Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-06-14
II sE.YG UL.rR EXPRRE.uE.vT.

A remarkable case of "skin grating is
reported in the Waterbury American of
May 2Sth. The circumstances are subStan-
TALLY AS follows: About year ago, Miss
Hattie Thomas, young lady employed at
button factory in Naugatuck, while at
work near some machinery, had her hair
somehow caught in Il shaft, and the scalp
was torn entirely oil her head from the
nape OF the neck TO the eyebrows. A part
of one ear, and the whole of one eyebrow
was also taken oil. II was supposed when
the accident occurred that the victim could
not long survive the shock, and 1t was be-
lieved that If she recovered from the shock
to her nervous system, the suppuration that
must necessarily take place from the wound
would cause her death in a comparatively
short time. DR.. S. C. Bartlett, then of
Naugatuck, but now residing in Water
bury, upon finding that she would proba-
bly, rally from the first effects of the acct
dent, determined to resort to the process of
"skin grating" discovered about three
years ago by NJ. Reverdin, of Paris, as a
means of saving the life of his patient. Ac-
cordingly about six weeks after the acct
dent, when the wound had been brought
into a healthy state by suppuration, the ex-
pertinent was tried, the patient herself
furnishing the first "seed skin" from the
arm. The method of removing the skin
required is, simply to clasp the piece be-
| tween the thumb and finger, raising it up,
and clipping off with knife and scissors.
The first attempt proved so successful,
that the doctor continued the experiment,
| tax ing the "seed skin" from the arm of his
patient until the excessive discharge from
the head wound, and the additional drain
from the new wounds, neccessitated by the
removal of the skin, made it evident that
he would be obliged to procure "seed skin"
from other sources. The nurse of Miss
Thomas generously volunteered TO furnish
the next supply, and when this lady was
exhausted, the experiment showed such
evident signs of success that the doctor
mutiated his own arm for the good of his
patient and the benefit of science. Next a
\ number of young lady friends of Miss
Thomas came forward and volunteered to
furnish as far as possible, whatever new
material was needed. Thus the doctor, at
various times, and from different persons,
took sixty -four pieces of"seed skim" vary
ing in size-the larger pieces being sufli-
cient to cover silver haf-dollar. These
large pieces were, in some instances, divid-
ded and sub-divided, so that the number OF
separate pieces applied to the wound
amounted TO at least one hundred and fifty.
These pieces of healthy skin, thus trans
planted, would soon grow and extend from
one piece to another, until, after the lapse
of time, the pieces would join each other
and shoot out until the margin of the wound
was reached, and in this manner the head
has become entirely covered with new
growth of skin. In this case the growth o
; the old skin all around from the back o
the head to the eyebrows has been only
about an inch in twelve months. If thu
experiment of grating or transplant
ing" had not been tried, the wound woult
have remained running sore until II ex
hausted the life of the victim. The deyel
! opment of veins and blood vessels sine
a grating was done indicates healthy action
. of the skin. The young lady is obliged T.
wear wig, made from her own hair, whc
i was saved at the time of the accident, bu
her health is rapidly improving.