Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-01-22

ASurgeon Removes aTumor and Chang
the Patients Temperament.

ASurgeon Removes nTumor and Changes
the Patients Tempernment.
The Pittsburg Dispatch gives the follow
ing account of a wonderful surgical oper-
alton upon a twelve-yenr-old daughter of
Mr.. b. +. Mccall, of that city. The sur
geon having refused to talk ,on the ground
that it would be unprofe fessional, the father
was applied to:
When Alice was G months of age she
sufiered)a fall, striking her head ON the
corner of the stair. For n week after this
accident she writhed in convulsions, and
after the convulsions ceased her left side
seemed to be partially paralyZed. When
she was about years old she began again
to have commissions. They Were at first
slight, of short duration and not very fire.
quent But as she grew older they in
creased in severity, were of longer dura-
ton and came olener.
"These conyulsons were likely to come
upon her at any time, and we were afraid
to allow her out of our sight. Whenever
she was attacked, tho 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 conyulsion was
over she would draw long breath and
collapse, remaining unconscious for prob
ably an hour or moro.
"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 coutorted
leit hand, but could not turn the hand
around or straighten out the fingers. Her
memory was very good. We mover sent
her To school, on account of these terrible
| convulsions. She was taught at homo.
This left arm and hand, over which she
had no control, were always held in II con-
tracted way, except when she slept; then
the muscles relaxed and the members
could be Strengthened.
"Well, 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 attempt
was made TO reach the trouble with medi-
cine. This while it helped her, Afforded
no permanent relief. About seven weeks
ago read in the Dispatch of a similar case
in Philadelphia, which had been success
fully operated upon by DIR. Keen. | COM
menced 10 look the matter up then, and
determined to have my child relieved of
this torture, if possible, and resolved that,
if could get no surgeon in PittsbGrg to
perform the operation, | would take my
child TO DIR. Keen.
"One day | met DIR. II. W. Stewart, of
Allegheny, who had treated the case for
some time, and asked him about the opera
ton. The result of this was that an opera
| ton was decided upon, 10 take place a
| week ago last Wednesday. At the appointed
time DR.. Stewart and five other doctors ar
rived prepared TO perform the operation.
Ii lasted about one hour. | witnessed il.
Aiter an aniesthetic had been' administered
and my little daughter had lost conscious
ness, a circular cut was made in the scalp,
a hinge being left and the Hap laid back.
Then, with the trephne, a piece of the
skull, right over the part of the brain in
which centre the nerves of the face was
removed, disclosing the tumor, the cause
of all the little ones sutterings, From DIR.
Stewards diagnosis he had concluded that
the tumor was at this spot, and there it
was, 1t was as large AS a duck egg. An
other piece of the skull, over the parts of
the brainin which centre the nerves of the
left arm and leg, was removed, to make
slre that there was nothing on the brain
there. II was found to be clean. A rubber
drain, TO take oil any matter that might
possibly remain, was inserted in the wound
and the latter was closed up.
"The operation was a success. The little
patient is getting along very nicely, her APP
petite is good, and she sleeps regularly.
As you saw, in conycrsing with her, she
has not had bit of pain, and the wound is
nearly healed. The rubber drain is being
removed little by little | expect her To be
out of bed by Sunday. She seems even
brighter than she was before, and has con-
troll of her arm.