The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-06-14
RECONSTRUCTTNG A FACE.
Extraordinary Success in the Trans
plantation of Flesh.

Oi
Bertha Kistler. who for eighteen
months has been under the treatment
Of DIR. George F. Shrady, visiting sur
econ to the Presbyterian hospital, left
That institution recently loving, CRATE
mi monument OF surgical ingenuity and
skill Bertha kiStler is now about 20
years old. and fifteen years ago she
was treated by an unskilled surgeon in
Germany for supposed cancerous
Growth on her left cheek. The ailment
proved to be of another character, but
the operation destroyed all symmetry
of the childs face, leaving large hole
in the cheek, and the mouth and nose
frighttully distorted. Eighteen months
ago the girl called on DR.. Shrady to
discover if any thing could be done to
remedy her deformity.
She was only poor working girl, but
begged TO 60 TO the hospital and pay
for treatment by work. The doctor
held out but little encouragement, but
at last consented to attempt the task of
building up virtually a new counte-
nance. Soon after the first operation
was performed, and in the course of
wear It was followed by sixteen others.
Most of the face was made over by
transformation of flesh from adjacent
parts.
The most important step in the treat
ment was the filing up of the hole in
the face. For this purpose large skin
flap was wanted 1t was obtained in
the following manner: A rectangular
section of skin was partially separated
from the girls left arm above the ell
bow. An incision was made in the side
of the forehnger of the right hand,
extending from the first Joint around to
the thumb. The hand was then
brought over TO the left arm and the
detached edge of the skin flap was sew
ed into the incision in the finger with
fine silver wire The hand and arm
were kept immovable by plastic band
ages. In about week the skin flap
became united to the hand, but the flap
was principally nourished from the
arm. To change the current of nutri-
ton, the flap was gradually cut from
the arm, and when it had been nearly
severed the finger and not the arm kept
the skin flap alive. When this became
apparent the entire skin flap was am
putated from the arm. The hand,
with the ingrown skin flap was then
brought up to the face, the SCARED
skin on the left cheek was then raised
and the flap was inserted underneath.
The hand was kept in position by plas-
tic bandages and a plastic cap. In
three weeks the flap became attached
to the face; the current of nourishment
was changed by gradual amputation
from the finger, and finally, when en-
tlrely separated from the hand, the
skin flap taken from the arm became
the foundation of a new cheek.
With a natural anxiety the doctor
watched the growth of the flesh, and at
last had the satisfaction of demonstra-
ting Individually the feasibility of trans
plantation Of flesh from one part of the
body to another by using the hand as
medium, New difficulties then arose.
The surface Of the face was rehabili-
tated, but the girls mouth was drawn
Out OF shape TO such an extent that the
corner was almost directly under her
nose.
10 restore the mouth DR.. Shrady de-
clded TO enlarge ii on one side and sew
nup on the other, and after this was
done the lips were cut into the true
ana proper shape and all traces of dis
tortlon had disappeared. With the
success Of this last operation, which
made twenty in all, the labor was end
ed, and nothing remained but await
the healing of the incisions. These at
last became satisfactory and the GIRL
face Is shapely once more, but, of
course. slightly disfgured by scars
Most of these, however, are from clean
straight cuts, and it is exnectcd tbat
even they Will eventually become i'm.
perceptible. 49,
FROM the first moment of her lono
martyrdom the girl has not faltered foI
an instant but has been even impa,ien
for the next step. Sometimes the doc
tor would try to induce her to force,
Tor time the operation, but she per
sisted in her desire. A singular featur,
OF the case is that in spite of the suf
lering she must have endured she ha
grown very fat. She has been con
stantly the recipient OF flowers, wire,
and delicacies of various kinds, fro,
people who, though strangers to he
have become interested in her singul,
and remarkable patience.
The gratitude she evinces toward Il
doctor is Unreasonable. She is now
the most buoyant spirits and is lookil
forward with delight to the prospect
attending family gathering to tai
place next month.
A report Of the case printed in Il
Herald three months ago has been co
led all over the United States and f.
rope, and innumerable communication
as to the condition of Bertha have bee
received from persons whose intere
was aroused.-NeI0 York Herald.
i
An Eye to Business.