The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-07-10
DOMESTIC SURGERY.
A Delicate Operation Which Son and
Daughter Perform Upon Their Mother.
from the Cumberland Pa.) News


Delicate Operation Which Son and
Daughter Perform Upon Their Mother.
From the Cumberland Pa) News
We have just come into possession OF
the facts of remarkable circumstance
which occurred in this vicinity some
time since. A middle-aged lady. who
resides near Wellers. Pa, a few miles
from this city, whose name is omitted
by request of friends, was afflicted by
that terrible disease, scrofula, the seat
of the disorder being in her head. She
suffered terrible agony from the pres
sure of the diseased Uranium upon the
brain, and her physician decided that
the only means of relief was the re-
moval of tie top of her skull. He
never attempted the operation, how
ever, fearing she might die from it's eff
fects The woman continued to suffer,
and her son, who was afflicted with the
same disease, determined to take the
risk and perform the operation. He
was considerable of mechanical genius,
and he soon constructed fine saw for
the purpose, the material used being
wire from an old hoop-skirt. After he
had finished the instrument, although
he had no surgical knowledge, he be-
gan the operation of saving through
the skull at point about two inches
below the summit of the Uranium.
After working some time at the op-
Grafton the young man was taken i'll and
died. After his death the lady's daugh-
ter, young lady of 10 or 20, decided
to continue the work, and did so, sue
ceeding in removing the top of her
mothers head, relieving the terrible
pain, and probably saving her life. She
was occupied several days in the opera
ton, which was delicate and danger
GUS one, ordinarily only to be performed
by the most skillful surgeon. If the
improvised instrument had been driven
too deep and penetrated the delicate
covering of the brain, instant death
would have resulted, and that some &C
cident of the sort did not occur is one
of the most astonishing facts about the
matter. She undertook the operation
as desperate resort, and the exercise
of nerve which sustained her was won-
derful. Once while working she faint
ed, and frequently she would throw
down the saw, declaring she would go
no further. Her mother, whose enor-
nous will-power was not less wonderful,
always urged her to proceed, saying !:
"If I can stand it, you should do the
same, as it is the only way of saving my
life" No an@sthetic was used, and the
afflicted woman carefully watched and
directed the operation.
AS stated, instantaneous relief fol-
lowed the removal of the diseased bone,
although the disease was not eradicated.
The removed bone was replaced by a
silken cap, carefully fitted. The opera
ton Was performed over six months
ago, and the lady was, at last accounts,
alive and cheerful, though, of course,
confined to limited sphere of action.
She took q very philosophical view of
the affair, and seemed grateful that re-
lief was afforded, although she will re-
main an invalid for life. The case is
certainly remarkable one, and, if the
facts were met with in work Of fiction,
the story would probably be regarded
as a. clever but ,far-fetehed fabrication
"out of the whole CLOTH" But the case
is we'll authenticated, and we have
stated the facts, without addition or
change, as we obtained them from re-
liable sO11rcn G.awaa