The New York herald., 1879-12-10
WONDERFUL VITALITY.

BOY LIVES TWO DAYS WITH HIS BRAIN
DIVIDED ALMOST TO THE BASE BY cIIcU-
LAR sAw-THE SUFFERER CONSCIOUS BUT
PARTIALLY PAgALYzED.
The medical and surgical fraternity OF Paterson.
N. j.. at present greatly excitcd what they
declare be the astonishing of tenacty Of
life ever witnessed. boy about dfteen years age
had his skull nearly sawed in two by a circular saw
on Monday. and though the wound penetrates
several inches into the bran cutting 1t nearly to the
base the unfortunate sufferer is not only alive but
conscious. The case is being watched with the ut
interest by number OF physicians. aud the
tons the patient taken down with the greatest
minuteness. IS the is altogether without par
allel. The particulars as follows:- sss
On Monday. shortly after noon. John McEvoy .
lad in the employ of the Wrigiey Machine Company
was sent to the Watson Manufacturing Company's
works to get some sawdust for use in making cast
iron patterns. Arriving at the works he found the
circular saw not in use. and as the sawdust
somewhat scarce he crept into the box used
stand for the saw. While he engaged there in
gathering together the sawdust the employe in
charge Of the saw returned and prepared to resume
his work by placing the belt on the block.
A FRIGHrFUL POSITION.
He had hardly done this before agonizing scream
was heard from beneath the saw. and the next in
stant hat was thrown forward by the saw The
belt at once thrown of and the lad released
from his position His face was covered with blood.
DIR. Garnett was summoned and ascertanad
that the lads head had been cut into by the sAw.
The wound extended from the side of the right
nostril through to the back OF the head.
Evidently the had nearly cut the brain
into two parts and the first exclamation of the
physician. upon ascertaining the extent Of the
wound, was:-"It Is miracle that he was not picked
up dead" The lad had in the meantime never lost
consciousness. but had inquired in clear voice
what the ICES 81 mis- &c Yer "a ne WAS az
On the way there he fell into comatose condition.
which. however. lasted only about five minutes.
Having made him as comfortable possible. DIR.
Garnett left him. informing the nurses in charge
that death would ensue in the course OF an hour.
To the astonishment of DR.. Garnett and other ply
sicaus who were at ouce called in the lad was still
alive and apparently considerably better yesterday
morning. 1t was then concluded to enter upon
closer examination OF the wound. Drs. Marsh and
Quin, the oldest and most experienced surgeons in
Paterson. were selected to perform the task 1t had
around. and that thus only the outer walls Of the
skull had been severed. This notion was. however.
completely dissipated by the examination.
A TERRIBLE WOUND
The wound presented ghastly sight. The tissues
OF the scalp had contracted. leaving exposed sur
Of white skull two inches wide and eight long.
Through the centre of this cut through the
walls OF the skull nearly as long as the wound and
fully a fourth OF inch in width. Into the centre
of the instrument was watched with anxious curl
osity by those assembled. quarter OF an inch. half
inch. full inch, an inch and half. two inches.
the steel barb descen ded into the rce and then
withdrawn. The doctor had not ascertained the
depth or the Wouno as ne teare0 proOe0 deeper
that such course would be apt to irritate
the brain and produce death. The hyscians were,
however satisfied that the brain had been cut nearly
to its base The patient stood the examination with
out wincing and apparently did not suffer much
pain during the previous evening. The sight of
the right eye Is entirely destroyed and tho left eye
ball protrudes from its socket account OF the
ering Of some OF its nerves. The left arm was
lyzed but with these exceptions the patient seemed
to be in normal condition. Toward evening yester
day he sank into a slumbcr. his respiration being
easy and regular. A number Of physicians con-
tinualy ut his beside watching his every movement.
At late hour last night he was still alive.