The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-29
Lennon, WhoseBaCk Was Broken,
Able TO Stand and Walk.
THREE vERTEBRAe REMOVED.
Desperate Chance Taksa BY Surgeons 10
Save His Life and Operation for Lamiu-
eoiomy Proved Successful

New York, April 29.--In spite OF broken
back and loss OF his seventh eighth and
ninth vertebrae. Joseph Lennon, OF No.
iS7 East Tenth street, stood up yesterday
morning and with the assistance of a
nurse managed to walk the entire length
pital.
One July 20 last Lennon went TO a dance
al Glendale, l.. l.. He was sitting on a
/ rail which surrounded the dancing plat
form when it suddenly gave way and pre-
cipitated him TO the floor below, dis
tance of twenty feet
When Lennon was examined at the Ja-
maica hospital it was discovered that
three OF his vertibrae were broken, his
BODY was entirely paralyzed below the
facture, and, his chances Of recovery
were slight.
AN OPERATION NECESSARY.
On September DR.. Herbert Noble. the
surgeon in charge, informed Lennon that
II would he necessary 10 perform an oper-
alton. and remove the injured vertebrae,
otherw'se he would die within fourteen
days. Lennon consented. and on Septem-
Der the operation wos successfully per-
formed.
Lennon rs now cheerful. happy and con-
tented, with the knowledge that i'm the
course OF "a few months. IL all goes well.
he VIII leave the Jamaica hospital a well
man.
When seen at the hospital yesterday
afternoon Lennon said:
IL was pretty badly injured man when
n
agony for two months. Or. Noble told
me that an operation might save my life
otherwise ] should soon die. / took the
chance and am alive today and nearly
well.
s"Can stand up?' the man with the
mended back smiled cheerfuiiv. then
grasDed the rail- OF the bedstead and slow
~ raised himself to his feet. II walked
to the end of the ward this morning with
the nurse and stood on my feet for TWEEN
" minutes. ] do not want 20 do too much
at first" continued Lennon las the doc
tor says IL would be injurious
II wheel myself about in this chair
shave nearly sll tho male patients every
morning and now that sunshine has
come again ] spend good deal OF my
time I'm the grounds.
PARALYZED BELOW THE WAIST.
when ! came here had no feeling IN
my body below my waist; now have
control OF all my limbs and hope 10 be
able TO get out In a few months.
1t is weary work waiting here day af-
ter day. but ] am thankful that my life
has been spared. ] am q trained nurse
and ~ the time OF my accident was work
ing at the Minturn hospital I'm East Six
teenth street Manhattan.
II do not know what 1 shall do when
j get out but / have no fear as long as
j get back my health and strength"
DR. Herbert NoUie, when seen at his
home. No. - Union avenue. Jamaica.
said: 81 consider that Lemons case IL
the most remarkable have ever seen.
The seventh. eight and ninth vertebrae
were fractured, the eighth was complete
~ crushed.
"The injured vertebrae pressed tight
against the spinal cord. and entirely par
alyzed the body below the injury. i oper-
ated TO relieve Lennon of pain. The re-
covery OF the use Of HIS limbs is q COM
plete surprise 10 myself and also to Drs
Meynen and Wood. who assisted me.
IL removed the entire broken parts
leaving the bodies OF the vertebrae in
tact and rounded off the edges of the
bones
WILL SOON BE ABLE TO WALK.
"This operation is called laminectomy
because the lamina is cut away. II is
very dangerous. and is rarely performed
/ have never seen a case where there
were such severe injuries as Lemons
recover.
"Tle will not be affected i'm any way by
the loss of the vertebrae. and. If he inn
proves as he is doing now, Lennon will
be able 10 walk about with a cane i'm
few months. He has led healthy life
which has stood with him in gaad- stead !
in "a severe crisis"
Lennon is a bright looking man. TWEEN
ty-seven years old. through the skill of
modern surgery and his own good con-
sttution.
MEYuIiIE