Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-09-03
Grating the Skin OF a Lamb onto q
Child,


The transpldnting or grating of skin |
is not anew experiment in medical
surgery either in this country or in Eu-
rope. The skin from the arms of one
person has been used to assist in form
ing tha,nose of another with complete
success. Heretofore these experiments
have been tried with human cuticle
alone in the healing of wounds, and it
is only very recently that the skin of
an animal has been suggested, Yes
terday afternoon there was made at the
County Hospital very interesting ex-
pertinent with the skin of lamb.
The case of the little girl Agnes Shee-
han will be remembered by the Tribune
readers This little unfortunate, but
ten years of age, was admitted to the
hospital a year ago last March. AT
that time she was suffering from the
effects of very severe burns received in
prairie fire. Her left thigh and but
took were terribly scared, and for
months there was but little changein
her condition. She fingered and lin
gered along, but the wounds refused to
heal. The little patient bore her suffer-
ings with forttude that was remark
able. This summer the Medical Staff
and the Medical Board have taken the
case under serious consideration, and
they have done all that was in their
power to relieve the sufferings of that
poor child. A tent was placed in the
hospital yard, and into that she was
removed, where there were cool breezes.
Some weeks ago her brother, who is
two years older than she, was brought
into use, and an effort made to graft
some of his skin upon her wounded
limb. This experiment was kept up
for u week, but was not success.
Since that time local treatment was re-
sorted to up to yesterday, when the
new experiment was made.
The new process consists in trans
planting the skin of healthy lamb to
TIE wound Some six weeks ago a
lamb was secured for the purpose, and
it was taken into the amphitheater,
where portion of its skin was dissect-
ed, but that same night the animal 6ied
Another was secured, and portion of
its skin lifted from the body. After a
few days the severed skin withered
away, but the sheep lived. Another
animal was then secured, and the eX-
pertinent of lifting it's skin proved a
success. The skin was slit in two or
three places on the side, upon the ribs
and abdomen, and that kept it healthy.
The lamb was carefully bandaged and
boxed in a narrow case, wherein it is
compelled to stand. The experiment
with this animal was made Yesterday.
A new tent had been put up east of the
surgical pavilion, and near the corridor
connecting with the amphitheater. In
this was placed a water-iilled rubber
mattress, laid upon an iron cot, and
| here the interesting experiment was
carried on by the Medical Board and
Hospital Staff The child's mother and
| father stood near while the operation
was being performed. The little girl
was laid upon her face, swathed in cot
ton, and that great, horrible and ugly
wound was exposed to view. An anes-
thetic composed of equal parts of alco-
| hol and chlorolorm was used to keep
! her quiet. One of the physicians told
a Tribune reporter that since the at
tempt to ingraft some of the brother S
skin she had improved somewhat, but
for months previous to that there had
been no change whatever in her condi-
tion.
The lamb is about four months old,
and looks patient and healthy. 1t took
a long time to prepare the surface OF
the child wounds for the laying on OF
the new cuticle. Water, carbolated tc
the extent of five per cent, was used to
clean the surface, and there were two
steam sprays with carbolated water
kept in play over the bed. A platform
was fixed upon which to put the lamE
alongside of the bed. so that the skin
could be lifted and Tapped over on tc
the wounded part. The lamb having
been put in place, the skin was lifteC
and placed upon the wound upon the
childs thigh. To give somejdea of the
injured surface, it might be stated that
the wound is over twelve inches long
and four inches wide. Its proportions
are too great to allow it to become GOV
cred with skin, and even if the wounC
healed it would produce q deformity
lhe limb would be crooked, and eacl
movement of the body would cause tn,
old wound to reopen. 1t is in order Il
avoid this and to prolong the child
life that this experiment is made.
After the skin of the lamb wa
placed on the wound carefully, so tina
all injured parts were covered, thu
physicians sewed on the skin. /
framework was then constructed so a
to hold the little sufferer in place
Carbolated cloths were laid over th
wound, and over that oiled and rub
bered silk The lamb is fed milk an,
whisky, and it is carefully attended to
The child, too, is watched with tn
greatest care. There were present
large number of physicians and sur
geons who took the greatest interest il
the experiment. A week or ten day
will tell whether it will be a sue cess
The physician who suggested tn
operation, asa last resort, told a TTit
ac'1e reporter that he only had hopes G
success. The child's vitality was yer
low at present. Seventeen months @
suffering had made the little bod
weak, but the lamb would aid in tn
healing. If this proved at all success
full, another experiment would be trie
in the case of man who had bee
operated upon for cancer of the breast
After the operation was concluded, tn
little one cried and moaned most pit
eously, showing the terrible tortur
} that she was enduring, while tn
mother and father stood by spec chlesS
.-ChicagO Tribune, AuguSt 25.