The evening times., 1896-07-03

Great advances are claimed in the art of
healing disease aud repairing injuries TO
the human body in the past century. Mod
ern surgery especially is Thought to have
doubled its efficiency. Antiseptics and
new Instruments have made the skillful
surgeon master of almost any situation
where a vital organ is not in some way
greatly hurt. He will, II he has Il little
time for the vital forces to do the work,
patch up almost as good as new any break
or strain or bruise.
Yet an instance of how helpless is all hu-
man skill without the cooperation OF ma.
ture is given right in the midst OF the army
surgeons who have control oS~the Medical
Museum at Seventh aud streets south.
west. Thisis in the person OF MichaelFlynn,
who has charge OF the building as superin-
tendent. He is a big fellow, six feet tall
and well-proportioned. He appears at first
glance equal to almost any physical task
ever assigned man. but he is really in one
respect at least almost as helpless as q
baby. His jawbone is broken on both sides
and he can eat only liquid food.
HIS JAwBONES BROKEN.
Mr. Flynn, a year ago, was about as per-
feet specimen physically as there Is in
Washington. On last Thanksgiving Day he
had his months pay in his pocket and was
going to his residence, No. 73S Third
street northwest, through Judiciary
square, late in the evening when a foot
pad slipped up behind him and struck him
heavy blow Oh the head with IL sandbag
Flynn fell like an OK struck by butcher
III the oldtime way.
The highwa yman secured the money and
escaped. Flynn was found soon after and
taken by the police to Providence Hospital
Then it was learned thatt he had suffered
dangerous hurt from the blow, and In fall
ing had broken his jawbone on both sides.
This presents a difficult case for the sur
geons il the patient is past the prime Of
life
1t is necessary in order that broken
bone may heal that the fractured ends
shall be brought together carefully, SO
that the parts shall Join as nearly as pos
sible as they were before being broken.
Then the little ducts that interweave the
structure of the bone bring ne w bone tissue
and build the walls again strong and Sc
cure. To make Sure of the job they usu-
ally furnish an oversupply of new bone, and
the fractured place shows slight en-
iargement.
This process of knitting up the broken
member is easy and rapid If the subject
is young. With children 1t does not make
SO very much difference whether the parts
be brought together with such perfect ex-
actness. but in older persons every touch
must be given with skill and nicety, and
even then the operation will sometimes
fail
BEYOND THE SURGEONS SKILL.
Iii the case OF Mr.. Flynn DR.. Bayne of the
Providence staff tried In vain to set the
bones. The break was on both sides, and
it was next to impossible to bring the ends
| together, SO that there was any hope OF their
reuniting. There was nothing to guide him,
SO that he would know when the four ends
| were properly adjusted TO each other.
| After he had done all he could, the bones
| did not grow together. Finally he gave up
! and now Mr.. Flynn's 10 ower jaw Is hung on
| by two silver wires inserted in - ends of
the jaw. Outside he wears neat bandage
TO help hold the parts in place. He is un-
able to chew solid food, OF course. but
| manages by the aid of skillfui cookery and
thoughtful mana cement at home to enjoy
| life very well.
At first it was difficult for him to talk
| plainly. but now an ordinary observer does
not notice any impediment to his speech.
He appears to be suffering with toothache
| or some form of swelling about the glands
of the throat or neck.