The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-15
s5OO FOR A BRAIN TUM0R.
v,Na PATIENTS FOR PRIVILEGE
OF oPER ATISG ON THEM.

11o,,,ahle Property - The Surgeons
Mt ONLY Pay for Patients Who Are
vo-riolv Afflicted, but Eagerly Com
,ate for Their Custom and Take
poc,liar Pride in Making Good Jobs
a Their Cases.
From the New York World.
moor man with family dependent on
40, sasns stricken with the direst dart of
s.,o when he contracts some phenomenal
disease. or lapses into morbid condition
vbioh the highest surgical art can alone
remedy. $50
put IL he really strikes this awful depth
ofmalady he is better off than with some
less singular form of disease equally dan
gerous.
The reason is because the doctors will pay
rim large sums to allow himself to be oper~
stsd on, and will give literally to his family
il be die under the operation. Moreover, it
Is the surgeons greatest endeavor to save
him. He wants knowledge on that occult
and rare form of disease, and he gets this
by operating. But to cure it is an adver-
tissment worth much, for a rich patient in
The same phenomenal condition of disease
would pay thousands to the surgeon cred
tied with the power to cure 1t.
30 the tramp or the workmen with a very
unrsuaI disorder is assured of every comfort,
Of the best surgical attention for nothing,
aud big Sums for the privilege OF trying to
cure him.
Although dying of incursble diseases,
these subjects are capable of inventing all
sorts Of plans to raise the prices they are
offered. Their greatest scheme seems 80 be
90 appear before a number of specialists
and offer to sell themselves, so that all can
plainly hear This always causes intense
excitement when it occurs, but so infre-
ouently can more than one or two promi-
nspt doctors be found together that the sub
jects seldom have such opportunities.
TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER.
The writer has heard of these happenings
several times, but has only witnessed one.
That was an exciting scene. 1t took place
last week in the entrance hall of New
York hospital. An especially important
operation was to be performed that day and
Prof. Robert #. Weir, the operator, had
sent out special invitations to all great
surgeons In the country, among whom were
Drs. William T. Bull, Frank Hartley, John
A. Wyethe, Charles McBarney, Edward
Partridge II. p. LOOMS, Andrew J. Nc
Gosh and William 81. Thompson, to see and
aid him In the removal of an enormous
brain tumor.
During the operation a wretched,
'trampish" looking man opened the front
door Of the hospital building and inquired
for the professor. The guard informed
him that Prof. Weir was then engaged in
the operating amphithester, but If his case
was urgent he had better wait until he came
out, az it would not be long. The follow
said nothing In reply, but seated himself at
the foot Of the staircase, where he waited
ntyA al kfna 81 fat
heard on the stone steps that lead from the
Rmphitheater. together with an equally
loud chatter Of voices growing nearer and
nearer. AS the last corner was turned he
arose and took good care to place himself
in position ia the middle Of the hall 80
that the mob Of medical men could not
pass him by without his attracting their
attention.
Prof. Weir was among them, and when
the doorman informed him that the man
who stood seemingly with Zone foot In the
grave" had inquired for him he advanced
toward the man and asked:
"Wen, what can do for you, young fell
lowT'
Doctor, rm sick and can get no relief
In this dispensary. | can't work, and
thought how would see If you would pay
me something to study my disease"
No sooner did these words pass his lips
than questions came pouring in on all Sides
their object being to discover the nature of
his malady aud its value. but the man did
not seem to be able TO inform shem. He
only knew that something panied him ter
ribly in the chest. He had been informed
the name Of the trouble in the dlspensary
but could not remember, nor could he IN
derstend it, However, he said he had no
objections to an examination then and there
and the surgeons might see for themselves
This revealed the extraordinary kno wi
edge that the man was dying with ansneur-
ism of the aorta, one of the rarest and
gravest conditions known and for which
no treatment has ever proved successful.
The efforts in such cases of Profs. Victor
Horsley Of England, Bergman OF Germany
Billroth of Austria, and Bull Of this country
have failed even to give relief
Only few months ago there was a case
Of this kind brought to Prof. Bull aud the
patient was California millionaire who
offered any price to be cured, but he died
after an operation performed In consulta-
ton with six OF the greatest American sur-
geons at st. Luke's hospital.
1t is plain that the surgeon who effects a
cure of this terrible malady will be famous
all over the globe. But as such opportun-
lies are rare it may be many years before
one is successful
Returning to the scene above referred 30
at the New York hospital, it ia needless to
say that such a discovery caused the widest
excitement among the assembled specialists
There on the stretcher lay the suDjeot-ex-
animation proved he had aneurism of the
aorta-and the man arose half way and
asked in very feeble voice how much any
one OF them would offer him for the privi-
lege of experimenting on his malady, with
q view to cure, IL possible. He gave his
name at the hospital as Michael Kiegharn.
de was wise in his action, although to some
people IL may seem terrible, for in his press
ent condition he could do nothing, and
would only live few weeks more or less.
ne had wife with three small children,
HVlng with her sister at No. 3l3 Oakland
avenue, Williamsburg, half starving on
what she could earn taking in washing. The
operation has not been performed yet, and
Wnen 1t is it will be done in secrecy at a
private hospital. In the mean time he is
pelng cared for by the surgeon who is owner
VI Ms malady, and who desires TO study
niin while before operating.
NOVEL LIFE INSURANCE.
What insurance company would insure
nus Mel Why none, Of course, and in a
nVely combat against one another these
aole ministers OF health bid up an insur-
ahce to be received before death which
started at $50 and run rapidly up to 81, 100.
1hen, too, he has at least a chance OF re-
eoVery. II he dies under the knife his
Lamily will be paid another 81, 900 for his
~ ossa body, In order to allow further study