The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-05

Inflammation ceased and the patient was
cured except for the fearful delormlty
caused by the curve of his collapsed spine
DR.. Sayre anticipated this ai.ment pro-
cess by applying a plaster Jacket" As
soon as case of Potts disease came I'M
der his observation, he suspended the pa
tent by the arms and neck by means OF
a pully TO the point of comfort" that
is, the toss barely touching the ground.
This strengthened the crooked spinal col
umn 10 the extreme point of safety, add ng
from two to e ght inches to tne patient
hight accordingly as the disease had pro
crossed. Leaving the patient thus suspend
ed, DR.. Sayre wrapped him about with
bandages, on which wet plaster OF paris
had been rubbed The body from the hips
to the shoulder blades and under the arm
pit was wrapped with half a dozen thick
| nesses of these plaster of paris
bandages, the whole making a snug fit
ting corset The plaster was allowed to
set and then the patient was let down.
The effect was the same support carry IN
the disease that nature gave at the END
and the result-miraculous cures. When
The Il eatme mt was resolted at the begin
| ming all deformity was avoided.
Broke Their Backs.
At first this system resulted in several
| deaths in a curious manner Some stupid
| or careless practitioner, both here and
| their patients backs. Instead of suspend
ing them ito the point of comfort they
| pulled the unfortunate hunchbacks clear
! of the floor. The result was natural The
| weakened, crooked spine could not bear
| the weight of the bodies. and instead OF
| stra, ghtening, being brittle they era tked.
! The spin ering bones We e drawn into the
! spinal cord and death resulted immediate
| ~.
These fatalities led to investigation and
| / have found that the ancients have, &c
some extent, anticipated the method Of
| DR.. Sayre, so far as extension" was con-
| cerned. Hippocrates, the father of medi-
cine had suspended" hunchbacks on c
ladder $500 years ago ito the point of com
| fort" and then fastened supports of woot
and metal along their spinal column. Hip
| pocrates' patients didn't all fare as wei
| as the hunchbacks of these days. The an
| cient crook backs who came up for treat
menL were often suspended head downwar'
| and left that way for a long time, /
| their hump happened to be below th'
| middle of the back. Others, again, Wer'
| laid face downward on tables or stood vi
against benches, while their humps wer
pressed in" by means of a big lever. Thi
worked something like a nut crack an'
with very much the same result as SOM
of the earlier disciples of DR.. Sayre. Tn
crooked back was snapped in two.
An Aluminium Corset.
Recently DR. Sayre's plaster corset
has been supplanted somewhat by al
aluminium" corset, first introduced b.
DR.. Phelps This has the advantage o
lghtness, and the great advantage that
enables the bearer to go in bathing, an ex
| cellent aid in treating Potts disease
Another recent Improvement intended I
correct the hump defcrmity is the "com
| pleted" cases where the spine has settled
is the wiring process. The new bon
matter that has formed and that hold
the spine rigid in its bumped" condit o
is removed, the back being laid open 70
the purpose along the column. Support
of silver wire are then introduced, and
greater fexity and uprightness secured.
Altogether, therefore, it will not be lon
before the hunchback will live only in ira
| ditiOn,