The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-01-26
QUALIFICATIONS OF A sURGEC

QUALIFICATIONS OF A SURGEON-By
DIR. a. a. Thompson Waxahachie. Texas.
In all matters of life the everyday test
of excellence Is success. So, too the meas
ure Of the surgeons abilities in the long
run. is his success. lie may be ever so
brilliant an operator, yet lacking other
essential qualifications the record of his
work may be against him. ON the other
hand, no man can be good surgeon with
ont manual dcxterity, he his Judgment ana
other requirements what they may. me
qualifications. therefore. OF an operative
surgeon, appear to be varied ana compre-
hcnsive.
In the first place he should operate only
IN the Interest of his patients good: he
should be thoroughly honest when life is
to be saved or defotmity or discomfort re-
l!oved he ought never to be tempted, even
by opportunity, to perform an unnecessary
operation nor to operate for the sake OF
disr!av, nor In tho desire Of acquiring
notorlety or fame. nor for the sake Of link
ing his 1alue with this or that procf dure.
In doubt he should always try 20 place
himself. as IT we're In the patients place,
and. before deciding upon an operation ~
all times he able to answer distinctly and
aflirmativelv the sslf-dire cited question; Is
the proposed surgical Interference really
for my patients good?
The Surgeon should be adrot and posses
sed Of manual skill and dextcrlty He
shoIld be a good workman; his work must
he thorough and exact. He should guard
against precipitation, for In every mo
chanical art hasty work means bad work.
A hasty operator will often do too much
and yet leave undone something which
may affect the issue of the case. Every
operation must. therefore. be performed
with elaboration and in on orderly man
ner. Each step ought to be well Thought
| I.r.F. H. ,sf,,
must be no undue haste nor should there
be unnecessary delay.
Gentlemen, a knowledge Of anatomy Is
essential TO the operating surgeon; by
some It's Importance has been dccrisj and
IL has been regarded as stumbling block
rather than an assistance to the operator.
For them the OH maxim Of "cut and tie
what blecls" has been sufficient BIT ~
the present day. in view OF the frequent
ne rformance OF operations OF the most dell
cate nature and Of the Invasion by the
knife of regions once sacred and undis-
turtad. whore the only safeguard Is the
surgeons anatomical knowledge. =, Is use.
less 10 enter upon any discussion of this
subject. 1t T ay be assumed. not only that
the surgeon should possess Il knowledge
of anatomy, but that also this intormation
should be. Of a peculiar kind. | VIII mere
saw that many plumbers happen during IN
uDeratlon from defective acquaintance
with anatomy now because the operator
Knows too much, repeated operations upon
| the cadiver will. however. ripen MS eN-
perience, matters NOT as 10 his former
! training or years In life. For II must nc
here observed that while the surgeon may
| year after year, pass along WIN niue
| seriously amiss in his operative practice,
vet sooner or later. trouble ana accinent
may. and indeed. must come. Starting "
cissltu les. oa,astroi hies which can neith-
CT he anticipated nor prevented, are sure
! 10 happen These are the incidents OF
human life. and the professional man who
! deals so largely with life itself can not
cxpect 10 escape them, Therefore, let each
ana every one Of us first he sure our dag
nosis Is correct, then. with the fearless
ness OF q lion, do our work well. Fearing.
| gentlemen, thar J may tire you, VIII ciose
my little piece, az you know well mat ms
subject Is one in which the mind OF man
| can dWen forever and ever ard then new
| fields viii open M TO our mind IN when
| the most powerful brains can wander IN
space inflnitessimo. and be lost In wonder
al their insignifcance.
Il IL. E.N.a-