Oakes weekly Republican. (Oakes, Dickey County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1898, 1891-05-08
THIS WASA MAN OF GRIT.
Six Amputations Left Him Legless
Trunk.

Trunk.
New York Sun: A man who the doc
tors say possessed greater physical
courage than any who ever came un-
der their observation was among the
victims OF the grip, who died last week.
His name was John Robollo, and his
crippled figure has been familiar
sight for the past year or so on the
west side of town. Four years ago
Robollo was a man in rugged health,
almost a giant i'll strength. He was
employed as a block cutter in q wall
paper factory.
More than three years ago a bit OF
brass filing became lodged in some
manner in the big toe OF his rightfoou.
Inflammation set in, but Robollo
would have nothing to do with doc
tors. Blood poiscp, in a mild form,
supervened, and H. oollo made up his
mind that the toe would have to come
off. He performed the operation him
self without finching. There was
some modification in the member,
so that the nerves were probably
partially dulled to pain. At events,
Robollo got the toe off somehow, and
ligatured and bandaged it so as to
control the hemorrhage.
A few weeks later Robollo was oblig-
ed to confess himself q poor surgeon.
The Inflammation from his wound
spread and gangrene set IN. Then he
applied to the surgeons at Roosevelt
hospital for treatment. They found
it necessary to take off the entire foot
Immediately. Even that did not
avail, and ~ few weeks later another
amputation was made above the knee,
He was discharged apparently cured,
and he made for himself while conval-
escent an ingenious artificial leg OF
steel with q rubber foot attached. 1t
was said to be lighter and more ser.
viceable than the ordinary cork or
wooden leg.
But the poison in Robollo's system
had apparently not been exterminat-
ed, for three months after his discharge
from the hospital gangrenous symD.
toms appeared in the left foot, and he
was compelled again to go to the oper-
ating table. This time the surgeons
took off the left leg at about the same
point where the other had been ampu-
tated. Before he had recovered from
the operation the fatal blood poison
ing reappeared in the stump of the
right leg. Then the surgeons were
about ready to give him up, tor he
had a heart affection which in his
weak condition rendered it impossible
to administer an@sthet1cs without
certainty of death. 1t was therefore
decided not to operate.
When the situation was explained
to Robollo he insisted that the opera
tion should take place without anaes-
thetics. He didn't care for the pain,
he said, and the surgeons might 20
ahead as fast as they pleased. He
was so determined in the matter that
the doctors decided to try it. Tney
took off the right leg at the hip joint,
and Robollo not only bore it without
fainting or shrinking, but he grimly
watched the surgeons at work, and ev-
en- attempted to assist them in some
details. The doctors said it was the
most wonderful exhibition of endur.
ance they had ever witnessed.
Even this was not the end of the
poor fellows sufferings. No sooner
had he partially recovered from the
last awful experience IN the surgeons
hands than the same condition OF
things presented itself in the left leg.
That also was taken off at the hip
joint in the same way. Robollo lived
through it: His wonderful pluck new
er deserted him for An instant. He
got well and nearly two years ago he
was discharged cured. He retained
his health until attacked by he grip
about two weeks ago, and the disease
finally conquered him.
He had a comfortable little proper.
ty of his own, and he earned a partial
living by selling trinkets. His physi-
cal sufferings never conquered his good
spirits, for he was always the soul OF
good nature. He never tired ofcrack-
ing his favorite joke when asked how
he WAS doing in business or otherwise.
His reply always was:
ooh I can't kinly ~