John McLuen Arm Amputation (1896)

MCLUEN

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 2/11/2019 at 12:56:48

Guthrian, January 30th 1896

A very serious affliction has befell that well known worthy citizen John McLuen of Jackson township. While engaged in his political canvas the past summer he suffered severely from a diseased right arm. It continued to grow worse and became so painful before the canvas was completed that he had virtually to abandon his efforts before the people. The trouble affected his hand producing a deformity and loss of power in that member. The advice of able physicians was sought but all were powerless to effect permanent relief from the trouble, The arm continued to grow more painful and less useful and he visited eminent surgeons in Des Moines to seek their advise. Last week he went to the city and Dr. Hanawalt thought that it could be relieved by removing the apparently calloused portion of the arm. In making an incision in the diseased portion the trouble was seen to be of a cancerous nature and that the only hope of permanent relief was the amputation of the arm above the elbow. On Wednesday evening Dr. Hanawalt at one of the hospitals of the city removed the arm. Dr. Lonsdale was present and assisted, and reported after the operation that he thought Mr. McLuen might be able to return home this week.