The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-11-17
Pastor of Plymouth COngrega
tiOnal Church, Chicago,
Is Saved From Being a Cripple
For Life
BY HEROIC MEASURES
He Had a Crooked Leg and
Walked on Clutches
As the Result of an Attack of
Fever Last April.


en- DR.. Frank w. Gunsaulus' stiff hip
joint and saved the pastor of Ply
mouth Congregational church from be-
ing a cripple for life.
DR.. Milton Jay of 2510 Indiana ave-
nue., DR.. Gunsaulus' physician, per-
formed the operation at Alma, Mich,
five weeks ago. Since then the pulpit
orator has lain in bed with 20 pound
weight Juggling at his foot to keep the
leg straight. He is improving rapidly
and his family expects him home by
Dec 1.
Mrs. GunsauIus had hoped he would
be here in time for Thanksgiving, but
the surgeons fear he will not eat tur-
key with his family on that day.
In Aprila malignant intermittent few
er fastened itself on the preacher and
he was forced not only to abandon his
church work, but also his duties as
president of the Armour institute. The
fever and Inflammation racked his
body with pain and all but wrecked his
nerves.
ton settled in the Doctors right hip
joint and so excruciating was the pain
that he could not bear to have that
part of his body touched. To ease the
pain he drew his leg up to an angle.
He found in this so much relief that he
kept his limb in that position all the
time.
After suffering thus for two months
in Chicago he was taken on a bed to
Alma, Mich There he was put in an
isolated ward to keep him free. from
excitement. This gave rise to the re-
port that his malady was one of the
brain, which was unfOunded.
For ten weeks after reaching the
sanitarium he was crazed with pain
from the intiamed joint: Most of this
time was spent helplessly in bed, the
doctor being unable to move except
when the attendants aided him. All
the time his limb was at an angle. AS
TO-
caused a fusion of the joint and pro-
duced what is known to surgeons as an
ankylOsed hip, being only a stiffened
hip joint.
When he recovered sufficiently to
take short walks about the building on
crutches, his right leg was drawn up
from the floor about six inches and the
knee knocked against that of the left
BY bending far forward DR.. Gun
saulus was able to put his right foot
on the floor. He was even able to bear
weight upon it, but he was considered
hopelessly crippled and defOrmed..
When it was learned that ankylosis
had set in, the physicians advised DR..
with DR.. Gunsaulus. When he arrived
the preacher was in high spirits and
hobbling around on clutches. He was
rested and his nervousness had left
chatting a few moments, DR.. Gunsaul-
US turned and said:
Il say, what does this mean?"
TT means" said the surgeon laconic-
ally, that you will get we'll and live,
but you will always be a cripple unless
you have that fused joint broken"
''TIl do it," answered Gunsaulus. 81
can't hobble around this way. Why,
man, I've 40 years more work to do
I'm only Al
Then the operation was decided up
on. On the day appointed, DR.. Jay,
with his assistants, administered eth
err and when the Chicago preacher had
slipped into Inconsistencies, the ad-
hesiOns were broken. Strong arms
used the leg as a lever and bent and
twisted it until the bone and gristle
bonds had snapped.
When the joint could be freely artic-
uIated the leg was Strengthened out
and what the surgeons call an "eX-
tension was fastened to it. This con-
sisted of a leather anklet to which was
attached stout cords. These passed
over pulleyS attached to the foot of the
bed, and at the end of the cords, about
a foot from the floor, was hung a 20
pound weight. Then DR.. GunSaulus
was restored to consciousness. Since
then the surgeon says his improvement
has been rapid. He thinks that the
preacher may be able to return to Chi
cago the first of December. He says
he will not be able to work any before
Jan. 1, however, and that then he will
have to be careful.
Dr. jay said that Mr. Gunsaulus
told him that he was going to be more
careful of himself and that he would
give UP lecturing. He insisted, how
ever that he would give popular lee
lures once in a while for his own
amusement, for he said that was his
life.
Dr. Jay thinks that the preachers
arduous lecture courses and his trav-
cling around the country much of the
time at night was alone responsible for
his sickness. He says DR.. GunSauluS
is thinner than he was, but that his
old jOllity, his life his jokes and his
old manner are unchanged.
Trustee J. H. Strong of the church is
sure that his pastor is getting well.
Yesterday he received an autograph
letter from hin-the first business let
ter DR.. Gunsaulus has written since
his sickness.
ed DR. Gunsaulus vacation until he
should entirely regain his health,
looking forward to the time when he
should devote his whole time to Ply
mouth church"
In answer to the resolution, DR.. Gun
saulus replied that Mr.. Armour had
asked that his name. be allowed to re-
main at the head of the institute fac
ulty.
Among the members Of the congre-
cation there is a feeling that MIR. Gun
saulus must divorce his interests
must either serve the church entirely
or devote all his time to the institute.
Some of the members have demanded,
it is said, that the preacher sign an
agreement to serve the church or step
out
such demands. However, they have
elected the Rev. Artemus Haines of
Barwich, Mass. assistant pastor, and
he now fills the pulpit.
Prof Henry B. Roney, formerly or
ganist of Grace church, has been Sc
cured to conduct the music of the Ply
mouth church.
e71ffS ut OI0f Ebarly'G-