The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-03
a BRoKkN NECK SET.
Wonderful Triumph OF surgery /
Massachusetts,.
F'om the Piitsburg Dispatch,

pFNW Ttt I tttSOhfg DlAputCH.
HAYDENvILLE, MASS. Dec. S0-A rare
medical case and one that stands almost
unparalleled in the history Of medicine up
TO the present time, has been succ 4ssfully
treated in this little village 1t is the re-
setting OF n broken neck, and the patient
Michael Mahar, a young man OF %. after a
confinement of three months, Is now able to
walk about the village streets.
This remarkable case has been the marvel
of the iuntry physicians round about, but
no account OF the operation, which has been
thought to be beyond surgical skill, has
hitherto been published. About three
m ntns ago DR.. Hubert IL Flagg of North
ampton, while returning from a visit to
country house, Witnessed an accident by
which two young men In party of four
were thrown from a wagon. One rolled
into ditch and picked himself up, but the
other lay motiouless in the road.
A NEoK BROKEN SHORT OFF.
Jumping from his carriage, the doctor
put his arm under the mans shoulder and
raised him slightly. The young mans head
fell over backward until it rested upon the
back between the shoulders. His neck was
broken.
The universal maxim in cases Of a broken
neck Is: make death as easy as possible. "
but DR.. FlsgS, when a medical student at
Oue VI I6lillSJlNdDld, lhu De-
cided that If doctor got at his patient in
time it ought to be possible to set broken
neck as well as a dislocated shoulder or
| thigh. Without waiting an instant, DIR.
! Flagg stepped back of the body, placed his
knees against the patients shoulders, and
took the head gently but firmly betwee his
hands. Then turning the head from side 10
side, delioately, he gave a strong. stead =
pull There was a sharp snap-uhe head
was again II its socket.
| Moments were precious now. Respiration
| had become imperceptibe before the head
was snapped back into its original position,
| but this done, there was immediate relief
| and q slight respiration was noticeable The
! doctor forced some brandy down Mahar's
throat. This had a stimulating effect, and
his pulse rose gradually from Is beats a
minute, to which dangerous state it had
fallen. to about 80.
BEGINNING OF THE REAL BATTLE.
By exercising great care the young man
was transfe red distance of three miles to
his home, DR.. Flagg holding his head in
position all the time. Delicate aud exciting
as had been the struggle against death thus
far, it was now that tue real battle began
To add to the complications, it was soon
discovered that not only had the neck been
dislocated-or, as it is ordinarily called
"brokenn-but some of the delicate pieces 0t
had been crushed, and when ones fingers
were applied TO the back OF tho neck thew
could be felt and heard grating against one
another.
The Inflammation of the spinal cord Yves
reduced by a constant application of hot
cloths to the back of the neck, night aud
day, for more than three weeks. An iror
frame held the head securely, so that the
neck could not again be dislocated by the
patients writings. Every week youus
Mahar grew stronger, and a little bunch on
the neck, like the enlargement on welded
iron, sho wed that the fractured ligaments
and broken bone had knit
ABLE TO MOVE HIS HEAD ONCE MORE.
After six wee IS he was able to lie on tn,
pillow without the brace during the day
time, although it was always necessary to
replace it when he slept. Then he began "a
be able to move his head from side TO side
and after eight weeks it was possible fol
him to move it forward and backward very
gingerly, and at thatsDr. Fsgg began t
hope that he might some time be able to &c
without alY headbrace whatsOever-iuf fact
that he would become actually as well a.
ever.
Three weeks ago Mahar tried the expert
ment Of walking and finding no difficulty
now goes out of doors and about the streets
after most painful and tedious conine
ment Of three months. Every day the neck
is getting stronger, and 1t is only question
of time when his remarkable cure will bt
complete. In that event the case would b,
without parallel in the annals of medi
cire. As it is there are only two recordec
that approach it.
Maher's case, aside from its originality
is chiefly interesting in that its shows that
the time-honored custom OF regarding
broken neck as nece lsarily fatal must b6
abandoned. IL may be cured.
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