DISLOCATED NECK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17572, 24 June 1925, Page 11

DISLOCATED NECK.

SAVING A MAN’S LIFE. Jho story cabled from London last week (writes the Rangiora. correspondent of the ‘-Lyttelton '.limes”) that K;r Herbert Barker, the eminent bonesetter. straightened his own neck, dislocated through striking his head 051 *he bottom of a. hath into which he had dived, and other cases since •‘ted as evidence of the possibility of recovery from an injury of the likT nature, popularly regarded as fatal, calls to mind a case that occurred in Hie pioneer days of North Canterbury which, incredible as it may seem, was vouched for ns an absolute Inci; by- the person most concerned, and by several witnesses. The story run thus ; between fiftv and sixtv rears ago, Oxford was the chief snwmilling centre of (’antorbiiry, and largo quantities ot timber nor© carted therefrom in <F'nys. A string of these drays was one day on the road between C'ust and Jlangiora. when on© of tho drivers. who bad slaked a big thirst at the Gust Hotel, overbalanced from his seat on th© 1:op of liis load, and fell on ic the road. He. was evidently badly hurt, and on ]i i s follow draymen making an examination of his injury, it was found to bo an unmistakable case of: dislocated neck, the man’s head very awry and set fast. It was concluded that death was inevitable, but someone, suggested that no further harm could be don© by au attempt to take the twist Thereupon he was carefully lifted, being practically in an unconscious state, and his head was slipped between the spokes of the dray wheel. AA'ith his chin hooked behind on© spoke and the back of his neck held firm by another, a twist and a. pull was given to his body, and those carrying out the operation declared tjhat they '.heard tlio bones click into place. AA ith his neck straightened, tho patient slowly cam© to, and in a very short time was non© th© worse for his injury, living long afterwards to declare that bo owed hi a life to those who performed tho rough and ready amateur surgical operation. Th© correspondent added that he heard this story many years ago, first hand, from one of thoso who assisted with tho operation, and ho declared th© incident as related above bo true in every particular.