Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-10-03
MENplNo 4 sRokEN NICK.
PARTS or rwo OF YOUNG DURrEA's
vERrKnRk REMOVED.

vERrEHRE REMOVED.
Walter 4. Dorysa, II Glen Cove, whose
neck was broken by dive into shallow
water ON August 9TH, was operated on
recently st Roosevelt hospital. The
broken parts OF vertebra that were press
iug on hls spinal cord were removed,
and last night be was reported doing
very well indeed though II was too early
to say Whist are the prospects Of ais 70
covery. He refused to take ether and he
was conscious al through the operation.
The operation took place shortly after ;
O'Clock. At o'clock Superintendent
Lathrop Of the hospital read the follow
Ing statement to the reporters:
"By the use Of the X.ray apparatus
the doctors found that the nth vertebra
was fractured and they removed the
posterior parts Of the 9th and sixth
vertebra which were pressing on the
spinal cord, thus removing pressure that
had produced some Of the symptoms.
The original damage TO the cord Was 20
great that It 10 impossible to say how
much benefit will follow the operation,
but some, at least, IL hoped for. Re
moval of the fractured bone and other
portions pressing on the spinal cord was
successfully accomplished, the patient
bearing the operation with great forti.
tude. While Mr.. Duryea's condition
was such ~ to render 1t expedient that
the operation be done under cocaine,
every preparation vas made for the
administration OF ether, DIR. Thomas L.
Bennett, the an@sthetizer Of the hospital,
being on hand for that purpose. There
we're present DIR. Robert Able, Robert
r. Weir and Arthur Fisk, surgeons, and
DR.. Pearce Bailey and DR.. Fisher, neu-
biologists, who have been 10 frequent
consultation since Duryea's injury.
"Dr. Able told the family Of Mr..
Duryea In this class Of cases material
Improvement did not begin under two or
three weeks from the time OF operation.
"The foregoing statement was author
ized by the family Of Mr.. Duryea, with
out whose consent such information
would not be given out at the hospital"
Mr.. Duryea 10 4 private patient at the
hospital. He has been there since
August II, four days after the accident
by which his neck was broken. He has
been attended by Dr.. Able. Injuries
such as his are ordinarily fatal and very
little hope has been held out for his re-
covery. He has been lying on a water
bed, bis bsck and neck being supported
by a splint cut TO fit his body. He has
been conscious, but has been psralyzed
from the chin down. Oa September 3
1t WAS determined to locate the fracture
more definitely with the idea OF perform
ing an operation II IL were feasible. An
X-rsy photograph Was taken OF his neck
and II disclosed the fractured bone and
also the dislocstion Of the fifth and sixth
vertebra. This dislocStion SO interfered
With the canal through which the spinal
cord runs that at the point OF dislocation
there VAS not sufficient room for the
cord and the bone pressed against IL,
causing the paralysis. The fifth and
sixth vertebfn are In the neck at about
the point where the top Of an ordinary
standing collar reaches.
DIR. Abbe's examination Of the photo
graphs convinced him that an operation
might be performed with fair chance
OF success. without an operation, there
Was no hope for Mr.. Duryea. After the
photographs had been taken the doctors
devoted themselves 10 building up Mr.
Duryea's strength TO stand the opera.
ton, and he was In fit condition on Sun
day when DR.. Able secured the consent
OF Mr.. Duryea's father. Young Duryes
himself had been anxious from the day
the operation was hrst suggested to have
IL done.
Mr.. Duryea's room In the hospital Il
some distance from the Sims operating
theatre, where nearly all the operation
Of the hospital are performed, and II wa
determined TO do the work In his room
rather than to move him. An operation
without ether had not been thought Of
but when DR.. Able called on Mr.. Dur
| yea early In the afternoon the younS
man insisted that he Was strong enough
TO bear the pain no matter how severe I
be, and he would not admit the admins
tration OF ether unless the doctor posi-
lively ordered Il used. DR.. Able said ]
vas desirable but was not necessary u
use ether. DR.. Bennett was informed
that his services would not be required
He remained as spectator, ss was Loui
Duryes, the uncle OF the patient.
When the time came for the operation
tlhe ply sicisns named In the Statement
above, several nurses and one or two o
the hospital physicians we're In the room
Mr.. Duryea was on his back In the waite
bed. The X-rsy photographs were OF
hand, showing the exact condition o
Affairs at the point Of the wound. Mr.
Duryea said that he was ready, and b.
was lifted over on his side. He was ly
ing in q rather awkward position for tn
doctor. but IL was the most convenien
that could be arranged. DIR. Able mad
an incisiou next the spine. and opposit
the fifth and sixth vertebrg. The hesl
was pushed and lifted aside, exposing
the. bone, aud the fractured back Of tn
fifth cervical vertebra WAS removed. /
was pressing hard against the splna
cord. Next, the sixth vertebrs WAS sim
ilarly treated. All that had been don
Ia the way Of easing the pain OF tn
operation was liberal use of cocaine
That, of course, had some effect, but
did not kill the pain by any means.
The operation lasted forty minutes
and when II WAS over the spinal cor,
was again free of pressure. The bon
removed formed the back wall OF IN
canal Ia which the cord Is confined. Tn
wound was dressed and Mr.. Duryea wa
returned to his former position In III
bed. The doctors stayed with him TO
some time, and he seemed TO recoye
fully from the shock OF the operation
The doctors were very much encouraged
but they said II was absolutely imp0s
sible to make any prediction Of the Out
come for two or three weeks at least.
my be that the operation will restore III
Young mans health entirely, 10 whic
case after the wound heals, while part
of two bones will be missing from hi
backbone, he will never miss them.
The oper alton has been performed
number Of times, but 1t Is rare enough
be OF very great interest to the medici
profession, and the uncertainty OF III
utcome In all similar cases makes
more interesting. Duryea's injury wa
similar to that Of Mrs. william G. WIFI
ney, who died not long ago after msn
months of suffering. In Mrs. Whitney
ease no operation was attempted.-Ne'
York Sun.
A HABIT He HAD
They had BEEN married for seye