New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-30
CRITICISM OF DIR. LOPENZ.

There was danger at one time that the public
would oveTrate the qualifications Of the Vienna
surgeon who was summoned to the United
States BY Mr. Armour last year. 1t looks now
as If the pendulum Of opinion might swing too
far in the other direction. Hence the exercise
Of caution in drawing differences regarding him
is 10 be strongly recommended. In the long
run. of course, it is the method rather than the
man which must be judged For the time be
ing, however. one should discriminate between
DR.. Lorenz's own cases and those Of his imi-
tators. AS might have been expected, the new
operation does not give such good results in the
hands of the disciples as in the masters. 3
still more important thing to remember is that
no fair estimate Of the success or failure OF the
Lorenz system can be reached until the results
have been determined in a much larger num-
Der Of his cases.
Ii is due to the Austrian to keep in mind the
fact that lie has made 10 pretension to infalli-
bility. His most enthusiastic professional ad-
mirers. too. have refrained from imputing it to
him. With congenitaI dislocation of the hips,
as with score of other human infrmities for
which the services Of specialists are sought, the
outcome Of an operation cannot be foretold with
precision. Progn sis cannot be reduced to a
mathematical certainty. and no one knows it
better than the experts themselves. Differ
ences in recuperative power, which in turn are
due to inequalities in vigor at the time Of treat
ment and in constitution. have an important
bearing on the result. If false hopes have been
entertained in regard to any Of Dr. Lorenz's
PATIENTS or those of his imitators, it is unjust
TO hold him responsible.
While il is too soon. PERHAPS. to say how much
better are tie practical results Of the methods
followed by Dr. Lorenz than OF those formerly
emplr yed in similar cases, his visits TO America
have certainly done good The older treatment
is still in vogue and is often attended with
gratifying consequences. Probably it viii never
be entirely displaced. BY demonstrating the
newer practice. however. Or. Lorenz has wild
ened tie view of the profession. He was not
the originator Of the operation with which his
name is associated; but up to year ago he was
practically its only conspicuous champion and
representative In advertising and illustrating
It, therefore. he has rendered a service TO other
surgeons on this side Of the Atlantic Nor has
lie commended himself the less to favor By the
modesty. humanity and courtesy which he con
stantly displayed while in the United States
When a little more time has elapsed IT is TO
be hoped that a new statistical COMPARISON will
he made between the two systems Earlier
data may well be Gisrecarded because Of posi-
bic improvements recently made. On the other
hand. much delay in collecting Information
might increase the difficulty Of the task. The
great desideratum. Of course. would be complete
returns from I'll cases in America treated by the
different methods. say. since 1900. II should be
possi bile 10 tabulnte these in such way ms to
preclude bias and leave the intelligent reader
70 draw his own conclusions The investiga-
ton would most appropriately and most easily
be conducted by one Of the medical publications.