Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-12

the profession think for themselves, and herein
lies the spirit, through which has been born ad-
vancement of medical learning. and thank GOO
it lies not in the power of any man, nor should
it in our profession, to say to the younger men
in it. ''hold. did not teach you that doctrine,
and you must not utter it, or you will cease TO
have my APPRECIATION" This sort of a tub
thrown to the young whale is carried off or
even swallowed, without thanks or compunc-
tion, and SO ifshould be.
A FLING AT THE FOSSIL.
The medical fossil who says, on the floor Of q
county or State medical society meeting, to his
juniors in substance somewhat like this: "Now,
I am your friend, young man; stick close to my
coat tails, and do not stray far away or you will
not have my fine reputation and emipent abll-
ity to tide you over your trials in practice. l
am the big wig medically speaking, in this
community, and don't you forget it. Don't go
too long at once without calling me in consul
tation, for that is the proper caper and the
young men are all doing it. Don't think OF
talking about your cases in this society. but
keep quiet and listen to me talking. Your
time will come when give you the cde."
Haven't many of MS had an actual experience
of this kind? l have, and you have There are
men in every medical society," and there are
here to-day those whose hearts will thump in
their bosoms and whose hands and feet grow
cold as ice at the bare thought of rising among
what are simply their peers; where every man
should count as one, and only one to give
a reason for the faith that is in them" Yet
they have the knowledge in their brains, the
faith and the experience, and it is with these
very men, growing, swelling, thoughtful ger
mination that will not always be kept hidden
from the profession by a throbbing heart and
cold feet and hands born of timidity. lest some
of the bigger wigs" should rise and say" who
are you? ] never taught you that kind OF med
ical science" What one of us but has felt this
manner of rebuke at some time in our profess
ional lives? And stout indeed is the heart that
can stand up under and still terate and reiter-
ate his reasons Tor ''tbe faith that is in him."
Some one asks: What has all this to do with
laryngologyf 1 answer. 1t is with this branch
as with the parent tree from which it sprung;
these fossiliZed members and their abuses exist
in the general profession, ana are not always
left behind when some of the family emigrate
into the specialties. You have all felt what
have, in homely, blunt way put into
words, or you have caused others to
a man either soured by disappointment or cyni-
cal from bad treatment, neither are they the
carpings or cavailings OF either the imagination
or memory. Quite the contrary. have always
been honCred beyond my deserts, and feel duly
thankful. feel good-natured as usual in set
ting forth my own thoughts upon medical Ques-
tons, as have observed them, and feel quite
sure my words meet with responsive analogous
experiences among my younger colleagues here
nbled. Young men from the country and
the cities, hear all the advice you can on any
follow no mans teaching or advice, excepting
as it accords with your own best judgment. If
1t is surgical operation that concerns your
mind, read all you can upon it, and then do 1t
In your own way, after careful study of the
case IN hand. Since if you follow anybody's
method without adaptation. you will not do the
best for the patient or your own reputation as
a successful man. Or if the question in your
mind is, shall become a laryngologist?" look
into the matter carefully and fit yourself by
thorough study and practical training. Take
some advice upon it, but above all things do as
your own judgment dictates thereafter.
However, l should venture to say, don't be-
gin to be laryngologst until you have been a
general practitioner for ten years at least and
you will. therefore, other things being equal,
make better one than otherwise.
AS TO LARYNGoLoGY.
Now word as to the laryngology. What has
it done for medical science? am certainly
not expected to answer so broad question
specifically. Yet might tell you, however. in
general terms that this special branch of study
has evolved the disposition In some sur
geons to look upon the larynx as an organ
to be extirpated, if its ofense be Of a cancer
Gus character. And it has also been in an in
dividual case the theme upon which was based
an international professional quarrel, in which
the entire world were spectators hanging upon
the news with hungry avidity, that never for a
moment thought that personal jealousy or the
spirit of Stand aside, l am holier than thou"
was the handspring to all the unseemly world
wide gossip. While am not partisan of any
man or faction. am quite free to Say that the
mere saving of the patient in question from
extirpaton of the larynx was in itself for
tunate shielding of him from an operation
most horrible to contemplate and which is of
doubtful eligibility at best since it can never
bring moment of personal comfort to the un-
fortunate patient or his friends.
Though q brilliant surgical procedure, 1t
promises so little that death seems far more pref
cradle than to resort to it, unless under excep-
tiOnal circumstances. Knowing Sir Aorell
Mackenzie personally, both as a man and
laryngologist, and also knowing nearly all the
Others personally as well who were profession
ally concerned in the case of the unfortunate
Crown Prince, / unhesitatingly express the opln-
ion that the highest skill obtainable in laryngol
ogy was competently exercised by Sir Norell
Mackenzie And as an author he is SO great and
searching that no honest writer in laryngolocy
for the next 50 years will be able to write upon
the varied questions of this special branch of
medicine without quoting freely the wise and
learned observations and opinions of Mac
kenZie, of London. And as a man, can only
say that to me he is more like the higher type of
the gifted and accomplished American gentle
men than any other. But repeat, am not a
nor any mans man, in this or any
other medical question, and those of you here
present. who know me best. and with whom
have grown. so to speak, will in this respect, at
least, bear me out. That will speak the truth
rs view it regardless of local or national bias
fear or favor And l believe MackenLie's
greatest most offensive, and not to be forgiven
sin is, that he was and is in possession of that
'ame fame for which we are all earnestly striv-
ng 10 attain; but which, alas! is SO often what
he modest. yet immortal Jenner. regarded it,
"A gilded butt pierced by the arrows of ma
ignancy."
HAY FEVER TREATMENT.
As to intubation of the larynx. there can be |
10 question of its great value in diminishing |
he mortality of Group and diphtheria, and it |
hould be resorted to in every instance prefer |
bic to doing tracheotomy.
Concerning what laryngology and rhinology |
las done in the successful treatment of hay |
sthma, probably feel myself more compe- |
ent TO speak, than upon some other questions.
since 1881, when first made known to the pro- |
ession my observations upon hay asthma, in a |
,aper which i read before the American |
Iaryngological Association. And now briefly |
luote from paper read last year by invitation |
'efore the Medical Society of Central New |
FORK, in which stated that had treated over |
90 cases of this very troublesome disease, but |
is of the first 200 cases that shall now speak.
have taken pains in the treatment of all these |
,ases Of hay asthma. to confne myself as far as |
possible to the treatment of putting the |
ntra-nasal tissues IN a normal and healthful
whether by means of surgically oper- |
tive procedures or by the milder methods of |
ocal medicinal applications. This has resulted |
n cure of s. per cent Of these cases, and with |
large proportion of the remaining 80 per cent,
more or less, while improved. yet proper sub |
Iects for more thorough treatment, with fair d
prospects of further benefit or cure. In asthma |
he results have been also satisfactory, at least