Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1895-08-31
NERVES OF SURGEONS
SUFFER STAGE FRIGHT WHEN FAC
ING A DIFFICULT OPERATION.
Two Ways In Which 1t Affects Them--A
Young Surgeons First Amputation.
Threaded a Needle to Steady His Nerves.
Operating on a Friend.

''Is thero such u thing as stage fright
among surgeonS?' successful New
York surgeon was asked Though the
term stage fright with reference to sur
gerry was perhaps a misnomer, the sur
geon understood tho question.
"Oh, yes, indeed. there is such q thing
as stage fright among surgeons" he re-
piled. "There arc two kinds of stage
fright, or, rather, there are two different
temperaments among doctors, and the
fright, although in itself perhaps the
same, has different seeming, affected
as it is by the material through which it
passes. The first is the surgeon who is
anxious to perform the operation, sees
no difficulties i'll the way and nothing
but successful termination His rest is
not disturbed by reflections upon COM
plications which may arise. Everything
is Lowell Y until the patient is before him.
Then his hand begins to shake if he
msets with difficulties which he had not
counted upon; his nervousness increases;
he hurries, perhaps with fatal result.
In the case of this man he grows worse
as he grows older, and in old age he
goes all to pieces.
"There is another temperament of
this order. From the time this surgeon
recognizes that an operation is necessary
there pass through his mind all tho
complications which could possibly
come up, and he wonders if there are
not more which he has not thought of.
He is by no means sanguine of a happy
result. He fears this and that and the
other thing. AS the hour approaches he
breads to commence his work more and
more But when he is before the sub
ject his nervousness leaves him. He
commences intelligently, refecting upon
what might arise. He does not hurry or
get excited, but he is intensely interest
ed, wholly absorbed by what he is do
ing. remember witnessing an opera
tion by one of the most celebrated sur
ilgeons l ever knew. 1t was Il most diff
cult operation, and the amphitheater
was filed with doctors who had como
to see it performed. A few moments be-
fore the surgeon Was to commence he
was presented by Il friend to two doc
tors who had como from n distance to
see him operate. He bowed very polite
Ily and spoke u few words. Shortly after
that he commenced operating.
1.-THE operation was of considerable
length, and when it was finished the
two gentlemen to whom the surgeon
had been presented approached to speak
a congratulatory word or two, AS he
did not appear to recognize them, his
friend presented them again. He ex-
pressed his pleasure at meeting them
without the slightest recollection that
he had met them. "
"Do you recall the first operation you
ever performed yourself?"
Indeed l remember it very well. I
was in hospital where there were
$500 beds and 33 surgeons i'll charge.
was one of the young assistant surgeons.
If an operation was necessary in any of
the wards, it was our duty to report it
to the surgeon in charge, who then per-
formed the operation if he chose. re-
ported to my surgeon the necessity of
an amputation of great toe. The sur
geon came and looked at the man and
concurred with my opinion that an am
putation was necessary. l was directed
to get everything ready for the opera
tion. 'Then,' said the surgeon, L will
come and operate if 1 can. If not, you
go on and perform the operation your
self
II told my young associates of the
order, and they said: We'll, you go on
and get ready, but he won't come. You
will have to do the operation yourself
And that was the way it turned out.
The operation was to be at 2 o'clock.
All the night before l was rehearsing
what I intended to do in my mind and
dreaming of it in my sleep. The next
day I could not eat my luncheon. My
hands and feet We're cold. When it came
time to commence the operation, could
only steady my nerves by threading
needles. I said: Give me the needles to
thread. I am very particular about my
thread took needle and commenced
poking at the eye. In few seconds my
hand obeyed my will and became as
steady as could wish. 1 performed the
operation successfully. After that 1 went
on performing a great many operations,
but it was years before | could take
o'clock luncheon if had to operate at 2
o'clock.
"From the conscientious scientific
man apprehension never departs, for he
knows that it is impossible to foresee all
things. And then, again, he takes in
his hands holy human life. If an actor
accentuates the wrong word or halts in
his lines, the worst that can come is a
slight damage to his reputation. If a
minister breaches heterodox doctrines,
the worst that can happen to him is a
trial for heresy But if the surgeon i'll
dangerous operation makes but the
slightest mistake it may result in death,
for which there is no remedy. Many
and many a time on the night previous
to serious operation have l awakened
myself from an anxious, troubled sleep
by performing the operation in my
dreams. 1t is also very much more try
ing to surgeon to operate on friend
than on stranger 1t is hard to tell i'll
this case who is more to be pitied, the
surgeon or the patient. l think the lon
ger a man operates the less certain he is
of the outcome of any operation. A frail
little woman that one would almost say
breath of wind would blow away will
survive the most painful and dangerous
operation where a rough, stocky and iron