The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-09-28
RECOVERY Of
INJURED MAN
At Dickinson Has Been Very
Remarkable - Sustained q
Fracture Of the Skull

Dickinson. N. D.. Sept 2s.-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, IL one
which will become famous in medi-
cal circles. LeClair's recovery ia very
remarkable and unusual, and on this
account Of much general interest.
AS will be recalled, LeClair was in
jured while trying to jump onto the
moving engine Of the special train
bringing the troops from the encamp-
ment in 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 out from under the car in a
horribly bruised and bleeding con-
dition.
He was unconscious when taken to
the hospital and no hopes were given
of 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 the pieces
Of the skull were damned down into
the brain, making depression of full
ly an inch. The second fracture was
nearer the top Of the head, and while
not as large, was as serious blow,
burying the bone in the substance of
tho brain.
An operation was, Of course, a nee
essity and DR.. v. H. Stickney remov-
ed the pieces of bone, assisted at the
end by DR.. g. A. Perkins. The oper-
alton in itself, was not an unusual
nor delicate one, but the danger lay
in the fact that the pieces were i'm
bedded in the brain. Cases of recov-
cry 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 silver dollar and about one
quarter of an inch in thickness, which
was taken from the hole above the
left ear. So difficult and so serious
was the operation that portion of
the brain matter had to be removed
to get all the particles.
At the close of the operation the
patient was very low and DR.. Stick
ney despaired Of saving his life. He
lay in an unconscious state for
hours closely watched by the hospital
attendants to prevent self injury, as
the irritation Of the brain caused the
man to throw out his arms continu-
ally. For two days he took no nour-
ishment Of any kind and the end was
expected every minute.
At the end of that time the patient
regained consciousness and appeared
to recognize those about him and
take an interest in things. DR.. Stick
ney Immediately saw that there was
change and recovery possible.
LeClair began to mend at once and
now. little more than three weeks af-
ter the accident, Is able to be out of
doors.
The most remarkable feature of the
case is that there are comparatively
no bad effects. The patient has two
holes in his head, depressions Of over
half an inch in depth, but these are
covered with muscle and skin and are
not visible to the eye. The fact that
the brain was operated on and part
of 1t removed, does not seem to have
impaired the mans reasoning the
least. He has little trouble with
his speech, slight hesitancy and
INSTRUMENTATION of words, but DR..
Stickney expects that this will be
gradually overcome. The operation
also left traces Of facial distortion,
the left side being badly twisted but
this will also improve in time.
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