The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-02-03
She Mended a Broken Back With
out the Aid of the Sur
geon's Knife.
CASE PRONOUNCED HOPELESS.
Doctor Elizabeth EdmOnstOn OF
New York Has Given Physi-
clans Something to Talk
About.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
New York. Feb. 1.-THE only case on rec
ord. SO far as known, OF a broken back
being mended without the use of the sur
geon's knife has just been reported TO the
medical fraternity as performed by a wo-
han physician.
p The successful practitioner is Doctor Eliz-
abeth Edmonston. associate physician Of
the woman's Medical College Of this city.
and staff physician Of the hospital.
While on a professional trip to Hillsboro.
O., Doctor Edmonston was requested by
Mrs. George Beecher, a relative Of Henry
Ward Beecher, to so to see a poor young
colored woman, a former servant Of Mrs.
Beecher.
The negress. who was a widow. lived in
q little log cabin on the hill at the edge Of
the town, and had been In the almshouse
for two years under medical treatment for
what the doctors diagnosed as tuberculosis
Of the spine"
She had been seen by many other physi-
clans, who pronounced her case i~ncurable.
They wanted her to enter q hospital for
surgical experiment.
The negress feared the knife. and said
since they couldn't promise to cure her.
they shouldn't put her on a table and cut
her up.
Doctor Edmonston found the patient sit
tug I'D with her left arm under her head
on the ironing board and ironing with her
right hand The Doctor said: Glen. what's
the natter"
Looking W. the woman answered: IT
dom know, Doctah. They say I got sum-
thin the matter with my back that KANT
Be cured. Do you think you kin help me?''
The Doctor requested the mother to I'M
Sdress the patient, and. passing her hand
We n the d back f found a S comnsn,1 s a. tine
es . broken back.
she was told that over two years before
tempted to pick up quickly two pals OF
water. one in each hand, when she felt
s~omething in her back snap. dropped the
pals and became helpless in her lower
limbs, and from that time on was unable
to stand erect or to lie on her back. only
sidewise. bolstered i.
Her legs were numb. and when sitting
she was obliged TO lean over. supporting
herself on the table or chair in front Of
After months of suffering and experiment
the giri and her friends felt there was no
help for her. and two little fatheriess chill
dren clinging to their crippled mothers
skirts made q pathetic picture.
Tho Doctor At once set about to rig up
. Sayrefs apparatus for extension, and a.
soon as the necessary materials and tx
back. Adjusting the strap under the pa
TENTS arms. she slowly and carefully
raised her to her toes. EXPANDING the spinal
column. making meanwhile the proper ma
nipulation to restore the misplaced verte-
bfae to fits normal position.
When this was ccomplished. n while
cassd her in a plaster Of paris Jacket, be-
ing careful to build IL up to afford proper
euppor. under the arms for the upper part
of the body.
After the plaster was properly dried the
rope was gradually ~slackened. letting the
patient down on her feet, and to the Doc
tors great delight. as she removed the
straps. the woman looked in her face with
Eyes wide open with amaxement. and said:
4 GLORY to God / kin stand!r
An kin I lay down, an walk. toof'
She added
Finding she could. her Joy was great.
The Doctors work was finished Just at
SHUTDOWN. and as night fell the darby left
the little cabin and went along the road
among the cabins in the hills. shouting.
s'Glory to God, Use curedi Use cured" and
from the other huts came men and women.
Joining the procession. until q crowd OF
dark figures stood together under the stars.
and shouted their song of Thanksgiving
GLORY to God! Hallelujahr'