The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-06-30
MADE TO ORDER.
a New Mouth Put on a Gotham
Baby.

to existence at the New York Emer-
gency Hospital for Women, and the
chorus of uncultivated vocalization
tina; is impressed upon the visitors to
the wards might be considered by Mr..
Gerry's society as cruelty to children.
But what can the commodore do?
Nothing. 1t is not 4 question whether
the child actresses should be allowed
to sing their baby rhymes in 'Wang,'
but whether these poor unfortunate
infants, apparently out of reach of the
society, shall be allowed to yell their
natural, unframed tunes until their
little lungs refuse TO act and they sink
exhausted asleep.
One day recently, says ihe New
York Advertiser, an infant was born
in one OF the wards who was restrained
by the mighty power from joining in
this chorus as if done SO for the pur
pose The infant, as result, grew
fat and was the healthiest in the
institution. The poor little fellow had
no mouth, its cheeks being perfectly
united from ear to ear by piece OF
smooth, white skin and flesh, that was
without blemish, and appeared to
have been made to stay SO.
Upon this question of closed mouths
the books are silent, and what to do
for the child was puzzle to the ply
sicians. The Oldest practitioner had
never seen anything like it, and the
case was pronounced a remarkable
freak of nature. Even DIR. 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 a consultation of promi-
nent surgeons and physicians was
called. A thorough examination was
made with view of remedying the
deformity.
The upper and lower jawoones
seemed to be perfectly formed, and
were capable of slight motion, but 4
structure of some kind was upon them.
This missing mouth opening should
not prevent the jawbones from opera
ting. 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 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 naturally developed
The examination resulted in a deter
mination to perform surgical opera
ton on the child and run the risk o
the internal mouth being adapted tc
the admission of air.
A local injection of cocaine was ad
ministered i'll the flesh under the nose
and Of each cheek for several minutes
When needles could be stuck into The
skin without the child wincing the
operating surgeon made an incisior
about half an inch under the nose
where the obicularis owls muscle ough'
to be. The knife sunk deeper anc
deeper into the senselesS flesh until ar
obstruction was reached. Upon the
flesh being dissected up from the bone!
it was found that probe could be
inserted between the upper and The
lower lawbones, and, as it met with nc
resistance, it was concluded that tfN
internal formation of the c5gaa v
continued with more confidence. .
Further investigation resgij' -,
discovery that tie Eawbar~ -, :.
pated by tLeiE incar' 30 d. '.' ~
than slight mot5or ap,,''! vi l''. ~
sh,t was ,h;r, y an elastic membrar
h.d No * and tough. The BAG
iron. ,nnection, however, and Il
.n,c membrane was severed Il
Ire length with the create
dexterity, as it bled profusely, an
there was great danger that some {
the blood might get into the infant
windpipe and cause suffocation.
When the membrane had bee
divided the jaws could be moved easil
and when opened wide the roof of Il
mouth was the only thing that al
peared normal. There was only
suggestion of palate, and the tongu
which is unusually large in babes, W;
far back in the rear of the mouth an
not more than half the size it shoul
have been. 1t exhibited a peculi;
- l.