Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-21
ALL ABOUT HER KNEE.
MISS HARRIET PORTER SUES A
WELL KNOWN DOCTOR.
The Story She Tells of Her Treatment
She Wants Big Damages Because She
is Lame-Her. Description of a Surgical
Operation.

JuOge Wade ana jury are at present
engaged in hearing suit brought by
Miss Harriet r. Porter against DIR. x.
D. Wise. the well-knowna physician, for
$50 900 damages. Miss Porter, who is a
woman of middle age, alleges that the
defendant, by unskilliul treatment of an
injury to her knee, has made her Grip
pie. The case was called Tuesday and a
portion of the jury secured that day be-
fore adjournment, and special venire
was issued returnable yesterday morn
ing, when the jury was completed. The
jurors are j. D. Young, @. E. Schaffer,
P. j. Mcmahon, G. w. Williamson, F.
Cobb, R. j. Floyd, W. F. Turner, J. F.
Ward, K. @. Guirado, A. Gundlach, s.
w. Hinckley and Isaac Cohn.
The plaintiff was called to the stand
and testified that while descending
stairway in January, 1889, she made
misstep and the jolt resulting therefrom
broke the patelia bone. DR.. Wise was
summoned and Miss Porter wanted him
to set the bone Immediately, as she was
anxious to get back to the school in
which she is teacher. The physician
she said, was apparently in no hurry to
repair the fracture. He told her ne had
a method Of treating such injuries that
is far superior to the old style. Plaintiff
wanted the break attended to in a
proper manner and consented to under
60 DR.. Wise's treatment. The accident
occurred on Wednesday and it was not
until the latter. part OF the week that
the operation was performed.
Witness said the doctor talked great
deal about her taking ether or some
anesthetic. He also brought up the lee
he was to receive for his services. Miss
Porter said he asked her, "How much is
it worth to you." she replied it was
worth 81 900. 900. "But how much can
you pay" inquired the doctor. After
considerable talk the physician told
Miss Porter he would charge wealthy
patient $4,000. She finally agreed to pay
him 500 for his services. He told her
the injured limb might require atten
ton for six or eight months. and that
the sum he was to receive was trifiing
for the time required. He explained
that the bone was to be wired together,
and would eventually be as strong as be-
fore it was fractured.
Witness then described the operation
performed by DR.. Wise and his assis-
tants, Doctors Dorsey and Huckins.
Ether was administered by DR.. Dorsey.
81 was not rendered unconscious" said
the witness, for heard part OF the con-
versation between the physicians. DR..
Wise called for basin to catch the blood
which was dripping from the limb.
When the knife went into the flesh the
sensation was painful and | screamed.
| A little more ether was administered
and the cutting was less painful. Pres
emily l heard DR.. Huckins remark: 1T
! is so slippery / cannot hold it.. He
| had hold of the bone, and he seemed to
have difficulty in keeping it steady
while DIR. Wise bored two holes in it.
Then heard DR.. Huckins ask: How
long shall the wire be?' DR.. Wise
mentioned the length, and in moment
heard him hammering the wire
against the bone. | was on the table
about two hours and half. When the
operation had been performed | was
| lifted from the table and laid on my
bed."
Miss Porter says the operation was
not success and she was confined to
her bed for many months, and during
the time of her enforced retirement her
school broke up and she is now making
livelihood by raising canary birds and
chickens. She testified that she is SO
lame that she experiences great diff
GUILTY in walking. Miss Porter was on
the stand when court adjourned.
Expert testimony will be introduced
by both sides. The court appointed
Drs. Bicknell, Maynard and Wernigk to
make an examination OF the limb. DIR.
Wise claims that the method he pur-
sued is the best known, and denies that
the lameness was caused by his treat
ment.