Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-04-09
The Art Of Healing

A correspondent Of the C6rjstiqyg
Radical, recently, writing from
New York city, gives some very inte-
resting information concerning the
operations of Bellvue hospital at that
city. In his correspondence we find
the following regarding q lecture de-
livered by DIR. Hamilton: More than
one lecturer to whom we listened that
day, we are quite sure, understood the
art of healing much better than that
Of talking. Our present lecturer
proved TO be an able talker. The lee
ture, in some Of its statements, seemed
to us of so great Importance that we
desire for them q much larger audi
ence. The character of the lecturer,
his eminence as q practitioner, and
authority in the profession in this
country Justify the closest attention to
his statements. Long experience, he
declares. has convinced him that most
Of our surgeons greatly err in the use
of auHstbetics. They should
never be used except in rare
cases to secure muscular relaxa-
ton, or when the patient is 50
reduced as to be able to endure the
pain of surgical operation. "The
chances of recovery are le-sened by
the use of anesthetcs. When my
two boys went to the war, my last
words 10 them were, boys, if you
have need to have an amputatiOn per-
formed, and you can possibly SUM
mon the courage, take nothing to
deaden the pain AT such a time /
would surely utter the convictions Of
my heart" l was reminded, by this
advice, of the hardy pioneer Richard
son tells of, who, having occasion to
have his LEG amputated, and no doctor
nearer than one hundred miles, he
whetted his hunting-knife and bat
tered another into the shape of a saw,
and did the work himself, soaring the
veins and arteries with a red-hOt iron.
The Professor declares that hospital
gangrene never appeared in the New
York hospitals prior to 1916, Whea
anBsthetics were first introduced.
Amputations are not near so success
full as prior to that time. "HaVe you
observed how few hospital reports we
have published of amputatiOns. This
was not always so. Why is it? When
/ have a series of successful opera
tiOns 1 feel pleasant, and sug-
gest that a report be published.
stood bv the side of DR.. Mott
when performing an operation.
The patient was under the influence
of ether. The color of the lips had
rapidly changed, the pulse was very
low. Partial consciousness returning,
the attendant was about to give more
ether; the doctor said, mo, some
braDdv.U Yet Mott was a strenuous
advocate of the harmieSsnesS OF eGner
and cbloroform. There is never neal
ing by first intention when these are
used. and the chances Of the success OF
the operation are not near so great.
Thus smoke n of the ablest members
of the faculty Of Bellevue COiIege'
He had atleast one asGOnisheu nearer;
What! has all our excitement IN ana
out of Congress, in Europe as 9 as
America. during " the ether patent
case.0 over the "great stride IN
medical science, been to no purpusef
IL the advance but a hurtiul delusl0np
In every experiment where life IS so
greatly involved the public ought to
Sc intrusfed with all the facts. Why
are the reports of amputatlons With
held? One of the ablest physicians IN
the land. and one who occupies q
prominent position in the faculty of 8
college, recognized OF highest authori-
ty, more than intimates-positlvely
deelares-that the reports are not sat
~isfactOry. Gentlemen, the public hiss
a right to demand of you the whole
truth.