WONDERFUL SURGICAL OPERATION.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 369, 16 March 1871, Page 2

WONDERFUL SURGICAL OPERATION.

Thebe lives in this city a young lady named Lizzie Twineliam. Some years ago, wlien she was hut a young girl, she was attacked with an ulcerafcion of the fnce, which entirely destroyed her nose, upper lip, and nearly all the adjacent bones. By the time that the ravages of the disease were arivsted she was the most hideous being that was ever gazed upon. Her eyes and forehead were visible, but in place of her nose and mouth there was nothing but a large tinsightly hole, in which the raw and purple flesh was visible away into the throat. None could look upon her without turning away in horror. Her parents were poor, and she was compelled to leave her home. She sought labor, as she was able and willing to work, but her presence was so disagreeable, on account of her terrible affliction, that she could not obtain a situation. About four years ago she found herself out of employment, with no home. She was advised to go to the poor-house. Despair and wretchedness seemed to be her lot. Shunned as she was by society and abandoned by all, her sensitive nature was racked by torment, and she seriously contemplated suicide. Just at this time, a friend suggested to her that probably "Dr. Wright, of this city, might be able to remedy her deformity and improve the appearance of her face. With tears in her eyes and with but faint hope, she called upon him. At first the Doctor thought it a hopeless case, but the despondent and despairing condition of the girl's mind induced him to take the case under serious consideration. He consulted with Dr. J. H. Eainey, dentist, in regard to the feasibility of supplying teeth and the upper jaw, which had been entirely eaten away. After examination, Dr. Rainey thought hewould be able to supply the deficiency. Dr. Wright then determined to enter upon the work of making a new face for the young woman. The first business was to supply an upper lip. This was an exceedingly difficult operation. The disease had not only destroyed the lip, but it had resulted in the healing process, in connecting the flesh of each cheek to the stub of the upper jaw-bone, iv an unnatural manner. It was necessary to cut the flesh loose from the bone upon the inside. After this was done and the wound healed, a piece of flesh was taken from the back part of the cheek and transplanted to form a lip. Th s was a most extraordinary operation, but was completely successful. The lip being formed, the next step was to supply a nose. This required several operations. A piece of flesn was taken from the forehead in such a mariner as to scarcely leave a scar, and brought down, and made to grow where the nose should be. Other pieces were taken from each cheek, and applied i n the same manner. It was necessary that m -'iths should intervene between each operation, that the parts might become perfectly healed. The different operations were eminently successful, and the work is now complete. Dr. Hainey has supplied the teeth and a bridge for the nose, which holds it out in the natural manner. A stranger now meeting her would never imagine that she was once without a uose or an upper lip. She would pass in company without any special observation on account of any deformity. We regard this case as the most wonderful and interesting in the annals of surgery. Dr. Wright had already won an enviable fame as in eminent surgeon, but this case gave him pre-eminence. Dr. Hainey is also deserving of the greatest crodit for the skill and ingenuity displayed in his part of the work, and both gentlemen are entitled to the highest praise and the warmest thanks of the pub- | lie for their generous and invaluable services to this poor and almost friendless young woman.— Canton (III.) Register, Oct. 18.