San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-18
PROTEST AGAINST MUTILATIoN.
How Boys Leg Cut Through the.Bone
was Saved and Restored.

was Saved and Restored.
The following letter explains itself:
Editor SAN ANTONIO LIGHT.
The readers OF the LIGHT may remem-
Der in the issue Of July % the account
of the seven-year-old son Of +. J.
Adams having his foot cut almost of by
a moving machine. Both bones OF the
leg were cut entirely in two, the knives
striking about two inches above the
ankle Joint of the left foot. and cutting
| through flesh, muscles, veins and bones
leaving the foot hanging TO the leg BY
a strip of skin about one and half
| inches wide, and the muscles that are
Immediately in front oil the leg. There
was also another cash in the calf OF the
leg that cut into, but did not divide, the
large bone. Being a near neighbor was
called on TO stay with the child until his
father could go te San Antonio for a doc
tor. l examined the wound, and told
Mr.. Adams | would try to save the foot,
and that felt sure come doctor would
want to cut 1t off. While anxious to
save 1t, the father doubted my ability.
l told him one day would tell whether
could save Ii or not, and, if Ii must come
off, 1t could be cut as well the next day
as that day, and we would know we
had tried to save 1t. By my direc-
tions he nailed block of wood on
a small board so that the sole of the foot
could rest on the block while the leg lay
on the board, then he nailed another
shorter board at right angles, length
wise the first board for the back OF the
foot and leg to rest against.
Over this | laid four double of soft
cloth and placed rhe foot and leg In
position and bound soft, damp cloths
over the wounds. In the course of an
hour the bleeding stopped, and l left
him.
called the next day, and found the
foot warm, instead OF cold and dead as
feared it might be. 1 called daily,
cleaned and dressed it with "Ransom's
all healing salve," and to-day, four
weeks after the accident, the cut in the
calf of the leg is entirely healed over.
The bones, or the worst cut, are united,
muscles grown together, new flesh
formed In the cut, new skin grown near
ly over 1t, and giving promise in few
weeks OF being as strong as ever. The
limb Is correctly set aud but for the
scars, none would ever know Of the
wounds. The child did not have par
ticle OF medicine, did not lose a nights
sleep or miss a meal.
II "He who makes two blades of grass
grow where one grew before" is pub
lie benefactor, surely one who saves the
limbs of their fellow-beings, Especially
young people, is an equal benefsctor,
and l feel sure many limbs are needless
ly sacrificed. II a limb is partially lacer-
ated, is it sensible or needful to make a
bad matter worse by completely remov-
ing it, thereby shocking the system still
more, losing more blood, making a
larger wound and a cripple for life
If a man breaks his collar-bone, ribs or
backbone, the doctors don't remove
them? WhyP The danger from in
flamatiOn, liberation or blood poisoning
is surely greater and more likely to
prove fatal 30 near the vital organs
people can live without legs or arms,
but not without body :" Is that the
reason for so much amputatiOn and for
leaving the unfortunate ones to limp
mutilated through life? In no calling
can one do so much good as in the medi-
cal profession, healing suffering human
ity. All honor and the gratitude of re-
lieved thousands to each and every doc
tor who does SO and shame on needless
mutilation. A. NJ. LOCKE.