Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-07-24
about your P
[From Cincinnati Rnauirer.l.
"KNOCK KNEES"
Little Gertrude Jaekson's Pc
euliar AMiction.
THE HEROIC MEASURES ADOPT.
ED FOR THE CHILD's RELIEF.
The Bones Cut With q Chisel and the
Limbs Strengthened Out.

There was notable surgical opera
ton performed upon child in Avon
dale yesterday.
The operation Is one of rare occur
ence in this country, although it has
been performed successfully number
of times in Europe.
From birth little Gertrude Jackson
has been afflicted with what is known
as "knock knees" the affiiction being
such as to render walking impossible
or even standing without the assistance
Of some one to prop her up. In fact,
the little girls legs were bent outward
ly to such an extent that they described
semi-circular curve. The parents
had entirely given up the idea that
their bright little daughter would ever
be able to walk without the aid Of arti-
fetal means. The little girls case
few days came to the notice of DIR. T.
E. Linn. Professor of orthopedic sur
gerry in the Pulte Medical College.
AN EXAMINATION
Of the child's limbs was made, and it
was decided that the only possible
means of relief was that known as
double osteomy operation. The opera
| IlOu COlACo uuuCI OuC hCOA Va OlVbORCA-
ic surgery, and was performed as fol-
lows:
An esmark bandage was placed
from the foot to the upper third of the
thigh. This process rendered the leg
upon which the operation was to be
performed perfectly bloodless. An in
cision was then made with a sharp
| los nk snk nm 10 I'M oidn nf
| the leg One-half an inch above the ad-
ductor magnus. The knife was sunk
clean through to the bone, and chisel
subsequently slipped along the side of
the knife until the bone was reached.
when the knife was skillfully with
drawn, allowing the steel chisel to re-
main in the flesh. After the knife had
been withdrawn the chisel was given q
deft twist at
EXACTLY RIGHT ANGLES
With the bone. The sharp point of the
instrument was then placed upon the
tender bone, and several sharp blows
quickly struck in rapid succession with
mallet. The bone was completely
, severed. A sponge was then bound
over the limb after the ends of the bone
, were placed in contact, aud the limE
allowed to rest until a similar opera
ton had been performed upon the 9TH
er limb.
The bandage around the limb first
operated upon was then removed from
the wound made by the incison of the
/, knife and the limb we'll busted with
! iodoform. Iodoform gauge was then
applied to the leg and flannel bandagt
!, tightly bound about the limb from the
: foot to the upper third of the thigh.
4 The limb was now ready for the final
! part of the operation.
/ TWAS sTRAIGHTENED
}. Into its proper position and held thai
d way until heavy coating of plaster o
e paris had been placed over it. Th'
o other leg was similarly treated, ant
J, the remarkable operation successfully
o performed. The patient all the whil
n was under the influence of ether, ant
= after the operation awoke entirel.
l. unaware of what had taken place.
le The external wound in an operation
E. of this kind usually heels in about siz
4 weeks, when the ends of the bone ar
q perfectly united. The plaster of pari
'e coating can be removed, andin shol
Ie time the child will be able to use he
d limbs with as much freedom as an
e one of her age. The entire operatio
# lasted about an hour, and rendered al
IL the more difficult on account of th
e. tender age of the child. 1t is the
FIRST CASE OF THE KIND
i Recorded in Cincinnati, and in man
If respects is considered great trump
n for the medical profession of this cit.
1t is considered a heroic operation fc
= the relief of child seemingly Athlete
a and rendered comparatively helplei
n n for life. The parents of the child al
II overjoyed at the hope of seeing the
~ ~ little one able to walk. Among til
~ =. members of the medical profession I
"a this city who witnessed the operatio
of performed by DR.. Linn are DR.. G. 1
y y Pauly, DIR. G.. s. McDermott, DIR.
y, M. Stewart and DIR. III. B. Hills.
el