About this stage of the operation an unfortunate accident happened--the iodoform tampon, which protected the exposed pleural cavity, was drawn into this cavity during a deep inspiration, and could not be found.

Notwithstanding subsequent pneumothorax and extensive pleuritic effusion, the patient made a good recovery at the end of the fourth week and at the time of report it was still uncertain whether the needle remained in the heart or had wandered into the mediastinum.

During the discussion which followed the report of this case, Hahn showed a portion of a knitting-needle which had been removed from the heart of a girl during life.

The extraction was very slow in order to allow of coagulation along the course of the wound in the heart, and to guard against hemorrhage into the pericardial sac, which is so often the cause of death in punctured wounds of this organ.

Hahn remarked that the pulse, which before the removal had been very rapid, sank to 90.
Marks reports the case of a stab-wound penetrating the left 9th intercostal space, the diaphragm, pleura, pericardium, and apex of the heart.