Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-02-08
Performed This Week by an ottum-
wa Physician.
TREPHlNES A YOUNG BABY'S SKULL
Is Said to be the First Case on Record
Where 1t Has Reen Attempted Upon
One SO Young-The Patient
il Recovering.
From Wednesdays Daily.

| A very unusual surgical operation
was performed by an Ottumwa physi-
clan this week which may startle the
surgical world. Ottumwa physicians
say that it was very unusual and none
of them had ever heard of anything of
the kind when seen by the reporter
this morning while hunting for a par
allel case. The operation referred to
was performed by DR.. M. FL. Sprague
upon the skull of an infant born with
depression in its head which was cal
culated to impair its brain power after
it became older. 1t is said to be the
first case on record where the skull OF
an infant but twenty-five hours old
has been trephined and it's successful
outcome reflects great credit upon DR..
| NJ. Ell. Sprague, who performed the
| operation.
Twins, a boy and girl, were born last
Sunday to Mr.. and Mrs. Douglass Nc
Carly, who reside seven miles south
west of the city. DR.. Sprague was
called and after the children were
born found that the boys skull was
depressed on one side, presumably due
to unnatural pressure previous to
birth. The right side of the Uranium
was depressed just above the forehead.
| The infant had just the barest spark
| of life remaining at birth but was re-
suscitated by the doctor who put it in
a warm water bath. After a short
| time the infant began to scream and
was nearly in spasms from the effects
/ of the pressure of the skull upon the
brain. Nothing could be done for it's
relief and seemingly its death was but
a matter of short time. Seeing that
nothing could do it any good except
perhaps the most drastic remedy, an
operation, the doctor determined to
perform it if it had not improved by
the next day. Accordingly he gave it
until that time to see what effect ma
Sure would have in causing the depres-
sion to resume it's normal shape. After
twenty-five hours had elapsed no
change had taken place. The skull re-
manned in the same condition and the
infant was in as great bodily pain as
before. After receiving the consent OF
the parents and seeing that nothing
else would avail to save the life of the
child, the doctor determined to oper-
ate upon it altho he knew it was a
4 dangerous and delicate thing to do,
but it was last resort and they agreed
that it was better to take the chances.
Il
/ tered to the infant and small piece
of bone was trephined out in the cen.
ter of. the depression, an instrument
known in medical lore as an elevator
inserted, and the skull pulled back in
A to shape. For several times it would
not stay up, but returned to the de
pressed shape or condition in which ii
was born. The doctor persevered
however, and the last trial was sutii-
cient to reduce it to shape to con-
form with the other side of the head
The brain matter followed and filled
i the now rounded part, the pressure
was removed, and after the effects OF
! the chloroform had diminished the
child was apparently as well as its
twin. The incision was brought to-
/ gether with about twelve stitches and
the shape of the skull was then per-
feet. 1t has now been forty-eight
hours since the operation and the
father reports the infant seemingly as
well as the other baby. 1t takes nour-
4 ishment, has ceased its expressions OF
pain and TO all appearances is a per
4 fectly healthy child.
I Ottumwa physicians, when asked
u the question whether or not they had
ever heard of parallel case, said they
had not. Some of them secuted the
idea of an operation having been per
formed upon so young an infant, but
DIR. Sprague and Mr.. and Mrs. Nc
Carly know that it is true. Physi
clans were asked if they had ever read
of anything of the kind, either in med
ical works or journals, and all said
i, they had not. 1t certainly is very
much out of the ordinary and reflects
credit upon the ability of DR.. NJ. III
;. Sprague.
} A lot of odd suits and remnants in