New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-20
IN THE OPERATING ROOM.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON PUBLIC" AT
THE SYMs THEATRE.
HOW THE SURGEONS AND THEIR ASSISTANTS
PREPARE FOR THE woRK-THE VARIED
CROWD WHICH GATHERS EACH WEEK

THE EAGER SPECTATORS.
In more senses than one 1t Is curious crowd
that gathers each Saturday afternoon In the WIZ
lam j. Syms Operating Theatre In this city ana
gazes with absorbed interest at the work OF the
surgeons at It's feet. All the travellers on the
Nlnth-ave elevated road are familiar with the oiu'
gray stone walls Of Roosevelt Hospital. at FIFTY
nlntI,-yt with a glimpse Of the river beyond. TO
the ordinary mind the thought OF surgical opera
lions Is always associated with things grewSome'y
interesting and perhaps that is the reason tnat
the edge Of the station platform Is always crowded
with people who beguile the time between trains
by gazing down at the red brick walls and huge
slSyllght OF the Syms building. They know that
within this building full OF mystery for them Is
going on the work Of the surgeons who are trying
to save life by the unsparing use Of the knife
It Is to be taken for granted that the common
mortal is not anxious to see his fellow sliced open
at any portion OF the anatomy that may be neces-
sary Therefore II Is to be taken for granted also
that OF the many who flock to the public opera
tons every Saturday afternoon. almost every one
comes from a scientific or studlous Interest. Al
the entrance to the theatre Is posted a list or the
operations which will be performed on the AFTER
noon in question. Two short flights OF steps lead
10 the theatre itself where already gathered In
the seml-circuar tiers OF seats rising high ABOVE
the floor the many medical students and others IN
terested in the operations The Syms Operating
Theatre when It was built In 1881. was called the
perfect
The onlookers are placed that they are almost
directly above the operating table and can catch
the slightest movement OF the working surgeons.
GIRLS STUDY THE OPERATIONS.
There are always some women among the spec
tators and they are ell young-some ha dly older
than girls, but thcy gaze unnnchngly at the al
most frlghtful operations which are being per-
formed on and women alike. They are IN al
most every case medical students or girls who in
tha hIghnc ride
Then. side by side with them. with the same abb
sorbed gaze are the country practitioners who
look admrlngy at their brethren. In the seats
just below them are perhaps city physicians who
have n decided taste for surgery. and on the low
est tier wel-known surgeons whose ADVICE
and opinion are frequently sought. II Is warm
afternoon. but in the operating theatre II Is cool.
and the grl-student in blue. sitting on one side by
herself. gets occasional glance even from the
men who are far more Interested In other Things
She is taking notes copiously
Preparation for the operation Is simple First
two whte-robed young women nurses appear ana
move nolselcssly and rapidly about the pit where
all the work Is 10 be done They are helped by man
whose attire Is also mmaculately white ana , VINO
ne prepares the operating table n the work Is 10
covers the entire table with rubber sheets The
table Itself by the way, Is an iron frame ABOUT
slab OF heavy wy ground glass covering the whole:
Laid over the glass are thin leather cushions n
any part of the patients body Is to be brought
into especial prominence the assistant frequently
places a small hard pillow the table just at
the spot where that part Of the body will lie The
four legs OF the table rest perfectly squarey and
firmly on the noor. that there will not be the
A. a critical point. might mean death for the suf
ferer. At the head Of the table is the lLtte stool
sponge containing the anaesthetic firmly over the
patients face.
WHAT THE sPoNGEs INDICATE.
One OF the nurses has put pile OF two dozen or
more thin towels IN n big glass basin to soak In
cfrfa ~, n,tfi AZ a
she takes out one by the dish-cloths. as
housekeeper would call them. wrings them out and
arranges them HANDY for use; for any quantity OF
The girl In the blue gown who takes voluminous
notes IL beginning 10 get a little nervous me
ogener in low ,one. or else look With unconcern
AT the preparations. The nurses next arrange a
them on table little at one side The odor OF
the lod9form comes up family on the air The
ssysra glass basin! iileti Win 6nc Mtlc spongeT
'-hlr. vii bc IN constant demand. From the number
- sp 'nres arranged near NJ hand s easy 70 tell
whether the coming operation will be an extremely
bloody on" or not and the girl student can hardly
Th,n one Of the surgeons assistants come. into
we hs nS,Sinr has BEEN ~" ft undone and then
busles himself with getting out the Instruments.
hinges. Just 10 the rear. and across ts surface in
black letters Is INSTRUMENT Room" From here
enk Of s'ce is the indication that the OPERATION
place. them close to tn operating table They
really clamps. which quickly clasped about
a vein or artery the instant it is cut. s5metmcs.
az the "nl Of the operation tnere care rs many rs
tw" dozen OF these queer-iOoking steel clamps
sticking from the wound.
pr MBrRNEY READY FOR WORK
Or. Charles McBurncy the celebrated surgeon.
is the last 70 enter before the patient IS brought
in. Or. McBurney Is a striking figure. clad in his
suite OF white. and every and woman before
him lean forward to catch every word that he will
say. Or. McBumey gances up az the OF
faces before him. leans easily against the operat
ing table and then takes OF his glasses
THE about TO be operated upon" says he.
and then follows short history OF the and
brief description OF the way he intends to treat
1t. The surgeons llttle lecture Is remarkably free
from intricate medical terms. and he tells clearly
and distinctly just what he proposes to do. II sew
eral methods OF treatment have been used in SINH
lar cases. the surgeon describes each one briefly
and then tells just why he intends 10 carry out
the method ne has chosen.
The surgeons sleeves rolled up above the
elbows. and. with his last words. he steps over TO
"A deep glass basin and bathes his hands and arms
for the last time in the clear water. Then he mods
TO the assistants. who wheel slowly into the room
the patient, man or woman. as the case may be-
already unconscious with the chloroform cup held
down over the face. The patient is placed
fully on the table the part OF the body to be opcr
around with sponge. cloth and clamp. All is ready
the assistant hands 10 the surgeon the cleaning
knife
TOADS AND PEBBLES Nv HITLSTOyES.