The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-09-04
WONDERS OF MODERN SUR6ERt.
How q tddy Who Lost Her Scalp wns
Treated:

How q tddy Who Lost Her Scalp wns
Treated:
A correspondent of the Utica Obse,'vet
describes very intelligentlya remarkable
case in surgery, as follows "About the
LIST of August, 1877, Mrs. Hays, wife
and daughter OF the pfoprietots OF the
Alpaca Mill at jamestown, Chautauqua
county, N. Y, while passing under
a rapidly revolving shaft connected with
the mill, was caught by hst long hair,
and instantly her entire scalp was tori
from her head-so completely was she
scalped that the back Of her ears were
partly laid bare, as was also the back of
her neck below the hair, and on one
side the skin was torn off nearly to the
eyelid. DR.. George W. Whitney, of
jamestown, the family physician, was
instantly called. He found his patient a
bad object, lying in an unconscious state.
The writer is responsible for the asser-
ton that he believes the doctor OF first
was undecided what to do, but to do
something, he inquired for the scalp.
An employee had unwound it from the
shaft, and finding it torn to pieces, had
thrown it upon q wood pile. The doctor
sheared off the hair, and deliberately
with kpeedle and thread sewed the
pieces together. and then replaced the
scalp in its original position. I sug-
gested to him that probably he could
think of nothing else to do. He had
very little faith that any real good could
be accomplished, but her appearance
would be improved for an event in the
zeal future. After four days, little be.
ing done but to make the unconscious
woman as comfortable as possible, with
the fact that the doctor did very little,
as was very natural. the anxious family
suggested a council of physicians. Slight
suppuration had commenced under the
scalp, and as the only possible thing
which could be done to change DIR.
Whitney's modus operandi, the majority
of the council decided that the scalp
must be removed. Unwilling to assume
the responsibility of overruling the de-
cision of the council, yet contrary to his
better Judgment, he removed the scalp.
Upon top of the head the scalp slightly
adheared and some healthy granulations
were observed. In about eleven days
a thick scalp came off the skull on top of
the head, and in a short time Mrs
Hays became conscious and began to re-
alize her condition. She is about IS
years of age, of medium size, and had
previously enjoyed good health. 1t now
occurred to DR.. Whitney that he could
supply o substitute for the lost scalp by
engrafting. Two Of three medical
students, and then others, young men
and young women, volunteered to lend
small pieces OF skin from their arms,
and these we're successfully placed upon
different parts of her head. When I
visited the lady professionally with DIR.
W. about thirty-fve pieces Of skin of
the size Of a silver five cent piece
were firmly growing upon her head.
She was a sorry-looking sight-her head
being in color and appearance like a piece
of fresh beef. The poor woman had
any amount of fortitude and courage.
She asked d.. W. if he would advise
her to take o ride of a mile o. two. 81
replied that he should not take the re.
sponsibility just then. She asked him
what he would do about it if he were in
her position. He replied that if he felt
like taking a ride in an easy carriage for
q couple of miles, he should do so. The
result was that in o day or two Mrs.
Hays commenced taking early morning
rides, without any bad results. The
last I heard from her, a few weeks since,
she had had ], $3.50 pieces engrafted upon
her head, and she was doing well.