Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-02-06
WONDERFUL SURGERY.
Successful Removal of Tumor from
Child's Brain.

A most remarkable surgical operation
was performed in Pittsburg, Penn, re-
Gently upon Alice, the twelve-year-old
child of Bernard F. Coll, of the Westing-
house Air Brake Company. 1t was the
removal of tumor from the brain. Mr..
Coll gives the following account:
'tWhen Alice was six months old she
fell, striking her head on the corner of
the stairs. For week after this accident
she writhed in commissions, and after the
convulsions ceased her left side seemed to
be partially paralyzed. When she was
about four years old she began again to
have eonvulsions. They were at first
slight, of short duration and not very
frequent, but as she grew older they in
creased in severity, were of longer dura-
tion and came oftener.
"These convulsions were likely to come
upon her at any time, and we were afraid
to allow her out of our sight. Whenever
she was attacked the muscles of her face
would begin to twitch, she would shrek,
her left arm would begin to work, then
her left leg, and then her whole body
would work likewise. When the convul-
sion was over she would draw long
breath and collapse, remaining uncon.
scious for probably an hour or more.
"Alice was bright child. She was
very fond of music, and could play the
piano with her one useful hand. She
could press the keys with her contorted
left hand, but could not turn the hand
around or stEaighten out the fingers. Her
memory was very good. We never sent
her to school on account of these terrible
convulsions. She was taught at home.
''Her left arm and hand, over which
she had no control, were always held in
a contracted way except when she slept.
Then the musels relaxed and the members
could be Strengthened.
'sWell, I became aware through an ex-
animation made by the doctor some time
ago that there was something wrong with
the child's brain. At that time an at
tempt was made to reach the trouble with
medicine. This, while it helped her,
afforded no permanent relief. About
seven weeks ago read in newspaper Of
similar case in Philadelphia which had
been successfully operated upon by DR..
Keen.
'tDr. w. W. Stewart had been treat
ing Alice, and the result of my talk with
him about the Philadelphia case was an
operation. 1t lasted about an hour, and
I witnessed it. After an anesthetic had
been administered by the assistants and
my little daughter had lost consciousness
circular cut was made in the scalp--a
hinge being ft-and the flap laid back.
Then with the trephine a piece of the
skull, right over the part Of the brain
in which centre the nerves of the face,
was removed disclosing a tumor, the cause
of all the little ones suffering. From DR..
Stewards diagnosis he had concluded
that the tumor was at this spot, and
there it was. It was as large as duck
egg.
HAnother piece Of the skull over the
parts of the brain in which centre the
nerves of the. left arm and leg was re.
moved to make sure that there was moth
ing on the brain there. 1t was found to
be clean. A rubber drain to take off any
matter that might possibly remain was
Inserted in the wound, and the latter was
closed up. II,
1.-THE operation was success. The
little patient is getting along very nicely.
Her appetite is good and she sleeps regu-
larly. She has not had a bit Of pain and
the wound is nearly healed. The rubber
drain is being removed little by little.
I expect her to be out of bed very soon.
Her mental ability seems to have in.
creased. She talks better and seems to
comprehend more quickly. She used to
be fretful and irritable, but since the
operation her disposition has been sweet
and sunny. She has control of her arm,
and is apparently perfectly natural. You
cannot imagine how happy we are.n VI
/ talked with the young patient some
time. There was nothing to distinguish
her from any other child. She said she
felt well and was very happy that she
was no longer to boa burden to her
family. New York Herald.