The Portland daily press., 1896-10-24


panied by terrible pain to tho patisnt.
At this time the young woman was on
he verge OF delirium, temperature rising
periodically to 104 degrees. Each day
she was getting weaker and more enact
ated, and bed sores almost as painful as
the wound In the chest became manifest
The physicians were almost at their wits
ends when DR.. Cramer concluded that
decisive measures alone would avail.
In consultation with his colleague it was
at last decided to employ DR.. Roentgsn's
now famous process, the x rays, to en-
deavor to locate the bullet. Mrs.. Young
and her family were informed of the pro-
ject, and readily gave their consent.
The arrangements were made on the last
Saturday in August. An expert photog-
rapher, with the necessary apparatus,
was ordered to be at the hospital as early
as O'Clock in the morning, and In half
an hour DR.. Cramer had SO arranged the
plates that the process of photographing
the interior Of the patients body WAS
begun.
Powerful opiates were required to rem
der Mrs. Young unconscious to the pain
OF moving her about and, oblivious to
the burning of the copper plates in which
her back was strapped az in ouirass.
Slowly the process went on, and slowly
the hours sped, and not until dusk did
the anxious physicians dare to remove
the plates to see whether science had
ACCOMPLISHED her task
When at last the plates were removed
even the imperturbable men of science
steeied against emotional display, could
not repress a cry of delighted astonish-
ment an they held the plate to the light
Science HAD done her work well, and the
bullet, clearly outlined against the spinal
cord, showed itself on the plate.
The first ray of hope began to animate
the breasts of those who had watched at
the bedside of the poor woman, and the
physicians were more or less elated.
Surgeons could now step in and follow
the path outlined by the science of the
new photography.
Another day was required co do this,
and the work Of delving in front of the
spinal cord, with its labyrinth Of mus.
cles AMI arteries, though difficult task,
was accomplished without mishap, and
at last the bullet, misshapen and
fattened in its course, fell into the sur
geon's hand.
Ordinarily the rest would have been
left to nature. under the watohfulness of
the doctor and tender nursing. But
this is not an ordinary case, and the
physicians found that from day to day
the bed sores, eight in nun Der, became
more and more menacing. They created
fever, and again and again drove the
temperature of the patient to an alarm
ing height. All the usual remedies
failed. Moving the .patienb from one
side of the bed to the other was Only ac-
complished by the use of opiates, and
even then she would arouse from her
stupor to hours of untold agony. The
sores did not alone penetrate the tender
skin and flesh Of the suffering woman
but, with insidiOus pertinaoity, ate deep
or and deeper, until the very bones lay
bare. Under these circumstances rubber
beds and all other devices invented for
the benefit of those afflicted In this man
ner prove worse than useless.
THE TROUGH RESORTED TO.
Again advanced science had to solve
the difficult roblem, and the result was
that trough was built in the patients
room. This trough is much like that
used by bakers in kneading their bread,
except probably that it is someW hat larg-
ar, being feet long. feet wide ana ~
feet deep. 1t Ia zinc lined throughout
and perfectly water-tight. At the lower
end is a hole in which a spout il insert
ed, and to which hose is connected,
permitted constant drainage. AS tn e
water flows out Of this end hose at
the other furnishes a new supply in the
same ratio. SO that the volume Of water
in the trough is never increased nor di-
minished. A steam coil keeps the water
constantly at temperature of SO de-
treatment Of the case. Across the top of
the trough heavy strips of canvas are
fastened, one at the head and two lower
down, where the back and limbs may
rest. At the cotton of the trough rests
n rubber bed, gently buoyed up by the
water and Offering just enough resistance
TO the body to sustain 1t lightly.
In this strange bed, under The constant
surveillance of a nurse, Mrs. Young has
passed her days and nights since a few
days after the operation last August.
She enjoys good apnetite, her tempera-
ture is almf st normal and only minimum
doses of morphine are now given her to
allay her sufferings. Nature is slowly
but surely, asserting her sway. and from
day TO day her case becomes more hope
fui. From her watery bed she smiles
upon those who visit her, and there ia
childish wistfulness in her beautiful blue
eyes when she asks: "Don't you think
I'l get well?''
Physicians and nurses alike are dunn
founded at the wonderful stoicism of the
brave little woman, who ia only % years
old, and the former pronounce it the
most marvellous case on record. In aud
about Morehead and Mt Sterling the
outcome is looked forward to with great
interest, the father of Mrs. Young, Mr..
James Gatewood being one of the best
known men In that section of the coun-
try.