Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-26
HOTEL DE LA BoURBoNNAGE,
PARIS, January 1, 1889.


DEAR DR.. BENARY-"Miriam i'm
proved rapidly after I posted my
letter of Christmas day. Rest, quiet,
and nourishment were what she needed; and
those she had. The doctors gave US permis-
sion to leave Havre yesterday, which we
did, arriving here in the afternoon. She is
pale and weak, and has lost 15 pounds in
weight; but she does not suffer any more in
body, though what her agony of mind must
be it is not difficult for those who love her
to imagine. However, that will soon be
over.
ST telegraphed in advance to DR.. Deses-
saires, REQ Nesting him to call upon US at our
hotel last evening. He came at 8 o'clock
and put Miriam through thorough exam
ination. He confirmed what all the other
doctors had said, that it was paralysis OF
the optic nerve. He inquired all about her
health in the past, and asked particularly
whether she had ever had any trouble of
the brain or spine. OF course we then
told him Of that accident she met with in
1884, which had deprived her of her MEM
ory. 'Ah,' said he, that gives me the key
to the whole difficulty He proceeded very
carefully to examine her head; and when he
had finished he said there was depression
of the bone at the point where she
had been hurt at that time,
and a consequent pressure upon the
brain, and it was that which accounted for
the extraordinary violence of her seasick-
ness and the resultant blindness. Finally
he said that an operation to relieve that
pressure would, if made at once, restore her
sight; but unless that operation was per-
formed, she must remain perpetuslly blind.
He assured Us that the operation was not
dangerous one; that it would consist in the
removal of minute section of the bone
what is called trephining. OF course there
was nothing for us to do but consent to
having the operation performed, and then
he went away, saying he would return this
morning.
cat Ii o'clock this morning he arrived,
accompanied by four other physicians, DR..
Cidolt, also an oculist; DIR. Gouet, the
alienist; DR.. Marsac. general practitioner
of very high standing, and DR.. Larquot,
said to be the most skillful surgeon in
France. They made long examination
and then withdrew to consult together. At
the end of nearly two hours they came to
me with their report, which was simply
repetition of what DR.. Desessaires had al
ready said, that trephining would be neces-
sary; that it would be effective, and that it
would be as free from danger as such an
operation ever is. The operation must be
performed as soon as possible, so that
atrophy of the optic nerve may not have
time to set in; but before they can safely
operate Miriam must be perfectly recovered
in general health. They have set the 14th
of this month as probably o favorable day.
Meanwhile she is under the care of DR..
Marsac. DIR. Larquot is to conduct the
operation.
"The brave little woman She supports
her calamity so patiently; and she looks
forward to that dreadful ordeal with an
amount of nerve and courage that a man
might be proud Of God grant that all may
60 we'll.
''There is nothing more for me to write at
present. Always yours,
"HENRY FAIRCHILD."
At the close of Fairchild's letter this
postscript was added, in hand that we
recognized for Miriam's, though it was
cramped and irregular, as If she had writ
ten with her ewes shut:
DEAR ONEs-I cannot see to write to
you, but l love you, and love you with all
my heart.-Miriam."
When my sister Josephine read that, she
burst out crying, like child.