The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-17
The Battle of the Doctors.

The war between the German and English
doctors who attended the Emperor Freder-
lex of Germany, in his fatal illness, has as
sumed such proportions as to attract the
attention of the entire civilized world. 1t
was expected, even before Frederick died,
that after his death the German and En-
glish doctors would engage in bitter con-
troversy, because they displayed great
deal of bad feeling toward each other while
they were treating their distinguish pa
tent, but it was not expected that their
controversy would reach such proportions as
it has, or that Others than themselves
would become involved in it,
1t is difficult to say who fired the first
gun in this battle of the doctors. 1t is
charged that Sir Morell Mackenzie, the
chief English doctor, submitted to an inter
view on his way from Germany to England,
in which he made certain statements
which reflected injuriously on some of the
German doctors. He has denied, however,
that he inspired the interview in question.
The report of the case, as made by the
German doctors, was soon afterward pub
llshed, and it was by no means compliment
airy to Sir Morell Mackenzie. The German
doctors do not appear to have very high
opinion of him, and they say that he did
not know what was the matter with Fred
erick, and thus prevented Treatment which
they think would have saved his life. They
point to several cases of the same kind o.
disease in which they have effected com
plete cures
Sir Morell Mackenzie published his
answer to the German doctors day or two
ago, in the shape of a book. This book
pretends to give full history of the case,
and contains numerous illustrations which
show the location of the disease from which
Frederick suffered
Dr. Mackenzie virtually charges that the
German doctors-Bergmann and Bramann
caused the death of Frederick, through
malpractice. He calls them quacks, and
insists that one of them undertook to per-
form most difficult and dangerous opera
ton when he was not in fit condition to
do So He does not keep anything back APP
parently, and make revelations that not
only reflect upon the German doctors, but
which are rather damaging TO the whole
medical profession.
be says that Frederick, during the time
he was in the hands of the German doctors,
grew steadily worse, and that their blum
dering treatment fastened his death, that
might otherwise have been delayed for
years. He says that on one occasion DR..
Bramann inserted a canula Of such a form
and shape into the opening that had been
made in the patients throat, that wound
Aaf1n xUh i.h l.
also charges that the incision in the threat
for the canula was made i'll the wrong place,
so that the canula could not fail to do HARM
On another occasion. he SAYS, DR.. Berg
mann roughly forced false passage il
the patients throat, and thus made the
termination of the case inevitably fatal as
well as speedy. After this mistake the
patient, according TO DIR. Mackenze's mar
rative, was restored to the sole charge OF,
the English doctors, who did all that it was
possible to do to prolong the patients life,
but no skill could make Roadway agains;
the results Of the "bundering" of DR.. Berg
mann.
OF course the German doctors deny the
charges of DR.. Mackenzie, and declare they
are falsehoods 1t is understood that they
intend to sue DR.. Mackenzie for libel in the
English courts. If they do, there will be
some very interesting revelations. The
world would like to know, however, whethe
the English or the German doctors were
right in their treatment Of the emperor,
and what foundation there is for the
charges which the doctors of one nationality
make against those of the other.