Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-23
OWES LIFE To
SURGEON 5 SKILL
LAD LIVES AFTER BONE OF
SKULL is REMOVED
Remarkable story Of Work Of Or,
Nicholas Sem of Chicago Is
Told by Patient in Re-
celvlng Hospital

Pedestrians at Fifth and Main street
were Mortified last evening about $3.50
o'clock to see a young man fall, as
though stricken by bolt from heaven;
but after the victim had been re-
moved to the receiving hospital, it
was found that the unconscious man
was Griffith Mansfield, one Of the most
celebrated patients of the premier of
American surgeons, DIR. Nicholas Sem
of Chicago.
Police Surgeon Bonynge made a
hasty examination of Mansfield. The
doctor was somewhat surprised to find
that the unconscious man apparently
had no skull bone on the top of his
head. A little closer investigation re-
vealed that there was evidence Of a
very skillful operation, which made the
case most interesting.
DR.. Bonynge made certain that Mans
field had not been struck or injured
on the vital part of his head, left un-
protected by the absence of the skull
bone, and then set about to restore
the patient In a comparatively short
time the young sailor, for such he
proved to be, was out of the epileptic
spell and able to talk.
The story in brief as told by him,
follows: ''While 1 was attached to the
United States transport Alpena, Octo-
her 2S, 1904, fell slxty-four feet from
a mast, alighting on my head on the
deck of the vessel. AS the ship was
On her way to Sidney, Australia, from
San Francisco, on the government serv-
ice, the officers continued to the former
port.
Unconscious for Days
During the remainder of the voyage
was unconscious. And despite all that
the ships doctor could do for me, he
was firmly convinced that l would die.
On November II we arrived at Sidney,
and the sailors took me ashore to the
marine hospital to die, as they sup
posed.
"The commander of our vessel heard
that the famous DR.. Nicholas Sem
was in Sidney, having stopped for a
few days while on a tour of the world.
BY special arrangements DR.. Sem was
induced to operate on me, and as you
see has saved my life. He removed a
part of my skull and left word with
my attendants that if I recovered to
call upon him at his home in Chicago.
"By degrees I recovered. Within Il
few months the government had me
removed to the United States, and
when became well enough they sent
me to Chicago. DR.. Sem had not for
gotten me, as he was much interested
expense I was sent to the Presby-
terian hospital and he performed an
other operation July 5, 1905.
"In the second operation he removed
another piece of my skull and it has
bettered my condition greatly. DR.. Sem
told me that I would be partially par
allied, as you see. I have practically
af Ioft Sid 10
IL live until July, 1906, he will oper-
ate on me to remove the cause of
the paralysis
Father in the Marine Service
Mansfield is the son of DR.. w. C.
Mansfield, who is at present in the
United States marine service at Homo
lulu. His mother is residing in Bakers
field, Cal, and the young man is on
his way to join his mother. He says
that he was born in Honolulu, and
when a boy came to this state.
California has always been his home.
Several years ago he Joined the navy.
and at the time of the accident was
in the marine service He says that
since he fell from the mast of the ship
he has had fainting spells or epilepsy,
but has as yet suffered no i'll effects
from it other than becoming uncon-
scious without warning.
Mansfield seems to live in hope of
returning to Chicago next summer and
undergoing another operation. He has
the greatest faith in DIR. Senn's power
to relieve him and cure his malady.
According to Mansfield's statements
no words can describe his gratitude
to the Chicago surgeon for his gen
erosity and kindness.
AS soon as Mansfield has sufficiently
recovered to allow him to proceed on
his journey he will be sent to Bakers
field to his mother. The lads great
love for the Chicago surgeon has been
shown by his constant and anxious in
quiry for cheap cane presented to
him by DIR. Sem, which was lost az
Fifth and Main streets when he fell.