Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-06
l7olO Soldier With One Good Lea Is Transferyin0
What Is Left OF His Severed One to Provide
Another with 7wo Good Legs 1.-The Buildino Up
of Shattered Faces with Bits of Bone,
Metal end Wires---NelU Progress in Stitchino
and Replacing Worn Nerves
and Replacing Worn Nerves

TN the great European conflict at least a
million soldiers have received dishguring
wounds of the head and face. Some OF
these are so terrible that the victims lose the
senblance OF human beings. while still having
a considerable prospect OF life.
In France special centres have been estab.
lshed for the treatment Of soldiers with head
and face wounds, where the latest methods OF
surgical restoration be employed and
where the victims may hide their mislortunes
for a time. 1t Is estimated that 100 900 French
soldiers are under treatment at these places.
DR.. E. S. Grille. the noted American surgeon, in
describing his experiences at the front, EN-.
phaszed the frequency OF the most shocking
wounds OF this kind among the French soldiers.
| Many men DR.. Grille had their faces al
most entirely blown away. The frequency OF
such wounds is owing partly TO the trench
form OF warfare. in which the head Is most
exposed, and partly to the immense use OF
shrapne! and shells. which cause tearing
wounds in place Of the clean penetration OF
The rife bullet.
Some OF the most interesting surgical feats
OF the war have consisted In restoring the lost
faces OF these unfortunates. Such operations
are absolutely necessary in order TO enable
the mutilated man to face the world for how.
ever great the sympathy for him may be at
for his living on even terms with normal men.
Every part OF the face has been restored
from forehead 10 chin. including both Jaw
bones. cheek bones, nose, ears palate and
throat. The materials employed in rcstora.
ton have included human and animal tissues,
aluminium and other metals. rubber and cellu.
lo!d.
, One case especially is regarded as the star
achievement OF the face builders. 1t vas
treated at the centre for facial surgery a,
Talcnce, Bordeaux. The unfortunate
patient had the whole right side OF his face
torn away from eye to neck by large jagged
fragments OF shell. Cheekbone cheek, ear
Jeot was considered good one for operation
and especially for selftranspantation OF It's
sues. as he was young. strong and had an
ample covering OF healthy flesh.
The replacing OF the cheekbone cheek and
lower ana upper jaws were tho basic feature
of the operation. In order TO ensure the best
prospects OF success, It was decided to supply
the missing lower jaw with portion of bone
from the soldiers left arm. A graft from n
persons own tissue Is most likely to be sue
fessiui An inoiSon made in the arm
the bone exposed, cut half way through and
section of 1t was lifted up. This was riveted
to the ends of the jawbone In place of the
missing section, The arm was bound in posi-.
tion and left there until union took place
Then the section OF the arm was sawed away
and the arm wound closed. A flap OF tissue
was raised from the neck and stretched over
the new jawbone.
The missing part OF the cheekhone was so
great that 1t was impossible to replace IL with
oonc Here light framework of aluminium
was inserted, metal that Is remarkably well
tolerated by the human tissues as American
dentists have proved by driving parts of It into
the iawbone and mounting false teeth on them"
says the medical report OF the operation