Gastrostomy for traumatic stricture of the esophagus : report of case / by George Ben Johnston.

  • Johnston, George Ben, 1853-1916
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Gastrostomy for traumatic stricture of the esophagus : report of case / by George Ben Johnston. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    GASTROSTOMY FOR TRAUMATIC STRICTURE OF THE ESOPHAGUS—REPORT OF CASE.>=- By George Ben Johnston, M. D,, Richmond, Va. Professor of Gynecology and Abdominal Surgery, Medical College OF Virginia; Fellow of the American Surgical Association, Etc. Perhaps no more pitiable spectacle comes under the eye of the surgeon than an otherwise healthy person slowly perish- ing from starvation due to traumatic stricture of the esopha- gus. One has only to glance at the first of the accompanying cuts [Fig. i] to verify this statement. The youth, Robert Starling, whom I exhibit to you was referred to me by Dr. E. C. Moore, of Wilson, N. C., July 23, 1899. He resides at Kenly, N. C. Dr. Moore’s letter stated it was a case of esophageal stricture which had become imper- meable. The following brief history was elicited at the Old Dominion Hospital, into which he was admitted July 23, 1899 : He knows nothing of father or mother, who died when he was young. Health had always been good with exception of the present trouble and a few chills. When about three years old he swallowed concentrated lye. Remembers nothing about suffering at that time, but ever since he can remember he .has had to press on esophagus to complete the act of swal- lowing. He could eat anything at first but took twice as long as other people. One week before coming to the hospital his throat appeared to close up so he could not swallow except with great difficulty. Continued to get worse until July 20th, when he could take only milk, and that in very small quantities. On July 24th I examined him in the hospital. It is impos- sible to describe his wretched appearance, his wasted form, his distressed countenance. Esophageal bougies of various sizes were employed in suc- cession, descending in calibre until the passage of a filiform urethral bougie was undertaken. In spite of a most careful *Reported at the Tenth Annual Meeting of the Medical Society of Vir ginia, Richmond, October 24-26, 1899.