Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-02-23

Physician Who Grated an Ear
Performs a Peculiar Operation.
Women Must NemRtn Weeks Bound
FINGER In an Accident and Of.
fcred $500 for n New One.

sitting back to back in the home Of
DR.. A. l., Ncldcn one woman permitted
the second finger Of her right hand to
be CRATER to the stump of the second
finger of the left Of another woman who
had lost part Of her digit in an accident
some years ago, says the New York
World
These women are practically strangers
to each other, never having met until a
few days ago, but for the next two or
three weeks they will be bound together
almost as closely as were the famous
Siamese twins. Side by side they recline
in narrow hospital cots. their arms from
tho elbows down tightly wound in BAN
dagcs, and the whole encased in plaster
cast.
DR.. Nedcn made this statement
"A short time ago a woman came to
me and exhibited her left hand, the sec
ond finger Of which had been shot away
down to the second joint. She said she
wanted a now finger grated on and
asked me If could do it. said I
could and we agreed on a fec. She said
she was willing to pay 500 to any woman
willing to give up IL suitable nnger and
an advertisement was placed in the
World.
There were moro than one hundred
answers the first day and we selected
ono woman as tho most suitable. Both
women arc in my house now being pre-
pared for the operation and both have
expressed willingness that newspaper
repres ontativos shall witness It, | shall
perform it on Wednesday at 2:3O and
expect several reputable physicians to be
l Al 81.
identity "A secret and I have agreed. ] do
not even know that the names and other
data they have given me are correct
SAYS SHE rs AN ACTRESS.
finger. while concealing her name. was
quite willing to talk about herself. She
is tail. of good figure. apparently about
| thirty-four years old and has a wealth
of chemically blond hair. She says she
is an actress and her general appearance
would seem TO prove the claim.
| According to her story she was shot
in the hand about six years ago. and
The physician who treated her did his
work badly that amputatlon OF II
portion Of one finger was necessary,
leaving an ugly distlguring stump. Her
family. she says, knows nothing of her
loss. and for a time she was able to
continue her work on the stage by wear
ing an artificial finger. But this had a
habit of falling off at inopportune mo-
ments. causing her much humiliation and
| annoyance. so that she was forced to
aba ndOn her career as an artist. Desir-
ing to return to the stage she decided
to secure a finger OF real flesh and blood.
and she went to Or. Nelden and made
her offer.
| Holding mp her MANNED hand previous
to the operation. she said to World
reporter:
| THE end of this finger was shot of.
but under Just what circumstances l
don't care to say. 1t was pure luck that
prevented tho bullet striking me i'm the
head. got along for time. but /,
manned hand does not look very well
from the front of the stage. and when
my husband died gave up the stage
Now | want to go back. but don't wan,
to be an object of ridicue I don't mind
the pain ard the trouble if I can only
get finger that looks all right
When all was ready the reporters were
conducted to n large second-story back
room. in which were two cots placed side
by side. with an adjustable arm rest
between them. \ piece of white oilcloth
was spread on the floor and the doctor
was seated at "A slass-top table. while
at his right hand was table contain
ing instruments. bandages. etc. In. ]. j.
Neville. of No. 81 West Thirty light
street. was in he room. and another
physician came III later. but left before
tho operating was over.
MAKING READY FOR THE GRAFT
ING.
I'VE will now prepare the ma lined fin
ger for grating" announced DR. Nclden,
and that moment the woman seeking a
finger was led in by II very comey young
woman in very striking costume OF
white which displayed shapcly figure
arms barred almost To the shoulders and
a large exlninsc Of neck. The patient
whose left hand was wrapped in a towel
seated herself at the table. with her face
averted, so that she should not witness
the operation. She took no ether, the
physician using only liberal injection
of cuoainc which. i, was explained. was
u form of cocaine, but more potent
Tiien DR.. Nelden. after cutting brace
let from her arm, cut the flesh away from
the stump of the finger barring but a very
small piece OF DOne extending DeyOnt
the middle JOINT. Consulting with DIR
Neville, he decided that It would be bet
ter to remove this section of bone on
tircly. which he did the patient shown
but slight evidence of pain. In donl
this a small quantity of black substanc,
which the physician said was gunpowdel
from the shot which manned the finger
was discovered and cleansed away.
Next very large portion OF the re
naming Joint was clipped off to freshei
the bone. and when the arteries ant
muscles had been separated and treate
antscptically the hard was wrapped il
IA towel and the patient took n seat in
corner of the room. where she chatte,