Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-12-03
An American Physician LigatiDg the
Carotid Artery,

An American PhysiCian-- Ligating ths
Carotid Artery.
Prof Parkin in his Introductory Lecture
the other day, before the New York Medical
College, thus gave characteristics of physicians
OF different nations, and Illustrated the Amer
car with the following happy anecdole:
The faculty of each different land, takes on
the peculiarities of hat land The En1lish
! physician is stable, slow to change studous
ana dogmatic. The Scotch is quick, pracli.
cal and dgent. The Irish inventive. active
and thorough. The French, earnest, indcfati-
gable, brilliant and acute The German, pa.
! tlent, persevcrng. accurate and minute OF
American, it would seem at first sight doubt.
ln if we could speak as unit But with
telrgraphic wires, like nerves, Joining every
part Of our land into immediate connection.
with railroads, admitting and encouraging per
petual lntercommunlcatiOns, all that interests
MIN OF the North tomorrow, and the ep DEM
les OF the West are, as they rage, the topics
OF familiar and professional conversation at
the Last. Here, ticn, the profession may be
spoken OF as one, Notwithstanding that its
held stretches from ocean to ocean, and from
frozen to torrid zones. 1t is pre.emincntly
and restIessly active, and facile in putting its
theory into practice.
SAID the lecturer Illustrations abundantlv
occur TO my MIND, that | may not be deem d
partial or preju1iced by that which is near
let me refer to one whom highly respect for
his independence and originality, and whose
dillideDce or indifference alone prevented hi,
acquiring a worldwide fame 1t happened
that in October, 1907, there was, in a small
town in New Hampshire, one Of til Sc coca.
slons on which enrolled valor cf the State
annually assembled, and after being mustered
showed 10 the admiring gaze Of ther friends
and nei9hbors how they would fight for their
homes, and battle 70; the right against any
foe. In The sham Gght On this day a man
was accidenily wounded by blank pistol
shot in the right side of bis face and neck.
ana the surgeon of the troops, after cxamin
ing the wound placed him in the hands of his
young assistant 10 cont nue. the treatment.
The patient having en- removed to his
home, the assistants care continued. but the
wound did badly, probably in consequence in
prt OF the nature of the injury, and in part Of
the deproved condition of the patient. OoI
the 18Th day Of the month, which was the
10Th day of The case, the young surgeon had
made his visit, and was just leaving the house
When slough gave way and et Of blood
thrown out three or four feet showed the en-
lnent peril Of the patient To compress the
artery beloV the wound, thus 20 control the
hemorrhage, WAS the inevitable Indication to
every anatomist, But what then? Thcre
stood young surgeon, alone with one hand
10 control the life Of II fellow man, with only
the other free to act, and with no assistant
but the frightened mother of the patient.
But he never hesua ed In spite of the op. |
pressve laws which then as now d sIrace our
Ie9iSIa nres, he had made himselfa thorough
analomist. Having satisfied himself in ;hci
dIssecilng room of the possibility of successful
~ hgatlng the common carotid artery, and
tins beng the operation on which his patients
Ille depentcd, with only one haad free, and
with no assistance but that of the TREMBLING
and agonized mother he tied the artery and
saved the man. The Whole opinion OF the
profession was against the operation. Aber-
neihy had attcmptyd it in 1904, and his pa
tent ticd. Sir Ashley Cooper, bringing to
the operation all his reputation and surround
ed by III the preparation and display which
were not then uncommon, did tin I7O5, but,
he then failed to save his patient. Thus, then
alone with no'profyssoaal man TO counlenance
or assist him, with no special preparation, and |
with all the weight Of authority against him,
Amos Twichell Of New Hampshire, FLOWING
his own convictions and results Of his studies, |
accomplished with success what, when equally
well performed eight months later by Sir Asst |.
Icy Cooper. made the whole medical world
ring VITA The applause and al miraton DO /
not claim ior Twichcll that he was absolute |
iy the .fTSt one who suocecied in this opera. /
lion Mr. Fleming appears to have been so
fortunate as to do j: in 1903, bat if Mr.. F!om- (
ing was not frSt Twitchell is. ! have csDe.
cialiy dwclt upon this not only To illustrate
my point and to express my heartirs respect
for this able man. whom. in his old ace, | /
well knew and admired. but because two re- |
cent American works on Surgery-one Of
which claims especially to do justice to the
surgeons OF our country-have failed to give .
him The credit which is his due.