Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-12
WITH
BULLET IN
HIS BRAIN
UNUSUAL OPERATION SAVES
LOS ANGELES MAN
Skull Shattered, Part of cerebrum
Removed, Victim Receivers and
Is Now Better Than
Ever

Suppose you had a half ounce of steel
jacketed lead driven into your head with
the smashing force of 1000 tons; that your
skull was shattered like an eggshen and
you had lost three per cent of your brain
matter? DO you think there is an insur-
ance company in America or an indi-
vidual who would wager penny on your
life?
When it is stated as a fact, borne out
by the surgical history of the world. that
n man injured as described has less than
one chance in 1000 of recovery, do you
think you would risk anything on his
living?
A Los Angeles man was injured, how.
ever. lust as described, and there was
one man who wagered on his life-and
won.
The man thus injured is Harry B. Teet-
sci, an oil refiner of this city, and the
man who took the risk on his life IS Dr.
Edward H Garrett, the police surgeon OF
Los Angeles, and he it is who won.
In the gray dawn of November 16 last
Harry B. Teetsel was found lying beneath
pile of railroad ties at Macy and Ala
media streets, this city, with bullet
hole in his head.
He was removed to the receiving hos
pital at the city Jail and there DIR. Gar
rett who was the surgeon in charge,
took hold of the case.
ParietaI Bone Shattered
Teetsel was shot in the right side OF
the head, the bullet fracturing the right
parietal bone and smashing it into small
bits. gaping wound one and half
inches in diameter showed where the
steel iacketed missile had entered.
In the opinion of every one who saw
him. except the plucky little police sur
i khn ell nO
chance of recovery.
While there is life there is hope how
ever. and Dr. Garrett determined that as
long as there was pulse beat in Teet-
sells body he would work to save his life.
Yesterday less than two months after
he was shot, Harry B. Teetsel was dis
charged from the doctors care a we'll
man.
The Teetsel case is the marvel of the
local surgical world. AS has been stated,
the records of all the world show that
but one man in 1000 wounded as he was
ever RECEIVERS.
Daring Operation
From the police station Teetsel was re-
moved to the Clara Barton hospital, and
there within a few hours after the shoot
ing DR.. Garrett performed one of the
most daring operations known to surgery.
removed from the cavity of the skull in
taking from the brain the bits of shat
tered bone which had been driven in by
the force of the bullet and by the concus-
sion of the explosion of the gelatine pow
der behind it.
In his operation DIR. Garrett was assist
ed by DIR. Wiley ami DR.. Wise. The bull
let was found imbedded in the brain -four
inches from the point of entrance and
removed.
Six hours after tie operation Teetse
recovered consciousness, and then fol,
lowed, one after another epileptic con-
vulsions of the true and so-called Jack
sonian types.
| The entire left side was found to be
paralyzed and death lowered over him
| every moment.
Physician at Bedside
Three, four and five times a day DR..
Garrett was at the bedside of his patient
and remained sometimes for hours watch
ing every symptom and administering
such remedies as were required.
After three weeks of this constant
handto-hand fight with death Teetsel
began to get better and from that time
on his condition steadily improved.
Before he was shot Teetsel was man
addicted to the use of liquor, tobacco and,
it is said, of opium in small quantities.
From the result of the wound and the
operation he has lost all desire for liquor,
never thinks of smoking and, so far as
is entirely gone.
He has gained in health and strength
| and weight and is pronounced by sur
geons and friends more perfect man
than before.
S$-