Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-08-30
The Operation.
~ HE lofty figure of the surgeon
was silhouetted against the
linht OF tho SnnninIIc nnnrn :

We're scattered about the semi-crcular
benches that rose tier on tier to the
roof. Notebooks in hand they dis
cussed in low tones the probable cases
to be presented to them during the
coming hour, pausing abruptly as the
house physician Of the great hospital
suddenly entered the room and hurried
to the Professors side. The great man
bent his head to listen to the rapidly
spoken words, at the same time dip
ping his hands in the disinfecting solu-
ton before him.
AS he listened to the whispered words
of the house surgeon, DR.. John McKeen
Clavering dropped his listless air. His
bent shoulders Strengthened, and as he
wheeled to face the class his grim
features underwent change. His
piercing eyes blazed, and as the keen,
incisive words, sharp as the glistening
knives that strewed the stand beside
the operating table, dropped from his
lips in the high cracked tones that fell
with such ominOus significance on our
ears, we shuddered and glanced fur.
lively at one another.
z"Dr. Clements informs me, gentle.
men," he said, "that there is now in the
reception room a man who has sus
tanned severe and dangerous fracture
of the skull. The right parietal bone
is depressed and the case demands i'm
mediate operation. had intended to-
day to demonstrate new method en-
ploycd by me in uniting the broken
fragments of fractured patella. How
ever. as soon as this patient has been
anaesthetized l shall proceed to tre-
phine and, If possible, repair the injury.
ut is scarcely necessary for me to
remind you. gentlemen, of my we'll
known views on brain surgery. re-
peat again, the brain Is most delicate
organ. aud any interference with it is
unwarranted except in the most ex-
treme cases. 1t is difficult to say
whether the patient will survive the
operation, but, gentlemen, as l always
prepare you for such contingency in
these cases, you will not be surprised
IL fatal results attend my efforts to
save this patient"
DR.. Clavering ceased, swept the faces
Of the men before him with his pierre
Ing glance and turned to lave his hands
In the creolin which the nurse, horror
depicted on her countenance held with
trembling hands at the surgeons side.
We looked from one to the other with
anxious faces. What new horror was
about to be enacted? Was 1t possible
that we must sit inactive while an
other human being was sacrificed on
the altar of opinion? At intervals of
few weeks we had been compelled to
witness the most palpable carelessness
and criminal negligence during the
course Of operations for the relief of
Injuries and diseases of the brain. We
believed that DR.. Clavering was half
mad on this one point. His dexterity
and skill as surgeon Were recognized
throughout the civilized world, and his
opinion had weight wherever surgery
was known. Hence the ease with
which his glaring mistakes" escaped
public notice. las. ...u ....s
We We're not to be kept long in sus-
pense in this instance, 1t seemed. On
sudden the swinging doors opened
noiselessly, and the table bearing its
patient stretched at full length rolled
In. An assistant held an ether cone
over the mans face, so that his feat
ures Were hidden from view. His
matted hair was gray. From his ster-
torous breathing, and the blush tinge
Of the ears and neck Of the man, we
knew that his heart action. was bad,
and that, coupled with the grave injury
lie had received, rendered his condition
desperate indeed.
The house surgeon proceeded to
cleanse the scalp and cut away the
hair. disclosing an ugly cash extending
to the bone.
DIR. Clavering turned briskly, Sc
lected cleaning scalpel, and APP
preached the operating table. He
scarcely glanced at the patient
II will lay bare the skull with
sweeping semi-circular incision of am
pie length, so as to afford a clear work
ing field" he began. Following that,
with a hammer and chisel, will cut
through a section Of the bone and
break 1t at the base. laying bare the
brain"
DR.. Clavering prepared to make the
incision. AT that instant the assistant
raised the cone to replenish 1t with
ether. The surgeon caught glimpse
Of the patients face and gave an in.
voluntary start. His face paled in an
instant. and he staggered back. lie re-
covered his composure in a moment,
however, and turned once more to the
members of the class, who now leaned
forward in axious expectation.
Gentlemen. on second thought
will use the trephine itself instead Of
the chlsel, and / will not employ the
semi-circular incision. The case Is
desperate one, but by the exercise of
great care the man may yet be saved.
I will describe the steps in the opera
ton as we proceed.
z "A cruciahincision Of, medium length
will suffice. The retractors, doctor.
Thank syo,i.s We now fasten back the
corners Of the severed scalp and lay
bare the periosteum. This we divide
in line with the superficial incision.
Now weeome TO the skull ltsalf.s Here
is the line Of fracture extending for
distance OF two inches. You can see