REMARKABLE OPERATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 162, 8 June 1940, Page 11

REMARKABLE OPERATION.

MYSTERIOUS ILLNESS CURED. Per Press Association. .AUCKLAND, June 7. Suffering from a mysterious brain illness which induced recurring - bouts of unconsciousness,-an 'll-year-old Sydney girl has travelled nearly 30,000 miles by sea and air in obtaining successful treatment at the famous LaJiey Clinic, in Boston, United States. The story of the long journey and of the intricate diagnosis tests which enabled their daughter’s health to be restored by means of a surgical operation, was told to-day by her parents, Mr and Mrs H. M. Sheffer,. who readied Auckland on their return voyage to Sydney. Mr Sheffer said that Australian doctors had been puzzled by the condition of his daughter. Lapsing into periodical epmas. she would remain unconscious for hours 'at a time, and at other periods she would suffer spells of dizziness and incapacity Searching X-ray examinations failed to reveal the specific cause, except that the condition was caused by increased pressure of the spinal fluid At the suggestion of Sydney specialists, Mr Sheffer decided to take his daughter to the Lahe.v Clinic. Staffed by specialists, the clinic possessed between 30 and 40 doctors, and the Australian case was handled by Dr Gilbert Horrox in conjunction with an associate and five assistants. Diagnosis was the first problem arid tfig most modern and scientific developments were used to assist tlie ’experts, the main equipment being an intricate instrument which made a chart of the pulsation of the child’s brain. Thirty-si < wires were lightly cemented to the girl’s head and the electrical reactions transmitted through the machine were recorded on .a chart by six pens. The purpose .of the test was to localise the brain trouble, but the interpretation of the chart suggested general disturbance. It was also found that pressure of the spinal fluid 'had become so great that the girl’s sight was endangered. What was described as a decompression operation was performed. Between the brain and skull the surgeons found the membranes inflamed and swollen but, by removing a small section of bone from the skull itself, the pressure was reduced. \ Making a rapid recovery, Louise was discharged from hospital within a month.