American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-09-25
Heroic Treatment and an Heroic Pa.
tient.

Clara Morris (Mrs. HarrioD, q cele-
brated actress of New York city, who has
been suffering for some time from a Sc
we're spinal complaint and has gone to
Europe for her health, few weeks ago
submitted to the same painful operation
which was employed in the case of
Charles Sumner, and for undergoing
which he was regarded as man of great
courage. The treatment was applied by
Prof, Ball and DIR. Belvin, of Paris, and
the following account of the operation is
given in Paris letter:
As Prof. Ball concurred in the opin-
ion given by Dr. Belvin that the disease
OF the spine would, if not arrested, ter.
inmate fatally within two years, she de-
termined to submit to the treatment that
it makes me shudder to think of She
said only: Let me have it at once; don't
let me think of it, and last Tuesday we
drove to the dector's rooms, No. 81 Rue
de la Luxembourg. She was very pale;
probably not more so than usual, but
could not but notice that the nostrils were
dllated and the mouth more firmly set
than usual. She conversed less than COM
mon, and in fits and starts, and, strange to
say, of the most trivial things we saw
upon our way. Arriving at Dr.. Belvin's
We were annoyed at not finding Prof. Ball
there, and had to wait for him nearly half
an hour. All the while our poor friend
sat with her hands clasped between her
me waiting l shall fail; l know 1
shall fall At last the professor
was announced, and then fifteen more
minutes were given to preparations
in adjoining room. Clara had stipulated
that she should not see the furnace nor
the irons, and it cost the two physicians
some trouble and labor to comply with
her wishes
I'VE were at last to enter, and
nothing was visible but the low chair in
which the victim was to sit and the two
operators. DIR. Belvin is a man not over
thirty-five, with clear blue eye, blonde
head and rather kind expression of face.
Prof. Ball is about sixty, with prominent
hooked nose, small gray eyes, and of less
than the medium height. 1t may have
been the circumstances, but he looked to
me the beau-ideal of an inquisitor of the
Spanish Inquisition, well deserving the
title given to him in Paris among medical
men of the butcher on account of his
terrible and frequent operations.
=" Poor Clara was required to sit on a
low chair with her back barred, and she
went through the preparations quiet
enough, but with her face pale and rigid
as marble. The only evidence beyond
this was the pitiful trembling of her poor
little hands. She spoke calmly, however,
requesting me to Aold her head, not her
hands, and as she sat looking up at ME as
if to read in my face what was going on
behind her l believe l suffered the more
of the two.
"Then Dr. Belvin lit his furnace, and
the roaring of the flame that was to heat
the iron to a white heat in a few seconds
was dreadful to hear; and while this was
going on Prof. Ball marked with pencil
the line the iron was to follow on either
side of the spine. Every touch of the PEN
Gil sent thrill through the delicate frame
of the poor victim; but the professor mad
scarcely ended making the penciled
marks when, with flash, the iron was
applied. 1t was dreadful. The white
point seemed to sink an inch into the
quivering form with that sickening sound
OF burning flesh; but beyond writhing
of the body, accompanied by deep, heavy
breathing, there was no response-not a
shrek, not a sigh or groan. The doctor
had nearly completed his dreadful task
when Clara, suddenly starting up, cried
out in a voice that even moved Prof Ball:
"'My God, l cannot, cannot bear it!'
at was all over, however, and do you
know she helped replace her clothes alter
the wounds were dressed and walked
calmly down to the carriage. The doc
tors said it was wonderful exhibit of
nerve. She is quite Frustrated to-day and
suffers from violent pain in her head,
but the doctor says it is all right and she
will be up and well soon. | forgot to say
that she was urged TO have the operation
performed while under the influence of
chloroform, but positively refused"