Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-09-15
Wonders Of Modern surgery.

n correspondence OF the OtlCd OOS6TDeT
describes very intelligently this remark
able case in surgery. as follows: 'About
the lst of August, 1877, Mrs. Hays, wife
and daughter of the proprietors of the
Alpaca Mill at jamestown, Chautauqua
county, n Y, while passing nnder a
rapidly revolving shaft connected with
the mill, was caught by her long hair,
and instantly her entire scalp was torn
from her head-so completely was she
scalped that the back OF her ears we're
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 a nephew of
the Hon. Pomeroy Jones of this county,,
was instantly called. He found his pa
tent sad object, lying in an unconscious
state. The writer is responsible for the
assertion that he believes the doctor at
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
sheared off the hair, and deliberately
with needle and thread sewed the pieces
together, and then replaced the scalp in
its original position. suggested 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 near future.
After four days, little being done but
to make the unconscious woman as com
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 com
menced under the scalp, ana, as the only
possible thing which could be done to
change DR.. Whitney's modus operandi,
the majority of the council decided that
the scalp must be removed. Unwilling
to assume the responsibility of overruliDg
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
ulations were observed. In about a
eleven days a thick scalp came off the
skull on top of the head, and in short
time Mrs. Hays became conscious and
began to realize her condition. She is
about 80 years Of age, of medium size,
and had previously enjoyed sound health.
1t now occurred to doctor Whitney that
he could supply asubstitute for the lost
scalp by ENGRAVING. Two of the medical
students, and then others, young men and
women, volunteered to lend small pieces
Of skin from their arms, and these we're
successfully placed upon different parts
of her head. When [ visited the lady
professionally with DR.. W. the 18th of
Sept ember last, about thirty-five pieces of
skin of the size of silver five cent piece
were firmly growing upon her head. She
was sorry looking sight--her head be-
ing in color and appearance like a piece
of fresh beef. The poor woman had any
amount OF fortitude and courage. She
asked DR.. W. it he would advise her to
take ride of mile or two. He replied
that he should ottake that responsibility
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
a ride in an easy carriage for couple of
miles he should do SO. The result was
that in day or two Mrs. Hays com
menced taking early morning rides, with
out any bad results. The last I heard
from her, few weeks since, she had had
$3.50 wieces engrafted upon her head,
and she was doing we'll. DR.. W. owes to
the profession full account Of this case"