REPORT OF CASE
H. P. S., aged 68, a laborer, was admitted to Rockford Hospital, Nov. 26, 1918, stating that about one hour previously he had fallen into a ditch about 7 feet deep, striking his chest on the rim of the ditch.At the time of his examination he complained of severe cramplike pain in the left upper quadrant of his abdomen. Slight contusions were found over the right upper thorax. The patient complained of severe tenderness on pressure over nearly the entire abdomen but more pronounced to the left of the umbilicus. There was a marked dulness extending into the flank and nearly to the midline. The pulse was 68; respiration, 20; temperature, 98.6; the urine was negative. Blood examination revealed: erythrocytes, 4,000,000; hemaglobin, 80 per cent.; leukocytes, 9,000. The patient's general condition seemed to be very good.Under local anesthesia a high left rectus incision was made