The Washington herald., 1909-02-04

IN Germany. and II is hinted taat il even
one OF these had been in Washington to
look after his body the story Of the re-
markable surgical feat would never have
been told.
With all the facts Of the surgical feat
known, it is hardly necessary 10 dwell
on the additional fact that inasmuch as
AIbrecht was dead and helpless, the oper-
alton was eminently successful, as well as
absolutely painless
Kelly VIII Profit.
Kelly is the man who VIII proft by
this exhibition OF surgical skill, provided.
Of course. he lives to enjoy the fruits Of
the Undertaking
Friends Of Albrecht make the charge
that physicians who removed the bone
did not first obtain the consent Of Al
brecht's relatives, none Of whom resides
in the United states. II IS also said the
physicians did not get the consent Of Al
brecht's friends, who bore the expense OF
lis treatment al the hospital and Of the
burial
Witnessed the operation admit they saw
Il performed. they viii not discuss the
case They even refuse 10 say Albrecht
was the man from whose leg the bone
was removed Coroner hewitt, who at
tended Albreeht for an internal trouble.
was not intrusted with the secret OF the
identity Of the dead man The coroner
said last night he had endesvored 70
learn Il the knee had been removed from
the leg Of his patient, Albrecht. but had
been unsuccessful. as physicians who
knew the secret had been unwilling 10
c0nfide 70 him
Resident physicians az Georgetown Uni
versity Hospital and DR.. George Tuily
Vaughan, OF I7oS I street northwest. who
IS credited with performing the operation,
are equally reticent The answer Cf Dr
Vaughan was;
I have had nothing 10 say Of this a.
fair from the beginning. and I in
tend 10 maintain my silence 10 the end"
4 friend OF AIbrecht says ne was IN
formed half an hour before the Germans
death that an "autopsy'' was TO be per
formed on AIbrechts leg Up 10 that
time. he says, he had not known Al
orecht was suffering from anything more
than an internal complaint.
Remarkable Operation.
The only feature thus far granted by
physicians familiar with the operation is
that it was one Of the most remarkable
ever performed in this country.
Kelly was received at the hospital SUI
ferng from a peculiar disease Of the left
knee. Physicians decided on an amputa-
ton. and then IL became known to those
who we're 10 remove the leg, It IS ssid.
that q patient was dead in a private
room IN the hospital A consultation was
held. and a decision was made 10 remove
the knee Of the dead man. snd four
inches Of hone, and substitute Il for the
knee 10 Be removed from Keny-s leg
Kelly was placed under an anesthetic.
and & surgeon substituted the dead mans
knee cap The bones we're rive1ed TO-
Eether by thin. strong wire The tissues.
tsudons. and muscles were Joined. and
this practically completed an operation
which has only been performed once be-
fore IN the history Of modern surgery.
and that tine in Germany
improving rsp pidly. and as more than
ten days have elapsed since the opera
tlou, Il Is safe 20 assume, physicians say.
the man wiz recover, and viii be able
10 walk in a few days.
The body Of the man whose death. II
IS claimed. made the operation possible
Teposes IN a grave in Rock Creek Gene
teTE- On TOP Of the mound rests a
large floral cross and wreath. tokens
Of esteem from the men among whom he
worked IN the last six years OF his life
AlhTeCht became I'll about & month aro
A physician who was summoned advised
that he be removed 10 a hospital and he
was admitted 10 Georgetown University
Hospital twenty days before his Death.
AT the request Of an empIoye IN the VII
lard Hotel. Coroner hewitt visited the
patient A few days later fl was de-
cidsd an operation was necessary, and.
according to friends Of the deceased Ger
man, DIT. Vaughan performed the opera
ton.
Death OF AIbrecbt.
Albrecht gradually sank. On Saturday.
January .. q physician called up Gustav
Buchholz. under whom AIbrecht had
worked for six years. by telephone. The
physician told BuchhoIz that AIbrecht
could not live
The same physician called up Buch-
holz at 3:45 o'clock Sunday afternoon
We've found it necessary 10 perform
an autopsy on the left leg OF AIbrecht," f"
the physician said.
Why is That necessary" asked Buch-
holz.
wei. have not time to explain the
got 10 be done"
At 4:15 O'Clock Buchholz says he was no
titled OF Albrecht's death
Receiving information OF the death OF
his patient, Coroner Nevitt went 10
Continued on Page 3, Column 7.