PEDIATRICS Vol. 84 No. 1 July 1989, pp. 125
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REMOVAL OF A RING FROM A YOUNG LADY'S FINGER—AS REPORTED IN 1854

T. E. C. Jr MD

The case reported below, describing the practical solution of a clinical problem, is typical of those frequently published in American nineteenth century medical journals.

An interesting young lady, about 17 years of age had presented to her a gold ring, which she forced over the joints of her middle finger. After a few minutes the finger commenced swelling, and the ring could not be removed. The family physician was sent for, but could do nothing. The family, and the young lady especially, were now in the greatest consternation. A jeweller was sent for. After many futile attempts to cut the ring with cutting nippers, and to saw it apart with a fine saw, and after bruising and lacerating the flesh, warm fomentations and leeches were applied, but all without affording the slightest benefit. The family doctor requested my presence, with the compliment that "perhaps my mechanical ingenuity might suggest something." I at once proceeded to the house of the patient, and found the young lady in a most deplorable state of mental agony, the doctor embarrassed, and the family in a high state of excitement. I procured some prepared chalk, and applied it between the ridges of swollen flesh, and all round the finger, and succeeded in drying the oozing and abraded flesh; then with a narrow piece of soft linen I succeeded in polishing the ring, by drawing it gently round the ring between the swollen parts. I then applied quicksilver to the whole surface ofthe ring. In less than three minutes the ring was broken (by pressing it together) in four pieces, to the great relief of all parties.

In a similar manner (without the chalk) I some time since extracted a small brass ring from the ear of a child, who child-like had inserted it into the cavity of the ear; the operation was more painful and tedious, but was equally successful.

The modus operandi. The quicksilver at once permeates the metals, if clean (with the exception of iron, steel, platina, and one or two others), and amalgamates with them. It immediately crystallizes and renders the metal as brittle as glass. Hence the ease with which metals amalgamated with quicksilver can be broken.