Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-07-13
DOMESTIC SURGERY.
A Son and Daughter Perform a Difficult a nd
Dangerous Operation on their Mother and
Save Her Life.

Son and Daughter Perform a Difficult a nd
dangerous Operation on their Mother and
Save Her Life.
Cumberland News
We have just come into possession of
the facts of remarkable circumstance
which occurred in this vicinity some lime
since. A middle-aged lady, who resides
near Wellers, Pennsylvania, 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 pressure OF the
diseased Uranium upon the brain, and her
physician decided that the only means of
relief was the removal of the top of
her skull. He never attempted the oper-
alton, however, fearing she might die
from its effects. 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 being wire from an
old hoop-skirt. After he had finished the
instrument, although he had no surgical
knowledge, he began the operation of
saving through the skull at a point about
two. inches below the summit of the
Uranium.
After working some time at the opera
ton the young man was taken i'll and.
died. After his death the lady's da ugh
ter, young lady of nineteen or tw enty,.
decided to continue the work, and did so,
succeeding in removing the top of her
mothers head, relieving the terrible pain,
and probably saving her life She was
occupied several days in the operation,
which was delicate and dangerous one
ordinarily only to be performed by the
most skillful surgeons. If the improy1sed
instrument had been driven too deep and
penetrated the delicate covering of the
brain. death would have resulted, and
that some accident of the sort did net oc-
cur is one of the most astonishing facts,
about the matter. She undertook the op--
Grafton as desperate resort, and the ex-
ercise Of nerve which sustained her was
wonderful. Once while working she
tainted, and frequently she would throw
down the saw, declaring she could 90 no
further. Her mother, whose enormous.
Will power was not less wonderful, al
ways urged her to proceed, saying 'sif I
can stand it, you should do the same, as.
it is the only way Of saving my l1fe.''
No anasthetic was used, and the afflicted
woman carefully watched and directed.
the operation.
AS stated, instantaneous relief followed
the removal Of the diseased bone, although
the disease was not eradicated. The re-
moved bone was replaced by a silken cap,
carefully fitted. The operation was per-
formed over six months ago, and the lady
was, at last accounts alive and cheerful,
though, of course, confined to a limited
sphere of action. She took a very phllo-
sophical view of the affair, and seems.
grateful that relief was afforded, although
she will remain an invalid for life. The,
case is certainly a remarkable one, and if
the facts were met with in work of fic-
ton, the story would probably be regard
ed as clever but far-fetched fabrication
tout 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 reliable source.