MAN BREAKS NECK

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 107, 19 April 1933, Page 5

MAN BREAKS NECK

TARANAKI FARMER. FULL RECOVERY EXPECTED. To have received a broken neck and yet to be able to walk three months afterwards is the experience of a young Taranaki farmer, Mr David Burr. It affords a striking illustration of the advances that have been made in surgical science of late years, as some years ago a broken neck was regarded as synonymous with death. Several re. cent cases in New Zealand have resulted in permanent cures. Mr Burr, who is aged 32 and is of splendid physique, was working on a farm near Tikorangi. On January 10 he was riding a horse on the farm when the girth broke and he was thrown heavily to the ground lauding on his shoulder and head. When he partially recovered he picked up the heavy saddle and placed it on his shoulder, the horse meanwhile having galloped away. He carried the saddle across a gully and up a hillside seven or eight chains toward the house. When ho had nearly reached the house he collapsed. Mr Burr was taken to Waitara next dav and after examination Dr. Barclay ordered his removal to the New Plymouth Hospital. There X-ray examination disclosed that he had broken one of the vertebrae in his neck, the fact that his shoulder had taken the mam force of the fall probably having saved him from immediate death. For three weeks he lay in hospital practically unable to move, and then his neck was encased in plaster, and a week later, when the plaster had hardened sufficiently, he was permitted to leave the hospital for his home. With the same casing of plaster he hqs to visit the hospital periodically for examination, and though he is able to walk and take an interest in affairs generally without being able to work, of course, he will have to wear the plaster for, some time yet. Dr. Rich, medical superintendent of • the hospital, who naturally took a great interest in the case, informed Mr Burr that- his physical condition was undoubtedly a factor in his recovery. Mr Burr will probably have to wear filo plaster for another three months.