The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-08-27
Operation of David Feltman at
Indianapolis Saturday
Resulted in Death.
He WILL Be BURIED HERE
YOUNG MAN HAD BEEN FEEBLE
MINDED AND 1T WAS THOUGHT
THAT he COULD BE RESTORED
TO NORMAL CONDITION.

David Feltman, ir., the nineteen
year oId-son OF Mr. and Mrs. David
Feltman. OF 233 South Sth street this
city, died Saturday afternoon in the
Deaconess Hospital indianapolis. as
a result of the shock that followed
one of the most delicate surgical OPP
erations that has ever been perform
ed in Indiana.
Young Feltman was one of nine
children and his death is the first
that has ever occurred in the family.
The boy had been feeble-minded. the
rsult OF an injury to the skull at the
time of his birth and because of his
affliction he was doubly loved by his
family, who had made every effort
to restore him to mental vigor The
boy possessed much reasoning power,
despite his weak mentality and he
gave evidences at all times of actual
~ appreciating his condition.
Was Chance for Recovery.
For number of years he was at
the TT. Wayne school for feeble
minded and recently it became svi-
dent that unlike most children sim
ilarIy afflicted. there was a chance
for recovery Instead of an imperfect
brain it was the belief of surgeons
that there was pressure upon the
brain as a result Of a defect in the
skull, and if this pressure could be
removed there was reason for believ-
ing that the boys mental powers
would be given chance to develop.
John l. Feltman, of Indianapolis.
brother, came to Richmond a week
ago and returned with the afflicted
boy, having arranged for the oper-
alton.
The indianapolis Star of yesterday
contained the following relative to
the case which attracted great in
terest among surgeons of that city:
DIR John Kolmer performed the
operation in an effort to improve the
boys mental condition. and it was
the first case in thirty of the same
nature that has resulted fatally.
DIR Kolmer after an examination
recently had decided that such an OPP
Grafton was the only hope that the
boy had Of becoming rational. The
youth was brought to the Deaconess
Hospital Yesterday, and at II o'clock
was put on the operating table. Aside
from the affliction of his mind the
boys constitution seemed to be
strong enough to undergo the surg
cry without extraordinary danger,
and it was fully expected he would
recover.
Due to Deformity.
'tThe cause of his anliction was q
deformity of the back of his head
which caused the skull to press in
on the brain. This the surgeon tried
to remedy by making several cuts
along the skull so that the pressure
woulud be relieved. The operation
required the cutting of two bones of
the skull through to the brain. The
surgeon made the cuts with great
care and had finished when he MOTTO
ed the boys pulse suddenly weaken.
Carefully sewing the wounds and put |
ting on the bandages he had the body
taken from the table to cot Death |
came at % CLOCK III the dIleTHOOu-
The operation was said by the sur
geon to have been a success in a |
scientific way and would have re-
moved the affection had the youth |
been strong enough to recover from
the shock
DIR. kolmer. who performed the !
operation, has had thirty similar |
eases, all of which have resulted well /
for the patients. He began the prac- |
tice of this method in 1898 perform |
ing many operations on patients who |
had been weak minded throughout |
life and were not expected to gain
any understanding
Body Brought Here.
Tie body of young Feltman was
brought to Richmond late Saturday
night and taken to the home of his
parents where funeral services will /
be held Tuesday afternoon at
o'clock. The burial viii be in Luth-
eranfa Following the burial servic-
IS will be held at St Johns Lutheran
church. the Rev. Mr.. Feeger officiat-
ing Friends may call at any time