The sun., 1902-12-18

Of Them Promise TO BE Successful.
Dr. Lorenz undertook yesterday y his opera
ton for the correction Of the deformity OF
clubfoot. The operation was performed
at the Post Graduate Hospital. at public
clinic at which he first treated three cases
Of congenital dislocation OF the hip joint.
The operating theatre Of the hospital
was jammed. In the pit or bull ring" it.
self. the doctor had scarcely room to move
about as his operations required. so closely
did the physicians press upon him. Every
seat In the theatre was filed. and back Of
the seats the space was crowded with per-
sons standing
Some OF those standing could not ace
anything going on In the pit, but they could
hear the doctors remarks, and they hung
on in the hope that they might slide into
more favorable places. II zee med like q
mob up there. orderly as the people were.
for so eager were some TO see what was
going on that they supported themselves on
their neighbors' shoulders. whether the
neighbors we're men or women.
More women saw yesterdays operations
than have Witnessed any OF the former ones
In New York. Some Of them were nurses
and others were doctors. Nobody except
doctors and nurses attended this Post-Grad-
uate clinic wherein n differed from the clinics
held at other hospitals. When there was
no longer any room at the top OF the house
back Of the seats. enterprising persons made
their way to the roof and took possession OF
the six or eight windows opening there.
from which they could look over the heads
OF the standees and see the operating table.
Thpaa ha ~ tho hptiaa ipdnnra
sweltered, those on the roof shiv ered-but
all stuck to their places.
DR.. Lorenzs operation for clubfoot is
not unlike his treatment Of the hip joint
cases That is to say. it's first essentia,
principle Ia the destruction OF the elias
ticity Of the muscles which hold the foot
in its abnormal position. This accom-
plished he puts the member in normal
position. fxes it there for a period, and
relies upon nature 10 accommodate her
self to the new conditions and restore the
muscles.
The subject Of yesterdays operation was
a boy less than years old. whose right
foot was turned inward toward the other
foot. DR., Lorenz explained what he was
going to do, and then. resting the tiny
foot upon a bridge. he proceeded to knead
it or crunch it on that support and within
his powerful hands.
My modelling operation for clubfoot.'
the doctor called it. And he literally
seemed to model the foot as though its
flesh, bone and sinew were clay in his
hands.
He first overcame the abduction. then
the fexion Of the sole OF the foot and lastly
the abnormal condition Of the muscles
in the outer side and body OF the foot.
i have to make 1t habby like a wet
what you say?-" and he picked up towel
10 illustrate his meaning. whereupon the
word came to him and he exclaimed
towel When he had finished manipu-
lating the obstinate. inturned little men,
Der and held II up to the assembled COM
pany, the foot appeared as iabby a. piece
Of well.worked putty; but it's shape was
that of a normal child's foot.
The child before the operation would
have stood on the outer edge Of the foot.
while the inner edge Of tho foot would
have been clear OF the ground and the toes
would have curved around toward the left
ankle.
But sec, now. the child In hatfooted.'
said Dr. Lorenz, and as his assistants stood
the boy upon his feet, the red little right
foot that had been 80 vigorously kneaded
rested fiat upon the operating table and
applause was the comment Of the watchers
do not allow cutting for clubfoot any
more said DR.. Lorenz; Sor at least ] would
not allow II II had my say. There is but
one cutting operation that ! believe per-
missible at all for this deformity, and that
one Is not necessary.
Il have done this modelling operation
on clubfoot Of q man 70 years old before
an audience OF very critical gentlemen In
Germany. and 1t was successful in that in
stance as in many others In which have
used it."
A question was asked by one surgeon
present as to whether any ligaments had
been torn by DR.. Lorenz's rigorous manipu-
lation or modelling. DR.. Lorenz replied
to f his s"s candid habit Ola Of scknowiedsins @ his
earlier mistakes. he went on to say that
before he had learned just how far to 20
he had made errors with painful results.
He mentioned an instance In which he
necessity Of amputating the foot. He said
however. with frankness which simply
appalled, some Of the New York surgeons,
as other Of his candid statements have
done, that this accident was no fault Of
fse Ss6t me,hoh ~ g. but Tas MS own This
his errors instead Of taking advantage
Of the accepted formula that most OF
doctors mist axes are six feet under ground,s
terrifies some new practitio ner at each
Lorenz clinic in the city.
The doctor brought a roar OF laughter
from everybody once yesterday when in
speaking Of one OF his operative mistakes
he exclaimed And. wonder of heaven, the
boy got well!'
The incasing OF the restored limb in
plaster after the Lorenz operation for club
foot differs from the incasement Of the
thigh and pelvis after the hip operation In
an interesting way. The foot and lower
leg are put In plaster, after having been
wrapped In padding and calico, but. to
guard against modification or other untow-
ard condition, what DR.. Lorenz called
windows" are cut in the cast before II
hardens.
These windows are at the end OF the foot.
opposite the toes, and before the ankle or
j,lkt over the instep They permit ventila-
tion and give the surgeon a chance to OBJ
serve the development OF the case The
windows may be closed or opened at will,
or If necessary new cast may replace the
primary one.
DR.. Lorenz said that six or seven months
ordinarily was long enough for the patient
to wear the cast. In these cases the cast
holds the foot In the natural position, not
In an abnormal position. as In the case of
the hip operation. The cast In worn 10 that
the muscles may not. 80 soon rs they re-
cover the elasticity which the operation
has destroyed. tend to draw the foot awry
again A. in the case OF the hip operation,
tho patient is made to walk as soon ss pos