The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-06-07
Rare and Delicate Operation
Performed on IsIdOT Levine.
HAD BEEN AN IDIOT FROM BIRTH
Brain VIII New Have a Chance 10 Grow.
Operation Attempted Only Ten Tines Pre-
vIsusly-Dr. SisTnhsrg Pleased.

New York. June lone OF the rarest
operations known 10 modern surgery was
performed yesterday afternoon upon Isi-
dor Levine, the 13-year-old son of Adolph
Levine. of No. I3 st. Marks place,
this city. 1t is known as Lannelongue's
operation. or Inca craniectomy. and con-
sisis in cutting away part of the skull
10 give the brain room for development.
Little Isidor Levine had been deranged
all his life. His parents lived in Nash
vile, Tenn. but came 10 New York two
years ago in the hope that physicians
here could help their son.
No treatment ever benefited him. Dr.
Gottlieb Sternberg. Of No. 2O4 East one
Hundred and Thirteenth street, made
careful study OF the case and came TO
the conclusion that the boys brain was
normal. but that it was being cramped
by a deformed skull. He found that the
skull was smaller on the left side than
on the right and located the trouble on
that side of the brain.
An operat tion was necessary. The doc
tor explained that Il was rarely resorted
10 because OF the danger attending it.
but the parents finally gave their con-
sent.
DETAILS or THE OPERATION.
DR. Irving Marguies. DIR. H. b. Adler
and Or. Billhoefer went with DR.. Stern
berg 10 the Levine residence TO aid i'm
the operation. DR.. Sternberg began by
trephning just above the temple on the
left side.
When he had taken out a circular but
ton of the skull. the size of a scent
nickel, he began TO cut away the skull on
a line of an incisiOn. 1--WE and one-half
inches long, which he had made after
frephining. This incision extended from
the point OF trephning around the skull
toward the posterior.
With a chiselng instrument DIR. Stern
berg took away pieces OF skull until hf
had an opening three-quarters OF an inch
I'm width at the point Of tfePhiHiHg and
one inch and a half at the rear end of
the incision.
DIR. Sternberg completed the extremely
delicate task in twenty-five minutes. The
surgeon declared IL was fortunate that
he was enabled TO finish the work I'm so
short a time.
II have taken away enough of the
skull" said DIR. Sternbere, ito allow the
boys brain TO develop as IL should |
found that the skull was very thick.
abnormally SO I'm c>fe place, where II was
a quarter of an inch In thickness. This
had been pressing upon the brain and
doing we'll L am elated at the prospect
of seeing him regain mental strength.
DID NOT PUT IN SILVER PLATE.
'I did not put In a silver plate, as !
wanted to leave the skull open TO allow
freedom 10 the brain. III In later years
j deem IL necessary to cover the place
with silver ! can do II. For the present
the boy will have only a thick, tough
skin formation over the opening"
DR.. Sternberg declares that there have
been only nine operations OF the KIND
none OF them In New York city.
DIR. Cyrus Edison said last night TO a
World reporter: ''The operation Is, In,
deed, a rare one. 1 never heard OF II
being tried in New York city. IL has
been successful i'm restoring menta
strength to few patients.