The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1879-07-03
sAwrNG OFF THE TOP OF A Wo-
MANS SKULL.

IAN = SS4@S
We have just come into possess
sion of the facts of a remarkable
circumstances which occurred in this
vicinity some time since. A middle
aged lady, who resides near Wei
IersviIIe, Penn few miles from
this city, whose name is omitted BY
reoues. OF friends. was afflicted with
that terrible disease, scrofula, the
seat Of the disorder being 10 her
head. She suffered terrible agony
from the pressure Of the diseased
cranium upon the brain, and her
physician decided that the only
means of relief was the removal of
the top of the skull. he never
attempted the operation, however,
fearing she might die from its effects.
The woman continued TO suffer,
and her con, 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 mate.
rial used being wire from 40 old
boop-skirt. After be had finished
the instrument, although he had 90
surgical knowledge, he began the
operation of saving through the skull
at point about two inches below
the summit of the Uranium. After
working some time at the operation
the young man was taken i'll and
died.
After his death the lsdy's daugh
ter, young lady of nineteen or
twenty, decided to continue the work
and did so, succeeding in removing
the top of her mothers head, reliev>
ing the terrible pain and probably
saving her life. She was occupied
several days in the operation. which
was delicate and dangerous one,
diuarily only to be performed by
the most skiIful surgeons. If the
improvised instrument had been
driven too deep aud penetrated the
delicate covering of the brain. in
slant death would have resulted, and
that some accident of the sort did
not occur is one of the most aston
ishing facts about the matter. She
undertook the operation as desPe-
rate resort, and the exercise OF nerve
which sustained her was wonderful.
Once while working she tainted,
and frequently she would throw
down the saw, declaring she could
90 20 further. Her mother, whose
enormous will power was not less
wonderful, always urged her to pro-
coed, saying "If can stand it you
should do the same, as it is the only
way of saving my life" No anes,
thetic was used, ard the afflicted
woman carefully watched and di>
rected the operation. AS stated, in
Simultaneous relief followed the res
moval of the diseased bone, although
the disease was not eradicated. The
removed bone was replaced by q
silken cap, carefully fitted
The operation was performed over
six months ago, and the lady was at
last accounts alive and cheerful,
though, of course, confined to q lin
tied sphere of action. She took a
very philosophical view of the affair,
and seems grateful that relief was
afforded, although she will remain
an invalid for life. The case is Ger
tainly very remarkable one, and if
the facts were met with in work of
fiction the story would probably be
regarded as a clever but far fetched
fabrication 'out of the whole cloth. "
But the case is we'll authenticated,
and we have stated the facts, with
out addition or change, as we OBJ
tanned them from a reliable source.
-Cumberland md. NeWS.