Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-01-03
Foreign Recognition of American Sur
gIcal Skill and Invention.

The American Sanitary collection of DR..
Evans received the highest prize of a gold
medal at the Paris Exhibition the " How
ard Ambulance" was " unanimously ap-
proved" with a silver medal and by the
following translation of the Official report
of the Imperial Commission. appointed to
examine surgical apparatus, the honor of
having the only improvements in apparatus
for the spine and other deformitles is given
/ to DR.. Chas. F. Taylor of New York. As
Dr. Taylor is a Chittenden County boy, born
/ in Willston, and graduate of the Medical
Department of the University of Vermont,
We are sure our Vermont readers will feel
an interest in this success, and in the ex-
tracts from the report, which We copy from
the ". y Independent. That journal says
of DR.. T.. ave have known Dr. Taylor
personally for many years, and believe him
fully entitled to his good name and great
popularity. We know of one valuable lite,
at least-that of a very near reiatiye-
which We believe has been saved by his won
derful skill and kind attention" The re-
port is as follows;
- In orthopGiy (that branch Of surgery re-
lstiug to the treatment of deformities) there is
nothing new in the Exposition except the collec-
ton Of apparatus of DR. c. F. Taylor of New
York. Of these apparatus some are intended |
to correct yertebral devistiOns consequent upon |
So -
sDine, and others for lateral curvature others, |
too, are for the cure of muscular paralysis in
childhood, by means of localized movements.
DR.. Taylor has on exhibition models of ex-
tremely ingenious apparatus, which promote the |
development Of certain muscles or groups Of
muscles, by means of local exercise.
% The orthopeiic corset e. corsef'-spinal |
appsrstus) OF DR.. Taylor is remarkable, snd /
differs entirely from analogous apparatus in the |
Exposition. We cannot do better than repro |
duce the remarks of DR.. Bouvier, one Of our /
most competent French surgeons. made to the |
Academy Of Medicine.
The apparatus which | have the honor to |
present to the Academy said DR.. Bouyier, |
g has been on exhibition in the American Sec
tion of the Exposition. 1t differs essentially,
as may be seen, from those ordinarily employed
in the treatment of angular curvature of the 1
spine 1t combines all the advantages of hori
zontal position, while at the came time it gives
the patient the advantage of exercise and fresh
air. With this brace DR.. Taylor endeavors to
protect the diseased vertebre, as is done In the
recumbent position without the aid of the in
strument Like bed securely attached to the
back, the brace maske an equsble pressure on
the vertebral column, as would result from the
patients weight when in bed. This force is
uniformly antero-posterior. The apparatus is
simple lever, (which raises the superior part Of
the spinal column, by using the transverse pro-
ccsses fulcrum ; so that, while pressure on
the articulstions Of the transverse processes is
safely increased, pressure on the bodies Of the
diseased vertebr;e is considerably diminished. !
The instrument is hinged, and acts as a sup
Elementary vertebral column. It's arrangement
enables the physician to appreciate exactly and
to modify the degree Of force employed, and also
to render the treatment constantly and regular
ly progressive. 1t also favors the contractions
Of the spinal muscles. The ability of the pa
tent to be in the open air, while the seat of dis
ease is protected from all shock-this constitu-
tes the superiority of this mode of treatment.
90 The other apparatus IS for counter e1ten-
sion in hip-disease The idea Of counter-e1- |
tension originated with DIR. Davis, New York
but this instrument is, nevertheless, the inven-
ton of Dr. Taylor 1t consists, lst, of q belt, |
to which are attached two straps, which en-
brace the perlneum, producing extension from |
above and, ID, Of a long extensible splint, one |
end of which is received under the foot by |
strap, which is continuation of the adhesive |
straps which are applied to both sides Of the
thigh and around the limb This strap pro
duces couuter-extension. Elongation is accom-
plished by lateral screw. Not only is the
muscular tonicity overcome, and the JOINT pre-
served from pressure or shock but, during
the locomotion, the weight of the body is sus-
tanned by the instrument, because the body rests
on the straps which embrace the perineum.
9" The result Of Dr. T.'s experience shows that
when the tonicity of the muscles Of the hip is
completely overcome, and the parts are guarded
from pressure and shock, lOcomotion is not only
free from danger, but, on the contrary, it is
very advantageous. as the patient can thus prof
it by the potent measures which hygiene places
at our disposal