Barbour County index., 1886-06-11
A DELICATE OPERATION.
Surgeons Laying Bare the Brain OF Little
Joseph Sullivan.
IN. Y. Tribunc.i

IN. Y. Tribunc.I
Little Joseph Sullivan had Just come out
of the Brothers School, at Mott and Park
streets, at noon the other day, and had
started for his home, at No. 22 Mulberry
street, for his dinner, when he was asked
by one of his companions to get a ball
which hal gone under a wagon and
stopped near the horses hind feet. He
did not want to do it at first, as there was
danger from the horse, which was known
to be fractions. But his companions dared
him to get it. and being a plucky little fell
low he could not stand this, and dove un-
der the wagon and grabbed the ball. Be-
fore he could get away the horse kicked
violently backward, and one of his feet
struck the boy on the head, and he fell un-
conscious, as il dead. He was picked up
tenderly by big policeman, who said that
he was dead, and many tears fell over the
mangled form of tho boy, for he was q
favorite with every one. In a little while
the boy gasped for breath, and then an
ambulance was called and he was taken
to the Chambers Street Hospital. DIR.
Outerbridge found that there was COM
pound fracture of the frontal bone in
the boys skull, the whole forehead being
crushed in and presenting horrible ap-
pearance. Nothing could save the boys
life but prompt heroic treatment. He
was taken 70 the Up-I atins room, and laid
upon an adjustable table, so that his head
could be put in a proper position for
working. Then with a sharp knife the
surgeon made two incisions in the scalp
after cutting away a portion Of the hair
on the top of the patients head-at such
at angle that q triangular Aap could be
raised from the bone. The skull was
found to be greatly depressed ut the point
where one OF the corks on the horseshoe
had struck, and the inner table Of the
skull was evidently comminuted.
Taking trephine the surgeon sought
for place where the bone was firm, and
then began 10 bore through the skull.
Slowly the instrument was sunk through
the outer table of the skull until the blood
was seen in the borings, indicating that
the diplOe had been reached. Then greater
caution was used, and a probe was en-
ploye at intervals, after several turns of
the trephine, to see the depth Of the bor-
ing Tho boy seemed to be slowly sink
ing, and,stimulants were given by injection
to keep the heart at nearly its normal ac-
tion. The brain was reached at last and
button of bone was taken out, exposing
the iniamed brain surface. The inner
table had been broken into splinters, which
had got loose and been forced into the
dard mater. Small clots of blood were
found and these were taken out. By the
use of an instrument known as an
elevator the depressed portion Of the
skull was carefully raised so as to
take tho pressure off the brain. The re-
lease of the pressure was noticeable at once
in the Frightening up Of the boys condi-
ton. His respiration was more natural
and the heart was stronger. The splinters
in the brain were taken out with forceps,
and special form of forceps was used to
break off the rough edges of bone. Enough
pieces were removed to make n hole in the
skull about the size of n half-dollar, and
then the whole exposed brain was washed
carefully with an antiSeptic solution. The
boys condition improved all the time, bat
he was evidently suffering from tho great
shock. When the skull had been arranged
so that it would remain in position the
flap was drawn over the exposed brain and
the wound was busted with iodofornr and
bandaged. Then tho boy, who had begun
to show signs of returning consciousness,
was placed on his cot. His age was i'm his
favor, and his recovery is now assured.