The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-25
STUDENTS. RESTORE
MANS FACULTIES
Young Medics Perform a Sue.
cessfuI Operation on a Deaf
and Dumb Shoemaker.

After having been deaf and dumb for
nearly four years, Conrad Fillmann. a
shoemaker employed by John Dorm
sien, Kent street and University ave-
nue., mas again regained his power Of
speech and hearing.
The cure, which is almost miracu-
Ious. was effected by three Chicago
medical students, who secretly per-
formed an operation on Fillmann in
their rooms at the Merchants hotel
two weeks ago
Fillmann arrived in st. Paul six
weeks ago from Seattle Wash, where
ne has been a student in the mute in
stitute since he lost the use of his
vocal and auditory organs in an acci-
oent IN coal mine in Utah, in 1899.
Soon afterward he secured EMPLOYMENT
at his trade in Dornsieffs store. Three
weeks ago he became i'll with a severe
headache, and boarded a car to go to
the car he met Fred Miller, a medical
student, whose family he had boarded
with several years ago, while living in
Milwaukee.
Miller greeted him and was surprised
when he received no answer, alttDrEh
he could see by Fillmanns face that he
was recognized. Fillmann pulled a
tablet from his pocket and wrote a
snort account of his affliction. He told
Miller that he was on his way to see
physician concerning his headache.
Miller replied that he had nearly
completed his medical course in Chi
cago, and volunteered to aid Fillmann
if he would accompany him to his
room at the Merchants hotel Fill
mann complied, and when they arrived
he was thoroughly examined by Miller.
Told Him He Could Be Cured.
After looking him over Miller wrote
on the mute's tablet that he could be
cured. Fillmann had been pronounced
lncurable by many physicians. and he
could hardly believe his friends state
ments, but he quickly offered himself
as patient, stating that he would be
willing to undergo almost anything to
have his power of speech and hearing
restored.
Miller, who is a student at Rush
Medical college, Chicago, and is also
acting as travelling agent for a surgi-
cal instrument house, Immediately
commenced preparations for the opera
tion. He sent to Chicago for two Of
his fellow students, James Carter and
l.. b. Maloney, and after consultation
they decided to perform the operation
on Saturday. Oct. 10.
Fillmann left his work shortly after
8 o'clock that night and went to the
hotel, where he was told that If he
was willing to risk lying under the in
fuence of ether perhaps for dozen
hours, and permitting an operation,
they could cure him. He quickly pull
ed his tablet from his pocket and
wrote:
II will stand anything to be cured,
and If you see you can't cure newly,
give me a little overdose. hate to
think of enduring another minute Of
the awful life I have had to undergo
these four years"
Students Cut Open His Throat.
He was placed under the influence Of
ether a few minutes later and the
young medical students began work.
ing on his throat.
They found seven large clots Of
blood resting on the muscles which
control the vocal organs, and when
these were removed it was found that
Fillmann once more had the free use
of these muscles.
Fillmann lay under the influence of
the ether until / o'clock Sunday after
noon, when he revived. His throat was
very sore and he was advised not to
try and speak for several days, al
though the students declared that as
soon as his throat became better he
would be able to speak.
Fillman waited anxiously for three
days while his throat gradually healed
and then surprised his employer by
greeting him. His power of speech re-
turned to him completely, and almost
from the beginning he conversed with
ease in both English and German.
Restore His Hearing.
The students found upon examina-
ton of Fillman's ears that his left ear
was completely destroyed. The right
auricle was not found to be in such bad
shape, and they decided to try the use
Of an ear drum in it. Each of them
contributed So, and then sent to Phila-