The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-09-19
Wonders Of Modern Surgery.

A correspondent Of the Utica Observer
" scribes very intelligently this remark
case in surgery. as follows: "About
tn: st OF August, 1877, Mrs. Hays, wife
and daughter of the proprietors Of the
Alpaca Mill at Jamestown, Chautauqua
county, N T., while passing nnder a
rapidly ravnlving shaft eonnaotoa with
the mill, was caught by her long HAIR,
and instantly her entire scalp was torn
from her hcad-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 <he is nephew Of
the Hon. Pomeroy Jones of this county,,
was instantly called. He found his pa
tient a sad object, lying in an unconscious
state. The writer is responsible fer the
assertion that he believes the doctor ut
first did not know what to do, but to do
something, he inquired for the scalp.
An employe had unwound it from the
shaft, and finding it torn to pieces, had
thrown it upon wood-pile. The doctor
sl!eared off the hair, and deliberately
with needle and thread sewed the pieces
together, and then replaced the scalp in
its original position I suggested to him
that probably he could think of nothing
else to do. He had very little faith thai
any real good could be accomplished, but
her appearance would be improved for an
event in the near future.
ftor fc,,r Iovo 1;%k1o hos.,. lo.. 1>,.A
to make the unconscious woman as CON-
Portable as possible, with the fact that the
doctor did very little, as was very natural
the anxious family suggested council OF
physicians. Slight suppuration had CON-
menced under the scalp, ana, as the only
possible thing which could be done to
change DR.. Whitney's modus operandi,
tho majority of the council decided that
the scalp must be removed. Unwilling
to assume the responsibility of overrulipg
the decision of the council, yet contrary
to his better judgement, he removed the
scalp. Upon top of the head the scalp
slightly adhered and some healthy gran
ulatioDs were observed. In about a
eleven days thick scalp came off the
skull on top Of the head, and in q short
time Mrs. Hays became conscious and
began to realize her condition. She is
about 35 years Of age, of medium size,
and had previously enjoyed sound health.
1t now occurred to doctor Whitney tha,
be could supply substitute for the los,
scalp by engrafting. Two of the medical
students, and then others, young men and
women, volunteered to lend small pieces
of skin from, their arms, and these were
successfully placed upon different parts
of her head. When l visited the lady
professionally with DR.. w. the l2th Of
September last, about thirty. five pieces Of
skin Of the size of silver five cent piece
were firmly growing upon her head. She
was sorry-lookiDg sight-her head be.
ing in color and appearance like a piece
of fresh beef. The poor woman had any
amount OF fo1titude and courage. She
asked DR.. w. it he would advise her t
take ride of q mile or two. He replied
that he should hot take that responsibility
just then. She asked Kim what he would
do about it if he were in her position
He replied that if he felt like taking 8
a ride in an easy carriage for couple ot
miles he should do so. The result wa.
that in day or two Mrs. Hays com
m, need taking early morning rides, with
out any bad results. The last / heard
from her, few weeks since, che had hac
1880 wieces engraftei upon her head
and she was doing we'll. DR.. w. owes t.
the profession full account of this case.