Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 June 1880 — “Skin Grafting.” [ARTICLE]

“Skin Grafting.”

A letter from Danielaonville, Conn., gives &u account of remarkable skin-grait-mg -which has been going on there for the past twelve months, and which has Anally proved a gratifying success. On the 31st of December, 1873, Jesse, an ll'year-old son of Edwin Morgan, of Canterbury, fell into a vat containing a solution of potash in boiling water. He struck on both feet, the liquid coming nearly up to his hips, and instantly the skin of his legs commenoed to peel off. It was found that the flesh on both legs had been so horribly and thoroughly boiled that no cells re* mained for a new skin to form a growth upon. The boy’s life was one of excruciating agony for months. Last April-ayoung physician, of that town, named Rosa, finding that his older brethren had given the case up as incurable and one which must speedily result in death, determined to attempt the salvation of the lad’s life by skin grafting. The boy’s pa rents Imploring him to undertake Hhe operation, he was finally induced to try it. Over 2,<m«|aft* were used, the mother of the child, the Doy himself aud many of he neighbors submitting portions of their fuUfile fpr the operation. A prevailing desire was manifested to have the child live without becoming a cripple. Hundreds of visitors flocked.tb see 4hs, pati&t and f, flesh were about three times the size of the head of a pin. - The process of grafting is similar to that employed in horticulture. The limbs look as though pitted with small pox. The grafts grow fastest in the Spring months. One of them is put on a muscle, Where it sinks ih and deposits a cell, after which the top sloughs off Although the work is not yet complete, the legs are nearly restored to their formal and natural functions, and the thild can walk a short distance without a . crutch, but la still very week from exhaustion and emaciation.

Spring returns of the winter wheat area confirm those of December and indicate an addition of on&eighth to the breadth of last season’s harvesting. So the depart: ment of agriculture decides. At this rate a fair yield eve* less than that of last year, places the United States at least 60 per

cent., ahead or France, the next largest producer of, wheat in the world. Ten years ago the mean product of both nations was substantially the same. Some statements hare recently been current making Russia the champion wheat pro* ducer. It is a great mistake. Russia surpasses the world in the growing of rye, produeingmach more than wed©# wheat, and aUeast three bushels of the former to 2&fei3rof o ft^"“ i ’ wb : . utahi, «*■ They will be held for instructimu from I Washington. ,