The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1893-12-01
CUT INTO HIS SPINE.
Dr. W!elh'S Remarkable Operation
on Paralyzed Joseph Cook,
A BULLET LODGED IN THE YOUNG
MANS BACKBONE.
HIS RECOVERY DEEMED CERTAIN

In the Polytechnic Hospital. NJ No, ~ Fast
Thirty fourth street. Is n YOUNG man WHO j. re-
covering from a remarkable operation on lis
spinal column lie is Joseph tOoh lie was
brought hcrr from rnuldinG Township, Jasper
County Miss. 10y his brother lr l>ham nc
ropk. The Young man ; body is almost com.
rlct " wrnly2cd In his body is n Inc assert.
mvnt OF bullets such us is seldom ne; with
nowadays. when Prof. Wycth made mn cx
animation he decided that the paralysis was
due to the pressure oi bullet against the spinal
| marrow. six scars each made ly bullet
marked the Southcrncr's back. and ns these
were inflicted last April and the wounds had
healed, ii was difficult to determine which
caused the trouble.
| The bullet which made the scar at the ,HSr
of the brain has been extracted. The scientist
carefully examined the other sears and finally
| fixed upon one ns In" source Of the paralysis.
| nr Wycth traced the track Of tn" bullet 10y fol.
| lowing line which new tissue had formed.
| Til" operation took place last Friday. with his
scalpel the surgeon struck hone lrutuhtr.
anCc, which he recognized Ms the scat vi the
disease. The bullet was So firmly imhcddcd in
| the fifth dorsal ver,crhra that he thought II un
wise to remove 1t. The bullet had broken two
small splinteS of bone from the tith vcrtcrhra
and had driven them into the very centre OF
the spinal marrow.
| Then came the extreme lcliCaCy of the opera
ton. when the sriutcrS were removed the
/ cerebral fluid came out with them. II was
necessary To take two stitches i'll the spinal
cord itself. This was successfully done
Dr. wyrth and other physician, think that
ne tf is
operation is of the greatest scientific i'm.
portancc. Heretofore an injury OF that Kind
to the spine has been looked upon A. incurnblc.
Cook lies helpless IN II plaster jacket. lUt he
+ gaining every day. II will I've weeks before
the result can |" fully determined
cook is thirty one years old. lie kept a
general store" in partnership with his uncle,
in scranton. Miss. Arril - last, while he
was working on his books after closing III"
store, Jim Smith, n youth ui ninetccn and the
son Of saloon kccpcr asked Cook to give him
change for bill. lie opened the door and
Smith entered with another youngstcr Charles
Tnggurt. Cook opened tn" safe IT, get change
Whcr hr turned they covered lin with re-
volvcrS and told him To throw up his hands
The Young dr>Icrnlo> took about - OOO
from the safe. Then they took cook from the
store TO place about two miles from the town
on ia" edge of Blackhrl Pond. Ihcr" wa, a
heavy storm that night, but the youths kept It
revolver pressed to rook, SO he h" didn' cry
out
Near the pond one OF them pushed him Tor
ward and another shot him. tn" revolver
was fired so close To him that his inrc l. yet
hlack"ncd hy the powder The bah pnNscd
through his check tore away a part al his
tongue and LODGED in the palate. her" it sill
remains. Other reports followed in uuich
succession. until seven in all were fired. SS
bullets took effect. nur penetrated tn" ln>,
of the skull. Another struck the eleventh
rib while another crashed into the right collar.
below the right shoulder had" and lodged IN
III" spinal muscle. The siEth bullet ";t,,"d tn,
paralysis.
Cook fell NJ the edge Of the pond, Ills rs
sailunts supposed him dead ami let him th"r.
in the rain. lie could rot move. III. head
was in the water cook toll, graphic story ut
that nigh, beside the pond.
- remembered he says, how grow.
some dead people iook with their "yr open, 80
| closed mine and crossed my hands ON my
breast SO that would die in Il natural position.
wanted my ASSISTANTS punished aud Just a,
thought was going to die dipped InN finger
into the ClOtS OF blood that were about my
mouth and with my blood wrot" ON my wh,
ShIrt-irout in large Letters Jim smith and
Charley. | had dug my fingers into II wound
To get enough blood To paint the names. Nh"u
finished that OF Charley tainted from en-
iauStion.
cook lay ut the edge cf the pond until =
q clock the following afternoon, when he was
found by truck farmer and cared Ion Three
bullets were taken from his bOdy and thrr" re
main there.