully lifed up. upon tho frontal side appeared only a email extravasation, the size of a klntil, but as soon as the heart was turned towards tho right there appeared a small wound, with ragged edges, about half a centimetre in diameter. With three wtreokew of fine silk .thread tho edges of tho wound were neatly joined, while, for saftrty o puke, another seam was made at the extravasation.

rr To hold the slronsl.r-bea.ting heart •win!© sewing was in progress required considerable force’ Every time the heart was turned to the rigat, m order to male© a stitch, the pulse was diminished, until it was scarcely .audible, bat when the heart was turned round the beats again bcoaano normal. After all the brood had been drained from the sac the entrance-hole of the bullet became risible, and it was immediately closed by catgut. W hen the chest incision bad boon repaired, breathing and pulse became entirely normal."