Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-01-22
OPERATION ON FEET
OF LITTLE MINNIE
OCCURS TODAY
CHILD WILL NEED CARE
FOR MANY MONTHS
Well Known Local Sur
geonS to Donate Skill for
Crippled Child; May Be En-
tlrely Well in a Year,

~ 10 O'Clock this morning AZ the
home OF DR.. Charles T.. Lukens. super
intendent OF the Children's Home So
ciety, Drs. J. S yesterday, w. G..
Hope and r. G. Cornish will perform
The delicate operation which is to
give little Minnie. the crippled ward
OF the society, the use Of her deformed
club feet. The physicians have vol
unteered their services gratis. While
the operation Is not a rare one. ii is
nevertheless one that calls for consid-
cradle surgical skill and precision,
n which TO the layman appears
wonderful. There are several meth
DDS which have been used in opera
ions OF this kind IN one. no incision
Is made at all, the bones being worked
ana kneadcd back into their prbper
positions by skilled manipulation. In
the subcutaneous method q small in
cislon is made and the tendons are
then severed underneath the skin
while the bones are replaced. The
operation is accompanied by practic-
ally no loss Of blood. Still another
method is the Phelps operation of
cutting the under side Of the foot.
The surgeons in view OF the general
success which has attended such oper-
ations as that necessary today, believe
that with proper care afterward there
is no reason why in a years time the
child should not have the full use of
her lower limbs and feet.
tull.u .a.nNoft,.. tsr.ff t. .f.-~t d.
Duration" said Or. Cornish last night.
The restoration, however, of the
normal functions of the entire legs and
feet takes an indefinite time. In the
case OF this child. over-correction' win
be performed: hat is. the foot will be
bent in the opposite direction from the
present deformity in order that 1t Will
finally grow straight. The plan in
Minnie's case is to place the feet in
plaster casts as soon as the first Sore
ness ID gone and put her right on the
ground, SO that she may learn to use
the muscles of the leg and feet.
The plaster casts will be renewed as
they are worn out until the legs are
fully developed, IT any paralysis per-
sists, massage wilt DO necessary"
THE child wiz, need to be taken
care Of for at least a year before she
is IN condition to be taken into a
home as n normal child. ! should say
that s400 would be a minimum esti-
mated expense for keeping her for a
year. including the services Of the
necessary nurse. said Dr. Cornish
when asked his opinion on tho matter
of expense. M
II Is due rte the generosity of the
kind hearted people of Albuquerque
and New Mexico al wen as Ell Paso
and parts OF Texas that the money
has been raised to make the operation
possible; for without provision for
careful nursing and attention after the
operation 1t could not be successful. 1t
is believed the contributions made
will amply provide for the expense.
although to dato DR.. Lukcns has re-
celved only SIPS in actual cash. Re
m%ittances are expected to como IN.
however. without delay, and it il be
lieved the total will cover the ex'
pense.
II Is seldom that any kind of appeal
for aid has met with such n generous
and whole-hoartctl response MS the
request Of DR.. Lukens IN behalf OF
the Children's Home society that the
neoplc help Iva making little Minnie
able TO walk. Owing to the bright
ness and attractiveness Of the little
maiden her pathetic detormity has
made the stronger appeal TO public
sympathy. The generous contributions
testify strikinglv to the approval by
the people of the splendid work car
ried on by the Children's Home So
tipfN |