, 1891-05-17
VERY DELICATE SURGERY.
Taking Up and Tying the MenIngeaI
Artery.

NEW YORK, May l6.-For the second
time in the medical history of this coun-
try the terrible and delicate operation of
tieing the middle meningeal artery was
successfully performed at the eastern dis
trict hospital, Williamsburg, Yesterday
afternoon. The operating surgeon was
DR.. Silas G. Blaisdell and the patient
james Cavanagh, who at 1920 a. N. yes
terday fired a 32-calibre pistol bullet into
his brain while on board a Greenpoint
ferry boat.
An aged man, well dressed and of good
bearing, stepped on board the Terry boat
alluded to as it left the New York shsre
at 1925 a. m. yesterday. He walked
into the mems cabin with his hands be-
hind him and the head bowed as if in
deep thought. Passing through the rear
cabin, he walked through the boat to the
forward deck, then turned and retraced
his steps to the after part OF the vessel.
Here he was noticed to take a number of
papers from his pocket, tear them into
strips and drop them into the water. He
watched them until they had faded from
sight. By this time the boat was near
her destination. Suddenly plunging his
hand into his hip pocket the man pulled
out a pistol, pressed it to his right temple,
pulled the trigger and fell bleeding to the
deck.
The report of the weapon was answered
by shrieks from a number OF ladies' who
were on the other side of the boat aud
shonts from the male passengers.
The would-b suicide was bleeding pro-
fusely from the wound, which had been
inflicted by a revolver of a cheap pattern.
A few minutes later the boat touched her
Sip and the police were notified. who in
turn sent for an ambulance from the
eastern district hospital.
Here the members of the surgical staff,
headed by DIR. Blaisdell, had a consulta-
ton on the case. The man was alive, but
unconscious. The bullet had penetrated
the temple above and somewhat to the
rear of tie left eye. The missile on strik-
ing the skull had split, a scale" lodging
IN the first layer of the skull bone and the
body penetrating inward.
DIT Blaisdell used the probe to locate
the large half of the bullet, and as the
instrument was withdrawn noted the
pulsing Jets OF a%rteEial blood that welled
from the wound. This told the tale of
the terrible mischief wrought by the
jagged piece of lead. 1t was evident
that the bullet had cut the artery that
lay beneath the skull and that the mans
death by cerebral hemorrhage was only a
question of minutes unless a daring opera
ton was instantly performed. The sur
geon determined to give the mar the only
chance for HE that human science could
afford him.
The trephin was brought to play and a
piece of the skull, about the size and
shape of Il quarter, was removed. Other
sections of the skull was her clipped
away from the edges OF the oritice until a
sufficient portion of the membrane that
exists between the skull bone and the
brain was exposed as to permit of further
operation. Here the bullet was seen to
have penetrated the brain, cutting through
membrane and artery as 1t did so, and
lodging in the gray matter beyond to the
depth of three-eighths of an inch or
more.
The fOrceps and the skillful fingers of
the surgeon quickly removed the jagged
lump OF lead. Then came the lifting of
the membrane and the delicate task OF ty-
ing the artery that was all this time send
ing out ITS jets OF crimson. Next the
membrane was replaced, dressing applied,
~ II Ga1'CIl was FdNtu liOul MudA III
the ordinary way would have been deemed
certain death.
Later he returned to consciousness.
Apart from the fact that his name was
James Cayanagh and that he lived in New
York, he absolutely refused to give an ac-
count of himself. The only thing found
in bis pocket was a receipted bill for rent
made out to Fl Levy, of No. ST. Second
avenue, New York.
AT about 5 p. m. an elderly lady,
heavily yelled, and a young man called at
the hospital. They refused to give their
names, but said that they were relatives
of the would-be suicide. After an inter
view they left without disclosing their
identity or that of the wounded man. A
sergeant of the seventh precinct tried to
get them to talk as they left the instItu.
ton. but tailed,
A reporter later succeeded in discover
ing who Cavanaugh is.
He lives at No. 225 East ThIrtieth
street, New York, and is a real estate
broker. For some time past he has been
in i'll health, and his mind has been more
or less afflicted. He has a wife-who
was the lady who called at the hospital
and three sons, one OF whom accompanied
his mother. He is said to be fairly well
off.
Cavanaugh told House Surgeon Orrell
last night that he had not the slightest
recollection of either boarding the ferry
boat or OF shooting himself. AT a late
hour he was resting easily. Twenty-three
pieces of bone were removed by DIR.
Blaisdell during his operation.