Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-02-11
Grating she Skin or whiss Man upon
q Negro,


DR.. G. T. Maxwell. of New Castle. Delaware,
details, in the Medical Times, Philadelphia, an
interesting experiment in his professional prac-
tioe, as follows:
l was called in February, 1872, to see James
Pearce, negro who had been shot in the face
by an accidental discharge OF gun. The gun
was loaded with bird shot. and, as Pearce was
only few feet from its muzzle, the charge pas
sed through his left cheek almost in as compact
mass as solid ball entering just at the outer
border Of the obioularis muscle. The shot made
wide and deep furrow through the soft parts,
aud escaped just below the lobule Cf the ear.
the buccal mucous membrane and the braia were
unipjured, but the wound involved all the struc-
tu.es laying outside Of them, and presented a
horrible appearance, the ghastliness of which
was increase by the charred and blackened ef-
fecls Of the burning powder.
An effort was made to contract the limits OF
the wound as much as possible, by approximat-
ing its sides as close as could be done with ad-
hesive strips and bAndages; but notwithstanding
all the care that was taken. the sloughing was 40
extensive that there resulted deep disfguring
wound, of irregular shape and covering nearly
the whole lsft cheek.
10 expedite the healing process and TO pre-
vent, as far as possible. the Disagreement Of an
extensive cicatrix, proposed to graft skin in
to the wound as soon as it presented healthy
grsnulating surface. This proposition having
been assented to, performed that operation in
March, about four weeks after the injury was
received. rtA,
while making preparations for the operation,
the idea OF grating the skin Of white man up
on negro occurred to me; and, having obtained
the consent Of my patient to the procedure, l
clipped from my own left forearm piece Of
atn,,t . 4 - e. r.
also took piece from his left forearm, intend
ing to graft both white and black skin.
These pieces Of sKin were divided into small
fragments about the size of canary y-seeds, and
| four of each kind were carefully inserted into
| the surface Of the wound.
| On the tenth day, the bandages and strips oil
| plaster which held the gratis IN place were re-
moved. and six Of the eight drafts were discov-
| cred 10 possess vitality and to encourage the
| hope ofsuccess.
| Unfortunately, that day, after the dressing.
had been changed. my patient got on spree,
and, while intoxicated, destroyed four Of the
gratis Happily for the success Of my expert
menr, of the remaining two one was white
These gratis grew finely, extending tbemaelves
in all directions and assisted materially in clos
ing the wound, which was quickly done.
Besides the wish to heal the wound as speed
|
cicatrical contraction, considerable interest Wa:
felt in the result Of the experiment which. 80 fal
as / am informed, had never been made before
of grating skin of white man upon negro
II was source of qualification, therefore, to wit
ness the growth of ths white graft, and watch
ed its pTogrsss with peculiar pleasure From
the size ofx canary seed, 1t increased 10 the ex
tent Of about haIf-iuch in its greatest dimen
sions and was Of irregular form, with narrow
points extending iut0 the surrounding black sur
face.
Meeting Pesrce On the road alter lhe wound
had healed, readily distinguished the whit,
pa,ch in the side of the face twenty or thirty
yards distant. Upon examination at that time
dark-colored lines. forming Q network 10 tn,
white sSin and giving it purplsh tirge, wer,
discerned These, suppose, were blood-ves
sells. These vessels increased in size and nun
Der, producing a corresponding deepening of tn,
color or patch, until by the end of the thr,
month the whole surface of the wound was Of
uniform blacknesi The white skin had lost it
distinguishing characteristics.
Does not this expei iment prove thai the col
oring matter Of the skin-its pigment--whcl
varies 10 quantity in individuals as we'll as il
races. is due to cells which are Developed in tn
blood, and NO, to aoy peculisrity in the cells 0
the skin itself.