The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-29

July reS0fted 20 by savage African tribes.
The spleen has also been successfully removed
by local operators, although we regret to re-
cord that the patient promptly died. Marion
Sims operated over thousand times for ovari-
an tumor, and saved higher per cent. in each
succeeding fifty Of his cases.
Great good has, no doubt, been done, lives
saved and misery aileviated; but the question
still comes up is it not useless and unnec-
essary waste of sponges and scissorsf Surgi-
cal bills always come high. and to be opened
up by frst-class operator costs from 800 to
$500, besides the expense of nurses, board
bills and loss of business, in the chance of
getting well; and if you die, which is more
likely to happen than not, these same bills
must be paid, plus the expenses Of modern
funeral.
TO the surgeon it may seem little thing
merely five-cent sponge or pair of surgical
scissors, worth from seventy-fve cents to dol
lar. But all these little things go to increase
the BILL and it is the little foxes that steal
away the grapes. Besides, it is an unfair and
undue advantage to take Of patients when
under the influence of an an@sthetic, to hide;
away sponges, knives, scissors and dog for
cops in the recesses of their anatomy, and
then charge them up in the bill Even sup
posing that the surgeon is honest, and has no
sinister or mercenary motives, we should still
regard it as an inexcusable offense against the
patient, his family and friends The great
abdomanist may miss his sponge or scissors
at once, and is put to tedious operation and
expense to get them while subjecting the
patient to all the dangers and miseries Of the
primary operation. II he leaves the sponge in
permanently, he never gets it until the post
norton, which is usually within two weeks,
as this is a species Of sponge grating which
the human system always repudiatcs.
Of course, the scissors are sure
death, unless heavily silver-plated, but,
if this precaution is wisely taken, the
surgeon only seizes the other horn Of the di-
lemma, and again must increase his BILL Be-
sides, the sharp points of scissors, knives and
forceps, if so plated, might interfere with the
natural functions Of the abdominal organs, or
they might work out by inflammation, and
destroy the natural symmetry Of the trunk
The question, it seems, is besst with diff
culties, and may prove the rock on which
modern abdominal surgery splits. 1t is par
ticularly important with reference to the
sponges. Only quite recently this question
Of ''what should be done with the sponges"
was preached on the commencement of an alb
dominal section in one of our hospitals, and
was Immediately solved by the operator, who
said if they were cold, to 'throw them in the
nurses face'-thus, and at once, precipitating
medical row which involved the city
fathers, the hospital authorities, and which,
by the press and circular letters, was made to
penetrate to the humblest representative Of
the medical profession in the State This is
method only to be tolerated in the 'trowdy
West and it is not at all likely that it will
be accepted by the American Abdominal As
sociaticn, if it were presented to them as
solution. Not to NEEDLE or get on to
purely professional ground, we suggest
in the interest of those of the laity who may
yet take to the table, that the surgeon simply
count his sponges, both before and after the
operation, as housewives DO their silver spoons
when used for a coffee; or, in lack of failure of
mathematical ability, that they simply tie the
scissors and sponges around their necks, as
clubs" and ''sisses" do their mittens. We
agree with the learned professional counsel,
that something ought to be done.