A TRIUMPH OF SURGERY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5326, 23 April 1878, Page 3

A TRIUMPH OF SURGERY.

(From the St. Louis Gazette, January 16.) Yesterday Dr. George H. Field, of the St. Louis Eclectic Medical College, assisted by Drs. Washburne, Hall, Bliss, and Loomis, performed an operation which for delicacy and skill has rarely been equalled in this city. It consisted in the removal of nearly the entire lower jaw, and in substituting an artificial one of gold in its place. The patient was Mr. Ferdinand Forrester, aged about 30 years, and living at No. 2121 G ra tiot-street. Last February Mr. Forrester found himself afflicted with what is termed coloid cancer, and, in order to prevent its encroachments, he was operated on last September by Dr. J. T. Hoclwen, of this city, who excised the anterior portion of the bone, taking it out to the extent of three-quarters of an inch on each side of the symphisis. This, however, did not seem to stay the progress of the disease, which soon after commenced a rapid progress in the remaining portion of the jaw and surrounding tissues, andiso alarming had it become that the operation of yesterday was a last resort to stay the ravages of this most terrible malady and grant the patient a new lease of life. The mode of operation was as follows ; —The patient being placed on a table was first placed under the influence of chloroform. An incision was then made around to each angle of the hone at its lower margin, and after ligaturing all the important vessels the division was made through the bone at its angle on both side, and the bone dissected out. This part of the operation was itself both skilful and dangerous. The next part of the operation consisted of inserting the artificial jaw, which was done by drilling holes through the remaining portion of the bone and rivetting the jaw firmly to them. The parts were then sewed up and dressed, and the operation finished. The artificial substitute was made by H. Wiesfelder, No. 2410 Broadway, and was a very fine piece of work. A large number of students from St. Louis E.M. College were present and witnessed the operation, and all seemed deeply interested. Considering the dangers and difficulties attending an operation of this kind great credit is due Dr. Field and his assistants for having performed it in so successful a manner. The whole time required for the operation was about four hours, and at last accounts the patient was doing well.