The union Democrat., 1869-02-27
Extraordinary Recovery.

The Russian Rire~ FIGg of February 11th
tells the annexed:
On our recent tour through Mendccino
county, we made the acquaintance Of B. f.
Chase, foreman in the CASPER mill, who re-
ceived wound in July. 1864, the nature Of
which, and his complete recovery. furnishes
one of the most remarkable cases of the kind
to be found on record. lie was doing some
work under picket saw, which, when in mo-
tion, runs AT a tremendous speed. Inadver-
tently raising his head against the saw, he
ihstantaneouSly received cut beginning at
the frontal bone. one half inch above the
nose, and running back 20 the occipital bone,
making nm incision nine inches in length,
taking in the convexity of the skull DR..
A. &. Folsom was sent for end arrived in
half an hour. He verv naturally supposed
the wound was fatal one, and at first
thought that it would be useless to dress it,
believing the man would die within a few
minutes. But Mr.. Chase being perfectly
conscious and suffering no pain whatever, the
doctor finally concluded to attempt a careful
dressing, even If the patient should die under
the operation-encouraged somewhat, he
says, by remembering the case of the man in
Vermont who had a tamping iron blown
through his head and recovered therefrom.
The cut in Mr.. Chase's head gaped open so
that the skull bones were a full inch apart.
The doctor made no attempt to probe the
depth, but did insert pocket rule IL inches
into the brain, (hesides the thickness of the
skull-bone.) which was as far as it would GO
without touching the walls Of the cut On
account of its circular shapes the saw must
have penetrated the brain much deeper than
point on q straight line from one extremity
&C IL, Al. n
timated that the brain was cut nearly to its
base, or fully three inches deep. He care
fully removed all fragments of the skull
taking out over 80 pieces-and washed out
the sawdust that had got into the opening,
using warm water to promote hemorrhage,
which was slight for such an extensive wound
He also washed out more than a tablespoon
full of brain. How much more the saw car
ried away one can only conjecture. The
doctor then shaved the scalp, applied tourui-
quet to bring the bones together, and closed
the Aperture with six stitches, finishing with
adhesive plaster, and leaving three openings,
one at each end and one in the center. The
only dressing ever used was cold water.
The patient was in full possession of all his
faculties during the whole time, and said he
experienced no pain then or afterwards until
he was entirely recovered. He visited the
mill in about four weeks after the accident,
and soon after resumed his duties as filer and
foreman, which position he still holds. He
says he never lost sleep or appetite. or ex-
perienced any physical or mental pain or
weakness from his wound. The DOCTORS the
ory for this wonderful case is that the wound
was clean smooth cut unaccompanied by
concussion, and that it is usually the concus-
sion anG not the incision of the brain that
causes death.
We are indebted for the foregoing facts to
DR.. Folsom himself. He related the case to
us in presence of several gentlemen who were
also acquainted with the circumstances. The
Doctor said he would have sent statement
of the case to the medical journals shortly af-
ter the occurrence. but he was firm in the be-
lief for year or two that his patient would
ultimately die of the injury