San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-08-22


A. C. Fulkerson represents probably
better than any living man the motto of
the United States. "E Pluribus Unum"
should in future be his motto, for he truly
represents many in one. Fulkerson's legs,
his life, perhaps, were saved by skin graft
ing. He carries about him portions of the
cuticle of some forty or fifty men.
Mr.. Fulkerson is the head of the Silver
Towel company. He suffered terrible
affection, which nearly cost him his life
1t was an accident, and occurred in the
Troy laundry at 1912 Main street. He was
on the soap" floor and accidentally slipped
into one of the soap watts. The boiling soap
in the vat was thirteen inches deep. His
legs went in first, but he pulled them out
as quickly as possible. He estimates that
his legs were in the vat only about two
and half seconds, but it was long enough
to injure him for life and to render him
helpless for a long time.
The shoes saved his feet to a large extent,
but the heels suffered. His right leg from
the knee to the ankle became almost de-
void of skin or flesh. The flesh dropped
off the left leg from about two inches be-
low the knee. The muscles in the calf of
each leg were partly saved.
FRIENDS TO THE RESCUE.
DR.. Lyman A Berger was put in charge
of the case. He did everything possible to
alleviate Fulkerson's suffering. After
three weeks of close attention he concluded
that there was only one way to effect a
cure and that was by skin grating. AS it
was apparent from the start that the num-
Der of gratis" required would reach up
into the hundreds, the first question to be
considered was where to get them from.
Fulkerson was member of Ridgely lodge
No. 4S5, l. o. o. F., and also a member of
Kansas City lodge, No. l, Knights of
Pythias. Many of his fellow members of
these lodges, and also of other lodges of
the same orders, quickly offered to help
supply the needed skin. Friends, relatives
and employees were also found who were
willing to do their share to save the man.
After three weeks suffering and as sooL
as the process could be safely begun with
any possible show of success the grating"
was inaugurated. Gradually it was car
ried on. 1t was all done in sight of Fulker.
son, who never fiinched. He even refused
to take opiates. The endurance he showed
was remarkable. He witnessed the cut
ting out of every piece of skin taken from
others for his use. How his heart fire.
quentIy went forth to the people who
helped him can better be imagined than
explained His gratefulness knows no
bounds.
AS stated, the grating" was carried on
gradually. Sometimes pieces of skin from
half dozen different persons were attach.
ed at the same time. Usually there were
two or three on hand to contribute The
hCrroftSp taknn n tho ahnnt
as large as drop of water. Whenever
there was chance to put them in on the
surface, which was getting dry and on
which there was no doubt of their adher.
ing, it was done.
HOW THE CRAFTS WERE OBTAINED.
The gratis" were nearly all taken from
arms and legs. When put on the injured
mans legs they were placed about one
eighth of an inch apart. Every graft"
grows a sixteenth of an inch each way To
prevent them tapping over they were, there
fore, placed so far apart that they would
grow together. If placed closer than this
they will cause an uneven surface and
leave marks as of scars
DR.. Berger would call to see Fulkerson
at any time. He liked to call whenever
there was a visitor at the house He would
never miss a chance TO obtain some of the
needed skin and would always request the
visitor for a graft" OF course he would
never be refused. Once he had obtained a
graft" he would get three or four more
as a rule from the same person before he
would leave him. A list of those who
were willing to contribute was always
kept, so that whenever any gratis" were
needed they could be sent for In this way
the physician was able to keep pace with
the healing process, and was always pre-
pared to put in gratis" whenever ripe
place appeared for them.
For over two months the grating" con
tinued. Finally enough had been secured
to bring the legs to their normal size.
They were more than this when the treat.
ment was stopped, but had mot hardened
or settled, and this had been taken into
consideration. 1t was known that they
would get smaller as they healed
About Loo different gratis were used
in the treatment This is the number Civ
en- by DR.. Berger Fukerson thinks the
number would reach upward of 2OJ more.
The greatest care was exercised in prOCur
ing the gratis. They were taken from
only those who were found to be sound
and healthy in every particular The mum
Der OF persons who contributed the gratis
was about 100
WHO FURNISHED THE "GRAFTs?"
DR.. Berger and other physicians contrib
uted some. Whenever the former had a
timid person whom he expected TO get
large number of gratis" from he would
take one out OF his own arm to show them
how it was done and illustrate that there
was no pain attached toit. He would make
the subject believe that there was not the
slightest pain in the operation, leaving it
for him to find that there was just little
The process is something like vaccination,
the sensation being the same.
MANY persons tainted when the gratis"