Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-05-22
LAYING RARE A CHILD's BRAIN.

A Delicate Operation Upon the Skull Tho
Patient on the Road to Recovery.
New York Tribune.
Little Joseph Sullivan had just came
out of the Brothers school at Mott and
Park streets at noon the other day, and
had started for his home at No. % Null
berry street for his dinner, when he was
asked by one of his companions to get a
ball which had gone under 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 CON-
panions dared him to get it, and being a
plucky little fellow he could not stand
this, and dove under the wagon and
grabbed the ball. Before he could get
away the horse kicked violently back
ward, and one Of his feet struck the boy
on the head, causing him to fall uncon-
scious, as if dead. He was picked up
tenderly bya policeman, who said that
he was dead, and many tears fell over
the mangled form of the boy, for he was
a favorite with every one. In little
while the boy gasped for breath, and
then an ambulance was called an0 he
was taken to the Chambers street hos
pital. DR.. Outerbridge found that there
was compound fracture of the frontal
bone in the boys skull, the whole fore
head being crushed in and presenting a
horrible appearance. Nothing could
save the boys life but prompt heroic
treatment. He was taken to the operat-
ing room and laid upon an adjustable
table, so that his head could be put in
proper position for working. Then with
shark knife the surgeon made two in
cisions in the scalp-after cutting away
a portion OF the hair on the patients
head at such an angle that a triangler
flap could be raised from the bone. The
skull was found to be greatly depressed
at the point where one of the corks on
the horseshoe had struck, and the inner
table of the skull was evidently COM
minuted.
Taking trephine the surgeon sought
for place where the bone was firm, and
then began to bore through the skull.
Slowly the instrument was sunk through
the outer table or the slalll until the
blood was seen in the borings, indicating
that the diploe had been reached. Then
greater caution was used and a probe
was employed at intervals, after several
turns of the trephine, TO see the depth
of the boring. The boy seemed to be
slowly sinking and stimulants were CIV
en- by injection to keep the heart at
nearly its normal action. The brain was
reached at last and a small button of
cone was taken out, exposing the inham-
ed brain surface. The inner table had
been broken into splinters, which had
got loose and been forced into the du'd
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 the pres
sure off the brain. The release of the
pressure was noticeable at once in the
Frightening up OF the boys condition.
His respiration was once more natural
and the heart was stronger. The splln-
tiers in the brain were taken out with
forceps, and special form of forceps
was used to break off the rough edges
of bones. Enough pieces were removed
to make hole in the skull about the
size of half-dollar, and then the whole
exposed brain was washed carefully with
an autiseptic solution. The boys con-
dition improved all the time, but he was
evidently suffering from the 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 iodoform and
bandaged. Then the boy, who had be-
gun 60 show signs of returning consci-
BUSINESS, was placed on his cot. His age
was in his favor and his recovery is now
assured.