The gold leaf., 1899-11-02
REnARKABLE ACCIDENT.
A Man With a Chisel in His Head
Its Presence Revealed by Means of
XRays-Had Been There II Weeks.
Baltimore SUM-

baltimore SUM-
One of the most remarkable acci-
dents in the annals of surgery was
brought to light yesterday by the
aid OF the X-rays.
About II weeks ago a machlnist
employed in the shops of the Geiser
Manufacturing Company, at Waynes-
boro, Pa, was found lying uncon-
scious at the side Of the machine he
had been operating. There was cut
across the bridge Of his nose, another
below the chin, and still another on
one Of his legs. The machine had
contained TWO steel chisels, each five
and half inches long. one inch wide
and One-quartcr inch thick. One Of
floor near the machine, but although
a diligent search was made, the other
chisel could not be found.
The in njured man was given medi-
cal attention at his home and later
was brought to Baltimore and taken
to ST. Joseph's Hospital, on North
Carolina street. He was treated in
weeks the wound healed. About
three weeks ago the patient began to
complain Of stiffness i'm the muscles
Of the neck, and later partial pa
ralysis Of some of the nerves OF the
face and neck developed. The con-
clusion was reached that there was
some foreign substance in the wound,
and it was decided that the patient
should be photographed by the X-rays.
Yesterday an attendant at the
hospital took the patient to the State
Normal School, the physical labora-
tory Of which has one of the finest
A-rays equipments in the country.
Prof. William &. A. Hammcl, of the
chair Of physics, placed the patient
means of the Horoscope located the
lost chisel in the patients face and
throat. The tool, when it flew from
the machine, must have struck on
| the bridge of the mans nose sharp
end foremost, and, taking down
ward course, penetrated the bones,
flesh and muscles until it reached
| almost to the vertebrae.
After locating the chisel, Professor
| Hammcl made radiograph of the
face and head of the patient. The
radiOgraph shows the skull and the
bones Of the face, and distinctly
| shows the chisel.
The upper end OF the tool is shown
| just where the bonv structure of the
nose begins, and can be traced along
its entire length almost to the
vertebrae. The picture is so distinct
that the rounded edges of the chise
can be plainly distinguished.
The chiscl, in it's course, not only
narrowly missed the ugular vein
but came within short distance OF
servering the base of the tongue.
| The patient. before the accident
was strong, robust man, but he has
now become greatly emaciated on ac-
count of his inability to swallow solid
food. He also experiences great
| difficulty in articulating, and it is
with difficulty that he he can make
himself understood. 1t is expected
that an operation will be performed
within few days to remove the
| chiscl.
THE PATIENT OPERATED UPON.
From the Baltimore Sun of October
Goth, we learn that the patient has
been successfully operted upon and
the chisel removed. 1t says:
The chisel which was imbedded in
the face of Chas. G. Baker at Waynes-
boro, Pa, II weeks ago, was success
fully removed yesterday at Sain:
Joseph, Hospital, on North Caroline
street. The operation was Il most
delicate one and fears were enter
tanned that the patient would not
| stand the shock The opera
tion was performed by DR.. Louis Me
Lane Tiffany, who used the radiograpE
to locate the exact position of the
chisel. 1t was necessary to open The
face OF Mr.. Baker from the eyebrow:
down the nose to the upper lip
The flesh was laid to one side an,
then strong forceps were used in with
drawing the chisel. 1t was feared tina
the chiSel had been so firmly imbed
dcd in the flesh and bones that con
siderable difficulty would be expert
enced in removing the tool. Thi
fear was not realized. as the chise
was not sot so firmly imbedded a
was expected.