The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-07-23
THE SCIENCE OF SURGERY.
Chopping Into Mans skull to Reach His
Brain-A Dangerous Operation With the
Surgeons Mallet and OhiseI.

Brain-A Dangerous Operation With the
Surgeons MaIlet and OhiseI.
[St. Louis Republican,
Between one and two O'Clock yesterday
afternoon knot of well-known medical
men assembled in the back parlor Of a
pathological institute on Chouteau avenue,
near Ninth street, to as sist in and witness
a delicate surgical operation for the relief
of compressed brain. The Fpatient was
wealthy citizen of East Lynne, Cass
County, No., named Eli Beitler, fifty-nine
years of age, and endowed with unusually
good vitality for one so old. Last Febru-
ary Mr.. Better fell from an ice wagon and
was struck on the left side of the head by
large piece of ice. The blow rendered him
unconscious, and he remained in that con-
dition for several days. He then began to
recuperate, and the physician who had
been called in diagnosed the case, pro-
nouncing it dangerous fracture of the
skull. The patient complained of a heavy
pressure on the left side of the head, Pc
riodical attacks of dizziness and lack Of
language in which to express his ideas. 1t
was found that he could not otrecognize some
of his nearest friends, and that he was af-
fiickd with double vision. If an object
were to be held ten inches from
his eyes he would see two exactly
alike. He was advised to
have an operation performed ON his head
for the relief of his brain, and was on the
way to Philadelphia when he called upon
DR.. A. q. Bernays, of this city. DR.. Ber-
nays, assisted by DIR. Bremen, made a
diagnosis of the case with regard to cere-
bral localization. They came to the con-
clusion that the patients symptoms were
the result of the depression of the skull
upon that portion Of the brain governing
language, memory and vision. 1t had been
demonstrated by operations on dogs and
monkeys that by injuring or destroying
portions Of the brain certain symptoms
would result, and these symptoms were
but intensified in the case of man.
The patient agreed to have the operation
performed by DR.. Bernays, and at one
o'clock yesterday afternoon he was laid on
an operating table and chloroform applied
to his nostrils. Those present were DR..
Thomas O'ReillY, DR.. Robert O'Reilly, DR..
Charles Borck, DR.. A. F. Book, DIR. L.
Bremen, DR.. D. V. Dean, Dr. H. Homisch,
DR.. Geo. ]. Bernays. When the patient
was fairly under the influence of the drug,
the hair was cut close to the head immedi.
ately above the left ear. A T-shaped in.
cision was then made in the scalp, and the
flesh was turned back, exposing the sur.
face of the skull. The fracture was found
to be crescent-shaped, extending from the
squanous portion of the temporal bone tc
the lower part of the parietal. 1t had al
ready become callous, and the depressed
portion of the skull, which was about the
size of silver dollar, was sunk fully one
Rejecting the old-fashioned tire
phine, DR.. Bernays seized malle
and chisel and Clipped off a portion of tht
skull about half an inch wide and tive
inches long and Immediately beside thu
depression. The bone that was cut away
was sound and healthy, and the object wa!
for the purpose of introducing an instru
ment called the Elevator" under the de
pressed portion of the skull and elevatinj
it to its normal height. The dura mate
was found intact, the fracture not extend
ing into it. The operation was occasion
ally interrupted by heavy flow Of e1
travasated blood, but sponges soon al
sorbed it and the work went on. After th
skull had been Clipped away and the dur
mater exposed, the surgeon inserted hi
Elevator" and, using the portion of th
bone which had been Clipped for a fu
crum, he pressed down on the elevator,
and the depressed portion Of the skull wa
observed to rise. Again the instrumen
was pressed down like lever, and the dc
J preston assumed its normal appearance
and was on level with other portions @
the skull. The operation had been a SUE
cess. The scalp was then allowed to fa
back in place, and was sewed up.
twisted catgut drain was left in the woun
to drain off any matter that might account
,, late in the depression. The patient wa
} then placed in bed, and in few minute
J recovered consciousness and thanked I'll
physician that the terrible pressure on h
brain had been removed at last. H
= vision was ali right, and during the oper'
l alton and afterward his pulse was norma
9 His chances for final recovery are yer
4 good, and another victory is scored fc
q cerebral localiZation,