The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1902-10-24
SEES GREAT SURGEON OPERATE
Norfolk Physician Witnesses Work of
Or. Lorenz Of Vienna.

| tNOTIOlk FU1olIldN VlN'tSotS VOIN W
Or. Lorenz Of Vienna.
On his recent visit to Chicago DR.. p.
II. Salter of this city had the advantage
of witnessing four operations in the
Presbyterian hospital performed by the
celebrated DIR. Lorenz OF Vienna. The
operations were practically the same as
that performed by the famous surgeon
on the little daughter OF ]. Ogden Ar.
mour for which he received fee Of
$l5O,000 During his stay in Chicago
DR.. Loren2 performed these operations
several times day for the benefit of
medical men in the city. On the day in
question he performed seven uper-
ations and large number Of those per.
formed were done out of charity, the
famous surgeon not asking or expecting
n fee, because the patients were children
of poor families
The affection upon which DR.. Lorenz
has operated so successfully is known
rs oongenital dislocation of the hip joint,
or dislocation from birth. IL is caused
by defect in the construction of the
hip joint. What is commonly known
rs the "sooket" Of the joint is not deep
enough to contain the ball, " or head of
the femur, which consequently slides
past the socket when any weight is put
upon it, as in walking. This play that
the joint has causes the limb to be that
much shorter than the other, and pro.
duces the peculiar swaying gait char
acteristic Of persons thus afflicted.
The popularity of DIR. Lorenz'
method of operating is that he uses no
knife and does no cutting of any kind.
In some cases he uses an apparatus of
screws to get the joint In place, but in
many Of the operations the doctor simply
uses his hands. BY very forceful
massage treatment he put the ligiments
and muscles in such a condition that
they became very pliable and then he
pulls the joint iuto the proper place with
the help Of his assistant. Some oper-
ations do not take him more than fifteen
minutes. 1t must then be put into q
plaster cast and must remain firmly
fixed in it for six months or 80. 1t is
impossible to tell whether the operation
| Is successful until that time has elapsed
Many operations have been performed
in this country for the same affection,
but in most cases the knife has been
used. DR.. Phelps, Of New York, has
operated very successfully several times.
The percentage of successes, however,
has not been very high, whereas, DR.
Lorenz estimates that from 90 to 70 per
cent of his operations are successful
where the patient is under five years
Of age.
The probable effect of DR.. Lorenz's s
visit to this country will be stimula-
tion to effort along the same line on
which he is working. His method has
been known in this country for some
time, but it has never been demonstrated
before
In personal appearance DR.. Lorenz is
eccentric. He wears beard of the Rip
Van Wrinkle order which reaches almost
down to his waist, rather an unusual
procedure for a surgeon, you know
Heis man of about 55 or 50 years, quite
sparely built and tall but with power
full muscles, especially of the arm, and
of exceedingly nervous disposition. His
bearing in the operating room is most
pleasing. He makes no false motions
and the technique of his work is perfect
His attitude to other surgeons is most
cordial. He invites the closest inspec.
tion Of his methods, and is anxious to
have his clinics afford the greatest pos.
sible benefit to the medical fraternity at
large. He certainly is remarkable
man and great surgeon.