Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-10-15

l
E,ada,ick of Prussia. Sir Morell Mecken-
zes history of the case of the Emperor is
pub';shed and has caused sensation not
only In medical circles but among those out
aide the profession. 1t treats almost wholly
of the medical and surgical aspect OF the
subject, but Ia made clear to the comprehen'
sion of all. His narrative shows that the
German surgeons were animated BY zeal
ousy of their English colleague, and that BE-
cause of that spirit, end of their lncompe
tsnce In the speciality of throat Diseases tne
life of the Emperor was shortened, anu ootn
his mental and physical sufferlngs IN
creased When Sir Morell was frat called
to Berlin to examine the Grown Prince 10
MAY, 1857, he was surprised to md that OF
the ak German surgeons and physicians IN
attendance not one was of present distinc-
ton In the speciality of throat diseases. Prot.
Gerhardt had only studied them Incidental
". Prof. Won Bergman was OF surgical dis
,inction, but unknown In ryngolical liter
ature as an operator or an observer. Prot.
Tobod was one OF the earliest throat phy'
sicians of Germany, but had dropped almost
entirely out of notice. The others il at
tendance were two military surgeons ana
the physician in ordinary. From this
absence of throat specialists, of whom
there are several in Germany Of wide dis
tinction. SIR NIorel concluded that the
Crown Prince must be suffering from some
obscure disease of which the throat trouble
was only an incidental complication. But
ON consultation with his colleagues, he found
that Gerhardt and Tobold were positive that
the disease was cancerous, and that Won
Bergman was in substantial agreement with
them, all Of them agreeing that dangerous
cutting operation from the outside was ne,
cessary to remove the growth. After an ex'
animation and in order to determine the
question OF cancer on ascientitic basis, some
thing which had boen left undone By the
German physicians, DR.. Mackenzie cut OF
piece of the growth aud sent it to the Prof
Virchow for microscopical examination. The
pa.hologist reported that he fonnd no evi
dence of malignancy. Other pieces were al
terward cut off By DR.. Mackenzie and exam.
med under the microscope With similar
result All this time the German physi
clans were manifesting spirit cfprofession.
al jealousy but at length the case WAS hand.
ed over to the English specialist to test the
milder form of treatment advised by him,
instead of tho heroic method advised by the
Germans. He succeeded in eventually re-
moving the growth, though afterward the
trouble was renewed in a more aggravated
form, and cancer was tlaaly diagnosed as
the unmistakable disease. Bat this oan-
Ger Sir Morell is Inclined to attribute
to the early manner OF treatment adopt
ed by Prof Gerhardt. 1t seems that
the German physician mad applied the red
hot point of the galvano- cautery to the
throat every day for nearly fortnight,
though such an application should not occur
oftener than once, or at most twice week
81 hardly Know says Dr.. Mackenzie,
(which to be the most astonisheG at in the
present instance, the therapeutic energy OF
the physician or the endurance of the pa
TENT Such "barbarous usage" would OF
itself have tended to occasion cancer, Tor
mo point In pa, hology ie better established
than the connection between local irritation,
or chronic structural changes induced there
hy, and the development Of cancer" Sir
Morell declares that if the growth was be-
nisn In the first Instance there is only too
much reason to think that Gerhardt's burn
ipgs must be held ansWerable Tor its subse-
auent transformation into cancer if it was
malignant from the first the disease was I'M
doubtedly aggravated by the treatment.
He also gives many instances OF bungline or
unintelligent and rough operation on the
part of the German physicians, and OF the
complaints of the Emperor because OF them.
When finally tracheotomy was decided up
on the operation was performed by Or. Bra
mann, and very we'll 10 the opinion of Sir
Morel, though, because of the unusual
place of incssion in the windppe, there was
afterward much and serious trouble Then
followed a series of very unfortunate exper-
iments with different forms of the canula,
due to the stubbornness Of the German ply
siclans. Prof. Won Bergman at q later pc.
Rod fastened the fatal result by rough and
violent operation, because of which Sir Nor
ell refused to continue upon the case if the
German surgeon was again permitted 10
touch the Emperor's throat.
The London Pail Mall Gazette says that ii
has authentic information from Berlin that
Prot Won Bergman has begun an action
against Sir Morel Mackenzie for libel and
that Dr. Gerhardt will also begin proceed
ings. II they bring their action in the Eng
lsh courts they will never get verdict
from an English jury. 10 fact Englshmen
generally, and English doctors In particular,
are glad that Mackenzie has had the courage
to speak plainly and show what bungling
crowd he had to deal with. Sir Morell's ex-
plantations seem to have removed all suspi-
cion that he had intrigued with the German
ooure and it is quite clear now that he not
only broke down an intrigue, but that 10
was engaged in none.
The specific charges on which the German
doctors will sue-so It's said first, the
assertions as to the hopeless incompetence
of the German faculty second, the assump-
tiofl that DR.. Gerhardt's treatment brought