The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-06-17
GRATING CHICKEN SKIN.
CURIOUS RESULT OF A SURGICAL
OPERATION.


Repairing n Man's MutiIHtcd Arm
with Chicken SlSin-The EAtraor-
dinary Effect.
In the course of San Francisco Call
reporters talk with a local doctor about
cases of skin grating, the man OF medi-
cine said:
81 have a patient now undergoing the
skin-grafting operation. He is an en-
gineer, and up to three months ago was
chief of the engine-room attached to one
of our large downtown mills. In the
engine.room was large steam drum
whercon the workmen heated kettles of
oil for use in their trade. While the en-
gineer was engaged one day last January
near this drum, laborer in the place
carelessly lifted a pot of oil and split
nearly half of it upon the floor. II
spread in all directions, and the greater
part went over the engineers hands and
arms, which were exposed, his sleeves
being rolled up.
"The steaming fluid shriveled the skin
and laid bare the flesh, the agony caus-
ing the engineer to roll over and over
upon the floor. A carriage conveyed
him to his home, and l was called in to
attend him by the firm, which, of course,
took upon itself all the expenses. At
the expressed wish of the sufferer, moth
ing was said about it in public. adopted
the usual mode of procedure in healing
him; that is, setting in small pieces of
skin, which grew and enlarged, thereby
supplying the place of the destroyed skin.
It was wearlsome job. You see the
flesh is raw and must be kept protected
while the engrafting is going on. The
pieces set in are very small. After being
placed in position, some distance apart,
soft cotton is placed upon them, and
they are left to take root Sometimes
upon raising the cotton to discover If
the skin is growing, the piece will fall
out, not having any growing properties,
and the whole performance must be gone
over with. All kinds of skin are used,
although we get as much human skin as
we can and as obliging friends are will
ing to loan from their bodies. The skin
of chickens is used next to human skin.
/ used it, and contrary to the case of
Cook, ittook splendidly with my patient.
All this is perhaps dry talking to you
doctors stories usually are-but now l
come to something which will interest
you-the chicken skin enlarged and
Joined with the other blocks of cuticle.
All was we'll, thought, but about two
weeks ago l noticed small blue specks
appearing upon the new skin. Soon pro-
tuberauces followed. / was mystifed,
not knowing what to make of it. But
in another day recognized them. They
were pin-feathers. Since. they have
continued to grow, and now they are
real feathers"
The reporter could not keep back a
smile OF incredulty, noticing which, the
doctor said
''You may laugh, but you will not if
you see them, will youp
The reporter declared that ocular in
spection would better satisfy him of the
true state of the case.
"Come," said the doctor, seizing his
hat, 1--WE will go out to the house now."
In very short time the doctor and the
reporter were seated on a cable car
speeding in the direction of the Western
Addition. After leaving the cars at a
street far out a walk OF ten minutes
bought the medical man and the seeker
after information to pretty little cot
tage, which was the central object in
large grassy lot. This was the patients
home, and here the doubling reporter
received his ocular inspection. The
patient was seated in an easy chair by
the window, his hand, incased in huge
bandages, lying motionless in his lap.
'Have you come to see my feathers"
he said, jocularly
The doctor unfastened the bandages
careful ly and laid bare hands and arms
which were raw and not pleasant sight.
The flesh was infamed and crossed and
scanned. But ON either wrist and extend
ing up the arms almost to the elbows
were indeed minute feathers of a grayish
hue. They were like down and were in
patches just as the chicken skin had
been placed. The skin was too tender
to be touched, but the reporter was con-
vinced by means of his eyes that the doc.
tor had not been beguiling him with a
fairy story"
1T is really the most marvellous thing
] ever met with in my uAreer," said the
doctor, as he replaced The bandages.
"What do you intend to do let them
growl" asked the reporter.
ooh, / can do nothing as yet. But
when the skin gets frmer shall prune
them out and set in human skin. The
man doesn't want to go back to his work
this way"
Hardly" laughed the victim, "I
would be ki dnapped by the proprietor of
dime museum"