Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1917 — SURGEON IS CUBED OF SEPTICAEMIA [ARTICLE]

SURGEON IS CUBED OF SEPTICAEMIA

Recovers Completely After Undergoing Nine Operations for Blood Transfusion. CASE WAS THOUGHT HOPELESS Contracted Blood Poisoning While Per. forming an Operation—Most Remarkable Case Ever Treated in This Country. New York. —Made a victim of septicaemia while performing a surgical operation two months ago. Dr. Albert Pittis of Plainfield, N. J., whose case was considered hopeless a few weeks later, has recovered completely as the result of undergoing nine operations for blood transfusion. Each operation was performed by Dr. Edward Lindeman cif New York, who used a method of transfusion which he devised four years ago. The recovery of the young surgeon is not only unusual, but physicians say- the.case is one of the most remarkable of its kind ever treated in this country. After physicians had given up hope of recovery Doctor Lindeman was summoned to the Muhlenberg hospital, Plainfield, where Doctor Pittis was a patient Eight Quarts of Blood Furnished. After a consultation it was decidedthat Doctor Lindeman begin his operations. Eight quarts of blood were furnished for the operations by Miss Constance Pittis and Betram Pittis, sister and brother df the patient, and four members of the local fire department. Doctor Lindeman’s method embodies the use of arteriai syrlnges and eliminates the necessity of making an incision over the vein in either the donor of the blood or the recipient. By means of especially devised telescoping tubes

of platinum he pierces the vein, making a hole about the size ot an ordinary needle point. This primary hole is then dilated until of such size as to permit an unobstructed flow. Forty-eight hours after the first transfusion poctor Pittis showed Improvement, although he still was unconscious, as he had been sot some time. Consciousness returned to the patient after several operations two weeks later, but his mind was not yet clear. Doctor Pittis steadily responded to the treatment and finally his temperature became normal and his mind clear. Pricks Skin While Operating. The poison, ‘which had circulated through the whole body, was exactly like that of the patient Doctor Pittis had been operating on when he became infected, Doctor Pittis* patient had been suffering from septicaemia, too, and w'hile using his Instruments the skin between hia fingers was pricked. The condition of the hand soon became so alarming that Doctor Pittis went to the Muhlenberg hospital for treatment. It was said that when he first underwent treatment by the Lindeman method he was closer to death than any other patient who had been operated on byDoctor Lindeman for the same disease and who had recovered. , Doctor Pittis has left the Muhlenberg hospital, after having been under Doctor Lindeman's treatment for a month, Fully recovered, he will be able to resume his practice as a surgeon at any time he wishes. However, he is contemplating a trip to the South before going in for hard work. Most of his work is among the poor of Plainfield, where he is surgeon at a dlspensary._ . Within the last two weeks Doctor PittJs roitfpeHed tio undergo am* putatlon of a finger on his right hand, as the bone had become damaged by the cut made by surgical Otherwise he is in normal condition.