The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1905-09-15
NECK BROKEN BUT STILL LIVES
ROCK ISLAND AGENT AT SELDEN
MAY GET WE'LL
Hurt I'm a Observation-Disclosures Fight
Taken 10 Topeka and OpeF-
ated Upon

z. R Judd, station agent Of the
Rock Island at Selden, q little town
IN Sheridan county, sixty miles east
Of GoOdIand. was last week merciless-
" beaten BY his pugilistic opponent
while he lay on the ground with q
broken neck
The injured man was taken to
Christ hospital in Topeka last Sat
urday BY DR.. D. n. Forbes Of Sell
den, where he is receiving treatment
for a broken neck
A strange thing about his case IS
that he lived nearly a week in that
condition and that there is a chance
that he will recover entirely II he
does IL Will be due entirely to modern
surgical skill.
Patching a broken neck is a thing
that would have been laughed at
few years ago and il requires nerve
and confidence to undertake the task
even now, for the operation is one Of
the most delicate and difficult
Mr.. Judd was injured in peculiar
manner. He became enraged at a man
in Selden and called him out OF
store to thrash him The two men
clinched and fell, Judd underneath
Nearby was a child's wagon across
which was a two by four timber. Judd
struck this with the back OF his neck
His body was paralyzed by the fall
and while he lay PROSTATE and help
.ess on the ground his adversary beat
nim numerically. His eyes were
olackened and his face was otherwise
bruised. When bystanders tried to
assist him to his feet he was unable
to stand and then IL was found that
his body was paralyzed- He remained
in this condition during the greater
part Of the week and then DR.. Forbes
decided 10 bring him to Topeka as a
surgical operation was the only chance
and even that-a slight one, Of saving
his life.
The operation which was perform
ed by DR.. ". F. Bowen required over
an hour. A deep cut was made in
the back Of the neck until the bone
vas reached. Then II was found that
the fifth vertebrae had been crushed
and was pressing on the spinal cord
and the fourth was also injured 1t
vas this that caused the paralysis
-aborfousIy bit by bit the injured bone
was clipped out by the surgeon to re-
Iieve the pressure until the spinal
cord was left bare. Then it was seen
Chat the cord itself had not been in
jured and this materially increases
The chance OF recovery. The back
portion Of two Of the YeTtebrae was
aiken out 70 relieve any possible pres
sure and then the wound was sewed
up.
MI Judd was removed from the Op-
Grating table to his bed and il he re-
covers he viii be kept perfectly quiet
On his back for several weeks When
the wound has healed a plaster cast
will be placed on his head and shOul-
ders TO hold his neck perfectly rigid
while nature Is taking care Of the
damaged bone When he leaves the
hospital he will be fitted with a de-
sice which viii hold the weight Of
his head OF the neck and the doctors
say that at the end Of a year he
should be able to discard this Of
course all this is on the theory that
ne Will recover.
DR.. J. c. MCClintOck, who was pres
ent when the operation was perform
ed, says that out Of seven cases OF
broken necks and backs that were
patched by him three made complete
recOveries- Dr.. Bowen was reluctant
about discussing the case Of Mr.. Judd
He simply said after the operation
that the man might recover. He says
that there was no hope for him with
out an operation
Meanwhile there is a man out in
sheridan county responsible for Mr..
Judd's injury who is waiting with
considerable anxiety the result Of the
operation 1t might be embarrassing
TOR him in the event that the station
agent dies
The patching Of Mr.. Judd's broken
neck was done Sunday forenoon and
the report from the hospital this
morning was that his condition is en-
couraging. He had rallied from the
anaesthetic and though in consider
able pain appeared much improved
Mondays Topeka State Journal.