The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-12
Harry Durr, Injured July 4 near
GAINESVILLE, Mo-, Dies ut Dea-
coness Hospital Here.
OWED AND STRUCK A SNAG.
DislocatiOn Was Discovered and
Photographed by the May
Process and an Operation
Was Performed.

After living for seven days with a broken
neck. Harry DUR of GAINESVILLE. Mo, died
at S:5Q o'clock last night at the Evangelical
Deaconness Home and Hospital No ALI
West Belle place. His death came nine
hours after an operation had been per
formed In the hope of saving his life.
Mir. DUR was y years Of age. and n
strong, athletic. healthy young man. ON the
afternoon of July 4 he and number of
fIiends went swimming I'm the Mississippi
River, near ClarksViie. Durr Givcd from 4
high point into the water. and in his descent
his head struck A snag. His cornra les inn
medIately went to his assistance. The blow
had stunned him completely, ana they
thought he was dead. lie was taken OUT
of the water and the usual restaratives APP
piled After a time he regained conscious
ness and was taken to his home in Ciarks-
willie. He complained Of 4 severe pain IN
the back OF his neck. and. after a short
time his body, from the neck downward, be-
came completely paralyzed.
Physicians discovered that there was a
dislocation of certain yertebrae In the neck
and went TO work on that theory. But they
had little success although the patient was
kept alive. On Monday it was decided 10
bring him to St. Louis for an operation or
such other treatment as might be Geeme'.
necessary Dr. r. Y. Henry OF No. el2i South
Jefferson avenue. who had recently SUCCESS
fully treated Craig DUR, younger brother
of Harry, for paralysis, was notified. ana
Tuesday morning the patient was brought
to St Louis under the care of Doctor W. ".
Treadway of Turpin, Mo, who had been
called IN TO attend the case in connection
with Clarksville physicians.
Doctors Henry and Treadway decldou
that an operation was the only possible
hone of saving the patient. although ;huy
realized that even that hope was remote
one. Doctor Henry determined upon an y
ray examination and photograph OF the IN
Jury and Tuesday night DUR was taken
TO the Office of Doctor William w Graves
of No 1eis North Eleventh street for the
purpose. An excellent N-ray negative OF
the injured neck was secured. 1t revealed
a fracture of the body OF the third cervicai
vertCbra, with a dsiOcation between the
fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae, the
body of the fourth pressing upon the spinal
cord and causing complete paralysis from
that point downward.
With the seat and nature of the trouble
fully revealed, Doctor Henry. assisted 10y
Doctor L. c. McEiwee of No. Ills North
Grand avenue, yesterday morning per
formed the operation. An incisiun was made
back OF the dislocations, the vertebrae were
restored to their proper posiNiOLs taa ~
fractured vertebra was treated. Tnen Inc
wound was closed. This was at II O'Clock.
When DUR was placed upon the o9sr..t-
ing table his fever was l03 degrees, and tue
surgeons had little hope that he would sur
vire the operation. But they were con-
WINGED that the only hope for the patient
lay in the immediate reduction Of the dis
location and the removal of the pressure
upon the spinal cord. The T"TteJrae ana
the surrounding muscles showed serious
infiammatory condition. and IL was cOnsid-
cred certain that the decay OF the Spinai
cord had begun. These facts. together with
the weakness of the patient. caused thu
surgeons TO have little hope Of his living
until he could be removed from the OPP
Grating table. But, to their sUrp!is@ ne
withsiood the operation well. When re-
moved from under the influence OF chloro-
form he showed full consciousness and his
condition generally was highly satisfactory
Six hours later. however. DUR began ~
sink suddenly and rapidly. he soon be-
came unconscious, and after being Tor
three hours in this condition died HIS body
will be taken TO Clarksvllle for burial this
morning