The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-09-21
Recovery of Lady who Lost her Scalp.

Some weeks ago the newspaper pub
lished paragraph stating that on the at
ternoon of the 31st of July, a Miss Tyrrell
while at work in a watch-factory in Elgin,
H., got her hair entangled in the coupling
| of Il shaft, and had q portion Of her scalp
torn from her head. How the hurt has
almost healed the Elgin Gazette of Aug.
| Doth thus tells:
| The physician who dressed the head al
rived at the scene of the accident twenty
minutes after the occurrence, examined
| the scalp with a view to replacing 1t on
the girls head, but decided that as it was
entirely detached and had become cold,
| there was no chance of its growing on.
He then dressed the wound, covering it
with cotton batting. After the lady had
| been removed to her home another physi-
clan was called in, who insisted that the
scalp should have been replaced immedi-
atelv, and that it should be done then, six
hours after the accident. His opinion pre-
vailed, and the cotton batting was all
picked off that could be removed, and the
scalp was replaced, being secured in its
place by stitches at the angles and by
strips Of adhesive plaster. For five days
| it lay upon the head firmly, with every
| appearance of life and health but on the
sixth day spot about the size of twenty
| five cent piece became tender to the touch
and a little SOFT In about twelve hours it
opened outward under the scalp to the
eye, and discharged matter mixed up with
cotton fibre. During five days it continu-
ed to discharge from different points on
the right side of the head and forehead.
the lett side discharging but little, and
1,,1t
third of the scalp loosened in this way,
portions Of it being cut way by the attend
ing surgeon as it became loose. At about
six O'Clock on the morning of the eleventh
day after the accident, after sleeping
soundly all night, she called for drink
nt water, and while the nurse was gone
she raised herself up in bed and the scalp
was drawn off and found lying on the
back OF the neck, entirely detached OK
cept ut the ear, from which it had to be
detached with the scissors, and the eye
brows, which had grown firmly on. The
head was found to be covered with q coat
ing of flesh from an eighth to a quarter
of an inch thick, except in two or three
places half an inch across. where was
found II deposit of cotton rs thick as Il
sheet of paper. Since then these places
have filled with granulations, and the flesh
has increased in thickness until it is now
nearly even with the skin.
Upon examining the seal after it came
off. it was found to have been attached in
places on both sides of the head and
those points which had become detached
by suppuration showed granulating points,
looking like new flesh starting on it, the
blood-vessels We're enlarged and contain
ed fresh red blood.
The ear had partially united, and was
quite stnsitive-so much so that she could
tell what part of it was touched. Dr.
Winchester, the attending surgeon, thinks |
the scalp was torn off by the lady in risin = !
from her pillow, to which it had become
fastened by dried matter during the nj ght
her recovery is only a question of time.
The skin on her eyes and eyebrows. |
having become attached, is natural, and |
the physician says he can warrant the en-
tire head to be covered with new skin;
he intends to take skin from her arm and |
place it on her forehead and temples, so
that it will be smooth and natural Then, |
with a head of false hair, she will, in Il
few months, again walk the streets OF our
bluff city, apparently her former self.