Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-03-22
AT THE CLINIC.
AN HOUR WITH THE MEDICAL STU
DENTS AT ANN ARBOR.
Operating Upon n Laughing Little Cripple
A Lady notwithstanding on Both
Sides-The Terrible "Noxa"-
Dramatic Situations.
Luke Sharp in Detroit Free Press.I

Luke Sharp in Detroit Free Press.l
The students are ranged in semi-circular
tiers, each poSitirr commanding a full view
of the patient and the operating surgeon l
looked up with c.. ierable interest at the
amphitheatre a. faces that were ranged
from Tie floor on which stood, almost to
the ceiling.
The first operation was one that certain
young lady will be very thankful for eight
cen or twenty years from now. This young
lady of the future is at present a very sweet
and pretty baby 6 months old. One Of the
senior medical stuients-a iady-sat before
the class with the baby laughing
on her lap. 1t made very
touching domestic figure The lady
student might have been Howells' |Dr.
Breen," or the "Dr. Zay" Of Eliza beth Stu
art Phelps. She was tall and well proper
toned: wore dark olive-green dress that
fitted as it should and became her exceed
ingly. Her fine face was more than hand
some. There was an expression in it of skill,
knowledge firmness and courage. l take
her as typical of the very best example Of
our American lady medical students. 1t
seems to me that no other country can pro-
duce a combination at once so womanly and
50 professional She assisted at nearly all of
the operations and confess to unbouded ad.
miratiou of her alertness in every emer-
gency and her skillful de1terity. The baby
looked up at her ani smiled. The girl pate
the little thing On the cheek AMI the baby
crowed ami laughed DR.. Maclean held the
rosy foot of the caild in his hand and briefly
explained to the students the cause and rem
edy Of the trouble that was apparent to all
The two little feet were turned in toward
each other till the toes touched. They were
at right angles to the natural position, and
the trouble-if unremsdiei-would cause the
child to become a hopeless cripple.
At a signal from the doctor a young man
poured from a bottle the anasthetic on a
towel. This was spread over the laughing
face of the baby. There was a frightened
cry. stifled sob or two, then stiffness. With
careful quickness the lancet entered the
baby's anile-once-twice-t Not a
drop of blood was spilled. The little feet
were bandagei into their correct position,
with speed and deftness that were truly
wonderful During this there was not a
sound in the room. The first to break the
silence was the baby, whose tremulous cry
OF returning consciousness just as the last
bandage was stitched showed that she
thought she had been taken a mean ad-
vantage of, Just as she wanted to crow
and laugh at the lady who held her. There
was nothing revolving about the operation.
DIR. Macleau had done what Shakespeare
thought impossible, and had spilled no drop
of blood When that baby takes its first
steps those chubby feet will be ready to do
their part.
A girl of IL was next trundled in uncon-
scious She lay on the wheeled table to have
a tumor taken from the side of her face-a
terrible legacy Of that dread di-ease-scarlet
fever The great difficulty in this case was
the almost unav voidable danger of cutting the
facial nerve, in which case one side Of the
girls face would remain as paralyze1. The
operation was performed The awaking was
20 be the test The Students looked on in
breathless suspense. The doctor touched the
lips of the reviving girl with the point OF a
needle. Finally the girl gave pitiful wall
that carried with it the suspended dread
with which she had DOUBTLESS regarded the
trial she was to pass through when the
merciful ana.sthetic oyercame ner.
Instantly a murmur of appreciation was
heard The students were quick to catch
the results of the doctors skill