The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-07-26
|IHE NERVES OF SURGEONS
Suffer Stage Fright When Facing
a Difficult Operation.
Two Ways in Which it Effects Them.
= A Young Surgeons First Ampu-
q tation. He Threaded Needle
to Steady His Nerves.
Operating on Friend.
us tnerc sucn a 1nlng as stage might

York surgeon was asked. Though tho
term stage fright with reference to sur
gerry was perhaps "A misnomer, the sur
geon understood the question.
ooh, yes, indeed. there is such thing
"a stage fright among surgeons, he re-
piled. There are two kinds of stage
fright, or, rather, there arc two different
;temperaments among doctors and the
fright, although i'll itself perhaps the
same, has a different seeming, affected
as it is by tho material through which it
passes. The first is the surgeon who is
anxious to perform tho operation, sees
no difficulties in the way and nothing
but a successful termination His rest is
not disturbed by reflections upon conf
plicatiops which may arise. Everything
Is lovely until the patient is before him.
Then his hand begins to shake if he
counted upon; his Nervousness increases;
no hurries, perhnps with fatal result.
1n 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 sn operation is necessary
there pass through his mind all the
complications which could possibly
come, mp, and he wonders if there are
not more which he has not Thought Of.
He - by no means sanguine of happy
result. He fears this and that and the
other thing. As the hour approaches no
breads to commence his work more and
more But when he is before the sub
ieot his nervousness leaves him. He
commences intelligently, rejecting upon
what; might arise. He does not hurry or
got excited, bat he il intensely interest
ed, wholly absorbed by what he is do
ing. / remember witnessing an opera
tion by one of the most celebrated sur
geons ever knew. 1t was most diff
cult operation, and the amphitheater
was filed with doctors who had como
to see it performed. = few moments be-
fore the surgeon was to commence he
was presented by friend to two doc
tors who had come from u distance to
see him operate. He bowed very polite
+ ly and spoke "a few words. Shortly after
that he commenced operating.
IS 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 consratulatory word or two AS he
did net 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
"De you recall the first operation you
ever performed YOURSELF"
Indeed remember it very we'll
was in a hospital where there wero
y, 500 beds and 33 surgeons in charge I
was one of the young assistant surgeons
Ii 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 I re-
ported to my surgeon the necessity of
an amputation Of great tee. The sur
5geon came and looked at the man and
CONQUERED with my opinion that an am
pntation was necessary. ! was directed
to get everything ready for the opera
ton. Then, said the surgeon, i will
come and operate if can. If not, You
go on and perform the operation your
SELF
~ told my young associates Of the
order. and they said: Well, you 20 on
and get ready, but he won't como. You
will have 90 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 / was rehearsinc
what intended to do in my mind and
dreaming of it In my sleep. The next
day Il could not eat my luncheon. Ny
hands and feet Were cold. When it came
time to commence the operation, could
only steady my nerves by threading
needles. ! said: Give mo the needles to
thread. am very particular about nv
thread. took a needle and commenced
5poking at the eye. In few seconds my
hand obeyed my will and became as
steady ny could wish. performed the
operation successfully. After that went
ON performing great many operations.
but it was yoars before / could take a
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 forcsee all
things. And then, again he takes in
his hands holy human life. If an actor
accsntuaees the wrong word or halts in
his lines, the worst that can come is a
slight damage to his reputation. If q
miptstet breaches heterodox doctrines.
the worst that can happen TO him is "a
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