The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-19
HIS FIRST IN NEW YORK.
Dr.. Lorenz Operates There for Con-
Genital Hip Trouble.


New York. Dec. I7-Prof Adolf Loreni
performed his first operation for -congen
ital dislocation of the hip in New Yorl
yesterday
Very early in the morning. conducted
by physician who is a clinical assist
ant. the Vienese surgeon went TO DIR
Carter's private hospital. No. 14s East
Thirty-ffth street There, awaiting
Lorenz. was young Miss Gertrude Nc
Pherson. who lives at No. l5O West One
hundred and Forty-sixth street. Miss
Gertrude is twelve years old and was
unlucky enough TO be born with dis
location OF the right hip.
Her father, who is employed in large
department house. was at the hospital
rather nervous. but was quickly reas-
sured.
DR.. Frederick Miller. DR.. Lorenz' as
sistant aided his chief in the operation,
mss Gertrude was anaesthetized and
DR.. Lorenz easily discovered that the
head OF her thigh bone. the femur, was
dislocated and rested on the hip bone
above the acetabulum, the ped
receptacle in which it should normally
fit 10 form the natural ball and socket
joint. Such joint of course. permits
the leg TO move in every direction within
circumscribed limits.
DR. Lorenz, having convinced himself
that the head of the thigh bone could be
placed in the socket, once more per
formed the famous operation.
Dr. Muller had the patients body in i.
fixed position. Prof. Lorenz manipulated
her dislocated leg. patiently stretching
the muscles so that they would more
easily yield to the strain that he con-
stantly put upon them. Kneading the
muscles, extending the leg. twisting and
turning it in every direction. he gradu-
ally elevated the thigh bone laterally.
until the unconscious chiId's leg was at
right angles TO her body.
DR.. Lorenz coaxed the head Of her
thigh bone lower and lower from its alb
normal position until it snapped into the
socket that nature had prepared for it.
DR.. Lorenz. conforming to mis- usual
practice, put a plaster of Paris bandage
around the patients leg and thigh. The
plaster bandage hardened. and now holds
her leg a right angles to her body as
firmly as if it was incased in stone.
In day or two che child Will be So
mitted to walk as best she can. wearing
a very high heeled shoe. The exercise.
the friction between the head of the
thigh bone and its socket. will probably
deepen TN socket. until, in six months.
the joint will be perfectly natural. the
girls deformity will have disappeared.
she will walk without limping-in word.
she will - cured-perhaps.
Then the plaster of Paris bandage will
be removed and then only Will it be
known that Gertrude is cured.
Prof. Lorenz said last night that the
girl is ten years old. Her father said
she is twelve. The younger the patient
the higher the percentage of the success
in such oprations. 1t may be that Prof.
Lorenz was not exactly informed as to
Gertrude's age.
"A ten-year-old patient is rather old for
your operation was suggested to DR..
Lorenz.
Eyes, ten years is old" the professor
answered. ''but this child seemed to be a
fit subject"
1t was currently reported that Prof
Lorenz received $40 for this operation.
Several orthopedic surgeons in New
York make larger fees once a week. at
least