The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1905-04-26
THIS SURGERY WONDERFUL
BURST OF LAUGHTER ALMOST
COST THIS MAN HIS LIFE.
Life of Charles Niehaus Was Saved
10y Rare Operation Performed
by DIR. Wycth.

by DR.. Wyeth.
From the New York World
Charles H. Niehaus, the well-knOwn
sculptor, is slowly recovering at the
Polytechnic Hospital in East Thirty
fourth street from the effects of
singular accident. That he is alive
and on the high road to recovery is
due to a rare and mastery operation
Six weeks ago Mr.. Niehaus, in fit
of laughter, swallowed two false teeth
and the wide rubber plate to which
they were attached. Mr.. Niehaus
reached New York nearer dead than
alive late last week, and on Sunday
was taken to the Polytechnic hospital
That afternoon DR.. John \. Wyeth
performed an operation, succeeefully
removing the false teeth that were
embedded in the oesOphagus, far down
behind the breast bone.
Mr.. Niehaus, who has studio at
No l49 WestThirty- sixth street and
Colonial residence near White Plains,
went out to indianapolis two months
ago to complete arrangements for the
statue of former President Benjamin
Harrison. Then he went to Cincinnati,
his native city, where at a little
social party someone cracked the Joke
which came so perilOuSly near costing
the sculptor's life.
Amid the laughter Mr.. Niehaus was
seen bending forward gasping for
breath and clutching his throat. For
wears he had worn two false front
teeth on a rubber plate, that, in cres-
cent shape, followed the curve of the
upper Jaw and covered half of the
mouth roof. This, usually held in
place by suction, had slipped far down
the throat.
It was feared that he would choke to
death. Alarmed friends worked over
him while others hurried out for med
zeal aid All the efforts of the doctors
there only forced the obstruction
downward.
Sustained solely on artificial nour-
ishment and constantly in pain. MIR.
Niehaus was reduced to pitiable
state His flesh virtually melted away
and he could barely tOtter about his
room Finally he determined to re-
turn home even if the effort OF the trip
should cost his life.
DR.. Miles, throat specialist, met
him on his arrival. At first glance
DR.. Miles realized that nothing but
surgery could cure the patient. DR.
James A. Wyeth, president of the New
York Polytechnic Medical School and
Hospital, was called.
DR.. Wyeth and the patient are old
friends, each a great admirer OF the
other Apart from his surgical work
DR.. Wyeth's greatest pride is his biOg-
raphy of the confederate soldier, Gen.
Forrest, under whom he served as
bOv in the civil war. When Tennessee
decided to raise a monument to For
rest DR.. Wyeth was chosen to select
the sculptor He chose Niehaus,
whose work will soon be unveiled at
Memphis.
81 am heartily glad to state that the
operation was a complete success, "
said DR.. Wyeth Monday night at his
home, tOaWorld reporter. 'Niehaus
is a fine fellow, a superbly gifted
man, and my good friend.
Il think the operation may be class
ed as almost unique. At any rate, in
my long practice [ have never seen or
heard of anything exactly like 1t.
"My first move was to locate these
false teeth. This was done by X-rays.
What they revealed was astonishing.
SO far down had the rubber plate
worked its way that nothing but the
shadow of the upper rim showed above
the breast-bOne.
.'Of course, incisions have been made
in thrOats innumerable and Obstruc
tions have been removed, but in this
case the obstruction was literally be-
mind the breast-bOne, where the surgi-
cal difficulties of reaching it are SUI
preme.
Il made long incision, cut the oes-
ophagas, carrying it away down to
the breast bone. The rubber plate was
as tightly jammed between the walls of
the gullet as though hammered in,
while the two sharp teeth were deeply
embedded
''Mr. Niehaus stood the operation
well, and is out of danger. Within a
short time he will be able to take food
in the natural way, and summer will
find him as good as ever"