Case of Penetrating Wound of the Abdomen, with Protrusion of a Portion of the Omentum; Excision and Ligature; Recovery

Having observed a case of penetrating wound of the abdomen by Assistant-Surgeon F. Odevaine in the last number of the Indian Medical Gazette, I am inclined to give a short account of the following case, which forms almost an exact parallel to it. On the 21st of May last, a lad, aged about 7 years, was brought to the dispensary with a penetrating wound of the abdomen, and protrusion of a conical fleshy mass. A few days prior to admission the child had been playing with a sharp piece of bamboo. He fell upon it, and the sharp end penetrated. It was withdrawn, and the protrusion took place immediately. On admission, a fleshy mass, apparently gangrenous, supposed to be intestine, about three inches long by one inch broad, protruded from the wound, which was situated in the left hypochondriac region, immediately below the cartilages of the ribs, and constricted the protruding substance. On close examination, the protrusion was found to be solid. The black encrusting matter was coagulated blood, and the vitality of the mass was not impaired. It was irreducible, and Dr. Kenneth McLeod thought it advisable not to attempt replacing it in the abdominal cavity. A small portion was cut