The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-22
MENDING BROKEN LEGS
WONDERFUL RESULTS OF TREAT
MENT By AN ILLINOIS SURGEON.
Instead of Six Weeks in Bed, the Leg
Is Made Ready for Walking Pur-
poses in Three or Four Days.
St. Louis Post Dispatch.

Camp Tanner, just outside of Springfield.
He has placed men with broken legs on
their feet and had them walking inside of
four days after the fracture was sustained.
Sprained ankles are remedied in short or
der. Breaks and twists of all descriptions
are repaired with amazing rapidity.
1t is all done by a system of bandaging
that is admirable for it's simplicity. 1t is
called the anbulent system. 1t is the in
vention of an Eastern physician DR.. V. P.
Gibney DIR. Kreider was the first to use it
in the West 1t will go far toward revolu-
tionizing present methods of treating
wounded. soldiers on the battlefield. 1t has
excited the admiration of all who have seen
the results accomplished. The laymen might
regard them with suspicion were the re-
ports not substantiated beyond peradven-
ture
AS soon as rumors of war became thick
DR.. Kreider commenced to perfect himself
in the knowledge of the new system. When
war finally broke out he was prepared to
astonish every physician connected with the
hospital corps of the National Guard, and
this he certainly has done. George Harvey,
a laborer, was the first man to reap the
benefits of this new treatment. Shortly be-
fore the Illinois troops We're mobilized at
Springfield he fell from the roof of house
and broke one of his legs. DR.. Kreider was
in the city and heard of the mans mis-
fortune. 1t was his first opportunity to ex-
pertinent. He took the case in charge and
wound a four-ply bandage around the leg
after the manner he had learned. Two days
later Harvey was walking around the
streets with leg almost as good as new.
The doctors feIlow-officers on the brigade
staff saw the result and heard of the new
system with wonder; T5ey were re eager ajeF TO
operation, and Dr. Kreider gave a private
demonstration for their benefit at the Lee
land Hotel. The arrival of Company l. from
opportunity to show what he could do with
a broken leg. Private Thomas Dempsey
had sustained fracture of the tibia en-
route 1t was a painful break, and the pros
pect of lying in the hospital for several
weeks was imminent He was turned over
to DIR. Kreider soon as the train reached
Springfield. He directed the operation of
binding the broken leg, which was done by
Major Thomas j. Sullivan, surgeon OF the
Seventh Regiment, and his assistant, Capt.
G. w. MahOney. Within four hours Demp-
sey was on his feet. Ever since he has been
a walking advertisement of the skill of the
surgical staff of Camp Tanner AS it is
not strictly necessary he is not required to
drill or do camp duty, but If the demand
were to be made he would be able to comply
with it. He walks without even limping.
Pain exists, but it is slight. Many a man
has suffered from a sprained finger. He is
thinking about it, that one of the best bones
in his body is broken squarely in two In
short time it will be as good as ever.
Captain Charles A. Parish, commanding
officer of Company F, Fifth Regiment, of
Taylorville, was tho first soldier TO be
treated for sprained ankle. he MADE mao,9oa
took him in hand, and in a short time his
ankle was almost as good as the best Sew
eral other men in camp have been treated
for sprains in a similar manner and the re-
suits have been uniformly surprising and
satisfactory. None of them are required to
do camp duty, but Captain Parrish is able
to drill his men. If the regiments should
be ordered out at once there is not man
who would not be able to put up good
fight whatever be the condition of his
HOW IT IS DONE.
Such great interest has been aroused in
this new system of bone surgery that DR..
Kreider has prepared and submitted to the
brigade staff the following description OF
the new method:
I'm this war there will be some great in
provementS in the surgical service as a re-
suit of new discoveries in our science and
the elaboration of antiseptic surgery.
One Of the most fortunate improvements
will be our ability to treat nearly every
sprain and fracture of the lower extremity
without confinement to the bed.
sort were confined to bed for six Dr. eighti
weeks. Now, l usually allow them to go
about at once, or after only few Gays
confinement to bed.
II will first mention sprain of the ankle.
The old saying, a sprain is as bad as
break was formerly only too true. rs the
patient was kept in bed for numbec Of
days or weeks, and suffered great pain.
when he was allowed to get up, with
plaster cast or rubber bandage on the ankle,
walking was very painful or very difficult
for many weeks.
"By the method devised by DR.. v P. Glib
ney, Of New York the ankle is SO supported
once, and the motion made in walking
serves as a gentle massage to assist in the
absorption of the effuSed blood
''Tha method of treatment is as follows.
About twenty long, narrow strips of adj
hesive plaster are made ready and held by
an assistant or hung on a chair by the side
of the bed. The first strip encircles the heel
and passes to the base of the great and lit
tie toes. The second strip goes under the
heel, as far back as possible, and passes up
on the outer and inner side of the leg. The
third strip follows and overlaps the second.
Thus the strips are alternated until the
weaving. Over this is placed snug roller
.'The plaster and the bandage support the
ankle as firmly as if it were in a wise, and
yet so gently that the patient can usually
at once go about with but little assistance,
and, when confidence is gained, without
cane.
Il have treated in this manner success
fully persons over seventy years of age and
1 firmly believe that there are few cases of
sprain which cannot be put on foot imme-
diately.
zone of the greatest marvels of modern
treatment is the 'ambulent' or walking
treatment of fractures of the leg. 1 have
recently shown you a man walking about
with his leg bones broken between the knee
and the ankle
my plan is to put these persons to bed for
a few days until the swelling has fully de-
veloped. Then long STOCKING is drawn on
which comes to the middle of the thigh. /
have at hand several wide plaster bandages
and also some long strips of pine, as thin as
a shaving and one inch wide.
ST begin at the toes and cover the stocking
with a layer of plaster bandage. On this !
lay. strip of wood, on each side and front
and back, to give it strength, firmness and
lightness.
now a dressing which is not cumbersome
and the patient can soon learn to go about
without even a crutch. Sometimes this
dressing is put on next the skin, after hav-
ing rubbed the leg. with vaseline
For fractures of the hip and thigh it be-
comes necessary to use more complicated
apparatus, invented by an ingenious German
and known as Hessings splint. have not
ventured to use this appliance in civil prac-
tice but have seen it used, and believe it is
very valuable, especially in the event of
war;
ut is made of light steel straps and band
ages. 1t is made in three sizes and extends
from the foot to the body. If the ambulance
could have in a few minutes after suffering
break of the thigh bone, dressing applied
which would enable him to travel to the
hospital in comfort and without danger.
There it could be more accurately adjust
ed and in a few days he could be sent to the
he has so justly earned, while he secures
time to complete the cure of the broken
bone.
THUS, believe war will be made less
horrible in the future than 1T has been in
the past because the surgical department
will ha able TO alleviate much of the suffer-