Laparotomy in the Treatment of Penetrating Wounds and Visceral Injuries of the Abdomen.
At the last meeting of the New York County Medical Association, Professor Frederic S. Dennis read probably the most elaborate paper that has yet been prepared on Laparotomy in the Treatment of Penetrating Wounds and Visceral Injuries of the Abdomen, and it was most richly illustrated by pathological specimens of great variety from a number of the cases referred to in it. The conclusions at which he arrived after a full consideration of the subject were stated as follows:
First.
That penetrating stab-wounds of the abdomen are less fatal than penetrating gunshot wounds; but that the former are fatal in too great numbers to allow the surgeon to be content with the older methods of treatment.
Second.
That if the stab-wound has injured the intestine or any abdominal organ, laparotomy is indicated. It may be indicated also