SURGICAL OPERATIONS - 21 Jul 1875

FERNOW, MCDERMOTT

Posted By: Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert (email)
Date: 5/11/2006 at 18:43:07

The Chariton Patriot
Chariton, Iowa
Thursday, July 21, 1875

~ SURGICAL OPERATIONS ~

A Batch of Interesting Items From Our Doctors.

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On Sunday morning last Dr. W.H. Gibbon of this place assisted by Dr. Lambert
of Albia, amputated above the knee a leg for JOHN FERNOW of Melrose. This
operation was rendered necessary on account of the leg having been crushed
by a railroad car at Melrose the day before. MR. FERNOW in company with
several other persons got under a freight car to avoid getting wet from a
shower and while there an engine hitched onto the train without the
knowledge of the parties, and when the cars moved there was a scramble to
get out, which resulted as above.

On yesterday (Tuesday) A.M. Dr. Fitch, assisted by Drs. Collins, McKlveen
and Stanton, amputated the left leg of old MR. WM. MCDERMOTT of Cedar
township, in this county at the Clinton House. This limb was also taken off
above the knee, and the operation was necessitated by the formation in the
limb; beginning at the great toe of what the Doctors term "Senile (old age)
gangrene." MR. MCDERMOTT is 83 years of age, and is one of the oldest
citizens of this county. Of course very little, if any hopes, are had of
his recovery as his age and the progress that the disease has made, makes it
a very serious case. The old man stood the operation remarkably well, and
when we saw him, immediately after the limb had been severed, he was quite
bright, and expressed himself as feeling comfortable.

Another operation was performed by Doctors Fitch and Stanton, on yesterday
on the person of a little girl from New York, Wayne County. She had run a
darning needle into her heel, and the flesh was cut open entirely to the
bone and about two thirds of the needle extracted.
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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
May 11, 2006
iggy29@sbcglobal.net