The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-10
DOGS NERVE GRATED
On the Nerve Of a Women's Arm AT
hicted With Paralysis.

On bne Nerve OF q WOman'B arm ar
ficted With Paralysis.
From the Pittsbura Dispatch
PHILADELPHIA, June 6.-For the past
two years Mrs. ]. II. Weber has been suf-
fering paralysis in the right arm, which
rendered that member practically useless.
To-day she is living in her suburban home
near this city, and In her right arm, mid
way between the shoulder and elbow is
implanted a nerve of a dog. Il is hoped that
Mrs. Weber will recover the entire use of
her arm, waist, hand and fingers.
This remarkable operation is possibly the
first on record in this country, and was per-
formed by DR.. D. Hays Agnew and DIR. J.
Martin. DR.. w. R. Hunter, DR.. Strickler
and DR.. Strayer. the last three being resi-
dent physicians in the University of Penn
sylvania hospital The history Of this most
unusual case is as follows:
HISTORY OF THE CASE.
In 1880 Mrs. Weber discovered small
tumor near the middle of her right upper
arm. This, however was not painful for
several years, but became SO in 1884, at that
time being tender to the touch. On March
5. 1889, Mrs. Weber was at San Antonio,
Tex. DIR. Fred Herff. an army surgeon sta
toned there. removed the tumor, which
proved to be a multiple neuroma of the
nerve of the arm.
DIR. Herff found it necessary TO remove
about three snches of the nerve, thus caus-
ing "wrist-drop," which prevented Mrs
Weber from extending her hand, although
the fingers could be moved to a slight de-
gree. From that time she had no use of her
arm at all, although it could be raised from
the shoulder. She says the whole arm was
affected by atmospheric changes after DIR.
Herff's operation. During the winter just
passed Mrs. Weber consulted DIR. Agnew
and DR.. White as to again getting the use
Of her arm and hand. They advised her to
go to the University of Pennsylvania Hos
pital for an operation which might benefit
her.
DECIDED ON THE OPERATION.
She went there about the midd le of
March, and it was proposed to transplant
several inches of human nerve into her arm,
joining this piece to the end of her own
nerve which had been SO widely separated
under DR.. Herffs knife The surgeons ex-
pected to take the nerve from human arm
or leg, which had been amputated, and
transplant 1t into Mrs. Weber's arm. The
patient consente to this, and spent the next
Fl We weeks IN the University Hospital under
careful treatment, but no case was received
at that institution requiring amputation.
On April 18, on the suggestion of DR..
Agnew and DIR. White. Mrs. Weber con-
sented to have transplanted into her arm
the nerve from living dog. The doctors
told her that II the dogs nerve were used,
1t would not, of course, transmit sensations.
but it would act merely as bridge between
the separated ends of her own nerve.
1t was hoped that the latter would throw
out hlaments from each end, which would
gradually grow along the bridge and join
together IN the middle OF 1t. SO Mrs. W cher
consented, but only with the assurance that
the dog selected would undergo no pain.
UTILIZING A DOGS NERVE.
Than q healthy collia was found IT, ves
nlscsd mon a diat for two weakq and was
caref,,liy watched so that the surgeons
could he sure II was in a narfactIv haslthv
condition. He was a very hrioht IveIv
wo,,aS, d[,- and he aid rot ohioot ~ oil -
bsing ,reetad lika a nrince annon1 canires
Rnt then ha noor chan didn,t inow WV
ali tbese athantipns vara yaid hin,
Tba oTaration tool nlaca ON Anr;l %
Mrs Wehar,s arm was nrenered bv anti.
semitic treatment being scrubhed with sosn
and ,1ater and e1coho1 and bichIor;da ~
, nnu Than che NOS atbor;zed en-, 10 ,vos
taIra,' ~ tba 1rivsre ,,nare rim, roor, If tic
hns,;.e ~ 10y - VIC
IT,, tso ,,a.n+;r,a tha doc, FrosbIv bothA5
vas also nIscad nnS4r fba inanenca ~
a+bar hut i, anCtbe, roor, ord oil tba bair
US sbavad from his riobt hin he was
taLa,, 80 tha onaretina Too,,, Svhara n,ora
assaY,hIaJ ~ Xona1y Dr WITT n,
49, Dr Unrtar Dr. Str;cLlsr an1 Dr
Strayer, together Win several nurses OF Inc