HEROIC CHILDREN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7978, 6 April 1904, Page 2

HEROIC CHILDREN.

* SACRIFICE THEIR SKIN TO SAVE A PLAYMATE'S LIFE. Little laabelle Dyer's playmates -went to the Riverside Hospital at Buffalo on January 16, says the " 'New York Herald," and submitted to the cutting away of sixty square inches of their skin, which was grafted on the emaciated body of tie fifteen-year-old patient. Isabella >was playing around a 'bonfire, when, the blaze ignited her dress. She was terribly burned about the arms and legs, and her life was in grave danger. Dr Haley asked far volunteers to supply the skin which had been 'burned away, and eight boyß and two girls, between the ages c-f nine and fifteen years, submitted to tibe painful ordeal, in the hope of saving their little friend's life. Albert Derner was the first boy called by the doctor. He is nine years old, and is called "Zip" by bis schoolmates. Dr Haley took a razor and 1 cut from his arm, a strip of skin three inches long and an inch in width. The boy neves winced. "Did it hurt?" asked the dootor* "Yes," said th« boy, "but if it'll inelp Belle you can cut off another slice." The doctor took another piece of cutiole of like dimensions, and then, after admonishing Albert to say that the operation was a trifling affair, so as not to scare away his waating playmates, he -was dismissed. The two girls stood the ordeal well, though 'hardly with the steadiness of the boys. Dr Haley 'has caked for 240 more square inches, and hopes for more volunteers to help in saving his patient's life.