The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-14
ATTEMPTS TO RECLAIM AN IDIOT.
Large Pieces Cut From the skull of
TwO-Year-Oid Child.
From the Roston Tralever.


The little surgical world in Boston is
deeply interested in an operation which
was performed early in the summer at
the Massachusetts Homeopathic Hospi-
tai, and whose results have just reached
a practical elimination.
II was an operation whose outcome
will mean much or little TO humanity.
The case in question is that of a child
whose head formation at birth precluded
all idea of brain growth. At two and a
half years of age he was an infant In all
but growth of body. He was a pretty
child, well formed. with the exception OF
the head, which came to point at the
top.
For two years the parents Of the child,
who live in Salem, waited for nature TO
correct her mistake, but were told, when
advice was asked, that nothing but
surgical operation could effect change.
and the beneficial results Of that were
doubted.
But it was a chance. and the parents
took 1t. The child was conveyed TO the
hospital and placed in charge Of DR.. VIII
liam J. VIM of Cambridge.
He decided to remove a portion Of bone
on each side of the point, giving the brain
a chance to spread out and fill the depres-
sions. He decided upon two operations.
with two and half weeks rest between
them. principally because the shock TO the
brain would be less.
The child was etherized, an incsion
made in the scalp little at the side of the
portion of bone he meant TO remove. so
that the unbrOken skin would cover the
cavity, and a piece Of bone about seven
inches long and less than one inch wide
was taken out; the binding of the wound
in the scalp was a quick process. and the
brain was left with a little room to devel-
NJ he s-e,ff Tor uyae n -.
of the first, and the child is in its usual
state of good health. Only time will tell
if the expected results will come.
such operations. have not been uncom-
mon.' says Dr. VIM. Though. perhaps,
cases like this are, but they are often ia
tai, because, first, of the shock TO the
brain by cutting or saving through the
bony structure of the head, and again
through the great chances that the cover
ing of the brain will be injured, causing
either hemorrhage or Inflammation, ana
both are serious to consider.
THE usual method of performing such
an operation was by cutting through the
scalp, turning the two parts back, and TAX
ing out small buttons OF bone short dis
tances apart, and using cutting or saving
instruments to make a passageway be-
tween the little cavities. That made
series of shocks for the brain. My mode
of procedure was different, and was at
tended with less danger, because l took
out but one button Of bone and inserted
an instrument which separated the cover
ing of the brain from the bone. and at
the same time cut easily and rapidly.
The chances of danger were lessened, and
the rest between the operations was bene-
fetal to the patient. He had only the
scars to show for them, and time must
elapse before any perceptible change can
be expected.
Il hope the sides of the head will fiji
out"
with gray matter?" asked his visitor,
and the surgeon nodded his head.
A visit to the nursery where the child
was, discovered him in sman crib MAX
ing strong efforts to convince his nurse
that he wanted TO be taken up. lie wore
a little white cap, which covered the
bandage on his head. and the whole was
easily removed. The sears could be seen
by those who sought them, but from their
position were not unsightly.
He knows enough to cry for his food
and for attention., remarked the nurse,
as she readjusted the cap and tod II Sc.
curely under the round chin, and he evil
IDENTIFY received as much of both as was
good for him. He Is understood by ev-
erybody in the building to be a special OBJ.
Ject of DR. WINS professional hopes,
for his improvement in the proper direc-
ton means much to the surgeon and the
profession he represents.