Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-02-11

caused shortening Of the leg OF abont
seren inches. nearly two inches of the def
cheney at the time of operation being due
to arrested growth Of the bones. The ab-
normal position of the head of the thigh
bone was easily pcrceptible, and the fact
OF the dislOcation was known to the phy>i-
clans in charge of The child at the time.
Its reduction was no: attempted. as it was
believed that there had been such ruptureS
OF the liSamentS as to make the retention
OF the bone in its socket impo>s sib,e. even
if the reduction could be effected ut that
time, which was about four months after
the luxation. The crippled child grew
to womanhood, gradually gaining the
power of lOcom"tion. first by the aid of
crutchcs and finally by the use Of Il boot
built up on the inside to the height of
about seven inches. Twenty years had
elapsed. when the wonderful achievements
Of Dal Gin reached the lady's ear, and she
at once consulted her. After brief ex
animation, Dal Gin declared that she could
reduce the dislocation, but that the leg
would still be about two inches shorter
than the other. A fermentation of bran
and one or two simple herbs was applied
for ten days to the muscles of the hip, and
then the dexterOus Italian, in 4 moments
performed her great operation as already
described, and before the patient was
aware, her joyous Finito ~ ''F;nito.'
announced that tho thing was done. The
bone was back in the socket that it had
deserted twenty years ago and tina: ae-
cor.'ing to all the books and all the exper-
ience and learning Of surgery, could not
possibly receive it. The operation COM
plete, q light splint holds the bone to its
new position, the patient is kept in \ re-
cumtent position for three weeks, and
then is placed upon her feet and begins
her lessons of walking, very timil'ly at first
but gaining confidence and strength every
day. The leg, upon accurate measure
ment, is found to he Just quarter of an
inch longer than Dal Gin promised to
make it, and the delighted patient returns
home rejoicing in the good fortune that
brought her at the latest possible moment
into the wonder-w working hands of Regina
Dal Gin"
How Is Thise
The following was published in the In
rELLlGENcEE at the same time, but was
not referred to in DR.. Zieglcr's paper of
yesterday
The ease which We have just described
came to the knowledge Of one of PIilaticl
phia's distinguished surgeons, DR.. Thomas
G. Morton and l.e promptly accepted ali
opportunity for an examination. In COM
pany with DR.. Anna NJ. BroOmall, the tai
ented Resident Of the WOman's hospital,
DIR. MOI ton made y careful investigation
Of the history Of the case. which affords
strong evidence Of the original dislocation.
the character of the operation and its re-
suits, arriving at the irresistible cOncu-
sion, frankly conceded in the face Of every
| theory and tradition Of his profession.
that, assuming the fact of the dislocation,
! the reduction has been perfectly accom-
plishcd under circumstances hitherto con-
sidered as making such al operation
impossible that the restored joint has
its full natural movement, and that the
successful performance Of Dal Gin prob
ably opens to surgical science an important
revision of its accepted theories regard
ing old luXatiOns, and an opportunity for
great benefit to mankind in Il direction
| Ion. ago abandoned as im9OssibIc.
This interesting case was brought before
! the monthly meeting of the Philadelphia
academy OF surgery, Tuesday evening, by
Dr.. Morton. That it should have met
With instant acceptance was not expected
| even in view Of DR.. Morton's presentation
o: !: case cited by the great Sir Ashley
Cooper OF u luxaLiou of the iemur acci-
IDENTIFY reduced after five years standing.
Further exact evidence OF the Oriis isnal dis
location was demanded, but it is evident
that some OF tine surgeons present were
prepared to follow DR.. MOrton's example
and to give the facts stated by him an hon-
est and careful examination.
Tho Intelligencer's'' Comments.
Following is an extract from the INTEL
LIGENCER's editorial comments of TIE
| same date, to which Dr.. Zicgler took cx-
ccption
"The story Of this peasant wOman's life
and l;ibOrs. her persecution and triumph,
is more interesting than any fiction VIC
wot of. She is Il marvel Of original genius
wcll-directed, of obstacles overcome, and Of
merit finally recognized and fifty rewarded.
But she is most useful in illustrating the
pcrvcrsity of medical seience-if mcdi-
cine is 4 sciencc-in refusing to hear to
new discoveries or to heed fresh inspir.,-
tiOns unless they come in the regular "
way. There is a great deal of ''pow-wow''
and humbus in medicine ; much Of it
among the regular practitioners and not
little among the pride of the schools. 1t
takes great vigilance in the profession to
keep the public from being yictimizeG by
quacks. In their zeal to protect their
patients from being doscd and
drugged, and butchercd in al
irregular way, the regulars" may
be excused for the exercise of Il little
coun.ervailing humbus, and their phi
lanthrOpy may sometimes pardon their
stupidity. But for !, profession that calls
Itself liberal and which pretends to aim at
the relief Of mems suffering, it's treat
ment of those who have claimed to have
ncw insights into the healing art has
been singularly discreditable to itself
and well calculated to make people crcd-
ulOus Of the quacks and distrustful of
the regulars. The story of Regina Dial
Gins prosecutions is the story OF Jenner
and Harvey and who knows how much |
more valuable discoveries have been hid |
den by the rebuff which thcir discoveries |
met from the schools. The greatest char |
latanry in any human science is that
which assumes to knowledge of all that is
movable in it's branch, and which fails TO
recognize that beginning Of'all knowledge
is the appreciation of how much there is
to learn
More Testimony.
After Dr.. Zie.ier had concluded his
paper yesterday Drs. s. +. Davis and j.
\. Ehler, of this city, declared to the
meeting that they were familiar with Miss
Barc's case and knew OF the vast improve
ment wrought to her limb, and had heard
her explanation of its treatment by Regina
Dai Gin, substantially as above related.
There we're 4 few questions asked them |