Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-09-13
Interesting Case for Physicians

Our readers will remember an account was
published, shortly after the accident, of young
lady who lost her scalp in the Elgin Ill.,) watch
factory. The Gazette of that place gives the fol-
lowing progress of the case after the scalp was
replaced;
The accident occurred on the 31st of July at 4
m. The physician who dressed the head ar
rived at the scene Of the accident about twenty
minutes after the occurrence, examined the
scalp with view to replacing it on the girls
head, but decided that as it was entirely de-
tached, 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 physician was called in, who insisted
that the scalp should have been replaced imme-
diately, and that it should be done then six
hours after the accident. His opinion prevailed,
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 an
giles and by strips of adhesive plaster. For five
days it laid 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 little
soft. In about twelve hours ii had opened out
ward under the scalp TO the eye, and discharged
matter mixed up with cotton fibre. During the
next five days it continued to discharge from
different points on the right side of the head
and forehead, the left side dscharging but little,
and from both the TWO points. About One-third
of the scalp lOosened in this way, portions of it
being cut away by the attending 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 of
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, en-
tirely detached except at the ear, from which it
had to be detached with scissors, and the eye
brOws, which had grown firmly on. The head
was found to be covered with coating 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 deposit of cotton as
thick as a sheet of paper. Since then these
places have filled with granulations, and the
flesh has increased in thickness until il is now
nearly even with the skin.
Upon examining the scalp after it came off il
was found to have been attached in places on
both sides of the head, and those points which
had become detached by suppuratOn showed
graduating points, looking like new flesh start
ing on it; the blood vessels were enlarged, and
contained fresh red blood.
The ear had partially united, and was quite
senSitive-so much so that she could not tell
which part was touched. DIR. Winchester, the
attending surgeon, thinks the scalp was torn off
by the lady in rising from her pillow, to which
1t had become fastened by dried matter during
lnc HlSut' Cue 10 uOW uOIHS Ntii ana out OF
danger. Her recovery is only Il question of
time.
The skin on eyes and eyebrows having become
attached, is natural, and the physician says he
can warrant the entire head TO be covered with
a new skin; he intends to take skin from her
arm and place it upon her forehead and temples,
50 that it will be smooth and natural. Then,
with head of false hair, she will in a few
months again walk the streets of our bluff city,
so apparently her former self that it will take a
close observer to detect the marks of the fright
full accident