The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-11-22
AN OPERATION
STOPS PARALYSIS
Spinal Cord Joined After Be-
ing Severed by Bullet
Recovery Assured.

Wahpeton, y. n. Nov. 2:.-Ahou,
TWO weeks ago Eddie Spur, a : wear
Ola boy living near Herman. Mimi,
was accidentally shot in the back BY
ms brother who was removing a load.
90 - rifle from its place on the wall
me outlet caused instant paralysis OF
.he extremities and the boy
was brought to ST. Francis hospital
Where a most delicate operation
brought almost instant relief.
acc!dent happened at the home
OF the two boys. The elder, Alberl
spur in removing the gun from its
pace on The wall accidentally dis.
charged it and the bullet passed
the screen door and hit III.
S : boy INC was some yards away
~ was evident that the spinal cord
mad been injured as he Immediately
Is!l 10 the ground from paralysis O:
Inc lower extremities.
A physician was called and sent the
poy TO the hospital. An X-ray picture
showed the bullet to have passed
through the spine from one inch to
sne iett OF the spine. lodging in the
muscles of the back three or -four
inches to the right. severing the deli.
ate nerve fihers which pass to the
left leg, destroying motion and sensa-
ton in that limb.
Only n thing could restore the
llmo to usefulness and that was an
operation on the spine bringing these
oEohen connections together, which is
one of the most delicate operations
SHOWN TO surgery. Waiting measures
hao given no encouragement and il
surgical measures were to succeed
they u be done at once before
whitening Of the cord set in. The
operation was accordingly performed,
Inc various stages of the operation
succeeded each other rapidly and
methodical!y. Under ch~loroform. an
opening was made through the skin
and muscles. laying bare the vertebra
or spinal bones. The back halves Of
.nese n We're ext removed, max.
ing an oolong opening into &he spinal
cord n exposing the delicate over
ing OF the cord called the "dura ma
Ter. which hangs like a sack the
length OF the spine and contains the
more delicate spinal cord proper and
Its connections.
A delicate probe run between tn
cord and the bone soon detected the
site Of the punctur OF the bullet where
IT entered and indicated the hes, place
10 open the dura mater for further
search n this was the next step. On
opening this cord covering, a forceful
jet OF bloody brain and spinal fiuid
eushed forth. This relieved the pres
sure On Inc brain and cord and i'm.
proved the condition Of the patient at
once. The opening in the dura was
increased the full length of the ex-
posure and it revealed conditions lust
as the study Of the X-ray picture had
shown they we're.
On the side Of the dura or tube
now opened lengthwise another omen.
ing was seen where the bullet isf,
me spine n between these openings
and plain to be seer was the dam.sa
70 the delicate cable of nerves. sons
nelng severed with their ends curled
oack, others punched out and lam.
med into the bone by the bulle.
These delicate ends wree brought 70.
getner end 70 end each with lis cor.
responding fragment, the cord MON.
cranes and outer wound were closed
securely in their original condition
and the only evidence Of an operation
vas a line Of stitches in the center ~
the back. VI
Improvement in the condition If
n patent began at once and after
three days there was a complete re-.
turn Of sensibility in the limbs and
at the present time there is every
reason to believe that the bow Nil,
nave complet US Of his limbs. a con.
altion which would not have been
possible had not the operation been
successfully performed.