<html>
<head>
<script>
function m()
{
  document.body.offsetHeight;
  var div = document.getElementById("div");
  var doomed = document.getElementById("doomed");
  div.removeChild(doomed);
}
</script>
</head>
<body onload="m();">
<div id="div"><span>x </span><div id="doomed">y</div><span> x</span></div>
</body>
</html>