Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-02-23
with the nurse and casionally used a
bottle of smelling salts.
FINGER CUT TO THE BONE.

FINGER CUT TO THE BONE
The woman who was to give up a
finger was brought in Immediately by
another comely young nurse wearing Il
regulation nurses uniform. After sev-
eral hypOdermic injections. which caused
the patient to cry out from pain, DIR.
Neden turned her hand palm upward
and made an incision to the bono COM
plctely across the second finger just be-
low the middle joint.
The woman seemed scarcely to feel this
or the subsequent probing and separat-
ing of the arteries and muscles. These
were all treated with antseptics and the
bone was thoroughly cleaned and slight
ly scraped to freshen it. Then the first
patient was brought over and the two
fingers were fitted one over the other
a little more clipping and separa tins
ard all was ready for permanently join
ing the two fingers.
The hand of the woman who was tc
give up her finger was placed palm dowr
suIarely over the back OF tho hand OF
the other. so that the ncisiOn in ths
finger OF the first came squarely over
the bare Joint of the other. Great care
was taken the jointure should be perfect
and then the loose tissues of both fingers
were sewed together with silk. This part
OF the operation was also apparently
painless. Silk bandagos were then placed
around the fingers and then the wv
hands were bound tightly together witt
adhesive plaster. and over this was placed
a. piece of gauze Then the hands and
arms as far as the elbows We're bound
tightly with yards and yards Of ban
daEes. Then bright metal splnt shaped
to the arm was padded with cotton and
the arms OF tic two women were bound
into this.
COTS WERE dashed TOGETHER
The operation was now completed. anC
the women were carefully backed be-
tween the two cots. assisted by DR.. Mel
den and the nurses. the doctor kccplna
his strong hands on tho united arm:
to prevent any sudden wrench disturb
ing the banduses. Then the women Ncr,
laid gently ON the two cots, which Were
brought closer and closer until finally
they were side by side. The united arm.
were paced on the adjus table rest he
tuHen the cots and bound TO it, Their
tM head and front foot OF the cots were
dashed together
| Both women said they felt very com
| Portable anh were glad ii was over.
| DR.. Neville declared it to bc n won
dcrful piece of surgery. 1T was splcn
didly executed" said he. and hope
| it will be successful. There is every rea
son to believe that perfect circulation
will be established in Il few days anc
with that should come a perfect joint
ure. | don't think that this has ever
been done with two humans, hut an eff
fort was made some years ago In graf
a bone of dog 10 II mans thigh, but III,
experiment failed"
| DIR. Nclden said: ''To-niGht | shall pu
the united arms in plaster cast, where
they will remain for possibly twelve
davs. by that timc ! hope perfect circu
lation will have been established and thu
Inflammation will have disappeared. Thel
I shall separate the hone at the middle
Joint. which will allow the new fnge
to slip over the joint Of the other one
Tho remaining portions Of flesh will b.
sewed together. and with proper care I
very nearly perfect finger will be the re
suit.
| II will be = trife shorter than 1t SHOULD
be. because 1t was necessary ia rcmov
a tride of the second joint, but 1t will
scarcely he noticeable. Yes, expect tn
finger will he stif as ] understand, In
young woman Is only seeking cosmetic
effect and does not expect to use tn
finger"
Is there not danger of ganerene de