The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-23
PANCOASTS GREAT WORK.

fANCUA0I'o dhhAI WUhA
The resources and possibilities of surgical
science are by no means exhausted. Almost
daily discoveries in its great field are reported
and new processes explained that would have
been deemed impossible in former genera
ton. Only few years agoit was street-slang
to "put nose on man." or Gear" or "eye-
brow" The slang was soon turned against
its coiners, for the feats thought impos-
sible of performance have been deftly
and repeatedly accomplished. The man who
now suffers the absence Of a nose or eyebrow
has but himself to blame. Ali he has to do is
to step into the surgeons Office, tell
what kind Of an organ he wants,
whether plain or carved, seven octave, with
bass-coupler and improved sounding-board
leave his measure and 60 about his business.
In week or two the nose, fitted with silver
reeds and tremolo-virtuoso, or the eyebrow
finished in ottoman silk plush, is ready for
him. He is sent for to try them on, and, af-
ter gore has been taken in here and there,
the shoulder padded, and the collar shrunk
little, maybe, he walks forth into the world as
good as new.
But the surgeon who knows his business
does lot stop here. He descends
| deeper into the mysteries Of his
profession. Not content with amputat-
ing limbs, excising tumors and cancers,
grating skin, and all the varied delights Pc
culiar to modern surgery, his temerity has
embroidered him to attempt greater things,
and the latest achievement indicates that the
need of the ages has at last been made prac-
| ticable. The man who, with scalpel in one
hand and an electric light in the other, goes
prowling up and down, in and out, of the
human system, is not easily foiled; an adept
in the art Of adding here and there to the
physical man. and clipping superAuous OF
| deteriorated parts, he homes fhones his iuutru-
ments) for even moro startling bper-
atoms. A few months ago, it will
| be remembered, young Maryland
woman suddenly changed her sex, and became
a man, to all intents and purposes. This was
enough to set the profession to meditating
and experimenting If one woman, and she
thirty years DID, could change her sex, why
not any womans Why not, indeeds Some
things can be done as we'll as others. AS
might have been expected the surgeons set
to work experimenting, and it is gratifying to
be able to announce that they have already
succeeded beyond expectation.
Professor Pancoast of the jefferson Medical
College, Philadelphia, enjoys the honor
Of first demonstrating the possibility
of metamorphosing girl into a
boy. His father before him had experimental
in the same line, though it does not appear
that he fully succeeded in his ambition. The
unfinished work of the senior was taken up
| by the junior surgeon, though it seems that
for quite while it was allowed to lie undevel-
oped, until the Maryland case was brought to
| his attention. DIR. Pancoast then borrowed,
! or in some manner obtained, a fifteen year-old
girl for the purpose of demonstrating his
theory in clinical lecture. The contem-
plated operation was explained and pro-
ceeded with in the presence of the
assembled students. Much to their surprise,
and to the evident satisfaction of the learned
demonstration, the theory was sustained, and
the girl went forth boy, clothed in the ha-
biliments suitable to the changed condition,
and given masculine name. To show that
no chicanery had been practioed the Professor
operated on a girl of four years Of age with
| the same result.
This is undoubtedly the greatest achiev-
ment of the century, if not of all time, and
places the name of Pancoast in the forefront
of scientists. It is evident from this
that since girls can be changed to
boys, boys can certainly be changed
to girls. Thus the most vexatious of social
and domestic problems has been solved The
man who has thirteen girls and one boy can
readjust this undue inequality by calling in
the family surgeon. ALI he has to do is to
point ont six Of the girls that he would like to
have wear hats and talk ''bass, and, in few
days, according to contract, no finds himself
possessed of boys and girls in equal numbers,
seven each. 1t is apparent at a glance, though
some may inconsiderately deem it paradox
ical, that this discovery viii pro-
mote marriage Suppose. for instance
a young lady suddenly comes to the conclu-
sion that she is growing little more than
girlish, and becomes fearful lest she be left an
old maid. She changes to a saan--see?--and
| at twenty-five or even thirty can consider her