The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-28

And really, whenever I saw the negro
would Immediately turn in the opposite
direction, and have no desire. even until the
present day. to witness my first case. my
first plastic operation.
MY first case" said another well-known
physician, was an amputation, and that
/ was summoned was due entirely to my
proximity to the place OF the accident. It
was late, about o clock, and there was no
KSther physician near; ear. ara IL Is to those
"A policeman. at present well known in
this city. came to me and hurried me TO
the scene. The patient had caught his hand
i'm fiy-wheel and his arm was crushed 10
the elbow. An immediate amputation was
necessary. But not knowing the nature or
the case when summoned, and having de-
parted hurriedly, I had brought only a
pocket case and did not have the necessary
instruments for the operation. However.
perceiving tool chest In the room. |
broke IL open and secured a saw, and with
this accomplished the amputation.
During the operation / sent the police
man for some whisky. anc he soon returned
with a quart bottle. j administered few
teaspoonfuls to my patient, and laughing
ly told the policeman to help himself when
ever he feltlfaint. He was brawny Irish
man. and his occupation should have de-
stroyed any squeamish weakness he might
possess, But IL was marvellous the num-
Der OF times he felt II necessary TO resort
to the bottle and at the end of the oper-
alton the bottle was empty and the cop
However / am glad to say that my. OPP
covered"
And the policeman"
He is stili here. Only the other day I
was summoned TO attend him, and We both
laughed over the memory OF my first case
II well remember my first case" said
another. for IL came TO me only after long
and anxious waiting. At the beginning or
my career / was settled near the hospital.
where L was an externe. to practice there
during intervals In my professional duties.
But the presence OF several old physicians
in the neighborhOod together with my ex-
tremely youthful and inexperienced ap-
/, pearance. handicapped me, and | was COM
pelled TO spend most of my time AT the
hospital AS this work was purely gratis IL
gave little material satisfaction.
But one day small boy In the neigh
borhood undertook TO fly a kite and 10 ia
cilitate the operation climbed upon the roof
of the shed kitchen In his enthusiasm ne
fell. sustaining compound fracture OF the
thigh and fracture of the outer table OF
the skull. AS none Of the other doctors were
I'm | was summoned as a last resort
Upon my arrival found the mother and
father of the injured boy away and six
women in attendance. who watched with
great anxiety every movement of the boy
doctor When i administered chioroform
they. with one voice cried out. Don't kill
him. At last. in desperation. / turned all
but one OF them out OF the room and
finished the operation.
81 attended to his skull and put the leg In
a plaster of paris mold After having rem
parted. leaving word for his father TO come
and see me upon his return and 10 send
his family physician, 10 whom l would ex-
plain the case as had found e.
but at that time the plaster OF paris
method had just been introduced. and the
father was so pleased at the nice appear
ance of the limb that he asked me 10 take
the case. This l gladly did. There was a
successful recovery. no shortening OF the
limb or evil results: and this triumph made
my reputation In that neighborhood. From
this case date the beginning OF my GO
reer-'