New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-19

WALTER 4 DI-RYEA HAS \ FAIR CHANCE
FOR LIFE.

us SPINAL. COLUMN BROKEN WHILE pl' -
NC At OYSTER BAY-MRs WHITNEY
MED UNDER SIMILAR CONDITIONS.
Tho rare and difficult surgical operation for
,bo removal II fractured parts OF the MIN anu
etv,b vert.hrse 10 relieve the pressure "i''n
oorsed extensive paralysis was performed yes
,orlav afternoon at Roosevelt Hospital ny
~ Robert Able. Of 40. II West FHt'e'h-S''
The na,iont was Walter A. Duryea, thirty years
old son II Edward J.. Duryea. the "'a''"s
.,orcb manufacturer. Of Glen Cove, Long island
Tho Young man. up to the time he met with the
,,,shan which crippled him. was a promising
athlete and an expert swimmer
While DIVING IN shallow water at oyster Ray
on august last Duryea struck his h'a'
against the bottom and broke his backbone
RealizinC the seriousness Of the accident 'ui-
Yea who IS n ncrvy and courageous INDIVIDUAL
irnplorod his family % consent 10 the del'a'e
and risky operation If having the spiintere1
,,ort,ore - the vortehrse removed. Cure me or
Lot me die" was what he said 10 the surgeons
,.nen thew Informed him that his backbone was
broken They answered that there was but inc
.robtes, chance that an operation would prove
successful because IN" break was similar e"
that from which Mrs William G. Whitney had
died. and that she had had the attendance OF 'h'
hest surgical specialists in the country Duryea
repliod that be was willing to take the risk be
cause as a hopeless invalid he ala not care 20
nnger on in suffering and pain. The parents or
the patient at last consentng 10 the appeal for
heroic treatment Duryea was brought to this
CITY and placed ir private room at Roosevelt
Hospital The temporary dressing was splint
Of wood and plaster # paris cast which had
dor o. x
removed on Sunday. So that a large sized y ray
photograph could Dee taken of the injured part
The picture revealed with great distinctness the
fractured parts Of the backbone Or Ahhe,
who had charge of the patient next made elabo-
rate preparations 10 attempt 70 repair Duryea 9
vcrtebrtc II took Dr Able nearly forty
minutes between and > O'Clock yesterday after
noon TO make the incslon along the spinal col
umn and to remove the Jagged and splintered
pieces Of bone During the entire operation DVI-
yea was conscious, but the nerves in the region
where the keen knife was applied were dulied
by the application Of cocaine Upon the con
Cusion of the painful surgical work the patient
chatted cheerfully about his case with his cousin
Louis the only relative AT the institution while
the operation was being performed.
A statement concerning the delicate opera
ton authorized by Mr.. Duryea and his family
was given out last evening by the officials at
Roosevelt Hospital II is as follows:
BY the use Of the ray apparatus the doctors
found that tnc niih verieora was fracture ant
they removed the Q1storior parts II the nth and
cord. thus removing the pressure that had pro-
cuced some Of The symptoms. The original dam
slble TO say how much benefit VII follow tie
operation tut som' at least IS hoped for. Re-
compished rbe r4,,..t boar.re Inc ,5erStior' With
great fortitude While M Duryea's condition was
such as 70 render il expeG.cnt thar The operation
DC done under cocaine. every preparation WAS
L u a IYf