Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-03
A WONDERFUL SURGICAL FEAT.
An Operation Which Transformed an I'm
beetle Into Rational Being.

Can you think of an operation that
would create a mind? Can you con.
ceive of the meaning to humanity of .
discovery that would transform a con-
genital imbecile into a rational beingp
Such an operation was the one l was
privileged to see.
The patient was child about one
year old. Of good parentage and OF
healthy bodily growth aside from the
fact that its skull was that of a new
born child, and it had hardened and
soliditied into that shape and size. The
soft spot" was not there, and the
sutures or seams of the skull had
grown fast and solid, so that the brain
within was cramped and compressed
oy its unyielding bony covering.
The body could grow-did grow
but the poor little compressed brain,
the director of the intelligent aud vol
untary actions of the body, was kept
at its first estate. Even worse than
this. its struggle with its bonv cage
made pressure which caused distor-
ton and aimless or unmeaning move
ment The arm and leg turned in. in
that helpless. pathetic way that tells of
u n
physically healthy i'm becile-the most
pathetic object on this sad earth. Up
on examination. the surgeon. gentle,
sweet-natured man. whose enthusiasm
for his professionalism the relief of
suffering-makes him the object of de-
votion of many to whom he has given
life and health, and the inspirer and
final appeal for many brother prac-
titioner, discovered what he believed
TO be the trouble. Led by that most
uncommon of all things, common
sense, he believed that this little VIC
tim of natures mistake might be
changed from a condition far worse
than death to one of comfort for itself,
and to those who now looked upon it
only in anguish of soul
After explaining to the parents and
the surgeons who had come to witness
the wonderful experiment for after
all, at this stage it was but an expert
ment based upon common-sense) that
1t might fail; after a modest and SIM
pie statement of his reason for under
taking so dangerous an operation. with
no precedent before him; after ex-
planning that the parents fully under
idiocy, and tnat the trial might mean
death-he began the work. / will try
to tell what it was in language that is
not scientific, and may seem to those ac-
customed to surgical terms inadequate
and unlearned; but to those who are
not technical medical students believe
the less technical language will be far
clearer.
The childs skull was laid bare in
front. Two tracks were cut from a
little above the base Cor top) of the
nose up aud over TO the back of the
head. One of these tracks was cut on
each side, the surgeon explained, be-
cause it would give equal expansion to
the two sides Of the brain. aud be-
cause it would cause death to cut
through the middle of the top Of the
head, where lies 1.-The superior longi-
tudinal sinus" He left. therefore, the
solid track of bone through the mid
die. and cut two grooves or tracks Of
bone, one on either side. where nature
(When she does not make n miStake)
leaves soft or yielding edges, by means
of which the normal skull expands to
tit The needs of the brain within.
The trench made displaced or cut
away one-quarter OF an inch of solid
bone all the way from near the base of
the nose to the back of the head. In
the middle of the top of the head on
each side crosswiSe cut was made,
and one inch of bone divided. An
other cut was made on either side,
Wanting toward the ears. This was
one and a half inches long. The sur
fingers, pressed the internal mass loose
from the bones where it adhered,
and pushed the bones wider apart.
This process widened the trenches to
one incn.
The wound was now dressed with
the wonderful! effective new ascptics,
and the flesh and skin closed ever.
The operation had taken an hour and
half. There was little bleeding. The
baby was, of course, unconscious dur
ing the entire time. Oh, the blessing
of anastheticsi And now comes the
wonderful result of this bold and radi-
al but tender and humane operation.
The baby rallied well. In three
days it showed improved intelligence.
In eight days this improvement was
marked. From a creature that sat
listless. deformed, and unmindful of
all about it it began to take notice."
like other children. From an 1T, it
had been transformed into "he." 1t
had been given personality. 1t ate and
slept fairly well.
On the tenth day the wound was ex-
posed and dressed. 1t had healed or
united by first intention" as the doc
tors say, and again one can but ex-
claim, "Oh, those wonderful aseptic
dressings! 1t had united without sup
puration. 1t was a clean wound.
clearly healing.
One month after the operation the
feet and hands had Strengthened out,
and lost their jerky. aimless move
ments. The child is now a child. 1t
acts and thinks like other children.
laughs and cooes and makes glad the
hearts of those who love it.-HeIen II.
(JnrIe53o,. HU,ro,'e Hono1;,,o