Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-01-19
MOST CUT UP MAN
Michael 7. Durkin Operated Upon
More Than 20 Times
Injured In Railroad Accident Near
Brattleboro and Struck by a Failing
Tree In Marlboro.

Injured In a Railroad Accident Near
Brattleboro and Struck by a Failing
Tree In Marlboro.
Michael T. Durkn of 270 North street,
a railroad engineer, upon whom surgeons
of Vermont, Massachusetts and new
York have used the scalpel more than 70
times since 1897 who has had IL major
operati tons, has been in the hospitals OF
three states 55 months, who has been
subject of two surgical clinics, who has
been examined by a hundred surgeons,
attended by 400 nurses, and who has no
fear of the ether cone or the surgeons
knife, believes himself to be the most
"cut-up" man in Massachusetts.
Today, he is selling newspapers on the
streets of Pittshed, during period OF
convalescence after an operation. He is
still optimistic, loves life and believes he
is going to get well and strong.
Il have spent my all, more than $4,000
for operations" said he, and all l ask
now is patrons who will buy papers OF
me until 1 can regain my strength. I'm
still game and l shall go back upon the
operating table, if it is again necessary
without flinching."
He is 35 years DID, He was spare
engineer on the Central Vermont rail-
road. running between Brattleboro and
New London, Conn, when on the night
of Nov. T. 1897, while standing on the
foot board of a locomotive, there was
collision between the locomotive and
freight car. Durkin was thrown off and
his right side was crushed. At a private
hospital at Brattleboro he was operated
on. Two ribs were broken and other
ribs were splintered
The original operation did not relieve
Durkin and the side was reopened Jan,
10, 1898, the ribs scraped and particles
of bone taken out. Still incapacitated
Durkin was sent by the railroad COM
pany to the Burlington, VT, hospital,
where on April &c. 1898, DR.. Walter w.
Wheeler of the surgical staff reopened
the side and found that particles of
bone, broken off from the ribs, were
pressing against the flesh. These pieces
were removed.
There was no apparent relief and on
May 8 DIR. Wheeler again operated for
the same trouble, taking out more bone.
While remaining in the hospital under
inspection of the surgical staff. DIR.
G. W. Tinkham of New York, lecturer
at the College of Physicians and Sur
geons of Vermont University, examined
Durkin.
Another operation was decided on and
Durkin went before his first clinic as
subject, DIR. Tinkham operating. One
hundred students looked on this time. A
rib was taken out and Durkin now
looked for permanent relief. He re-
manned in the hospital until Sept 26,
1898.
Two years later, Feb. 8, 1900, found
him at the Homeopathic hospital at
Boston. He was examined at a clinic.
DIR. Emerson of the surgical staff OPP
Grated on Durkin this time, removing
bones and putting in drainage. re-
currence Of his trouble sent him back
to the Homeopathic hospital again where,
on Aug. %, 1900, DR.. Smith, the house
surgeon, took out troublesome rib.
This was the seventh major operation.
Durkin was discharged Sept 81, 1900.
In the spring of 1903, while working in
sugar orchard owned by Harry Ham,
ilton at Marlboro, VT, tree fell on Dur
kin and struck him on the mutilated
went on the operating table at Brattle-
boro May a. 1903, where DR.. Lynch was
the operating surgeon.
For two years he did some work, but
surgeons told him another operation was
imperative and after examination in the
House of Mercy in Pittsfeld, at the
advice of Dr. Charles Richardson, he
went to the Albany hospital, where DR..
John Mcdonald performed the most Sc
rious operation on the engineer. DR. Nc
Donald took out two more ribs Sept. 20,
1905. He was discharged Oct. 26.
Durkin again overtaXed his weak side
by hard work and it became troublesome.
Entering the North Adams hospital Dec.
II, 1908, he was twice operated on by
DR.. Stafford and remained in the hospital
until May 10, 1909.
He was getting fairly strong again
when he was hurt in a livery stable in
Hinsdale, Mass, by falling between
wheels of wagon. Serious results fol-
lowed, and DIR. Walter w. Schofield Of
Dalton performed an operation on Durkin
Sept. II, 1910. On Dec. II of the same
year he was back in the House of Mercy
of this city. His condition was such
that he was not operated on until March
10, 1911. DR.. F. S. Coolidge was the
operating surgeon. On June IA, 1911, at
the House of Mercy hospital, DR.. W. o.
These latter two operations were from
causes which had their origin in the
crushing of his side IA years before.
Durkin's longest confinement in a hos
pital was in Pittsfield, from Dec II, 1910,
to Nov. II, 1911. He now weighs las
pounds. He is still under observation at
the House of Mercy, where he reports
twice a week.
He believes his acquaintance with the
surgeons knife is over. He says he has
been attended by so many nurses he
has forgotten more than half Of them
Probably 400 have cared for him in diff
ferent hospitals. Ether no longer makes
him ILL., He knows all about different
methods OF etherization.
Durkin, between his hospital expert
ences, has not been idle He has worked
hard and often overtaxed his strength.
Between operations in Boston he worked
In the Devine grocery store on Parker
street and in the Ferguson bakery He
has worked on a farm, has operated a
road roller fired boilers, been a station
airy engineer and has had the operation
Of steam shovel
He is now forbidden to do hard work
and has taken a corner on North street,
where he sells papers, Just to keep
going until am well again." he said this
week. Pittsfeld, Mass, despatch in
Boston Sunday Globe.