Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-09-09
mAprrxs or rHn BRAIN.
Some Hsemarkabgs Surgical opera


sumo AAohhArhaDso onrMtcAh Opofm-
tions--vivisection.
An editorial in the New York Times of
yesterday says A remarkable surgical
operation was described at the meeting Of
the British Medical Association, held ON
the 18th inst, by Surgeon Horsley of the
Bloomsbury National Hospital for the
paralyzed and epileptic. The patient
upon whom the operation had been per-
formed was exhibited by the successful
operator. The case is q very interesting
one, because IL shows how great progress
has been made recently in brain surgery
and in the art Of locating the seat of dis
ease at the surface Of the brain before the
surgeons instruments are used. It also
shows once more and in a striking way
how much has been gained for the human
race by experiments upon living animals.
The patient exhibited by DR.. Hershey
was treated for epilepsy. II was decided
that his skull should be opened in order
that the cause OF irritation might be re-
moved. But at what point should the
opening be nader Was it possible for
the physician to locate accurately the
position of the morbid growth before the
surgeon should begin his work ? A spot
on the skull was pointed out, although
there were no external indications by
which the physician could be guided or
assisted. At that spot the skull was
| opened. There tumor was found i'm
bedded in the brain substance. This
| tumor, with portion Of the brain sur
rounding it, was removed. The cause Of
1 irritation having been taken away, the
patient ceased TO be an epileptic. Before
the operation was performed he had been
great sufferer, and both the frequency
and the severity of his fits had been in
oreasing. When he was exhibited at
Brighton, ono month after the operation,
the fits had not returned. Two other
patients, whose skulls had been opened
for the removal Of diseased structure or
morbid growth, were shown at the same
meeting by DR.. Horsley, but in these
cases the physician had been assisted In
locating the scat of disturbance on the
surface of the brain by external marks,
caused by injury in one case and by
trephining in the other. The surgeons
treatmecSt Of these patients was success
full, but for obvious reasons the first case
was far more remarkable.
In the first case the point at which the
skull should be opened was determined
solely by the fact that the patients fits
began In the muscles which act upon the
left thumb. Knowing this the attending
physician also knew that the region Of
the brain which exeites or governs the
movements Of those muscles was irritated
by something that should be removed
He knew under what part of the skull
that part Of the brain surface could bt
found. He pointed out the part of the
skull which covered that part of th,
brain; the surgeon removed the bonN
covering; the tumor was revealed anf
taken out.
The art of locating accurately in thil
way the seat of disturbance has been de
veloped by long series of experiment.
upon the brains Of living animals. II il
one of the greatest of the results tina
have been attained by what Ia commonl,
called vivisection-a broad term which
covers experiments of many kinds, som,
of which do not necessarily fall under
strict definition of the word. By the sid
of this art the art of surgery has been de
veloped and improved by means Of vivi
section. Ability to locate the irritating
growth and ability to remove II withou
r killing the patient have been obtainei
alike in great measure by experiment
upon living animals. The results ar
already of great value to mankind.
If we were trying TO show that vivisec
ton is justifable and is required for tn,
development of the healing arts we shout,
point out many other most valuable dis
coveries that have been made by mean
of such experiments. II may be tina
some experiments that are made upol
animals. are made unnecessarily or frivo
lousy, for unworthy motives, in imprope
}, ways, or without due regard TO the result
o that should be aimed at. We do not Sc
why physician should be allowed Il
!, torture and MAIN countless animals TO
the sole purpose of getting so-calle,
evidence to be used by rich railroai
o company in oposing the claims of pas
sengers who have been injured on ii
7 lines Such use Of yivisection was re
, comfy made by physician in q neigh
boring state. But careful examination
"a Of the history and results OF yivisectiou
If made with intelligence and withou
prejGdice, will prove that experiment
d upon animals have been Of very grea
service in the development of the arts b
u which human suffering is removed G
a alleviated and valuable human lives al
saved. The case of DIR. Horsley's epileI
tic patient furnishes remarkable add
ton to the literature of this subject.