Omaha daily bee., 1888-10-14
MEDICAL BUTCHERS.
Mackenzie Tells of the Treatment Of
Emperor Frederick.
HE DEALS OUT HARD BLOWS.
The German Experts characterized
as Entirely Incompetent.
THEY KILLED THE PATIENT.
A Series of Blunders Which Pro-
duced Fatal Results.
ALMOST AN ASSASSINATION.
Prof Bergman's Bungling Work on
the Royal Victims Throat Almost
Too Horrible For Belicf-The
Case in Detail.
DR.. MaCkcnzie's Book.

DIR. MaCkcnZies Book.
ICopyriglt 1883 bv James Gordon Benncttl
PARIS, Oct. ID New York Herald Cable
Special to THE BEE. II am to-day enabled
to send you the substance of SIR Morell
Mackenzie s work, which will be issued
under the following title: ",rhe Fatal Ill
ness of Frederick, the Noble,' the most i'm
portant polemic treatise of the present cen
tury. Aside from its intense historical and
medical interest it is delightfully."- readable.
The preface is mainly defense of his action
in writing the book, and an exposition of the
difficulties which had been thrown in his way
by the Prussian government. He was refused
free access to the state archives, whilst per
mission was given to his adversaries,
who rummaged miscellaneously for docu-
ments that would serve the purposes of
accusation, and discreetly ignored those that
vindicated the English specialist Among
the latter Sir Morell Mack enzie enumerates
the written refusal of the crown prince to
submit to any other external operation than
tracheotomy: also the protocols sent by
Professors Won Bergman and Gerhardt to the
"Haus Ministerium' before he was sum
moned, giving Their views of the case as or
lginalIy expressed; and the protocols of him
self and Drs. Won Schroeder and Krause
of Prof. Virchow also he endeavored to OBJ.
TAIN but unsuccessfully. His preface con-
cludes with a hope that some day the docu-
mems may be made public, and the declara-
ton that he certainly has no reason to dread
their appearance. 1t is signed Morell Mac
kenzie No. 10 Harley street, London,
October 10, 1858.
THE BOOK.
son the evening of Wednesday, May IS,
1857, as was about to retire to rest after
day of hard professional work, / received
message requesting me to proceed to Berlin
to see his imperial hghness the crown
prince left London the next morning ar
irving in Berlin on the following Friday,
where l was met by DR.. Won Bergman, who
drove me at once to the palace of my patient.
l had scarcely changed my dress before the
hoffmarshal, Count Radolinsk came
to conduct me to the crown prince
who received me most graciously
apologizing with great bonhomie
for the trouble which his unfortunate throat
was causing to other people. l was taken
next to another room where I found as
sembled the following physicians and sur
geons: Profs. Gerhardt, Won Bergman,
Tobold, DR.. Won Lauer, physician in ordi-
nary to the aged emperor and also medical
director general in the German army; DR..
Wagner and Dr. Schrader, who occasionally
acted as his deputies. l confess that | felt
some surprise that among those with
whom | was invited to take counsel on a case
of such Importance, there was not at least
one of the leading German specialists in
throat diseases. Every throat specialist
could without any hesitation name several
men in Germany whose reputation is not con-
fined to their own country. Their absence
here seemed so significant that l was in
clined to believe the crown prince to be suf-
ferng from some obscure disease of which
the laryngeal af1liction was only
an accidental complication. Wagner and
Gcrhardt gave me a history of the case
from their point of view, and | then pro-
ceedcd to examine the patient and afterward
we doctors withdrew to discuss the matter.
Professors Gerhardt and Tooold gave posi-
tive opinion that the disease was cancerous,
and Won Bergman, though he expressed
himself more guardedly, agreed substantially
with them. All three were unanimous in the
belief that cutting operation from the out
| side would be necessary for the removal o. the
growth. The precise nature of the surgical
procedure that would be required was never,
| however, discussed in my presence. When
| it came to my turn to speak | said that there
was nothing characteristic in the appearance
| of the growth and that it was quite impos-
sible to give definite opinion as otis nature
| without a more searching examination.
| pointed out that the opinion of my colleagues
| had been reached on insufficient grounds,
and that the first thing to be done was to pick
| out piece of the growth and have it ex-
| amincd microscopically. Prof. Gerhardt
| 1.
| do this on account of the awkward situation
| of the growth. Prof. Tobold expressed a
similar opinion. l thought it should be at
tempted and turning to Gerhardt, said to him,
| will you try.'
| THE GERMANS DECLINE OPERATING.
| He said Il cannot operate with the
| forceps.' | next asked Prof Tobold if he
would make the attempt, but he also declined,
| saying, no longer operate. These re-
plies increased the surprise which felt that
| a case of such a nature should have been in
trusted to such hands. For a throat specialist
who cannot use the laryngoscope and forceps
is like carpenter who cannot handle saw
The upshot was that Sir Morell was COM
PEELED to perform the operation himself The
| book continues;
early the following morning Saturday
| all the doctors assembled in the palace, and
as the room in which the operation was to
take place was rather small, DIR, Wagner
suggested that beside himself only Gerhardt
and Tobold should be present with me, Co
caine was then applied to the crown prince
and everything was ready for the operation.
Whilst we were waiting TILL the local anGs-
thetic had produced its effect there was a
knock at the door. DR.. Wagner opened il
and admitted Professor Won Bergman, OBJ
serving that previously he was not aware
that the professor was laryngoscopst
When the cocaine had taken effect / intro
duced the forceps into the larynx, but failed
to seize the growth | essayed again and was
more successful. On Withdrawing the for
ceps and opening the blades, which are hol