Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-06-24
MADE TO ORDER.
A New Mouth Put on Gotham Baby by
Dexterous Surgeons

A New Mouth Put on Gotham Baby By
Dexterous Surgeons.
Several babies are daily brought into
existence at the New York Emergency
Hospital for Women, and tie chorus of
uncultivated vocalization that is impressed
upon the visitors to the wards, might be
considered by Mr.. Gerry's society as
cruelty to children. But what CAP
the commodore do? Nothing. 1t is not
question whether child actresses should
be allowed to sing their baby rhymes in
Wang" but whether these poor unfortu-
nate infants, apparently out Of reach Of
the society, SNAIL be allowed to yell their
natural, unframed tunes until their little
lungs refuse to act and they sink ex-
hausted asleep.
One day recently, says the New York
Advertiser, an infant was born in one of
the wards who was restrained by the
mighty power from Joining in this Choir
Gus as if done so for the purpose. The in
FAINT, as a result, grew fat and was the
healthest in the institution. The poor
little fellow had no mouth, its cheeks be-
ing perfectly united from ear to ear by
piece Of smooth, white skin, and flesh,
that was without a blemish, and appeared
to have been made to stay SO.
Upon the question Of closed mouths the
books are silent, and what to do for the
child was a puzzle for the physicians.
The oldest practitioner had never seen
anything like it, and the Gaze was pro-
nounced a remarkable freak Of nature.
Even DR.. Francis Mason, the famous
London facial specialist, in his work on
the surgery of the face, mentions no such
cases.
AS the babe grew older it seemed to
understand that something was wrong,
and would seem to fret over 1t by holding
It's breath. The physicians determined
something must be done, if possible, and
a consultation CT prominent surgeons aud
physicians was called. A thorough ex-
animation was made with a view Of
remedYing the deformity.
The upper and lower jawbones seemed
to be perfectly Termed, and were capable
of slight motion, but "a structure Of some
mouth should not prevent the jawbones
from operating The attachment was
thought to be due to some adhering
membrane, although there was evidently
little opening between the flesh and
bone, as when the child tried to initiate
the action of blowing, the cheeks W Guild
puff out slightly.
The construction of the inside of the
mouth could not be determined with
precision: all that was known was that
the front and rear nasal passage seemed
to be naturally developed. The examina-
ton resulted in a determination to per
form a surgical operation on the child
and run the risk of the internal mouth
being adapted to the admission of air.
IF
istered in the flesh under the nose and of
each cheek for several minutes. When
needles could be stuck into the skin with
out the child wincing the operating sur
geon made an incision about half an inca
under the nose, where the obicularis Owls
muscle ought to be. The knife sunk deep
er and deeper into the senseless flesh until
an obstruction was reached. Upon the
flesh being dissected from the bones it was
found that Il probe could be inserted be-
tween the upper and the lower jawbones,
and, as it met with no resistance, it was
concluded that the internal formation of
the organ was normal, and the operation
was continued with more confidence
Further investigation resulted in the
discovery that the jawbones, as anticipat-
ed by their incapability of more than
slight motion, were joined together
in front by an elastic membrane that was
thick and tough. The back had no con
nectlon however. and the front mem
brane was severed the entire length with
the greatest dexterity, as it bled profusely,
and there was great danger that some of
the blood might get into the infants
wlndplpe and cause suffocation
When the membrane had been divides
the jaws could be moved easily. and when
opened wide the roof Of the mouth was
the only thing that appeared normal.
There was only suggestion of a palate,
and the tongue, which is usually large in
babies, was far back in the rear Of the
mouth and not more than half the size it
should have been. 1t exhibited peculiar
motion, also, that had never been noticed
in tongue before by the surgeons present.
1t moved directly up and down, quickly
and regularly
Now that the mouth was made, some
thing had to be done to keep the incision
from healing. For this purpose, before
the wound was bandaged, plugs of pressed
cotton were placed between the jawbones
to keep them from coming together.
Pressed cotton was also applied to what
would be the lips, so as to have them pro-
trude naturally.
This done, the wound was bandaged,
the mouth being held open by the plugs
It is now several days since the operation
was performed, and the wound, as is
usual with children, has healed rapidly.
The mouth has already formed Itself,
and is quite natural in appearance.
What will surgeons attempt next?