The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1912-04-03
BRAIN
TRANSFERRED
To the Skull of an Az
a flicted Man.
OPERATION WAS SUCCESSFUL
And without a Parallel in the
Annals of Medical
Surgery.
HE LIVES TO USE NEW BRAIN

|
Baltimore, Md, March 28.-An
operation that in the history OF
science has never had parallel,
either in delicacy or in skill, has
been performed at Johns Hopkins
HOSPITAL by DR.. Harvey Cushing
world renowned brain specialist,
and the patient, as a result, Is on
the road to recovery, thus indicat-
ing that the operation, which until
a month ago was thought practical
" impossible by the best authori-
ties on brain disorders, will prove
success.
The patient, William Buckner,
prominent real estate dealer OF
Cincinnati, came to Baltimore NO
vember 23d last, suffering with
peculiar affection OF the brain. For
weeks before his arrival in this city
he had been in q state OF semi
coma, except at intervals, when he
would awaken and seem well. When
IL was least expected, he would ran
over and again lapse into uncon-
seriousness. - --'-
The disease asserted itself about
seven months ago when Mr.. Buck
per was making deal with one OF
his customers. He brought the
conversation to an abrupt end and
walked, Extraordinarily, from his
office to his home. On arriving
home he seemed to be in full pos
session of his faculties, but during
the evening meal 1ne fell from his
Mace at the table to the floor I'M
conscious. He was revived, put
several days later began to com
plain of feeling p continual drowsl-
ness. This drowsiness terminated
in a complete state Of coma within
a few days.
On his arrival here Mr.. Buckner
was placed under the care of DR..
Cushing. His case was a puzzling
one. but after X-ray examinations,
during which photographs of the
brain were taken, DR.. Gushing dis
covered that portion of the brain
had decayed and frayed tissues
were causing the healthy sections
J. gradually to- become affected. The
: case at that time seemed hopeless
, although Mr.. Buckner seemed in nc
4 immediate danger of death.
s II was evident, however, that Il
). something was not done 1t would
4 only be a matter of time before the
! entire brain was destroyed, result
+ ing in death for the patient. Mrs
J, Buckner was informed OF the exist
O ing conditions just when DR.. Cush
: ing was ready to give up hope. Sh'
Y pleaded with the physician, and III
d at last agreed to try an experiment
' in an effort to save Mr.. Buckner'
n life.
DR.. Cushing decided to procure
the brain of another patient as sool
II after death as possible and to trans
plant a portion of 1t in the skull
k Mr.. Buckner. The brain had to b
healthy and from as young a per
= son as possible.
The transplanting of the brair
and the procuring of it were tw
widely different things, howevel
and this was the difficulty cor
n fronting the physician when one
his colleagues casually mentione
that a child born in one o. tn
wards had just died OF inanitloI
lg Here was the opportunity.
DR.. Cushing hurried to the ware
n and after obtaining permission. r.
moved the brain. Assistants ha
rushed Mr.. Buckner to the opera
ne ing room and prepared him for tn
ordeal.
of Then in view of about score {
professors and students DR.. Cusi
t.. ing performed his pgreatest operi
We ton. After administering the al
I'd aesthetic he removed the back {
u Mr.. Buckner's skull and with grei
d. care took out the entire brai
k which was placed on piece o. III
e- en- beside the head and could
nd seen to pulsate with each hea
W beat of the patient.
The diseased portion was thu
en- very carefully severed from Il
ms minor brain, and while DIR. Gus
10, ing was severing the diseased Sc
ed ton, another surgeon was tran
he planting the infants brain. II
go major brain was left untouche
at After the transportation the e
ny tire brain was restored to its pro
er place and the section OF Il
so skull which had been cut out W
10, replaced.
he Mr.. Buckner stood the operate
exceedingly we'll, and a week a.
"a mae tbouuht that He was w,