Omaha daily bee., 1915-04-25
RECOVER FROM BROKEN NECK
Girl of Nine OvercOmes Fracture OF
Third and Fifth YER
fehrne.

Careful surgery and wild west show
are two important factors that have re-
suited in the cure from a broken neck
OF 9-year-old Marian Raynor Wallace,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Archer B.
Wallace Of Church street. Freeport. l. /.
For the first time since the child re-
ceived two breaks of the spinal column
In the lamina Of the third and fifth GER
vical vertebrate. at her parents summer
home in Merrick. last July. the child
romped and played in the street and
attended school yesterday
Marian was playing with playmates
in the barn in the rear of the home in
Merrick when she fell, Follow the
leader is sometimes dangerous game.
and when Marian, copying the leader. +"
tried to climb a swing door. she fell ten
feet. landing on her neck and shoulders
on cement floor.
DR.. William II. Runcie was summoned.
He declared the child's injuries to be
serious. She was ordered removed to
the Nassau hospital. where an X-ray was
to be taken. Promises to take her to
the Wild west show in Freeport that day
interested her. so that she agreed to
remain quiet and submitted happily to
being strapped to a board while DR..
Claghorn took the x-ray.
While father, mother and grand
father. George Wallace. waited in sus-
pense. Marian was the cheeriest little
patient imaginable. But she held her
head absolutely still and the physicians
were able to determine just exactly
what the injury was. The X-ray re-
vealed that there were two distinct
breaks OF the vertrabrae of the neck.
Scientifically the fractures were in the
lamlna of the third and fifth vertebrae,
and there was also an apparent forward
dislocatlon OF the backbone.
Marian was ordered placed in a plaster
cast for two months and 1t was evident
that her hopes for seeing the Wild West
show were to be shattered. She was
told the truth OF her injuries, because
IL was necessary that she should be
very quiet The truth did not trouble
her.
you must be strapped to the board
and taken home again, Marian" said
DR.. Runcie.
yes. and I will be a good girl, too,
but II can stand 1t. you should take
me in the automobile just to see the
lions and the Indians. I won't want to
linger."
The party did stop. at the show
grounds in the easterly end OF the VIII
age. Several cowboys and Indians
learned Of the facts and they filed
around the automobile. They gave three
cheers for Marian and told her she was
! plucky girl. II was the happiest mo-
nent of her life. despite her pain and /
condition.
Marian was then dressed IN a plaster I
asst. which enveloped her from head TO |
lips. except for portions of her face and |
rms. and In this she was destined to re-
main all summer. She smiled through
I all. and assured her parents repeatedly
hat she didn't mind.
Several days ago. the cast was re- |
moved and Marian found difficulty In |
moving her neck. BY gradual use OF Il. |
however. she succeeded in turning Il and
now she controls II freely. She returned
10 school Thursday. DR.. Runcie Is dir
fident In speaking OF the case. giving
credit to Marian. her grit and the cow
boys and Indians. but her recovery IA
said 10 be remarkable.-Brooklyn Eagle.