The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-06-25
A TRUE Incident.

A TRUE INCIDENT,
Which Suggested to the Founder of the
National Surgical Institute the Idea Upon
Which it is Based.
The following inciden, Is taken from our
morning contemporary, and shows what
apparently small circumstances mould and
direct the career of men: Ekk s
meeting Dr. Horace B. Allen, manager
of the Indianapolis Surgical Institute, at
his residence on North Meridian street one
evening just previous to his recent depart
ure for Arizona, reporter asked him what
first suggested the idea of establishing a
Surgical Institute. The doctor hesitated to
talk upon the subject, evidently fearing the
conversation might find its way into the
newspapers. But upon receiving an implied
promise with mental reservation) that the
talk should be considered confidential, he
finally began the story here in substance re-
lated:
Years ago-it is unnecessary to state how
many-I was connected with one of the
Eastern medical hospitals, which one / will
not tell you. 1t stood high in the roll of
American institutions of its class. Cripples
and invalids were brought there for treat
ment from all over the country. One day
q bright, beautiful child, sweet little
girl, perhaps eight years old, was
brought by her mother for treatment. Her
CrOuOl0 WAS a UlSBdS0u COuultlOu OI LIE
spine, such as we are treating every day in
the year at the institute in this city, and its
branches. The mother left her pet child at
the hospital, after taking most afectionate
farewell. She had assured the superintend-
ent that money was no object. If the child
could be cured. Spurred on by this incen-
tive and another found in the fact that the
parents of the deformed child were not
only wealthy, but influential, the surgeons
no doubt did their best. They applied all
the remedies known TO science then
and recognized by the code under which
rot improve. Constitutionally 1t was losing
ground daily. The treatment was too harsh
for its tender organization. 1t was losing
flesh. The mother wrote frequently inquir-
ing as to the condition of her child. Evaslve
answers were returned to her letters. She
wanted to visit the little sufferer, but was
prohibited, on the ground that undue ex
element would retard progress toward
ultimate recovery. In the meantime the
poor, frail little creature was begging to be
taken home and away from the tortures
she was being subjected to.
Finally, about five months from the date
of the child's reception at the Hospital, the
mother came, determined to see her child
at all hazards. The surgeons objected,
but she overcame their objections by
boldly entering the ward in which she
knew her child was confined. She passed
little voice began crying, Mamma, mamma,
Oh, mammal She looked around, saw the
puny, shriveled body from which the words
came, but for moment could not recognize
it as that of her plump, rosy-cheeked darling
of five months before. An instant later the
mothers instinct prevailed, and she caught
the child in her arms. happened to be in
the ward at the time, and shall never forget
the expression of that ladv's countenance as
she turned upon the surgeon in charge.
Doctor" said she, lis this all there is left
of my child?
Eyes. madam. The case proved to be
very obstinate one. We have used every
remedy known TO the profession but one,
without the usual and in this case particu-
larly desired result"
land what is that other remedy, may
ask?'
sit is the moxa, madam" 4
With look which the tigress at bay might
be expected to put on, were she human, and
a voice euivering with emotion, the lady
started up:
s.You shall torture my child no longer.
Come, we will go home"
She caught up the child herself, carried it
to her carnage, leaving the surgeons chop
fallen, and possibly for the moment dis
gusted with their calling.
This incident said the doctor, set me to
thinking. Is such treatment as this
child has received here the best that human
genius can invent or discover for cases
of this kind? If it is, 1 am sorry have
chosen medicine and surgery as my profes-
sion. 1t set ne thinking, and in course of
time the idea came to me that treatment by
mechanical appliances, with very little or
no medicine at all, might be made to super
sede the seton and hot iron. l at once be
gan exercising what inventive genius 1 pos
sessed and from that action has sprung the
establishment down at the corner of Georgia
and Illinois streets, and three large branches
located at San Francisco, Cal; Atlanta Ga,
and Philadelphia At the home institution
here, we have treated between 10000 and
1900 cases, brought from all parts of the
Western continent. Many of these have
been cured and others greatly benefited. In
all of these cases we have never yet had a
death while engaged in a surgical operation,
or from the use of aDasthet1cs. We use
nearly 800 of the mechanical appliances here
mentioned, all of which are manufactured in
this city. But the best of it all is, have
seen the little sufferer in the Eastern Hos
pital, of whom can show you plaster cast
at the institute, cured of her deformity.
She is now residing in Ohio. healthy and
no doubt happy woman"