New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-10-26

at the head of tho profession. raised many
objections against it, but at last. when un
willingly compelled to recognize the benefi,
Of the discovery, there were many to dis
pute Jenner's claims to the same. But the
odium which he endured, the fiery ordeal
through which he passed, made him "mas
ter of the situation"
How great the contrast of The surgery Of
to-day and that of the seventeenth century
Amputations were conducted then in the
most unscientic manner. Arteries were con.
trolled by applying hot pitch to their distal
ends. Stumps were encased in huge leath.
ern bandages, arresting the circulation and
producing gangrene as result.
/ Ambrose PARE, a celebrated French sur.
geon, was the frs. to take cognizance of the
mortality after these operations. His grea,
mind and extensive knowledge of human
| anatomy eimplifed the appliances. and
among the many inventions of this master
spirit was the ''ligature;' hence he is called
the father of the ligature.' Surgeons
secuted it in derision, trampled upon i.
with scorn. refusing to take advantage OF
its usefulness.
But in spite Of their caiumnv. he planted
| little school that carried his teachings
throughout the whole of continental EU-
| rope. And as a reward for his untirins de-
vOtion, nations have built q living monu-
ment TO perpetuate his memory, and that
monument is composed Of men, women and
children which bis fertile genius has been
| the meant OF rescuing from the grave. Tie
| LIVED long enough to see the igature ad-
| vocated and used by the most brilliant
| minds in the universities Of Europe.
! The discovery of the anaesthetic use Of
! ether and chlorOform produced an almost
complete revolution in surgery, and yet,
| when Dr.. Morton first attempted to demon
strate to the world the practcsbility Of its
use in the obliteration Of pain in surgical
! operations, he met with overwhelming op-
I position. After successfully demonstrating
its practicability in the medical colleges Of
| Boston, the leading members of the pro-
! tession pronounced it failure. simply be-
cause they were not prepared to receive it.
| Blu. nothing subdued his indomitable
energy. He still continued his experiments.
| The profession determining that this bril-
| liant discovery should be consigned 10 OBJ
livlon, seized its author and threw him IN
| prison. Yes, even in Christian New Eng
land. he was accused Of sovcery aud witch.
craft.
But truths bright flame was not TO be 60
| easily quenched. What surgeon of the
present day would think Of performing the
slightest operation without its use We no
longer witness excruciating agony, nor are
our ears panied with the walls Of the sugerer,
their stead we see the tranquil face OF the pa.
tent, which indicates perfect oblivion, and
the surge on is enabled to execute his work
with as much safety and case as dissectiug
on the cadaver.
OF the many eminent surgeons of this
country and Europe. none stand more
prominently in that great constellation Of
world than A. w. Smythe. of the city Of
New Orleans. Although we have progressed
most wonderfully in surgical science, al.
most every operation had been performed
upon the human body, there yet remained
ono that the most distinguished surgeons
dared not touch, to wit, the legation OF the
'Arter ia l,snommi',ata." Among the most
intrepid and distinguished names that have
attempted to perform this operation were
Mott, Giraffe, Hall, Dubingtreu, Norman.
Bland, Lizsve, Hutton, Cooper. Coz. and
Erickson.
After many and repeated experiments on
that dangerous ground. they were all
forced to abandon it simply because they
did not understand the true principles Of
recurrent circulation. And il remained
alone for Smythe to igate the vertebral ar
terry, and show how beautifully these great
trunks of life anastemose.
In 1865 there came into the Charity Hos
ptal a colored man by the name of Banks.
He was found to be suffering with an an
eurism of the innomminats. Some med
icat gentlemen belonging to the United
States army proposed to Smythe, the liga-
ture uf the unnamed vessel, not thinking
that he would dare to undertake so stupen-
dous an operation. He replied to them
Gentlemen, believe that it is possible -
He gave himself up for short time TO
the most intense mental labor, and, at the
appointed time. performed the expected
operation in the most successful manner.
The most eminent surgeons Of the East
and Northwest shook their heads in doubt, |
and none but his most intimate conireres
believed that this rubison Of surgery has
been paseod. 1t was passed, which proves !
negative to the time-honored maxim that !
prophet in his own country is always |
without honor.
The English surgeons declared it hoax |
There was only one American surgeon who |
believed in its truthfulness; that man was |
Valentine Mott He was heard to say few |
years before his death that it would have !
given him much pleasure TO grasp the hand !
OF such demonstration Of the truth OF his |
long cherished idea"
No American surgical authority ha. seen |
ID to do him that justice which his merit
demands. And il remained alone for Erich !
soD. the undoubted authority on English
surgery. N Ills newly published work, to
ans. dec lare that TIL. .ac. is |,
entirely new and unheacd OF in the annals
OF modern or ancient surgery.
Now, gentlemen. have reci:ed 20 YOU q
host OF brlllian: names, ali of whom a. one
time were like yourselves at present-mere
tyros in the profession.
would say: How do you suppose they
conducted themselves =! What were their
rules Of conduct and study since they ief:
The point where you yourselves now are 20 |
reach the enviable altitude on which they
now stand-the envy and admiration of this
civilized periods Why, it was by diligent
perseverance, most persistent study, careful
attention to every word of instruction, I'M.
firing energy, thorough devotion 10 the
noble science 70 which you are here now
levoting your lives, and such determined
'esOlve to accomplish success and name
hat failure becomes moral impossibiity !
Gentlemen, in order that you may be pre-
pared for the important duties that are be.
ore yeu, you should be diligent a. students,
,bservant as practitioners, and, above all,
LIBERAL in your thoughts and future studies.
It becomes my duty to remind you that our
exerts great influence upon So
iety, and il demands all the attributes of
N educated gentleman to main tain its pos;-
ion in the social scale.
This can only be obtained through early
tudy. The cultivation OF refined manners,
Iuiet and selfpossessed demeanof. avoid
ng everything outre. all this will very
materially enhance your position ana
hances Of success in life. The days of
ude and burly Abernethy, whose genius
alanced in some degree his brusqusness
nd recorded ecoentricities. have passed
way. Society is daily becoming more re- ,
ned. II is we'll to remember that manners
re strong indication Of character They
ontinually mirror forth the inne. ,nan. {
nd are ever exposed 20 criticism.
Good breeding always manifests The Git. ,,
erence between the courtesy and mode.tv ,