Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-13

A New Fra in Surgery Promises 70
Rid the Eace ofOne Gifts Curses.

Rid the itace ofUne of Its Curses.
Prom. the LoHdoa Times
At the meeting Aug. Ii OF the British
Medical Association at Brighton, Mr..
Victor Horsley, f, h. S, Surgeon Of the
National Hospital for the Paralyzed and
Epiieptc, exhibited three patients,
treated in that hospital, whose recovery
may be said to mark the commencement
OF a nav era in surgery. They are men
whu have been suffering from severe
Cpiepuc hts, and in whom Mr.. horsley
has opened the skull and mas removed
diseased structure or new growth from
the brain Itbelt.
In the most recent OF the three the
operation was pertO rmsd July u, so that
complete month has since elapsed; and
the patent was Sufficiently well To make
the journey to Brighton. The other two
cases were operated upon, one a week or
TWO and the other several weeks earlier !;
and in none OF the three has there been
any symptom TO interfere with prompt
and complete recovery. So far, also, the
men are cured of their epilepsy. but a
considerable time must be permitted to
elapse before any CLAIM for permanence
Of result can be established. What is
actually proved at present is that 1t has
become possible, by the observation of
oil the existence Of some morbid growth
within the skull, but also to determine it's
precise position with such accuracy that
il can be cut down upon and removed. 1t
Is also proved that considerable portions OF
brain may be removed without injury
the functions to which these portions are
subservient being performed, alter a
while very possibly, by corresponding
parts OF the opposite hemisphere.
In two of Mr.. Horsley's patients there
had been injuries, and one OF them had
been previously trephined tor the pur, ose
Of elevating portions Of bone which were
depressed by fracture OF his skull so that
in both OF these locallZatiOn was assisted
by manifest external Indications; but in
the third there was nothing OF this kind.
and the point at which the skull should he
opened was determined solely by the fact
that the hts commenced in a particular
group oil muscles-tbose, nancy, Nhic a
act upon tue left thumb. The physican
in charge OF the case was able 70 say that
this maner OF commencement certainly
pointed To the presence of a
continuing source OF irri alton
near the surface of the brain NJ
definite spot; and, the surgeon having
opened the skull at TN spot indicated, IA
tumOr was found imbedded ia the brain
substance, and. together with portion
OF brain surrounding 1t, was removed 80
far with absolute cessation Of the tits,
which were previously not only very fire.
quent, but, as might have been eX-
pected, were also increasing alike in fre-
quency ana in severity, and were such as
TO disable the patient from following any
occupation, not to say that they placed
his life in constant jeopardy rom ac-
eident. There are two contingencies in
relation TO the cases which rendered II
impossible TO predict with certainty the
permanence OF the results obtained, aud
these are, first, that the scar which must
form In or upon the brain tissue may
possibly Itself become a source OF irrita.
ton In time; and, secondly, that a second
proportion OF brain tumors, as OF tumors
IN other parts OF the body, are Of a nature
10 render recurrence possible OF prob.
able.
we nave here, then, as "F. r. So
1ihha out IN relation 70 the former case.