The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-06
James Martin Sewers Organ at
Root in Attempt to Kill
Himself.
MENDED BY AN OPERATION.
Tender Muscles, Laid Open by
Blade, Are Gathered by Sur
geons on Point of Needle.
and Replaced.

James g. Martin despondent over do
nestle troubles attempted to commit eui-
eide yesterday morning by cutting his
, throat with small pocket knife. He might
have succeeded had not Mics Louise
Riechers. Is years old. disarmed him after
he had inflicted the first cash. just as ne
was preparing to use the weapon again.
When Martin was examined at the City
Hospital, to which he was Immediately
taken. the surgeons discovered that the
nature of the wound was one of the most
remarkable that had ever come under their
observation.
KNIFE PENETRATES VITAL. POINT.
Martin had cut his throat right at the top
of the hyoid bone. the V-shaped bone just
above the Adams apple. The muscles at
tne pase OF the tongue are connected to
thus bone. Just below is the small valve
ike organ which closes the iarynx. which
prevents food pastng into the glottis. and
which is controlled by the muscles of the
tongue.
tissues of the tongue base from the hyoid
bone as cleanly as a butcher could have
done 1t. making three-inch opening clean
to the mouth. The vocal cords and the
1ugular were exposed by the cash, but not
injured by the blade
The tongue was held by few Tissues, and
was useless. The patient was unable to
articulate. and as the valve closing the glot-
tbs had fallen down he was in emminent
udnSeT OF stranSiEg.
STITCH TOGETHER TENDER MUSCLES
The several muscles connecting the base
OF the tongue were sewed together and at
tached TO the hyoid bone. affording instant
Tellef. The patient Immediately regained
htl speech and talked with little difficulty
Doctor Rassieur SAYS that the damaged
muscles and tissues will reunite firmly and
the patient has good chance to recover.
swelling Of the vocal cords. superinducing
oedema Of the glottis. in which case trach-
eotomy will be resorted to-opening the
Windpipe to allow the patient to breathe
Martin ie ss years old and worked in the
Columbia Box Factory. Nineteenth and
ara arated from his Wife who now lives at No.
242l Cass avenue. Three months ago he
went TO board with Mrs Mary Erfman No.
1442 North Ninth street. He made several
attempts to effect reconciliation with his
wife. Two weeks ago she visited him at
Mr,. Erfman's. and they had supper to-
differences. Last Wednesday week ago
he left. saying he was going to live with his
Wife Sunday he returned and said they
could not agree. He appeared despondent
and began to drink.
WOMEN TO HIS RESCUE
Yesterday morning he arose early. Mrs
E;rfman was in the room adjoining his when
she heard peculiar ,gurgling sound in his
for her niece. Mis- Riechers who was in
the basement Miss Riechers ran into
Martins room. and saw him staggering
about the room blood pouring from his
neck, and the knife in his hand AS she
entered he raised the knife to his throat
but the young girl seized his arm wrenched
the knife from him and ran out of the room
Doctor Higgins was summed and he
staunched the flow of blood while awaiting
the coming of the ambulance.
AT the City Hospital last night Martin
said: ~
II love my wife and couldn't live without
her There seems no chance for us TO he
come reconciled. for there Is somebody else
in the way 'e