The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-07-12
interesting Experiment of
DIs. Vreeland and
Ramsey With D.:
Herbs Infant.
FIVE DAYS OLD AND FULL OF LIFE
Physicians Expect to Prodncs a
Strong Healthy Child Par
ticulars of the Case.

The medical profession is watching with
interest the experiment of Drs. Vreeland
and Ramsey, who are trying to rear
beby by artificial means. The percentage
Of children of premature birth that live
over a few hours Is very small indeed,
and the fact that the infant in the present
instance is already five days old and is IN
good health and likely to thrive is con-
sidered somewhat remarkable. In the or
binary course of events the little stranger
would not have made his appearance un-
til October II, and until after that date
unusual care must be taken with him.
One month ago today a fight occurred
between Patrolman Gonzer and John
Midgely, in front of the latter's livery
stable at the head of Park street on Com
munipaw avenue. 1t lasted for some time
and before it was finished both of the
combatants were pretty badly used up.
When the case came UP for trial before
Justice Nevin, in the Second Criminal
Court on June JIG large number OF wit
nesses of the fight were called. Among
them was Mrs. D. Herb the daughter OF
J. B. Burkheiser, a conductor on the Long
Branch division of the Central Railroad,
who lives with her parents at Communi-
paw avenue and Park street She was
among the last of the witnesses called and
the testimony of the others seemd to agi-
tate her greatly. 1t is said that the ex-
citement of seeing the fight and the re-
vival of it at the trial caused the; event
of Wednesday last. At that time MRS.
Herbs life was despaired of, but she is
now thought to be out of danger
DR.. Vreeland, who has been the Burk-
heiser's family physician for years, called
DIR. Ramsey, who has an office In the
house where the baby was born, into the
case with him. They both decided that
there was an excellent chance of saving
the child as it was perfectly formed and
exhibited evidences of unusual vitaiity.
An incubator, such as is generally used
in such cases, was not to be had, there
being no doctor in the city who is the
possessor of one. They improvised a
temporary substitute. however, which IN
the extreme hot weather we have peen
having, answers the purpose just as well.
AS soon as the baby was born 1t was
bathed in sweet oil and tightly wrapped
| in cotton. 1t has been kept in the same
manner ever since and will be until II
gains its natural strength, orNuntil the
| weather makes it necessary for-it TO be
transferred to an incubator An incu-
| bator is being constructed to be used IN
case of emergency. 1t will be- IN the
form of an oblong box, the interior OF
which will be divided into two parts. In
| the lower part which is intended for hot
cans, two openings are necessary-one at
the side occupying the whole length OF
| the side closed by sliding door, opened
at pleasure from either end, as a means
of placing the hot cans. The other open
ing is at the end of the box, closed by
door not fitting tightly to admit small!
amount Of air The upper part, arranged
| to receive the infant, is covered on top by
a plate of glass, fitting completety, with
| two buttons or knobs to admit OF its being
easily raised On the top is also arranged
| a small metal tube, containing a. small
rotary fan very easily moved by a weak
current of air. In the opening where the
two compartments join, sponge is
| placed. wet with water to humidity the
air and a thermometer by which to regu-
| late the temperature.
The temperature of the infant must be
kept between 95 and 100 degrees all the
time The baby is gaining in strength
every day and there is now little doubt OF
| its surviving. 1t is fed with warm milk
| which is given it a few drops at a time
| by means of a small glass tube fitted with
I.nourishment, and another good sign is
that it has a lusty pair Of lungs that II
uses i1ight and day. Mr.. Herb is proud
| of his son. When seen by a News" re-
porter he said it is the exact image of his
| father. The doctors are much epcour-
] aged over the success that has thus far
attended their efforts to raise the baby,
but they both decline to discuss the case
for publication as they say it is yet too
early to determine what the ultimate re-
j c1Ilt of their work NAV be-