The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-07-18
DOCTORS DISAGREE.
German Physicians Severely Denounce
DIR. Mackenzie's Treatment Of En-
peror Frederick.
The Englishman Replies That the
Statements Made Are Utterly
Untrue.
[London speeial telegram.l

The greatest medical scandal of the age
has been stirred up regarding the malady
and treatment of the late Emperor William
of Germany. The German doctors re-
ports on the case have been made public,
and Sir Morell Mackenzie gets such
raking as will satisfy his most bitter enc
mics. The reports are supplied by the
German FoSeign Office in London. The
first is that of Professor Gerhardt, of Ber-
lin, which is as follows:
first examined the vocal cords OF the then
Crown Prince on March q, 1897 The swelling
was destroyed by galvnnic cautery, and the
Crown Prince felt his health restored. He then
went 10 Ems. From the first Professor Ger
hardt says he had doubts as 20 whether the
growth was a benign one. He expected, however,
that after fortnight spent at Ems The Prince
would have thoroughly recovered or the return
a the swelling would prove 1t TO be malignant.
Reports from Ems were not coed, and the doc
tors with he Crown Prince, as vol as the royal
pair Themselves wished 10 take the opinion OF n
specialist DIR. Gerhardt then called upon DR..
Wegner explained the gravity OF the case, and
together with DIR. Schroeder advised SUNNI oning
a specialist in throat diseases. The Crown
Prince was AT Ems till May Is, and then the
swelling was larger than before and his voice
hoarser. Dr. Gerhardt feared the case would
prove 20 be one of cancer. On being informed
that swelling had reappeared the imperial pa
tient desired that il should again lie removed by
cautery. Dr. Gerlardt hesitated, desiring that
a surgeon be CHILLED in, and DIR. Bergman was
summoned. He examined the throat and at
once declared that the opening OF the larynx was
necessary for the extirpation OF the swelling. At
this consultation DIR. Mackenzie was named as
a specialist. DR. Bergman and DR.. Gerhardt
consented TO his being call Il in, the latter re-
narffnr that the evidences were so clear that
no person conversa ant with laryngoscopical ex-
aminations could doubt their significance.
On May Is there WAS consultation at which
Drs. Won Lauer, Tobold, Wegner, Schroe or,
Bergman, and Gerhardt were present, and then
Or. Tobold examined the lar' nix and decinred-
these doctors only being present-that il was a.
case Of cancer. The other doctors agreed 10 his
opinion un nimously, declaring the OPP ming OF
the larynx necessary. May 20 oil the PREF ara
tions were in readiness for the operation, which
was 10 take place the ne morning. On the
same evening DIR. Mackenzie saw the patient for
the first time and declared il was not a case or
cancer, the whole appearance Of the swelling
was not cancerous, and he should oppose any
operation as long as the swelling was not shown
to be cancerous by microscopical exam ma
ton. The German doctors consented 20 delay
the operation. The next morning DIR. Macken-
zie removed small piece tissue, which
was submitted to- DIR. Virchow. who said
the disease might be pachyderInia laryngtis.
But there no proof hat the piece was taken
from the swelling, as that did not appear 70 have
been injured. DIR. Mackenzie then tried TO re-
move another piece for examination. Il saw
him, Says DIR. Gerhardt, take the forceps from
his breast pocket and insert them in the PATIENTS
throat, and he withdrew them without obtaining
the piece he wanted. / examined the patients
throat Immediately after, and found marked
redneS6 on both vocal chords. Inc right chord
bloody. On the edge OF the right chord, just
about the center there was II dark red swell
ing, projecting 10 the CLOTHS. We went to
Mackenzie's room and told him he seemed to
have seized the right vocal chord instead OF
the diseased one on the left and pnched In. He
replied that IL WINS possible" From this mo-
ment the patient became voiceless, and
manned TIL July 8. Another consultation was
held on May IS, when Dr. Bergman aud DIR.
Tobold convinced themselves that the right
vocal chord had been injured, and, according
10 the report OF DIR. Landgraf il was not healed
till June "a. In the meantime DIR. Mackenzie
had assured the patien s family that he could
side. When pressed to explain his scheme
he told the doctors, and his statement
was taken down by DR.. Wegner, that
he would remove the swelling by means Of
sharp forceps, or would resort 70 galvanic eau
terry. He was in favor OF the first method.
Dr. Mackenzie repeated his opinion az the
subsequent consultation on May s. At this con-
sultation it was agreed that Sir Morell should
remove the swelling with red hot wire or for
ceps, as he asserted no could do, and that the
voice would be restored. DR.. Mackenzie declared
on that occasion That he regarded the swelling
a benignent growth. Dr. Gerhardt held that il
was impossible TO remove the growth from the
outside through the mouth, but Sir Morell said
he would continue TO operate in that manner till
another portion extracted was declared 20 be
lignent or till the swelling increased. DIR. Berg
manns report is voluminous. In conclusion he
says:
'Afterthe last consultation we had entirely lost
the confidence in DR. Mackenzie which induced
us TO call him in. We were brought TO tn g. in
the first place, by his manipulation of the
larynx, which did not afford us guar zee that
he had really reached the growth with his in
struments, and not by chance some other spot
in the interior OF the larynx, as for example the
seriously affected right vocal chord and, in the
second place, through the wholly arbitrary esti-
mate of Nirchow's opinion, as well as by his en-
deavor 10 shift the responsibility from himself
20 the pat ologist. In the third place were
Influenced by the manner IN which the press
obtained the details of the illness
The reports of Drs. Bergman, Landsraf md
Schroeder are chiefly corroborative of Prof ,ssor
Gerhardts report, and all tend TO show that DR..
Mackenzie's management was wrong through
out
Mr.. Mackenzie has not yet decided what form
his reply will take, nor, in fact, whether ne will
make any reply at all beyond the emphatic dec
laration that the statements concerning himself
are a tissue Of falsehood The details TO be made
public in his contemplated book will IL is said,
demonstrate the incapacity Of Drs Berfmann
and Baumann SO conclusivoly as TO irretrieva
ruin their professional regulations. Though de-
terInined on publishing this work for the benefit
OF medicine at large, he had decided, through
consideration for the rival physicians, upon
postponing its publication until after their death
Whether he will maintain his charitable resolu-
tion under the circumstances is a question. Ho
will be influenced in his decision as 20 whether
or not he shall reply categorically to the German
doctors by the will OF the Empress Victoria Who
is anxious that her husbands memory should
be left in pence, and would dislike any prolonged
discussion as TO his malady.
The friends OF Sir Morell Mackenzie are high
ly indi nant They say ths charges are prompted
by professional Jealousy, and reply with n de-
gree OF vigor exceeding that of the Germans. 1t
is fatty asserted for instance, hat Bergman
appeared at the consultat on prece ding an oper-
alton in a state of intoxication so apparent
10 call for observa ion from the Empress.
Again, IL is declared TINT once in changing the
canula DIR. Bergman grossly bundered as
to miss the trachca, and forced the metal ube
into the flesh of tn neck. This blunder was
discovered by the English doctors present. Dr.
Berpmann did not have another opportunity Of
attempting to insert the canula, although after
his mistake he devised the llan of inserting
first into the trachea rubber tube, which
should act as guide The metal capula passed
over it and the rubber tube was toen withdrawn.
IL is plain hat the last is not yet heard OF the
Emrerors case, and that D. OCCASIONAL rivalry
will bring about revelations as interesting to
the publ as TO the medical fraternity.
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