This Man Had Courage — Sold His Skin for Grafting

1896

Half a dozen men were relating experiences of college days when a young physician said that in cases where students were obliged to eke out their expenses in a professional career by every possible means there often occurred pitiful examples of their courage.

"Suppose, for example," said he, "a case of skin grafting comes to the clinic, any student who will give up his skin is paid five dollars for each bit. I remember one instance in particular, that of a hard working young man who gave ten bits of flesh to graft a new face on a badly burned baby. As the flesh must be healthy and fresh nothing can be used to deaden the pain and it is cut from the inside of the upper arm, the most sensitive part. Slices the size of a silver dime are taken and laid quivering on the wounded part where a new skin is to be grown. This fellow stood there several days and allowed the surgeon to slice off pieces from both arms, each piece bringing the amount stipulate, which paid for extra books, clothing or food, and the poor fellow minded neither the pain at the time of the operation nor the lameness with which he was afflicted for weeks after, neither did he fear the risk of blood poisoning or other difficulties which might ensue.

"He had the satisfaction, however, of seeing a baby face resume its healthy form and his examinations were passed with brilliancy. He is to-day a man well known and honored in the profession." — New York Herald.

Injured Boy Puts Ear In His Pocket

1920

Appears at Hospital and Surgeon Sews It in Place

NEW ORLEANS, La. — Dr. Jerome Landry, house surgeon, Charity hospital, unwrapped from a piece of newspaper the right ear of Sidney Whiteside, 16 years old, and within a few minutes had sewed the ear back onto the boy's head.

The boy showed no bad effects from the operation, and Dr. Landry expected the grafting of the ear to be a success.

Sidney was struck by an automobile while taking a ride on the side of a street car in Gretna, the police say. The ear was torn from his head, but he had it in his pocket when he arrived at his home.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, March 27, 1920, page 10.