The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-02-20
SURGEON CUTS TACK
FROM A GIRLS LUNG
SAVES HER FROM TUBERCU-
LOSIS. SON, VICTIM OF THE
PLAGUE, ENDS HIS LIFE.
A REMARKABLE OPERATION.
Stopped Action of Heart, Moved 1t
Over and Started 1t Again. Emil
nent Surgeon Has Faced Many
Tragedies in His Life.

over ana Started IT AGAIN. EIIl-
nent Surgeon Has Faced Many
Tragedies in His Life.
CHICAGO.-Dr. John Minahan,
famous surgeon of Green Bay, Wis,
had just pushed aside the heart of a
girl and removed tack imbedded in
one of her lungs, thus saving her life
by a most daring operation.
As he turned from saving the life OF
the girl from tuberculosis he was no.
tilted that his son, afflicted with the
same disease, had blown off his head,
just as he was making final prepare
tons to journey to New Mexico in
the hope of checking the ravages OF
the white plague.
John Minahan, aged 81, was the
son. He was a freshman at the Uni
versity of Chicago, coming here from
Princeton about month ago. He was
found seated in a chair and leaning
over a shotgun in rear room OF a
fraternity house, near the university.
The entire back of his head had been
blown away by the charge from the
shotgun.
Swallow Tack in Childhood.
DIR. Minahan was to have come to
Chicago some days ago to arrange for
the removal of his son to New Next
co for long stay, but was delayed
by the urgent necessity OF an opera
ton on Miss Rose Wendricks, aged
II, who had swallowed tack in child
hood. The tack had become imbedded
in her left lung and pulmonary infec-
ton was appearing. To remove it DIR.
Minahan found it necessary to stop
action of her heart, move it over and
start it again.
Meanwhile the son was preparing to
drop the campus and go to the south
west to fight for his life. He sat up till
4 o'clock this morning, talking over
the trip with Al Hof, former Uni
versity of Chicago student, who was
to accompany him. At 7 O'Clock a
friend went to call him and found him
dead.
Faced Many Tragedies.
The death of his son is only one Of
series of tragedies that have come
into the life of DIR. Minahan. Indirect
ly this son, John, played a part in a
grim tragedy more than decade ago
1t was when John was quarantinec
with diphtheria his mother who was
DIR. Minahan's second wife, was car.
ing for him day and night. Her only
opportunity for rest came at night
when after dark she would steal out
and walk by herself. Worn out by
her nightly vigil Mrs. Minahan did
not see an approaching train and was
killed.
Then came the Titanic disaster that
brought tragedy to the Minahan fam
lily. DR.. Will Minahan, of Fond du
Lac, a brother of John R., his wife
and Daisy Minahan, sister OF the doc
tor, all were returning from Europe
when the steamer sank. Will Minahan
was one of those that went down. His
wife and Daisy were rescued, but
years later Daisy died primarily OF
the exposure in the open boat. With
his wife dead and one brother a vic
tim of the worlds greatest tragedies
DR.. Minahan settled himself grimly
attending his practice and to his boys,
John and Robert. He devoted himself
to them. Their company buoyed him
up and the busy surgeon never was
too engrossed to wait on John and
Robert. If necessary he would cross
continent to CRAFTY the whim OF
the favorite son, John.