The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-10-16
Remarkable Surgical Operation.

1
The Chicago Tribune publishes the fol-
lowing: The surgical profession i looked
upon by those uninterested In H. triumphs
with something like feeling OF fear or dis
gust. The sight Of the glittering knives,
saws and probes, with their thin edges
ready for use on the human victim. Is
more likely 10 inspire shudder than 10
give rise Ia any pleasant reflections or sug-
gestions in the mind of the novice. When
the romance of the profession comes 10 be
written. however, IL will contain the de-
tails OF many incidents In the great and
humane art OF saving life and limb that
will east into the shade the efforts OF ro-
manccrs. and. il j. 10 be hoped. may 20 far
toward dispensing the foolish notion that
knowledge OF ones own body and disease
is something to be summed and avoided.
Without dwelling on this prejudice. how
ever. an incident giving some proof of the
wonderful power the skillful physician is
learning 10 exert over disease may be Civ
en-.
About the first of last MAY Colonel Alb
ner Taylor. a well-known citizen of Chi
cago. was taken sick with what he sup
posed TO BE- rheumatic attack. He had
severe pains in his knee-joint, hip and head
on the right side of his body. and his suf-
ferings were 30 great that he took 10 his
bed and called doctor. This gentleman
concurred in his opinion, and commenced
treating him for rheumatism, stating that
il would probably confine him to his bed
for some time. The pain was gradually
relieved from the side OF the body, in the
course OF this treatment. but that which
afflicted the head seemed to become more
acute and unbearable day by day. until il
deprived him of rest or sleep by day or
night, and. before the beginning of Au-
gust. Colonel Taylor had lost fortv-iivc
pounds in weight. and his hair on the side
afflicted had turned white.
BY this time he had taken an immense
quantity of midicine, and his nervous sys-
tenn was entirely and apparently hopeless
~ shattered. From the great and hearty
figure of "A man so well known about town.
he became a gaunt and trembling skeleton
of his former self, too weak TO help him.
self. and. as he had received no relief 10
his intense agony. fated without doubt To
die without even knowing the cause of his
afiiiction. In all his pain and agony this
grew 10 be A terrible thought, and he al
length resolved. come what might. 10 try
some change. His physicians. for he had
now called in several. readily agreed TO
this. and so he took the boat TO Mackpaw
Here, instead of improving. the cool at
moSphere seemed to add 10 the pain. and
nj length. bv the advice of Judge David
Davis. whom he met there. and others
OF his friends, he resolved 10 30 10 New
\ ork and put himself under the charge OF
DR.. Hammond. Arriving i'm New York.
his first business was TO make an engage
ment the same day at O'Clock with the
eminent physician. At the hour named he
was accorded an interview. which was
hri. nd fr. ha ruf.t ..It .rl...
he was and his trouble, the doctor asked
him several questions, and then told him
he believed something was the matter with
his ear. could he hear as well with ms
right ears'' ayes" "Sure:' I" Yes =
" Nothing ever the matter with it," NO"
After an experiment Ia test the action q.
the brain. the doctor again returned TO the
charge that there was something the mat
ter with his ear The Colonel sorrowfullv
icnied this and felt hopeless. IL will
prove II TO you," said the doctor; and by
holding his watch to his ear and gradually
removing IL he convinced him that hc
could hear four feet from him on the left
side, and only three feet on the right. $50 /
here 1t Is" said the doctor, and. taking his /
patient into a darkened room. with the aid /
of microscope he soon convinced him /
self that there was something growing 10 /
the inside of the ear. which had pressed /
upon the nerves OF the brain and was al I
ready causing paralysis. Three days more |
and his patient would have no use for his I
services. He would be beyond all human
aid. But the ear could not be touched with 4
the probe until il was sottencd, and thi, 1
took time.
The next morning the patients tongue /
was paralyZcd. and hung useless from the /
right side of his mouth. He could not eat.
The end was certainly drawing near. That \
afternoon the surgeon resolved To attempt I
the task before HIM. that Of cutting away I
from the immediate proximity Of the brain, /
and from the midst OF the nerves and mus /
cles that lead 10 II. and far in the inner /
chamber of the ear. the foreign substance I
that had grown there, and threatened 4
death at any moment. The pain OF 4
such an operation could not be borne. 80 4
that part OF the head was ctherized or
deadened by an@sthetics, and with an ex-
quisitively delicate knife. crooked at the I
end. the ear was entered, and piece Of 1
hard griZZle. the full size Of hickorynuf. \
was finally removed, in two parts. with I
out cutting the ear in the least. and with \
out sensible pain. This griZzle. upon mi \
croscopic examination. proved to be a
bundle OF nerves. and the case and treat
ment are believed 10 be without parallel.
IL had been growing for several years, and I
had almost touched vital part. and. as dis
closed, had already paralyzcd the tongue.
With its removal Colonel Taylor rapidly .
recovered, and is now at the Grand Pa
tifie Hotel in fair way Of enjoying MANY
years Of life in which 10 be thankful for his