A NOVEL SURGICAL OPERATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3732, 17 September 1886, Page 3

A NOVEL SURGICAL OP E RATION.

I wi(nc??ed a novel and decidedly interesting surgical operation at a clinic of the new Ophthalmic College this week. It consisted of what is known as " inturbation of the larnyx," an operation which is superseding tracheotomy, or cutting into tho windpipe or larnyx. The patient was a little child almost suffocating from tho effects of a membraneous croup. Hitherto children so afilicted, or suffering from diphtheria, have h-id to undergo the old-fashonod process of cutting from outside, nn operation at once cruel and painful. Many children havo succumbed to theso diseases beeauso their parents objected to tracheotomy, and tbo dreadful pains their children would have to endure, but it would appear, from tho experience and evidence of experts, that this old fogey carving is to bo shelrcd. In theinturbalion op rjtion ronsists of passing a small silver tube through the mouth anddown to tho vocal cords, through which it is passed. The handle, or " carrier " is then detached by a spring and withdrawn, leaving tho little tube m position, a flinge at its superior extremity preventing its slipping through tho vocal cords into the windpipe. By tho introduction of the tube,inst;mt relief from suffocation is obtained, and tho child falls at onco into an easy and refreshing sleep. After tlirco or four days tho handlo is passed down the throat and attached by a simple mechanism, and the tube, brought out. By this means the patient is afford jd free breathing and respiration, and, with other treatment of a medical hind, soon recovers. In explaining tho operation to a post-grad nato class. Professor Greene said : " I regard this operation as a triumph m surgery, 11s it is bloodless, painless, rapid, and leaves no open wound subject to infection. The old operation of cutting into tho wind-pipe wis horrifying to the mother, who usually hesitated between suro death by suffocatiuu, and the obligation to see her offspring wince undertheoftentimes brutal surgeon's knife. She wo.ild, not ns a ride, submit her babe to tho sanguinary operation until poison had taken hold of the system and all hopo wns lost." — Letter m C/tlcafo Journal.