Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-02
FREEZES OFF A BlRrHMARK.
I
Novel Operation REMOVES Furry Form
of Dog From Boys Face.

"A OlTtIlIlldTk tndI covered one SlUc
of the face of Joseph Joyce, IL, years
old. with a shaggy fur has been al
most entirely removed by DIR. Alfred
Potter of the Kings County, Hospital.
The mark bore a close resemblance to
dog, Through a difficult. surgical
operation, Dr. Potter has eradicated
most of the fur and the outline, and
expects within a few weeks to effect
an entire cure. 'fNA g -.
The case Of the boy has been one of
the most difficult on record and be-
cause of the success Of the operation
the physicians Of the Kings County
Hospital believe that they have solved
the problem of disposng of ugly, dis
figuring birthmarks. ..'s5 e.. %
The Joyce boy lives in No. 80 State
street with his parents. A few weeks
before he was born his mother. Z, was
attacked by vicious Newfoundland
dog and has never overcome her fear
of the animals. The boy when he
grew up was an unusually handsome
child, with the exception. of the fur
that hid the right side Of his face.
Instead of wearing off, as the moth
er had hoped, the hair on the side Of
the boys face grew with his years. 1t
was of the thick texture of dogs
fur, and the most curious thing about
it was that it was shaped in the form
of a dog. $685.. ....... ..r,
The head of the animal was closeeto
the boys forehead and the other lines
in resemblance to the animal were
brought out in uncanny detail on the
boys face. His mother brought him
to the Long Island College Hospital
several months ago, but the boy re-
fused to submit to the treatment. He
ran away and would not return. ~
He was finally convinced that the
mark which made him so conspicuous
could be eradicated, and he consent
ed to submit to an, operation DR..
Potter, one Of the visiting surgeons of
the hospital, who had had good results
in this branch of work, took charge of
the case three months ago. sga.
His solution to kill the growth of the
fur and to remove the traces of the
mark was composed of carbon dioxide
and snow. This was brought to, a
temperature of 100 degrees below zero
and applied to the face.
. Take it away! 1t burns!" yelled
the boy as the frozen solution was, APP
piled to his face. He was permitted to
feel the tube to convince himself that
it was frozen, but he made the same
outcry when the cold instrument again
touched his face. Finally, he became
so violent that he had to. be strapped
to the operating table during each APP
plication. f,J H.. y.
After a few months the treatment
brought results. The fur Disappeared
and showed no signs of b new growth;
the natural down showed in its place.
The marks under the skin were blotted
out and the face took on the same
boyish flush that showed in the other
cheek. "~ ~ =
The. head of the. dog, however. still
is unremoved. DR.. Potter has recog
nized the danger Of Applying the treat
ment too close to the temple and Is go
ing slowly in his operation in that
region. He believer, however. that. 1t
will be possible for him to get under
the skin with his, knife and to apply
his solution without atrophying any,,of
the nerve centers SO closeas, to the
brain. In the next few weeks little
joseph. the surgeon thinks, will be
sent out without the Disagreement
that threatened, to mar his entire life.
New York Press ,a-