A Saw Cut Through His Brain. Seattle Doctors Watched Him Live.

The case of Horatio A. Stetson, who had his head nearly cut in two by a rip saw at the Stetson & Post mill the day before yesterday morning, is attracting widespread attention among the physicians of this city. Yesterday Mr. Stetson was still among the living in the face of great odds against him, and at night when Dr. Wotherspoon visited him at Providence hospital he was so much improved that the doctor cried with delight. "Getting along famously." In spite of all this, the doctor does not hold forth the hope that Mr. Stetson will survive the accident. He does say, however, that taking all things into consideration, the condition of the patient is flattering and there is a bare possibility of recovery.

Mr. Stetson was restless Wednesday night, but toward morning came into a more restful condition. Throughout yesterday he got along so nicely that the sisters felt greatly encouraged. He was given food, and he ate with apparent relish such nourishing food as beef tea. It was noticeable that he was strong and had regained control of his legs and arms. Both pulse and temperature were normal throughout the day, and with the coming on of night there was nothing to indicate any change for the worse. Mr. Stetson understands everything going on around him, and can talk, but of course this involves so much effort that he is allowed to make himself understood by signs as much as possible.

At the examination last evening there were no evidences of inflammation having set in, and all flow of blood had stopped. The doctor hopes this state of affairs will continue for a week, by which time nature will have done much to repair the disturbance in the brain matter.

The peculiar actions of Mr. Stetson while being taken to Providence hospital are strong proof that the claims made by leaders in surgery and anatomy as to the relationship between parts of the brain and body are true. Mr. Stetson continually moved his arm and, even after being put in bed at the hospital, wanted someone to hold his hand. Soon his lower limbs were affected and a partial paralysis set in. All these peculiarities have now passed away, showing that there is a change for the better in his brain. By a careful examination of the wound, it has been accurately determined that what is known as the fissure of Rolando in the brain was cut by the saw. According to science the functions of the brain at that point have to do with the motion of the legs and arms.

When the statement was made yesterday morning that the cut affected Mr. Stetson's legs and arms, it was not known by the reporter who told of the peculiarities that the fissure of Rolando had anything to do with controlling such motion. In fact all that was known was that the cut went down into the brain matter from the top of the head in front of the ears. Closer investigation brought out the fact that the fissure of Rolando was cut and that science designates that fissure as controlling the motion attributed to Mr. Stetson.

By consulting standard works on the brain it will be found that the fissure of Rolando is situated about the middle of the outer surface of the hemisphere. It commences at or near the great longitudinal fissure, half an inch behind the mid-point between the glabella and the external bicipital protuberance, and runs downward and forward to terminate a little above the horizontal limb of the fissure of Sylvius. The upper two-thirds of its course lies at an angle of 67 degrees with the great longitudinal fissure. It then becomes more vertical, forming a knee-like angle. In front and behind it are two very important convolutions, the ascending frontal and ascending parietal convolutions.

It is probable that the fissure of Sylvius was touched also, but that is a point to be determined later.

There is no doubt that brain matter was carried away by the saw, for its unbalance was found on the under side of the saw table and also mixed with blood in the mangled hat. The cut was deep and wider than would be expected from a thin saw; in short it was a horrible gash, such a one that when the victim's brother saw what had happened he thought the head was in two pieces. In face of all this, the man not only survives, but in thirty-six hours' time has possession of all his faculties, is in practically a normal condition and has regained possession of his apparently affected powers of motion. It is certainly one of the most remarkable cases on record.