SHIP SURGERY MARVEL

Evening Star, Issue 19663, 16 September 1927, Page 3

SHIP SURGERY MARVEL

HEW ZEALANDER’S FEAT USE OF CRUDE IMPLEMENTS Details of a feat of surgery off Cape Horn, carried out. under almost mcrecliblo conditions with scissors, a safety pin, bent spoons, clothes pegs, and meat hooks as implements, but ending in success, were told by the officers and crew of the Commonwealth and Dominion Lino steamer Port Auckland on August 4 as she moved into dock at Woolwich. Tho central figure is a young JNow Zealand surgeon, who was on his way to England for tho first time. He is DrA.S. Hethorington, just twenty-five years of age, wlio studied medicine at Otago University. As the ship was about to round Gape Horn on Juno 28, Dr Hethorington found that a fireman, Mr A. J. Merton, had appendicitis. Although he had had no implements and no qualified assistants, Dr Hetherington decided that an operation was imperative. In tho rough sea the ship was rolling heavily, but the engines were stopped and the dining saloon was chosen as an operating theatre. Arc lights were brought and assistants called for. Among the half-dozen passengers was an Englishwoman, Miss Swindell, the only woman on board, who during the war had had some experience as a V.A.D. She and two of the officers were tho surgeon’s assistants. To administer the amcsthetic a tea strainer was covered with a towel, and this was placed over the patient’s nose. Ether and chloroform were sprinkled from a bottle until tho patient was unconscious and throughout tho operation, which lasted from midnight until nearly .‘1 a.m. ' The surgeon had to watch the eyes of his patient to see that he was not coming round, ordering more amesthetic from time to time. The cut'was made with great difficulty with a small pair of scissors, the patient’s tongue was fastened by means of a safety-pin stuck through it, and the wound was kept open by means of bent spoons. Clothes pegs and meat hooks were also employed. Down below in tho kitchen the cook, Mr Ricardo, kept his ovens at boiling beat for hours sterilising tho instruments. The operation completed, the patient was carried through narrow passages—a task of tho greatest difficulty with the boat rolling and tossing, to his cabin. The wound quickly healed; but pneumonia and bronchitis set in. Miss Swindell nursed the patient, day and night, back to health, and, as one of the officers said, “she and the doctor undoubtedly saved his lile." • When "a. ‘Daily Mail’ reporter vent aboard ho found tho officers and crow full of admiration for tho splendid work of Dr Hetherington. One of the officers who took part in tho operation said; “It was a tremendous responsibility to take, but tho doctor was the coolest man on board. He thought every tiling out and took every precaution.' He was confidence itself. During the operation lie pointed out to mo exactly what ho was doing. Miss.Sw.mdolfi too. was great, and stuck it like a brick.”

Down below tbc patient was strolling about in perfect health. A bronzed Irishman, as .strong as a horse, Mr Morton said: “The doctor told mo of (he risk, but T never doubted bis ability lo pull me through. His confidence inspired me. J. wrote a letter, by request, to my wife, but tore it up ns soon as T came round. I think I must be the first man to be operated on for appendicitis while rounding Cape Horn. Hero I am again ns fib as a fiddle, though, of course, T shall have to avoid roallv heavy lifting work for a while.”