The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-18
HOPE FOR FAT WOMEN.
Baltimore Lady Had Surgeon Remove
Her Double Chin.
Baltimore American.

Baltimore American.
Mrs. Florence Shipley, who makes her
home at SOP North Carrollton avenue, is re-
covering from the effects of a remarkable
surgical operation that she underwent sew
eral days since at the University Hospital,
lombard and Greene streets. Through the
agency OF the surgeons knife Mrs. Shipley
had a large amount of fat literally removed
from her chin and neck, reducing it's size
from that of a conspicuous double member
10 one of very ordinary size.
The operation is said to have been one of
the most delicate and hazardous under
taken for some time, and is quite rare, both
by reason of the fact that few patients
would submit to an operation combining so
many chances of death from the knife, and
because but few surgeons would care TO
handle the steel blade that must just Craze
over and about the most important arteries
of the human system TO make the under
taking one of success. When the knife cut
away the fatty substance about the right
and left carotid arteries but a hair-breadth
separated the keen steel from these i'm
portant blood vessels that carry from the
heart TO the brain, and to have severed or
injured them in any way would have meant
death.
With the removal of the fatty matter
from the neck the size was much reduced,
but It was not an incentive Of vanity tina
caused Mrs. Shipley, who is quite a large
woman, to undergo the operation. Had a
reduction for appearance sake been the de-
sired object Mrs. Shipley would probably
have submitted 10 the easier, If probably
less effective, way OF being treated by a
lAAoSSaeC oA0 10 $1,000 VA -"
Shipley had. however, no such motive in
view, and il was merely 10 correct a physi-
cal defect. causing much suffering, that she
decided to have the fat removed.
The excessive collection of fat beneath
the chin had increased as time went on.
and the pressure upon the right and left
carotid arteries became more pronounced.
From round and healthy arteries these i'm
portant blood vessels were pressed fat by
the growth OF fat until, at times, the flow
Of blood 10 the brain from the aorta-the
artery that leads upward from the left
ventricle of the heart-was greatly i'm
peded. This caused imperfect respiration.
and, from what can be learned, Mrs. Ship
lev suffered from periods OF unconscious
Last Wednesday she left the home on
Carrollton avenue, where she had been
boarding for some time, stating that she
would return shortly. The persons in the
house did not see her for two days, until
she came home from the hospital. Mrs.
Shipley had gone 10 a prominent physician
on Cathedral street, expecting 10 have an
application Of cocaine TO the neck and the
operation performed in a short time. The
surgeon told her that she would have to 60
to the hospital, however, and she was
warned that the slightest slip of the knife
would mean death. No time was lost, and
upon Wednesday afternoon she was given
an administration OF ether and the opera
ton was performed by three of the sur
geons connected with the hospital.
For two days Mrs. Shipley remained at
the hospital with her neck in a plaster
cast, and then she was taken 10 her home.
Che il still confined TO her bed. but sent
word 20 a reporter who called at the house
yesterday afternoon that the operation had
been a success.
the fat could be removed. In spite OF this.
however. It is said that there Is every hope
that no scar will be left 10 show where the
knife entered. The operation has caused
much comment I'm medical circles. and Is
considered both a rare and remarkably sue
cessful piece OF surgery.