Milford chronicle., 1909-12-10

Five-Year-old Boy Operated Upon For
Infantlle Paralysis While Perfectly
Conselous-Felt No Paln-Great
4 Surgeons Saw Tests.
New York, Dec. s.-A little boy. less
than five years old, lay on the operat-
ing table at the hospital of the New
York Society for the Relief of the Rup-
tured and Crippled. Around the table
were fifty physicians and surgeons,
among them the best known of their
profession.
Jonnesco, the Roumanian surgeon,
stepped up to the table. smiled reas-
suringly at the little chap, patted him
on the shoulder. and gently turned him
on his back The needle of a hypoder-
mic syringe glittered for a moment in
the Roumanian's hand. He pressed the
point Of it into the boys back. low
down on the spinal column. The boy
flinched and the medical men looked
at each other. JOnnesco waited less
than two minutes, then bowed to DR..
Virgil P. Gibney. retiring to give DR..
Gibney elbow room.
DR. Gibney a celebrated orthopedic
specialist. took hold of the boys right
foot and began to use the knife. It
was a case Of infantile paralysis. The
boys right leg was crippled and use
less. 1t was necessary to make incis- |
ions around the Achilles tendon and |
stretch it. In such cases ether is |
al fo /
so delicate and painful that complete |
analgesia must be obtained to prevent |
movement on the part of the patient |
and to do away with suffering.
While Dr. Gibney's hands moved |
swiftly and surely the medical men
talked among themselves. watching
the boy, who lay perfectly conscious,
his face covered by towel. Professor
Jonensco spoke rapidly in French, ex-
planning this or that phase Of the op-
GRAFTON as it was connected with the
uses of his anaesthetic. Occasionally
some one, DR.. Gibney or Mr.. SOutzo.
Professor Jcnnesco's associate, spoke
to the boy. Once he was asked:
How do YOU feel?"
There was perfect stiffness in the
big operating room. The surgeons
waited intently for the boys answer
"All right" said the boy. his treble
mufFled a bit by the towel over his
eyes and face.
do you feel any pain?"
at doesn't hurt at all, said the boy.
II feel fine"
Jonnesco smiled quietly. triumphant
ly. The medical men glanced around
at each other again. Some of them
as was to be seen easily. were enthu-
siastic. Others shook their heads as
# still in doubt
After about twenty-five minutes the
operation was completed and the
wound bandaged. The little boy was
'arried back to his cot. They took the
owel off his face. The surgeons look
ID to see if there were traces of pain {
here or signs of nausea. There wasn't
he slightest indication Of suffering or ,
ickness The child was smiling at 4.
Dr. Bennett. the house surgeon He -.
eemed to be quite at his ease and in :
he full possession Of all his senses.
That was the first of four cases at I.
he Hospital for the Relief of the Rup- :
ured and Crippled. in which Professor b
'homas JOnnesco, who discovered how :,
combination of strychnine and sto-
aine may be used as a local anaes-
heic safely and painlessly while =,
he patient remains perfectly con :
cious. demonstrated the uses of his =
pplication. His demonstration was re- :
arded as a brilliant success by most =
f the surgeons present. They hesi :
ited generally to express opinions fOl -
at this time, but the ma \,
1rity were evidently of the idea that :,
has made good.