Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-11

A Jet Black spaniers Skin VIII Supply 4
Girls Scalp and Hair.

A Jet Black Spaniel's Skin Will Supply I
Girl's Scalp and Hair.
From the Detroit Tribune.
Skin transportation, OF the grating Of Skin
from one human being to another, or from
some of the lower animals to human beings, il
by no means a new resort of the surgical pro-
fession in extreme cases, yet an experiment in
skin transplautation is now being made a
Grace Hospital which, If it proves successful
will open a new field in surgery.
The patient in this present case 10 eleven.
year-old Tillie Orsech, who last October had
and including one ear, torn from her head q,
the Star elevator. Since her stay at Grace
Hospital every means has been tried to graft
new skin upon her scalpless head.
One of the first trials made was with human
skin. Titles sister consenting to go through
side and sewed over the large blood vessels ex.
posed on the side Of Titles neck. The girls
were tied together, so as to insure perfect quiet
and for a time it was thought the operation
would be q success but the transplanted skin
died. liberated and fell off. Small strips Of
skin from the arms of healthy convalescent
patients were then grated upon her head, bu,
this also proved unsuccessful Frogs skin,
sponges, skin transportation and Theirsch's
method we're all attempted, but failed.
For some time past the outer layer Of the
patients skull has been gradually coming OF.
The last riece. four inches long and two inches
wide. came of about six weeks ago. Ih ap-
pearance was very similar to an egg shell I'm
derneath the surface was graduating and weak
Several times little Tillie has run down until il
was thought she would die. but through the
very best of care and the close attention given
to the case by DIR. R. ii. Stevens of the hospital
her health has recently improved wonderfully
and she has even gained considerably in flesh.
The last and most novel operation and the
one on which the physicians have set their
greatest hope was performed Friday morning.
In this case beautiful jet-black water spaniel
dog was brought into requisition to aid science.
The pnp is four months old, and his glossy,
curling hair does not appear unlike human
hair. Every precaution was taken to make the
operation a successful one. The girls skull was
first scraped clean Of all granulsting matter,
leaving healthy surface.
The spaniel dog was then put under the In
fuence Of opiates and his front and hind legs
were incased in plaster Of Paris jackets, and q
flap Of skin eleven inches long and four inches
wide was loosened from his back and sewed over
one-half of the girls skull from the forehead 10
the neck. By means OF splints and adhesive
straps the girls head was then bound firmly
against the dogs back. The pup will not suffer
largely from the loss Of the skin, as he was %
loose-hided that the skin was easily drawn oven
the bare spot and sewed together.
Inc reason tne nap covering tne XIII o mead
was not entirely severed from the dog was for
the purpose of keeping up the blood circulation
between the dog and the child. According to
the physicians, neither the dog nor child
suffers any pain, and very little Of any kind Of
opiate has been administered since the opera
ton was performed. II the operation proves Q
success Tillie will be the possessor Of beautiful
black, curling, silken hair
A reporter for the Tribune viewed the cou4ls
(the girl and the dog) last evening. One of the
neat rooms on the third floor has been set aide
for their sole occupancy and Q nurse IL con-
stantly at the bedside. The girl lay on her
back, only her face and Q portion of the fore
head was visible. Above her on his ode Law the
spaniel, with his jacketed legs stretched out e
il in repose. Both were fast asleep. Tfllie
woke up while Dr.. Stevens was describing the
case and seemed slightly troubled. The speu-
lei, too, opened one eye and took glance, then
sighed heavily and slept again.
Are you in any pain, Tfllis7' asksd the
doctor.
'No." :hs replied, psstishly; II want 70 10
10 sleep"
Tillie's eyes while she slept were psrtlv oren
skin Of the forehead. DR.. stephens. hovsy ,
has strong hone Of yet supplying her visk
closed eyes when she sleeps and also. perhape
pair Of eyebrows TO match her hsir. xr
Charles 8. Morley performed the operation,
with the assistance Of DR.. r. h. Stevens and
the house stan, DrsL Cooley, Cue and Kniehk