Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-13
DIR, L0RENz'S METHOD
Discussed at Meeting of Or
thopedic Society.
GENERALLY APPROVED
SOME MILD CRITICISM MADE BY
A FEW SURGEONS.
But the Weight Of Testimony Was In
Favor Of the Work Of
the Austrian. ,.
GENERALLY APPROVED

DR.. Lorenz and his methods for the cure
| of congenital hip dislocation were up for
| discussion at length today before the
| American Orthopedic Association at its
| meeting held at the Arlington. There had
| been a great deal said in relation to the
severe criticism that would be made of the
| famous Austrian specialist, but the meet
| ing developed more complimentary refer
| ences to him than otherwise, and such re-
| marks as could be called critical were
very mild in character. The discussion at
no time developed any language that was
not entirely professional.
The general impression which prevailed
was that DIR. Lorenz had done a great pub
| lie service in coming to this country, and
that while too much may have been
claimed by some people for his method. yet
| he himself had made very modest claims.
Attention was called to the statement that
had been made by DR.. LorenZ to the Ell
i feet that he believed his method could De
used to cure 25 per cent of the cases OF
double dislocation and 80 per cent OF cases
of dislccation of a single hip.
Papers Read.
The meeting was opened by the reading
of papers on tuberculous hip disease, which
is not within the class of cases contemplate
ed by Dr. Lorenz. Several papers were read
on that form of hip trouble and two little
children brought to the meeting by DR.. r.
Tunstall Taylor of Baltimore. from among
his patients, were present in order that
they might be used as examples or MS
practice. The six-year-old boy and four
year-old girl seemed not to mind the at
tention the doctors bestowed upon them.
When DR.. E. H. Bradford Of Boston was
called upon to read his paper on tubercu-
lous hip disease, showing the relative value
Of rfair, n
had his paper read by title in order that
he might have more time to discuss the
Lorenz method when the subject Of con-
genital hip disease was reached. DR.. Brad
ford said he had been surprised to learn
that he to lead the opposition to Lor-
enz in the meeting, but he vigorously dis
claimed being placed in such class. He
expressed his high admiration for DR.. Lor-
enz and added that the purpose of his pres
ence in the meeting was his desire to offer
a resolution of thanks to Dr. Lorenz for
coming to America.
Congenital Hip Disease.
When the subject of congenital hip dis
ease finally came up for discussion DR..
A. ]. Steele was the first to cite a case of
the use of the Lorenz method, which had
turned out badly. 1t was he said. the case
of an eight-year-old child. who. when seen
by DIR. Lorenz during his visit to st. Louis,
had promptly pronounced it fit subject
for his treatment.
with such high authority as that" said
DIR. Steele, I'VE proceeded to apply the
method in order to effect cure"
DR.. Steele said that in the case he re-
ferred to the child had it's hip restored to
place and the doctors were gratified with
the result In few weeks the chflds s
temperature increased and it was shown
that an old tuberculous case had shown
| up. In a few weeks later the child died of
spinal meningitis.
DIR. Gwi!ym G. Davis of PHILADELPHIA
said that Paci had advised mild manipula-
ton to overcome dislocations and later
doctors had resorted to degree of force
that was never contemplated by Paci. DR..
Davis carefully avoided referring to DR..
Lorenz by name in reference to his criti-
cal remarks. He spoke of him as ''one who
of calling the method he practiced and
taught bloodless was unwarranted. Such
designation of that method, he said, sa-
| vored more of sophistry than Of truth.
Cases in Philadelphia.
Dr. H. Augustus Wilson of Philadelphia,
told of twenty-eight cases that had been
operated upon for dslocation of the hip
under his attention, of which number f1f-
teen had been the work of DR.. Lorenz.
THAT we liked his ability" said DR.. Will
son. was to be expected"
upon by DIR. LorenZ were still under obser-
vation and the results would be known lat
er.
These patients were permitted to sit up
after three or four days from the time of
operation. In these cases it was a matter Of
great interest to him to see how soon the
children learn to use their limbs. Every
| one who saw DR.. Lorenz. he said, was i'm
pressed with his skill and certainty of ac-
ton. There was only one fatal case within
his observation and that was a child of
seven years of age. In that case the blood
less method was used with the sanction Of
the child's parents. The ether used in the
operation could be held as much respon-
sible for the fatal result In that case as
could the method peculiar to DR.. Lorenz
This case was not one operated upon by Dr.
LorenZ but was carried out according to
his method.
DR.. Bradford's Tribute.
DR.. E. H. Bradford spoke at some length
of the work of DR.. Lorenz in Boston and in
terms of compliment to him. 1t was DIR.
Bradford who had objected to being regard
ed as the leader of the opposition to DR..
Lorenz"
II wish," said DR.. Bradford, "to extend
my thanks and the thanks of the people
of Boston to DIR. LOrenZ for his visit to us.
He has been the greatest help to us. and.
although 1 saw DR.. Lorenz abroad, his
visit to Boston taught me a great many
details concerning his method which did
not know before. His visit has enabled
me to treat cases with a great deal more
facility than 1 could have done otherwise.
II have been convinced that DR.. LOrenz
is right in the use of his method for cases
within the age of five and six years. For
these cases of congenital hip disease DR..
Lorenzs method is the best method
A Machine Invented.
Dr. Bradford then told the association of
an ingenious lawyer of Boston who had
invented a machine for doing the work
that DIR. Lorenz does with his hands in
the correction of dislocations Of the hip
when the trouble is congentaI
This lawyer had for personal reasons
come to take great interest in the work OF
DR.. Lorenz and had witnessed number Of
operations. After months Of experiment he
had constructed very simple machine for
| applying force in correcting these cases in
adults and older children when considerable
| force is needed. They had tried the instru-
ment on a corpse and it had worked satis-
| factorily, and then they had tried 1t on
several patients with good results He
| thought this instrument might form an I'M
portant element in the advance in the
methods for handling, these cases.
DR.. Henry Ling Taylor of New York said
| he not only appreciated DIR. Lorenz's work,
but also his frankness in replying to all
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