The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-15
The Surgeons Of Bellevue Hospital Mend
Broken Bones by Using Silver Wires
satisfactory Results in Six Cases.
An Attack on Mrs. Alexander t. Stew
art in the Interests of Vile Resorts.
The Alluring Prospect Held Out to Ladies of
Doubtful Age by Prof. Zingari-Pri-
vate Browns Remarkable Corn.
NOVELTIES IN SURGERY.
Mending Broken Bones by Articulation In.
stead of Using Bandages and Splints.

Mending Broken Bones by Articulation In
stead of Using Bandages and Splints.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
New YORK, Nov. 4.-Some turbulence is
caused by series of experiments in surgery at
Bellevue Hospital. They were trial whether
broken bones could be wired together in human
beings, somewhat in the style Of artculating
skeletons, instead OF using bardages and splint-
ers. Az much of row as the family Of char
ity patient could kick mp has ensued, and the
Commissioners of Charities and Correction, who
control the public hospitals maintained by the
city, are called upon to decide just how far from
approved professional usage the Bellevue sur
geons may depart in their desire to try lew
methods. The accusation is that the poverty
and helplessness of free patients are taken ad-
vantage of in testing theories which physicians
would not dream of practicing upon
their own cash cases. Inquiry
proves that five persons have been
wired, the first instance being year and half
ago, and the last recently. The former was
Henry Wilmer, Polish Jew peddler. He was a
weak, squalid fellow, scarcely able to carry his
email pack of notions. He was run over by a
stage in Broadway, and his knee-pan broken.
For month he seemed likely to lose the leg.
Then it was decided to devote his endangered
limb to the cause of science. The fractured bone
was scraped clean, holes were drilled through it.
wires Of silver were run through, and in that
way the pieces were fastened together The
venture turned out all right, and now the peddler
walks solidy DR.. Leroy Hubbard. then house
surgeon at Bellevue, says that it was by his
o,dor hot tbo wiz hat fha LAG
would otherwise have been necessarily ampu-
tated, and that there was positively nothing to
be lost by the operation. DR.. Stephen Smith,
who assisted in the job sustains that view Of the
matter
The second of these criticised experiments was
with Nellie Murphy, a crippled working girl, who
fell down stairs and broke her already disabled
leg. There were two complete fractures and
SCATTERING of thefh me besides. DR.. j. Williston
Wright. professor of surgery in the New York
University and an official visitor to Bellevue,
had becefn' interested in the wire theory and he
took bold Of this opportunity to try it. Seven
teen holes had to be drilled, and the wiring was
intricate. The girl lay helpless five months, but
eventually recovered the use of her leg to a fair
exte This and four subsequent operations in
beiIeVu0 were WaCcQeu luteCeSCeuiy, nOC only
by the classes of students admitted to
the surgical clinics. but also by many practition-
ers. Opinion is divided as to the value of the in
novation, although in these six cases the results
have been satisfactory. Four of the patients
were assembled for exhibition to An assemblage
of medical men, as evidence that Their had been
much good and no harm done. Still, although
the wire system has its enthusiastic advocates,
it is not likely yet while to disp lace the plas-
ter-of-paris splints now in general use Nor is
it probable that the charity commi ssioners will
attempt any dictation to the Bellevue surgeons
in the treatment of INDECENT patients until
there is some disastrous use of their power In
this matter of wiring the operators had expert
mented on dogs rather extensively before per
forating live human bones.