The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-01-14
A Bone-CraftIng Operation at the
Mercy Hospital.

From tho FitisbnIgh comme7cisi Gazette.
The bcne grazing experiment tried al the
Bellevue Hospital. New York, where dog 5
leg was grated to that Of a boy, has been re-
peated at the Mercy Hospital. The case Of
Johnny Gethius aud his dog Zip has attract
ed attention ali over the country snd the
first attempt TO initiate il was made in Pitts-
burgh, and it thought that the operation of
the New York physicians can be improved
upon
The case at the Mercy Hospital was that
ofSamuel Radin. an s-year-old Hebrew boy.
Six weeks ago The boy fell at his home in
Germany. xbich his family were about to
leave, and broke his leg below the knee. His
ieg was attended toat once and the family
started on their journey to America On the
trip across the ocean the boy became very
much debilitated. They came straight
through to Pittsburgh. and on their arrival
the boy was very weak and III. He was
treated at his home, in the rear of No. AZ
Fifth avenue, by nr. Buchanan for week.
On December 20 be was removed 10 the
Mercy Hospital. II was found that the bone
OF the broken leg hsd become decayed. and
for distance OF six and half inches below
the knee was rotten. The father OF the boy,
Mr.. Abraham Radin, would not consent to
the Lex being amputated, but he agreed TO
having the bone-graffing operation tried.
THE GRAFrTSG PROCESS ADOPTED.
1t was decided to try the operation and on
last Wednesday week ago the first step in
the operation was taken. The deceased leg,
the right one, was opened and the decayed
bone for the length ofGl inches removed.
The ends remaining were then carefully
scraped ard cleaned, and the leg placed in
plaster paris cast. The boy was returned to
bed and carefully attended, and yesterday
the operation was performed. At 3 o'clock
| in the afternoon Doctors J. J. Buchanan. II
r. Hardtmayer, W 5. Robson and house
physicians McManus, Meyer and Leisher
were present to commence work.
Mr. Radin, the boys father, had procured
two little black -and-tan puppies about five
weeks old, which he brought to the hospital
yesterday morning. The boy was frail,
delicate little fellow, and on account of this
the slight bones of the small dogs were pre-
ferred The lads condition was excellent, he
having slept we'll and had good appetite.
He was not put under the influence of any
drug, but sat up and witnessed the whole
operation.
TRIXEY WAS THE VICTIM.
The two dogs, which were christened
Trixey and Gyp, were then produced for the
sacrifice Trixey was put in use, Gyp being
reserved for second resort. Ether was ad-
ministered to Trixey, after which the lower
part Of the hind leg of the dog was amputa
ted. The dogs bone was then pinched off
with forceps into about fifty pieces. These
were placed in the granulations Of the tissue
ofthe boys leg where it had surrounded the
old bone. All of the pieces of the dogs leg
were used in the operation When the pieces
wound was covered with piece of oiled
silk and the leg dressed with antiseptic
gau1e The boy was next removed to his
bed and placed under the charge of Resident
Physician f. 7. McAanus TO await results.
The father of the boy was no. present dur
ing the operation. The dog used died from
the effects ofthe ether
PHYSICIANS HOPE FOR BETTER RESULTS.
The operation performed was the one
which proved failure in the case ofJohnny
Gethius by reason OF the dogs bone not unit
ing with the ossilous tissue of the boys leg.
The twitching of the muscles in the dogs
leg prevented its adhesion to the boy, bur, in
this case the physicians think they have
overcome this difficulty by putting in the
bone in small pieces, one pieces having been
used in the Gethius case. II will take but a
few days to tell if the operation is a success.
In case it fails then the second dog will be
used and the process of uniting the leg OF
the living dog to that of the boy, which was
successful in the Geihius case will be tried.
Last night the boy was in an excellent con-
dition and the physicians said that every
thing was favorable and indicated success.
The father of the boy took charge of the
live dog to keen him until it is determine
If it will be needed Mr.. Radin is a German
Hebrew and peddler by occupation.