South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-08-10

Recent dispatches announce that
an operation has been performed
upon Capt. Archie Roosevelt 10 re-
pair the nerves in his arm. wound
ed by shrapnel when he won the
military cross last March. This
calls public attention 10 one OF the
more perplexing aspects OF war
wounds and most pulling problems
Of modern military surgery For
some reason or another there ap-
pear 10 have ,been a rather larger
number OF wounds Of the nerves,
particularly Of the larger nerve
trunks. in this war than formerly.
The writer was surprised when Wis
itine the magnificent French schools
for the reeduCation OF the wounded,
20 find how large a percentage OF the
men were suffering from a paralyz-
ed arm or les due 20 the cutting
across Of a main nerve trunk
Every wound OF any size. Of
course. involves the cutting across
of one or more smaller nerve twigs
q small territory. that even If they
do not unite again. they result i'm
nothing more serious than a little
patch Of inseusitive or unfeeling
skin. or the weakening Of few
fbres OF some muscle. But when
one OF the larger or main nerve
trunks. which usually run deep in
the interior OF the limb close 20 the
bone for purposes OF protection. IS
cut across. the results are much
more serious Whole muscles may
he paralyzed by being cut or from
the brain and central nervous svs-
tenn md in severe cases. whole
group OF muscles. which may upon
the one side bend. or on the other
side straighten out or extend the
limb may he left useless. This IS
one OF the most tragic accidents that
can happen. because the muscles
are there in absolutely perfect con
dition. the bones and joints of the
limb MAY he unhurt and ready TO
move as easily as II on ball bearings
but the limb hangs useless. because
no message can be sent 20 II from
the brain telling its muscles TO
move. The limb is In exactly the
condition OF telephone instrument
or telegraph KEY when the line that
connects il with central is out or or
der.
The situation is OF a Painful sim
plicity what is 20 be done Tn a
similar case outside Of the body the
Iinemen simply splice the wire. or
II 10 Is badly worn. stretch q new
one. but there are difficulties in the
way Of doing that in our own arms
or legs In the first place. when the
body was made up. there were no
extra lengths or coils OF spare nerve
telegraph wire left WINS bout any
where or tucked away in one OF the
pockets. II the nerve trunk has
been cut cleanly across without loss
| Of any OF its substance and the CIT
ends can De brought promptly to-
| gether and skillfully stitched. there
/ is a good chance Of its Emitting" so
as 10 restore the line for the trans
mission Of messages. Though IL Is
only a good chance. and 10y no
means a certainty. But n part Of
| the nerve trunk has been torn away
T or so badly damaged that an inch
! or more OF 10 has 20 be trimmed off
/ ia order 10 Set two good clean-Cut
ends for sewing together. then there
I is so much tension on the stitches
I holding the splice tina; they are apt
/ 10 Gull ont or give" so that the
! cut ends are not held closet, to-
/ gether. when. OF course. there rs no
chance OF their growing fast 20 each
| other
IN the second place. nerve tissue
! is one 90 The highest Grade and
most expensive stuns in the body
AM as might have been expected
from It's completely and importance.