Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-12-14

down with what Is known as a con-
tinuous stitch. More skin was added
and stitched down, until the wound
was almost entirely covered. The
main object during the operation was,
as | have said, to maintain the circu'
latlon. We know that we succeeded
in doing this, because the dogs skin
has taken root on top Of the young
woman's head and is growing and
spreading. and the hair is beginning
to grow very nicely.
This hair is, of course, dog hair. II
will not grow to normal length, not
more than three quarters of an inch
at the very most"
Some people might possibly object
10 a head Of dogs hair. but Miss Stew
art, who is recovering rapidly from the
effects of the accident and the oper-
alton, does not. She philosophically
remarked that il was better than no
hair at all. If she does not like it
after II has grown long enough TO
hide the seams in her new scalp she
a have the hair dyed. And if II
still meets with dislavor she can
easily wear a wig.
In a statement made a few days
later DIR. Sooy said that Miss Stew
arts condition was 81 much improved
that the operation may now be re.
garded as a complete success.
we are now gradually removing
the dog skin from the patients fore
head and grating in its place small
patches Of human skin taken from
The arms of Miss Stewart and some
of her friends. This will give her a
nice white forehead. preferable of
course to one covered with dog skin.
This second operation Is. of course,
only one of the ordinary ones of skin
grating. The outside layer of skin,
the c%uticle. is cut in small strips from
the arm with a sharp specially made
razor and laid on the barred surface
OF the forehead to form what are
known as islands.
These strips are then bound to the
surface by a piece of a%ntiseptic rub
Der tissue and allowed to remain UNI
I'll the two surfaces adhere. This
takes from two to three days, and we
expect to give Miss Stewart an entire
ly new fore head in three or four
weeks.
THE patients general condition is
very good. She is of cheerful dispo-
sitlon. and this is of great assistance
to her."
The Hahnemann Hospital, where
the operation took place, is already
receiving letters and kilograms from
medical men all the country and
from Europe. too, asking for the full
lest particulars about the unusual:
case.
After the operation the Newfound-
land dog who had unwillingly sac.
:ificed his scalp, was mercifully put
to death. Miss Stewart had begged
that if there was any possible way in
which TO save the dog he be given
every care. The doctor decided that
the animal would always be a sufferer
If they prolonged his life, SO they put
him to death painlessly.
Although Miss Stewart Is the first
person in this country to whose skull
the scalp of a ~four-footed animal has
been grated, there are instances
where the skin of animals has been
used for grating. A piece of pigskin
was recently grated on the arm of a
colored woman, Mary Grant, at Rich
mond. Va. She had been badly burned
by a lamp explosion. 1t was necessary
that a certain amount of skin should
he grated on the woman's arm to
save her life, and as none of her rela-
tives would consent to be operated up
en-, the surgeon, seized a bright idea,
sent for a pig 2 months old. This was
chloroformed and deprived of suffici-
ent skin to cover the burnt part of the
patients body. The opei alton was en-
tirely satisfactory.
Frog skin has been similarly used
also on the arm of a patient who had
lost rs square inches of skin through
blood poisoning. Four days after the
operation the skin had taken hold,
forming a real. healthy epidermis.
A much more extraordinary feat. oil
course, was that which restored the
sight to Mr.. Strichell, Of Clinton,
Ohio. The creature used this time
was a rabbit, whose eye now enables
the mine owner to read and to see
everything just as we'll as If he had
never lost his sight.
Mr.. Strichell, who had lost his eye
In a mine accident two years previous
ly had given up all hope of ever again
being able to see, when DIR. Paul Wal.
ter determined to try a bold expire
ment. Though the patients right eye
was entirely sightless and the left
eye had only sufficient power TO de.
tect a lighted candle placed before 1t,
DIR. Walter was of the opinion that a
healthy rabbits eye would provide a
solution to the difficulty. Selecting a
~fine-looking rabbit, he took a piece OF
bunny's r (similar to the white
part surrounding the iris and pupil oil
your eye), and with wonderful skill
grated it on the sightless eye of Mr.
Strichell. The grating being sue
cessful, the patient was again able to
see, and In a very short time. as his
health improved. was with glasses
enabled to see as well as ever hi
could.
Not long ago Mr.. Henry Blase, a
member of the Second Regiment
National Guard Of New Jersey. was
severely burned In a naptha ex2lo
sion. The regiments colonel called a
meeting of his men and asked 70,
volunteers willing to provide a por
ton of the skin for their comrade
With one accord the whole regiment
stepped out of line and eventually ,.
of them were operated upon. The
subsequent grating onto the body Of
Mr.. Blase was entirely successful.