St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-01-29
PART OF SPINE REMOVED.
Man in California Living After
an Unparalleled Operation.

an Unparalleled Operation.
Charles Allen, of Sacramento, is the
only man, so far as the medical au-
thorities testify, who, after having part
of his spine removed not only survives
to relate his experience, but lives to
enjoy renewal of the health he lost
when he fell and broke his back. The
remarkable operation was performed
by a local surgeon. 1t was a daring
one, some of the old practitioners
might call it a foolhardy one, but it
was successful and success needs no
apology.
The operation upon Allen is without
parallel in many respects. There are
many known cases where parts of the
Vertebrae have been successfully re-
moved, but, according to the San Fran
cisco Chronicle, the physician who op-
Grated upon Allen says he never saw,
never heard of, nor never read of an
operation similar to the one which has
restored Allen to health. About ten
years ago Allen while working as a
brakeman slipped from the frosty roof
of box car and fell in sitting pos
ture astride of rail- AS direct re-
suit his legs were paralyzed and grad
ually they began to waste away. At
first Allen thought little of his in
jury and it was years before the full
effects began to be felt. Any attempt
to straighten out his legs caused the
sufferer intense agony. From the
time of the accident until relief was af-
forded by the surgeons knife the Suf-
ferer was not free from pain single
minute day or night. The fracture
was from the second lumbar vertebrae
down through the sacrum and coccyX.
The result was pathological growth
in these bones, causing an enlargement
nine inches long and seven inches
wide. This protruded fully two inches
from the level of the back to the apex
of the swelling and presented forma-
ton not unlike huge tumor. 1t was
under these conditions that DR.. H. G.
McGill undertook the case. Finding
that all ordinary methods of treatment
failed to restore the use of his legs to
the patient or to give him freedom
from pain it became evident that only
in the most heroic and delicate surgi-
cal treatment was there any hope OF
affording the sufferer the relief he
sought.
When this fact was presented to the
patient, he only too readily acqui-
esced in DIR. McGill's opinion, insist
ing, in fact, that the danger of the OPP
GRAFTON must not interfere with it's UNI
dertaking. Approaching the gravity of
the case, DR.. McGill called upon his
brother, Dr. A. B. McGill, and DR..
Campbell Ford to assist in the opera
ton, which was performed as follows:
After careful preparation the pa
tient was placed under the influence of
chloroform and an incision was made
above the hip bones, the knife being
carried downward to the end of the
backbone. The skin and muscles were
held out of the way by forceps. The
arches of the three lower lumbar YER
tebrae were then removed, which
brought the end of the spinal cord it
self into the wound. The back plate
of the sacrum was then removed for
the space of about two inches. The re-
mains of the sacrum and coccyX were
then entirely cut out. The delicacy of
the operation necessary in the removal
of such a quantity of vital bone tissue
may be better understood when 1T is eX-
planned that the removal caused the
whole lower intestines to bulge out
through the wound.
Not the least difficult part of the sur
gerry was the dressing of the wound.
The peritoneum was first sewed up
and the wound packed with antiseptic
gauze Then the muscles and skin
were stitched, and the patient placed
in bed The opera ton, all told, occu-
pied about two hours. The patient re-
covered from the shock nicely. Five
days later the dressing was removed
the first time. 1t was found that the
wound had healed by first intention.
A remarkable feature of the case is
the rapid convalescence of the patient
Three weeks after the operation Allen
was able to proceed to his home in
Sacramento, accompanied only by his
wife and assisted by pair of crutch-
es. Since. his departure few days
ago he has written that he is gaining
in flesh, and that, with light exercise,
his limbs are becoming more supple
daily He says that he is entirely
free from pain and hopes in times to so
far recover as to attend to his bust |
ness, that of a train dispatcher, with
the aid of a cane or other light sup |
port. Dr. McGill expresses himself as
hopeful of the ultimate success of the
operation, but believes it will be nee
essary for Allen to use a leather cor
set, plaster cast or other continuance
in order that too great strain may
not be placed upon the weakened por-
ton of his anatomy.