The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-09
MOUTH MADE TO0ROER.
Delicate Surgical Operation Per
formed on an Infant
BY NEW YORK SURGEONS
, Child Born ut tho Emergency Hos.
pltal without Mouth, Supplied by
Art With That DISQUALIFICATION the
Artificial Organ Mas Made.

NV York, June S-soveral infants
are daily brought into existence ut the
New York Emergency Hospital for
Women, aud the chorus OF uncultivated
vocalization that is impressed upon the
yisitors to tho wards might be consider
ed by Mr.. Gerry's society as cruelty to
children. But what can the Commo-
dore do? Nothing. 1t is not ques-
ton whether the child actresses should
be allowed to sing their baby rhymes
in wang" but whether these poor I'M
fortunate infants, apparently out Of
reach Of the society, shall be allowed to
veil their natural, unframed tones I'M
Ill their little lungs refuse to act and
they sink exhausted asleep. !.
one day recently q child was born in
ono OF the wards who was restrained by
tho mighty power from joining in this
chorus, as il done 80 for the purpose:
The infant, rs q result, grew fat and
was the healthiest in the--fnstitution.
Tho poor little fellow had no mouth, its
checks being perfectly united from ear
10 ear by q piece OF smooth, white skin
and flesh, that was without a blemish,
and appeared to have beenmade to stay
so. -,
Upon this question Of closed mouths
the books are silent, and what to do for
The child was a puzzle 10 the physicians.
The oldest practitioner had never seen
anything like it, and the case 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 It by hold
ing its breath. The physicians deter:
mined that something must be done, If
possible, and aconsultation otprominent
surgeons and physicianS was called. A
thorough examination was made with q
view OF remedying the deformity. /,
Tho upper and lower jawbones seemed
to be perfectly formed, and we're capable
Of slight motion, but a structure Of come
kind was upon them. The missing
mouth opening should not prevent the
iawbones from operating. The attach
nent was thought to be due TO some
adhering membrane, although there
was evidently little opening between
the flesh and the bone, as when the
child tried to initiate the action OF blow
ing, the cheeks would 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 unnaturally developed. The exam
ination resulted In a determination to
perform a surgical operation on the
child and run the risk OF the internal
mouth being adapted to the admission
Of air. .s6
A local injection OF cocaine was nd
ministered in the flesh under the nose
and OF each cheek tor several minutes.
When needles could be stuck into the
skin without the child wincing the op-
Grating surgeon made an incision about
half an inch under the nose, where the
obicularis owls muscle ought to be-.
The knife sunk deeper and deeper into
the senseless flesh until an obstruction
was reached. Upon the flesh being dis
sected up from the bones it was found
that probe could be inserted between
the upper and the lower iawbones, and
as it met with no resistance twas con-
cluded that the internal formation Of
the organ was normal, and the opera
ton was continued with more conf
denee.
Further investigation resulted in the
discovery that the iawbones. as antiei-
pated by their incapability OF more
than slight motion, we're Joined to-
gether in front by an elastic membrane
that was thick and tough. The back
had no connection, however, and the
front membrane was severed the entire
length with the greatest dexterity, as 1t
bled proiusely, and there was great
danger that some Of the blood might get
into the infants windpipe and cause
sutfocation.
Whenthe membranehad been divided
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 a suggestion
oil 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 1t should have been.
It exhibited peculiar motion, also,
that had mover been noticed In a ton.
que before by tho surgeons present. It
moved directly up and down, quickly
and regularly.
Now that the mouth was made, some
thing had to be done to keep the in.
cision from healing. For this purpose,
before the wound was bandaged, plugs
Of pressed cotton were placed between
the jawbones to keep them from com.
ing together. Pressed cotton WIS also
applied behind what would battle lips,
so as to have them protrude naturally.
This done, tho wound was bandaged
the mouth being held open by the
plugs. 1t is now several days since the
operation was performed, and the
wound, us is usual with children, has
healed rapidly. Tho mouth has already
formed itself, and is quite natural in
appearance. R99
What will Now York surgeons at
tempt next?