ve been followed by recovery, even when
associated with considerable loss of liver-substance. In the older
records, Glandorp and Scultetus mention cures after large wounds of the
liver. Fabricius Hildanus reports a case that ended happily, in which a
piece of liver was found in the wound, having been separated by a
sword-thrust. There is a remarkable example of recovery after multiple
visceral wounds, self-inflicted by a lunatic. This man had 18 wounds,
14 having penetrated the abdomen, the liver, colon, and the jejunum
being injured; by frequent bleeding, strict regimen, dressing, etc., he
recovered his health and senses, but relapsing a year and a half later,
he again attempted suicide, which gave the opportunity for a postmortem
to learn the extent of the original injuries. Plater, Schenck,
Cabrolius, the Ephemerides, and Nolleson mention recovery after wounds
of the liver. Salmuth and the Ephemerides report questionable instances
in which portions of the liver were ejected in violent vomiting.
Macpherson describes a wound of the liver occurring in a Hindoo of
sixty who had been struck by a spear. A portion of the liver was
protruding, and a piece weighing 1 1/4 ounces was removed, complete
recovery following.

Postempski mentions a case of suture of the liver after a stab-wound.
Six sutures of chromicized cat-gut were carefully tightened and
fastened with a single loop. The patient left his bed on the sixth day
and completely recovered. Gann reports a case of harpoon-wound of the
liver. While in a dory spearing fish in the Rio Nuevo, after a sudden
lurch of the boat, a young man of twenty-eight fell on the sharp point
of a harpoon, which penetrated his abdomen. About one inch of the
harpoon was seen protruding from below the tip of the ensiform
cartilage; the harpoon was seven inches long. It was found that the
instrument had penetrated the right lobe of the liver; on passing the
hand backward along the inferior surface of the liver, the point could
be felt projecting through its posterior border. On account of two
sharp barbs on the spear-point, it was necessary to push the harpoon
further in to disengage the barbs, after which it was easily removed.
Recovery followed, and the patient was discharged in twenty-one days.

Romme discusses the subject of punctured wounds of the liver, as a
special text using the case of the late President Carnot. He says that
in 543 cases of traumatism of the liver collected by Elder