Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-09-30
MANS BRAIN
IS TAKEN OUT i ! |.
Dickinson Man Who Was In.
jured by Train Has
Novel Experience r.
Many Pieces Of Skull and
Brain Are Removed !. and
He Will Live !,

Dickinson, N, D., Sept. 29.-The
case of Joe LeClair, who was the
victim of a serious accident at the
depot little over three weeks ago,
when. his skull was badly crushed,
is one which will become famous in
medical, circles. LeClair's recovery
is very remarkable and unusual, and
on this account is of much general
interest. M|tI 's4#.9t- -.. &-.l,@%-.
AS will be recalled, LeClair was
injured while trying to jump onto a
moving engine of the special train
bringing the troops from 1encamp-
ment at Washington three weeks ago
last Monday. He was thrown outside
the rail and hit on the head by the
journal of the baggage car, and was
picked up from under the car in a
horribly bruised and bleeding con-
dition. g.. AZ. .E..E5a.. 70 va
He was unconscious when taken
to the hospital and no hopes were
given for. his recovery. The skull
was badly crushed in two places,
both on the left side of the head.
The larger spot was just above the
ear and pieces of the skull were
jammed down into the brain, making
a depression of fully an inch. The
second fracture was nearer the top
of the head, and while not as large,
was as serious a blow, burying the
bone in the substance of the brain.
An operation was of course nee
essity and DR.. v. H. Stickney remov-
ed the piece of bone, assisted at the
end by DR.. G.. "A. Parkins. The oper-
alton in itself, was not an unusual
nor delicate one, but the danger lay
in the fact that the pieces were en-
bedded in the brain. Chances Of re-
covery under these conditions are
very rare and the mans chances were
very slim.
A large number of pieces Of the
skull were removed, varying in size
from small splinters to one piece as
large as a silver dollar and about
one-uuarter of an inch in thickness
which was taken from the hole above
the left ear. So difficult and so ser.
ious was the operation that portion
of the brain matter had to be re
moved to get all the particles.
A / II nj 0@ %6o !, e
patient was very low and DR.. Stick
ney dispared OF saving his life. He
lay in an unconscious state for hours
closely watched by the hospital at
tendants to prevent self injury, al
the irritation of the brain caused the
man to throw out his arms contin
nally. For two days he took nj
flourishment Of any kind and thu
md was expected at every minute.
AT the end of that time the patien
iegained consciousness and appearet
TO recognize those about him ant
take an interest in things. Dr. Stick
ney Immediately saw that there wa
a change and recovery possible.
LeClair began to mend at once an'
now, little more than three weeks a.
ter the accident, he is able to be on
Of doors.
The most remarkable feature G
the case is that there are compar:
lively no bad effects. The patieI
has two holes in his head, depre!
sfons of over half an inch in deptl
but these are covered with muscl
and skin and are not visible to th
eye. The fact that the brain we
operated on and part Of It reno
ed, does not seem to have impaire
the mans reasoning in the leas
He has a little trouble with h
y speech, a slight hesitancy, and mi
pronunciation OF words, but .
Stickney expects that this will
gradually overcome. The operate
also ieft traces of facial distortio
Y the left side being badly twisted b
tllis will also improve in time. 81
III CllI IIMRIIS