BRAIN SURGERY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13992, 30 August 1909, Page 3

BRAIN SURGERY.

A TIUGIC SEQUEL. Some time ago (the Auckland " Herald " relates) a man named Oilmore sustained a severe cut on the side of the head while working in the bush in the Obura 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 hjjht, ui a busu whare. Dr Itowlanus an operation. I'ortion ot the brain matter was protruding, and this was cut away. .Later, it was reported that Oilmore had iiiaue a remarkable recovery within a veryshort period alter the operation, and was in tuil possession oi his menial faculties, despite the loss ol portion of the brain matter. The sequel, however, was a tragicone. Ever since Oilmore ' recovered he had been worrying about his section, and at-last I)r Bow lauds consented to Gilmcie riding out to the section, providing he walked his horse the whole way, and the doctor impresed upon him the need for extreme care. The moment Gilmore got away, however, he flung all prudence aside, and galloped after two horses, and tried to lead them to Ongarue. One broke away, and he returned over the rough bush tracks on a rough travelling pony. It was nine o'clock oHi the following night that he returned to Ongarue, and he stayed up till 11 p.m. in a billiard saloon, tnen confessing he felt "cronk." He grew steadily worse, and on the following dav was delirious. Although an operation was performed to relieve the pressure on the brain, the patient graduallv sank till death ensued. Examining the brain after death, the doctor found that the torn membranes had firmly healed, and would effectually shut off auv 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 newly-joined tissue bv galloping, rough riding, etc. If

Gilmore bad followed the doctor's advice In: would hare made a perfect recovery. It is scarcely necessary to add that, after the success of the difficult first operation, the fatal ending of the case was a great'disappointment to the doctor, who had taken such a deep interest in the patient.