Clever Operation.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 September 1910, Page 4

Clever Operation.

BOY SWALLOWS A PEN-KNIFE

A irecent surgical case at th© Nelson Hospital presents some remarkable features. A boy" infant ten months old was brought to the. Hospital and the surgeon informed that the child had swallowed a pocket 'knife. The thing seemed hardly possible, and there was a certain amount of inoredulity, especially as tho child showed no bad symptoms, and three days had elapsed since the alleged swallowing. Owing to ibad weather, it was not .possible to bring the child! in earlier. Examination by means of X-rays revealed the knife lying parallel to the spine in the region oi the stomach. Three examinations weire made, each showing the knife in the same position, and it was evident that it had' bocome fixed. As it was not possible to get rid of_ the knife by natural means, a cutting operation was performed, and an ordinary pocket knife, two and: a half inches in length, was taken, from the intestine in a position hehind the stomach, the knife having passed through the stomach. After so serious an operation necessarily there was anxiety, but the child is making a iromarkably good recovery. Dr Stoney Johnston, the acting resident surgeon, performed the operation.