New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-26
4 NEW PALATE FOR BABY IVAN.
THE MOTHER AND CHILD TRAVELLED
ALI. THE WAY FROM UTAH TO HAVE
THE DELICATE OPERATION
PERFORMED

Making a new mouth was the curious work done
on little Ivan Decker at No. las West Sixty-eighth-
81, after he had made Journey across the continent
TO come TO New-York where he could be treated.
Tho case has a precedent in the operation on baby
Cushing a year ago by the surgeons having charge
Of the present case. The attention OF the medical
world was drawn TO that operation which resulted
successfully in the construction OF a palate where
before there was clef, large enough to Insert
finger.
Dr. Everett W Russell. Of No 10i West Ninetieth-
St. who Is officially known as the Medicine Man
in the Potomac Tribe Of the Improved Order OF Red
Men. was of the surgeons who operated In the
Gushing case, and who was called to attend the
case OF Ivan Decker When the doctor was seen
Yesterday by Tribune reporter. he said that for
professional he could not discuss the case.
except to that 1t was only the second OF its kind
in his practice
At the house where the child and his mothec
staying 1t was learned that Mrs Decker lives a.
Parawan, Utah $50 miles west OF Salt Lake City.
The mother with her baby boy. who is only eleven
months old came to New-YOrk recently to have the
operation performed. which, 1t was hoped, would
remedy the physical deformity that lief, the
child without roof to Its mouth. There was wide
assure on the left side Of the chds palate. extend
ing all the way back This affection necessarily
caused the child great difficulty In swallowing: and.
II not remeied would In time have proved serious
impediment TO distinct articulation The etioogy OF
this peculiar afIliction gives as the only facts on
which to base its several cases showing that
1t Is occasionally hereditary also an incident at the
gardens OF Dublin, where oness. which had been
fed meat without a sufficient quantity OF bone.
gave birth TO cubs with cleft palates.
Little Ivan was In excellent health when II was
decided to perform the operation last Thursday.
at the home Of Mr.. Ryon, at No. lis West sixty
eighth-st where Mrs. Decker was staying DR..
J. H. Branth. Of No. ZIG West Eighty fourth-st..
who operated in the Gushing case had many Of
the Instruments which especially made for
this kind Of operation last year About seventy
five instruments employed on little IVAN who
was In the surgeons hands from il:ia 10 o oioek'
gan the mother, who did not remain In the room.
sent a message to the father In Parawan Utah;
and when the ordeal ended enc sent aho'her ines-
sage 70 her husband.
As II necessary. of course. to administer the
ether through the mouth and nostrils, ana us
the operation had to be performed upon these
organs. DR.. Russell. who gave the anaesthettc Is
said TO have encountered difficulty. Once the heart
OF the babe stopped beating. and II was necessary
to restore the hearts action before the operation
could continue. Brandy was administered
The operation began with the partial inclslon CT
the two sides OF the superior maxillary bone which
were then broken loose with little steel chisels so
that they would fit together. closing the cleft In
front. The two sides OF the cleft through the hard
rether by means Of four catgut ligatures. Then
two double lgatures OF heavy catgut wore passed
through the loosened parts OF the superior maxii-
larry bone
The child had to be kept Just at the point OF un..
ether had TO he regulated TO a nicely, 30 that the
infant was just under the influence Of the anaes-
thetc. but not nj the stage OF complete narcoss
move OF the child's teeth. and DIR. Leo. a dem
list, extracted the little tooth
After the operation by the surgeons the child was
kept It's back for the first twelve hours In order
to prevent vomiting. result OF the anaesthetc.
The little hands tied to the child's sides. no
that II could not put them into Its mouth and tear
out the surgeons stitches.
A second operation will he necessary to remove
the harellp. which is an accompaniment OF cleft
palate but this'wl not be more than an ordinary
Nd ffnr M vNtn I'm tila
symmetrical roof In his mouth az any one,
and be able TO talk with perfect ds,lnctness when
he becomes older. Ivan Is healthy. rosy young
ster. and the construction Of q perfect palate will
make him q fine little boy.