A TRIUMPH OF SURGERY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 616, 24 April 1878, Page 2

A TRIUMPH OF SURGERY.

4» (From the St. Louis Gazette, Jan. 10.) Yestenkvy, Dr. George H. Field, of the St. Louis Eclectic Medical College, assisted by Drs. Washbnrne, Hall, Bliss, and. Looniis, 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 thirty years, and living at No. 2121 Gratiot - 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. Hogden, of this city, who excised the anterior portion of the bono, 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 rei maining portion of the jaw and sur- . rounding tissues, and so .alarming had it become that the operation of yesterday ! was a last resort to stay the ravages oi ; this most terrible malady and grant tinpatient 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 bone at ils lower margin, and ; after ligaturing all the important vessels ' the division was made through the bone : at its angle on boih side, and the bone ; dissected out. This part of the operation was itself loth skilful and dangerous. • The next part of the operation consisted of inserting the artificial jaw, which was done by drilling holes ihrongh the remaining portion of the bone and rivetting the jaw lirnily to them. The parts were then sewed up and dressed, and the opera- | tioii finished. The artificial substitute was | ma. le by 11. AV.b sfelder, Broadway, and Wi'.M a.very fine work. A large niiiii- !■■!!• of ,-fuden!.s i'; or.: St. LouiwK.M. College •,'■■.-■- invsomt- and wi.ne.-sed the operation, :'..■:(• ,-di scorned deep'iy in ei---it. d. Considering ;■ .e dang -is and dillcnlties attending :!.■'. o;>:-raiii>;t of this kind great credit is \ •'>'.:■ ]''■:. JMeld «nd his assistants for having • jvo-Airuicd it in S-. siu'.-jc.-iMil a manner. | The whole time reijutvd lor the operation I was about four hours, and at last accounts ! the paiient wits doing will.