The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-03-11
MISCELLANY.
Nerves of Surgeons.


among surgeons?' q successful New
York surgeon was asked. Though the
term stage fright with reference to sur
gerry was perhaps a misnomer, the sur
geon understood the question.
ooh, yes, indeed there is such a thing
as stage fright among surgeons" he re-
piled. "There are 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 in the way and nothing
but a successful termination. His rest is
not disturbed by reflections upon com
plications which may arise. Everything
is lovely until the patient is before him.
Then his hand begins to shake if he
meets 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.
|
this order. From the time this surgeon
recognizes that an operation is necessary
there pass through his mind all the
complications which could possibly
come up, and he wonders if there are
not more which he has net 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, rejecting 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
ton by one of the most celebrated sur
geOns l ever knew. 1t was a most diff
cult operation, and the amphitheater
was filled with doctors who had come
to see it performed. A few moments be-
fore the surgeon was to commence he
was presented by friend to two doc
tors who had come from distance to
see him operate. He bowed very polite
ly and spoke 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
| wit hn eli ,I,4
he had met them.
"Do'you recall the first operation you
ever performed YOURSELF"
Indeed | remember it very well. l
was i'll hospital where there We're
$500 beds and 33 surgeons in charge. l
was one of the young assistant surgeons
If an operation was necessary i'll 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. / was directed
to get everything ready for the opera
ton. Then, said the surgeon, / will
come and operate if l can. If not you
go on and perform the operation your
self.
Il 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 | was rehearsing
what l intended TO do in my mind and
dreaming of it i'll my sleep. The next
day | could not eat my luncheon. My
hands and feet were cold. When it came
time to commence the operation, could
only steady my nerves by threading
needles. / said: Give me the needles to
thread. l am very particular about my
thread. l took needle and commenced
poking at the eye. In a few seconds my
hand obeyed my will and became as
steady as l could wish. performed the
operation successfully. After that went
on performing great many operations,
but it was years before could take a /
o'clock luncheon if had to operate at
o'clock.
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 OF halts i'll
his lines, the worst that can come is
slight damage to his reputation. If a
minister breaches heterodox doctrines,
the worst that can happen to him is
trial for heresy. But if the surgeon in
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 in
this case who is more to be pitied, the
surgeon or the patient. think the lon