INTERESTING SURGICAL CASE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 18

INTERESTING SURGICAL CASE.

IMPRUDENCE DEFEATS SCIENCE. (Fjiom Oub, Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, August 25. Some time ago a man named Gilmore sustained a severe cut on the side of the head while working in the bush in the Ohura Valley, and he was carried many miles on a stretcher to meet the doctor, who had been notified, and was on his way out from Ongarue. By candle-light in a bush whare Dr Rowlands performed an operation. - Portion of the brain matter was protruding, and this was cut away. Later it was reported that Gilmore - had made a remarkable recovery within a very short period after the operation, and was in full possession of his mental faculties despite the loss of the brain matter. The sequel to this interesting operation was a tragic one. Ever since Gilmore recovered he had been worrying about his section, and at last Dr Rowlands consented to Gilmore riding out to the section, providing he walked his horse the whole way, and the doctor impressed upon him the ne«d for extreme care. TRe moment Gilmore got away, however, Ke flung all prudence aside,. an<£^ galloped affce*'' two horsel and tried toT lead fhe'm to Ongarue. One broke away, and he returned over the rough bush, tracks on a rough* travelling pony. It j w.a» 9 o'clock on the f olFowing night that | he returned, to Qngarue, and he stayed up till,li;p.in. in a billiard saloon, then confessing he felt " cronk." He grew steadily worse, and on the following day was delirious, and although an operation was performed to relieve the pressure on the brain the patient gradually sank ' till death ensued. Examining the brain after death, the doctor found that the torn membranes had firmly healed, and would effectually shut off any spread of infection from the wound to the brain. The brain itself, where it had been lacerated at the time of the accident, had healed, but all that side of the organ was in a state of acute inflammation, beyond any doubt resulting from the shaking and injury of the fragile newlyjoined tissue by galloping, rough riding, etc. If Gilmore had followed the doctor's advice he would have made a perfect recovery.