New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-27
GOOD WORK BY A SURGEON.
A GIRL WITH HER VERTEBRATE FRAC-
TURED EXPECTED TO RECOVER.
DR. DAwBARN OF THE POLYCLINIC. ACTS
PROMPTLY. AND. 1T is BELIEVED. SUCCESS
FULLY-MARY HOOKER's TERRI


Mary Hooker a pretty little brunette. nineteen
years old and employed a servant In the
family of A. L. Doll No. 101 West Seventieth-st.. Is
lying in the hospital of the New-York Polytechnic
with a broken back, and will In all probability
recover. This astounding result will be due mainly
to the skill of Dr. r. II. NJ. Dawbarn. OF No. 100
West Seventy -fourth-st. who Is professor or sur
gerry in the Polytechnic and his assistants, Dr. Hibbs
the house surgeon. and DR.. Heyden.
The circumstances which led to the accident are
OF by unusual character. Just pefore
2 o'clock yesterday afternoon Mary stood by the
dumbwaiter shaft. In the rear of the kitchen and
tried to reach the sliding door, which had slipped
from her hand and glided upward. She Is short and
plump and could not reach 1t. She mounted chair,
stretched out her hand, and the chair probably
because she stood on its extreme edge, tipped
forward. There piercing scream. followed
by resoundng thump, which came from the pase-
ment of the house. The girl had fallen foremost
down the shaft, and struck the ground In sitting
posture. When Mr.. Doll. the janitor, and the ten
ants reached her side she as she had fallen In
a sitting posture, with her back against the wall
of the shaft She conscious. moaning piteously,
and at the attempt Of Mr.. Doll to raise her to
her feet shrieked with pain DR.. Dawbarn had
already received n call and was hurryng to the
house. In his hasty examination OF the girl ne
noticed a slight protuberance or curvature In the
dorsal vertebrae. just below the fourth cervical
bone. The absence of numbness. and the appear
had been broken there was just a chance to save
her. He determined to take the chance.
a Roosevelt Hospital surgeon assist
ing him. and. under DR.. Dawbarn's direction, the
in position that would not further affect the
down to the Polytechnic. Once there, no time was
minstered, and the patient laid on the operat-
ing-tabe. DR.. Dawbarn first made an incison IN
the back. beginning at the first dorsal bone. and
extending about eight inches. The lapels or the
flesh thus made were turned oyer and held down
by retractors. and then DR.. Dawbarn made second
incison three inches in length dividing the tissues
apparent. The terrific concussion as she struck
distinct fractures of the dorsal bone. but, DR..
Dawbarn had supposed the fracture had not ex-
tended to the spinal cord This circumstance may
save the girls life. A third ncision this time
a inch and half long. and exposing the mar
row. necessary before the three pieces Of
broken bone could be removed. This was the most
difficult and delicate Of the operations and II was
accomplished with complete success. Then the
inclsons were sewn together; the girl was en-
veloped In plaster cast, and the operation was
over.
Early in the evening she recovered consciousness
and was resting in almost entire freedom from
pain. Ii IL understood that an attempt Will be
made to replace the missing pieces Of bone. Paraly-
sis OF the lower limbs may supervene as a result
OF the operation, but the surgeons are inclined
to regard with hope the chances Of complete