The Republican journal., 1871-08-17

slight, delicate female. whose chances for
ever opening her eyes in this world again
seemed, in the judgment of the various
physicians who saw the patient, to be in
the ratio of one in ten thousand. All that
humanity could suggest was done for the
woman in the way OF dressing herwounds,
but it was on the score of humanity that
the attending physician forbore to set the
broken arm for Il day or two. She could
not live, he argued, and it was needless
to subject her to the operation.
But she did live from hour to hour,
from day to day, and, Us her system be-
gan to show signs of rallying, her medi-
cal attendant at once set about assisting
nature in the effort to recover from the
shock. In order to do this, the rough
edges and angles OF the skull were trim
med off, and the large pieces of detached
bone, which We're imbedded in the brain,
were 'fshed OUT with the forcep. In
performing these operations the beaten
track of surgery was abandoned to the
extent of administering ether, it being
generally supposed that anesthesia cannot
be safely or ludiciously produced in eases
of injury to the brain or skull. The plan
proved to be eminently successful, and,
by the aid Of an9sthetic dressing with
carbolc acid the condition of Mrs. Deg
nan improved rapidly, until, at the pres
ent time, she is entirely out of danger.
A Tribune reporter visited her house
on Carroll street, yesterday morning, and
found her dressed and sitting up in an
armchair, and, occasionally, walking
about the room. Her eye was bright and
healthy in appearance, her complexion
denoted returning health and vigor. and
everything about her indicated the fact
that she was worth u number Of dead
women yet She has lost the power Of
speech, and the right side of her face is
partially paralyzed, but her mental facul-
ties are evidently as acute as ever. BY
means OF her hands and her eyes she CON
trives TO express herself rs clearly as any
dumb person could do, and, as her hear
ing is unimpaired, she perfectly compre-
hends everything said to her She reads
her prayer book-the Protestant Episco-
pal--and seems to derive great comfort
thereirom. 1t is only within . day or
two thal she has been able to articulatc u
single word Mary" the name of the
eldest daughter-but il is the opinion of
Dr. Lewis that the hemorrhage which has
led to the loss OF speech, and the paraly
sis of the face, will gradually become alb
sorbed, and that, eventually, she will
have fully recovered in these respects.
The only hing now remaining to COM
plete all that surgical skill can do for her
is the attachment Of the silver plate which
is to cover the CHASTITY cayerns above de-
scribed and prevent the brain from ex-
posure. \ loss of about one and onehalt
ounces OF brain substance has been sus-
tanned since Mrs. Degnan received the
injuries, and, as there is no source of
supply. \ vacuum and depression is the
result. This is to be made good by a
corresponding protubcrance of silver
from the lower side of the plate, so that
If the lady have less brain She will have
more silver, and she will be different
from the average of man and womankind
il the compromise does not prove To be
entirely satisfactory.