The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-05-18

-VHE newest miracle OF surgery is giving q
crippled man a new hand. This feat
calls attention 70 the astonishing fact
that every part OF the external structure OF the
body and most OF the vital organs have now
been repaired by surgical operations.
All the bones. the eyes, the oars, heart lid
neys stomach and intestines can be replaced or
mended by the man!pulations OF the surgeon.
In the latest case young Ia Four Raymond.
son Of DR. J. L. Raymond OF Washington. d. c.,
suffered from n crippled left hand He burned
the hand terribly when child. The flesh on
the palm was almost totally destroyed. causing
a tremendous contraction OF the hand. which
rendered Il useless for any important kind OF
work. The Angers were also badly injured, and
all OF them except the middle and index were
drawn up 10 the shrivelled palm.
He could not hold onto tho rail- OF o street car
hold the left end OF his necktie with this hand
or perform any OF the many acts in which the
left hand is ordinarily used AS a boy he was
greatly distressed because his crippled hand
prevented him from playing any games properly
When he went 10 work he found himself still
more seriously handicapped.
One operation was performed and proved
failure. because the contraction due TO the alb
scnce OF tissue returned MANY consultations
we're held and methods OF treatment discussed
Finally it decided 10 take the young man 10
Or. Robert II. NJ Dawbarn. OF New York. a
noted expert in plastic surgery. He held out
hopes OF favorable results from the newest
methods OF operation
Dr. Dawbarn dssected away the scar tissue
from the palm that II could be opened up Tho
tendons OF the fingers were heightened with
little strips OF new tissue. The great prob
lem was then 10 supply the missing palmar
surface for without this the opened up hand
would have been useless and would have quickly
contracted 10 the previous condition
Then came the remarkable part Of the opera
ton. Or. Dawbarn raised flap OF flesh in the
form Of a pocket from Mr. Raymonds back Just
above the hip The raw skinless palm OF the
crippled hand vas then placed against the under
side OF the flap. The edges OF the flap were
sewn 20 the palm OF the hand. but the flap was
left connected with the back.
The hand Was then fixed in this position by
means OF plaster cast and left in that condi-
tion for four weeks The vitality and circula-
tlon OF the flap were thus maintained b. the
body while tho section OF tissue was growing in
its new position. At the end OF the period men
toned the cast was removed and the flap COM
Nletey severed from the body. The freshly cut
edge was sewn 20 the palm.
The wound In the back was bandaged and
allowed 10 heal by contraction. which II did
satisfactorily. as there is an abundance OF skin
and flesh In that region.
Further grating operations had 10 be per
formed There were injuries on the back OF the
crippled hand less extensive than on the palm.
but stll interfering with the use OF the hand.
These were repaired by trausplanting small areas
ot skin from the thigh.
81 the completion OF the operation the hand
worked we'll for the customary purposes OF life
The extension and ieH!on OF the fingers and