MAN BREAKS NECK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21469, 18 April 1933, Page 13

MAN BREAKS NECK

, TARANAKI FARMER {DISCHARGE FROM HOSPITAL FULL RECOVERY .EXPECTED To have received a broken neck and yet to bo 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 vears f, 1 iago a broken Heck was regarded as synonymous with death. Several recent cases in Auckland havo resulted in permanent cures. Mr. Burr, who is aged 32 find is of splendid physique, was working on a farm near Tikorangi. On January 10 ho was riding a horse on the farm when the girth broke and ho was thrown heavily to tho ground, landing on his shoulder and head. When he partially recovered ho picked up tho heavy saddle and placed it on his shoulder, tho horse meanwhile having galloped away. He carried tho saddle across a pully and up a hillside seven or eight chains toward tho house. When ho had nearly reached the house he collapsed. Mr. Burr Mas taken to Waitara next clay and after examination Dr. Barclay ordered his removal to the New Plymouth Hospital. There X-ray examination disclosed that he had brokon one of the vertebrae in his neck, the / fact that his shoulder had taken the main foreo of tho fall probably having 6aved him from immediate death. For thre6 weeks ho 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 tho hospital for his homo. With the same casing of plaster he has 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, ho will have to wear the plaster for some time yet. I)r. 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 the -plaster for another three months.