I found this article from 1893 to be a fascinating portal back in time. It’s about a man from Brooklyn, NY who appeared to have suffered an injury to his cervical spine, or neck as the story tells it.

It gives unique insights into the thoughts of the day and the treatment of spinal cord injuries. Especially intriguing are the quotes from the patient and his physicians.

Galveston Daily News
August 15, 1893

The condition of Harry Richardson, whose neck was broken while swimming at Bath Beach, remains unchanged. Mr. Richardson is still at the Homeopathic Hospital, Brooklyn. Physicians regard it as especially curious that Mr. Richardson has shown no signs of becoming weaker.

“In ninety-nine cases out of a hundred,” said one, “such an” accident is instantly fatal, and in the other one death usually occurs inside of a few hours at the most. I have been a physician in Brooklyn for more than twenty years, and with all my experience I never came across a similar case. I believe that this man’s death is but a question of days, but if he lives much longer I shall begin to think that he stands a chance of recovering.

The injured man reclines on an air bed. His head is not in a plaster cast, but lies between two heavy sand bags, which are fastened to the bed. In this position his head is immovable. Richardson says that he feels as if he had no body.

Since the accident happened he has eaten three meals each day, and hearty ones at that. He sleeps soundly and says that he suffers no pain.

When he was first brought to the hospital he was sure that he was going to die. He now says that that was because the physicians told him so, but now he feels that he has some chances of recovery.

“If I were going to die,” said he, “I do not see why I do not feel ill. I know, of course, that if I do live I shall be paralyzed in the lower part of my body, but I can stand that. Life is sweet to me just now, all the more, perhaps, because I have been so near death.”

The Recorder reporter call at the hospital last night and talked with House Surgeon Willis about the case.

Dr. Willis has had a large experience in surgical cases. He says that he is astonished at Mr. Richardson’s vitality.

“If you were sure, doctor, that death was bound to occur in a few days, would you, as a last resort perform an operation to endeavor to reduce the fracture and so prolong life?” asked the reporter.

“I do not think so, replied he. “In the first place, the family would not consent to it, and I do not think that Mr. Richardson himself would. Next, it is my opinion that if we did that he would die on the table. You see, to get at the exact location of the injury we would necessarily have to do a good deal of cutting, and I do not believe that in his present state the injured man could stand it. To perform such an operation we would have to put the patient upon his side, and it is very probable that in so doing a piece of the dislocated bone would press against the spinal cord and instant death would ensue.”

“I remember the curious case of a painter who was brought here several years ago. He had fallen from a great height and his neck was apparently dislocated. We went immediately to work to get the neck back in position, so as to prolong life for a few days if possible. One physician took hold of the man’s head and another his feet. Then they pulled. Suddenly the neck snapped back into position. In a few minutes he opened his eyes and in a week walked out of the hospital a well man. It was only out of joint, as it were. I have hopes for Mr. Richardson.