Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-31
BULLET IS REMOVED
FROM MAN s BRAIN
TORESTORE SAN|TY

OSSINING. n. Y, March 3O.-One
of the rarest operations known to
medical science, that of removing a
bullet from a mans brain, was sue
cessfully accomplished Tuesday in
the Sing Sing prison hospital. A re-
markable feature of the operation
was that DR.. William l.. Chapman,
of Brooklyn, woh performed the
work. is himself an invalid and was
wheeled to the operating table in
chair. propped in which he worked
on the patient.
The operation was an attempt to
cure insanity in Roman LeondoWskl,
a prisoner there. The presence OF
two bullets in the patients brain was
disclosed by X-ray examination, the
one removed today being imbedded
almost two inches, while the other
was lodged behind the right ear
When the first bullet had been eX-
tracted. DR.. Chapman endeaVored to
remove the other, which, however,
was found to be lodged solldly IN the
tissue. After a consultation OF sew
eral physicians in atteW lance, 1t was
decided not to2 touch it. The inclslon
then was closed and the patient re
gained consciousness.
The full operation lasted one hour
A piece of skull about the size OF
silver dollar first was removed ana
into the aperture Dr.. Chapman insert
ed his index finger gently and slowly,
being extremely careful not to rup-
ture the brain tissue or draw blood.
Deeper and deeper, with almost pain
fuI slowness, the surgeon probed I'M
til his finger came in contact with
the bullet. The more delicate task
of working the bullet upward now
confronted the invalid surgeon, but
he slowly worked his finger around
and under the object, gradually fore
ing it through the tissue until 1t
touched with side of the skull, and
then half lifted, half pushed it along
the wall until it reached the opening
where it was taken out with tOrcepS.
Thirty minutes later DR.. Chapman
made another incision to remove the
second bullet. This was found in
less time than the first, but was coat
Ell with tissue which would have had
to be broken to remove it. To do so,
II was Sdlus presented Inc bctIlS5Sl VI
a scar forming on the tissue, which
would be worse, perhaps, than if the
bullet had remained. DR.. Chapman
decided to leave It where it was.
The patient was kept under watch
of several surgeons until he was con-
sidered out of danger DR.. Chapman
declined to make a statement but DR..
John r. Ross. superintendent OF
Dannemora hospital, said:
what we hope to do by this oper-
alton is to cure epilepsy, visual hal
fluctuations and suicidal tendencies"
Leondowsl<i. he said. normally was
q we'll behaved prisoner, but occa-
sinna1ly when he suffered an attack Of
epilepsy at the prison he would be-
come violent. "He had hallucina-
TONS" he said. that someone was
continually pressing or pointing a
revolver against his head. At such
times we feared he might attempt
to take his life. We believe now that
he will be model prisoner. and
don't think the bullet near his ear
will ever affect his department"
"Where am u" was the patients
first question when the effect of the
ether had worn off.
Told he was in Sing Sing prison
and that the operation was success
full, he was then asked how he felt.
"I'm feel ing great" he replied,