Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-07-27
A SURGICAL TRIUMPH.
Cleophas Jobber, Whose Case Was
Called Hopeless, Is Recovering.

On the afternoon of July Cleophas
Johber of No. 6 Edwards street was
caught in the wreckage of a collision
at the Maine Central freight yards, his
throat torn open and lascerated nearly
from ear to ear, with one of the mus
clcs torn out and left hanging from the
wound, his windpipe all but several,
So that four stitches We're required and
the connection of the tongue TO the
hyoid bone severed, leaving the man liz
capable either of swallowing or of
having food administered to the stom-
ach. AS the wound was being dressed
one Of the attending physicians said in
answer to a query:
Well his chances are small, but we
will do all that can be done TO save
him."
In less than 20 minutes from that
time he remarked to the reporter: "This
poor fellow will be dead before morn
ing"
The physicians prophecy did not
come true and Cleophas Jobber is now
alive and able to tell the story of his
terrible experiences of the day when
he himself had dispaired of life. For
the past week Mr. Jobber has been
able to remain sitting in a chair during
| the daytime and is able to walk about
the house. His case has excited the
wonder of all who have been familiar
with it and is readily acknowledged to
| be one OF the most remarkable tri-
umphs of surgery ever known in Wat
erville.
Fer over q week after the accident
Mr. JObber received no nourishment eX-
| cept that which was artificially admin
| istered and aSsimilated through the
bowels. Incapable of swallowing and
| with even a drop of water causing the
most intense anguish as from time to
time it was poured into his mouth Mr.
Jobber is today completely comfortable
and his body we'll nourished.
| Mr.. Jobbers Judgment. before being
administered the ether was of SINH
lar nature to that of the doctor. In an
| interview with the reporter Thursday
Afternoon he said:
| Il said goodbye to my wife and child
| that noon, just as if something dread
| ful was going to happen. When l was
| struck there was simply blur before
| nv eyes and | knew that | was ter
| rihly injured. l have never since that
| time except while 1 was under the in
/ fiuence Of the ether and while l have
| tcen sleeping naturally lost the use OF
Imy faculties. Before the doctors COM
| menced their work I had no idea that
| after had closed my eyes that l should
| ever be able to open them again and
| called my wife and child and bade
| them goodbye. 1t didn't seem half Al
hour since l had done it at the dr:n2l
table,
Mr.. Jobber says that the most re-
| markable thing connected with ms
case is that he has not suffered TO any
great extent from the direct effec- OF
his injuries. The greatest suffering
| which he has experienced has beer
more in the nature of an annoyance
and that has been in the region OF MS
| shoulders, a mere external injury, IRON
the effects of his confinement in bed
His right arm, it will be remembered
was broken in two places and will hca
very slowly, owing to the fact that Inc
bones could not be set until nearly 4
| week after the more critical injuries
| were attended to. DIR. Boyer is OF thf
opinion that, while the throat may be
come comparatively we'll by that time
the arm will not regain its strength
for nearly a year. The throat still ernltS
quantities of pus and is still in a rag
ged condition, but the face is round, the
limbs active and the eyes of the pa
tient extremely cheerful and bright.
AS the reporter started to leave The
house Mr.. Jobber walked easily to thu
door and opened it saying meanwhile
Il shall probably be able to be ou
in a few weeks as I'm getting stronger
every day"
\ resident physician, in commenting
lrecently on the case, said: Il have
known Of a man who had cut his
throat in an attempt at suicide, but Inc
cut was clean and as it was not fatal
quite easily healed, but l think tha'
There are but few cases on RECORD
where a mans throat. lasceratei as
was this mans, has healed. The mar
must have a wonderful constitution.