The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-19
THE NEW CHIVALRY.
Knights Templar Submit to the
Knife of Sacrifice.
OVER ONE HUNDRED MUTlLATED.
Chicago Masons Aid the Surgeons In an
Attempt to Cure a Brother by
Skim rafting.

CHICAGO, Jan. lS.-One OF the Hios1
unique surgical operations on record was
performed in this city today, and 10.
Knights Templar gave notable example OIL
fraternal love and heroic self-sacrifice in or
der that sick brother might be restored
TO health Each suffered the loss of piece
of cuticle, which was transferred to the
sick knight, John Dickerson.
A cancer which had attacked his thigh
was removed some time ago, but so deep
and wide an incision had been made In
the flesh that nature was unequal to the
task of healing over the gaping wound.
The experiment was tried OF migrating
the skin of some of the lower animals, but
it failed. The surgeon in charge. an
nounced to Dickensonis anxious brethren
that if human skin could be obtained II
would in all probability save the patients
life and insure his recovery.
The question was where to obtain sui
fcient skin to cover IA square inches OF
surface. The matter was preached in the
commandery and TO a man, the knights
offered to subject themselves to the neces-
sary operation. This was performed
today at Emergency hospital. Over one
hundred knights had each a small strip
of skin removed from his arm or leg, TO be
transplanted to Dickerson's hip. No re-
representatives. of the press were allowed TO
be present, but it has been learned that
nearly all the knights went through the
operation unfinchingy. Two tainted.
but were quickly resuscitated Several
anxiously inquired for cold water at
different stages of the operation.
Only about two minutes were con-
sumed with each man, in which
time the skin was removed and his wound
dressed. and the piece placed on Dicker-
son. While the surgeons will make no
positive statement as to the result OF the
operation, 1t is evidently their opinion
that it viii be entirely successful. The
knights who offered themselves up to the
surgeons knives will experience but little
inconvenience from the slight wounds in
fiicted upon them.
Everything was ready when the knights
arrived, and Sir Knight Smith was led into
the operating room TO contribute the first
patch toward the IA square inches re-
qulred. DR.. Plattenburg had administered
small quantity of nitrous oxide gas to
the patient on the operating table, enough
TO make him partially unconscious. Mr..
Smith slipped off his coat and
vest, rolled up the left sleeve of his shirt
and placed himself at the mercy of the
wise men. Two of them with brush and
sponge scrubbed the hexer over the sur
face of his arm until it tingled to redness,
then they applied alcohol to dissolve and
wash away any microbes or minute par
ticles. When they had rubbed and
cleansed his arm until he began TO think
there was no epidermis left, DIR. Bernauer
lifted fold of the flexible skin and with a
delicate, dextrous movement sliced off
thin, papery strip, about a half inch wide
and two inches long. Sir knight Smith
set his teeth together firmly, and looked
somewhat pale, but did not make sound.
DR.. Bernauer held the strip on his
razor and reached it over to DR..
Fenger, who seized it with a pair of
tweezers and in moment had applied it
the bare surface of the patients body and
pressed it smoothly down. The raw spot
on Mr.. Smiths arm was dressed and ban
daged, and he went away with the parting
assurance that in ten days it would be all
healed up without a scar to show where it
had been.
The grating proceeded with great rapid
ity and soon became matter of routine to
the busy surgeon in the operating room.
The work was so divided and alternated
that there was no delay, and it required
only two minutes for the transfer of one
epidermal section.
Mr.. Diekerson was given no anasthetics
after the operation began, and was wide
awake most of the time. He watched his
busy surroundings with a degree of inter-
est, returned the salutations of many
friends who entered, and appeared to be in
mind. He went through the trial more
creditably than some of his fraternity
brothers, as two of them tainted during
the proceedings, and many more inquired
anxiously for cold water.
It's the hope and belief of the knights
that their afflicted brother will soon re-
cover and take his place among them. DIR.
Fenger and the other physicians held out
much encouragement. 1t will be ten days
before the success or failure of the experl-
ment will be known. If successful
the place should be thoroughly healed
over in thirty days 1t is
thought that the carcinoma or cancer is
entirely removed, and if the grated skin
takes hold and grows, Mr. Dickerson will
soon be almost as well as ever. Even if
some of the pieces fail to attach them
selves others viii be spread over the small
uncovered surfaces, and complete the
mending process.