The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-04-28
owadays do we hear of "explora-

nowadays do we hear of "explora-
tory incisions." Sometimes, it is
true, such operations are done only
after most diligent effort has been
made to arrive at diagnosis, bnt in
other instances. it is feared, no
great or painstaking effort has been
made to make diagnosis. The
practice of the reckless and mutt
lating use of the knife has been and
is yet. all to prevalent. To remove
a healthy appendix in the course of
an operation for some other trouble
is, in our mind, little short of a
criminal act. To remove both ovar-
les, If one or a portion of one could
have been saved, is most cuIpable.
by such acts, surgeons bring re-
proach upon their speciality and i'm
bue the mass of the profession with
u fear and dread of intrustirs pa.
tlents to their hand. We believe
that the surgeon should always be
under the direction OF the physician
for he has narrowed his opportuni-
ties for making skilful diagnosis
when he takes up his special work
OF the knife. do not mean that the
physician should always decide as
to the time of an operation, nor al
ways as to whether or not lit Shall
be undertaken at all, but | do
mean that physicians have grown
into the habit OF letting others think
and decide for them, when they,
themselves are in reality better
fitted TO reach the decision alone, or
at least with the surgeon as con-
sultant, and not as the master of the
case.
Professor A. jacob, in lecture
on Do Not Harm, before the In
ternational Congress at Rome,
| April 4, 1894, said: "The relative
impunity Of operative interference
accomplished by modern antisepsis
and asepsis has developed an un.
due tendency to, and rashness in,
handling the knife The hands
take too frequently the place
OF brains. Who does not know
that the alleged safety in op-
Grating tempts-some OF our skilled
operators and the credulous public
into useless or even contra.indicated
procedures?
Sir William Kingston OF Montreal
in his dedicatory address at the
Sem Hall said ''The immunity
with which the most formidable op.
erations are now performed has
given coniidence-might I not say a
recklessness, possibly-which rem
ders the staying hand of the physi-
clan of priceless value. Especially
is this true when, as it sometimes
happens, the inexperienced surgeon
hurridly resorts to tentative opera
tions to establish diagnos is where
one more experienced would see no
reason for the procedure. l have
more than once observed the med
dlesomness of surgeon to be in
direct ratio to the measure of his in
experience.
Hence l say it is high time that
m cone "spoke out in meetin' ;,
and want to reiterate now, what l
have heretofore said in private as
we'll as IN public, that no surgeon is
warranted in using the curette in
the case of the lyingin woman.
1t is meddlesome surgery.
1t is meddlesome mid wifery.
In other words, to use the curette.
after confinement, it is not only
meddlesome surgery but it is gross
Ignorance. 1t is reprehensible and
inexcusabte and in direct violation
of good practice. venture to say
without fear OF successful contra
dictlon that such warranted in
terfcrence, to say the least, if it is
not malpractice, it is very bad
practice. D. w. FLICK, NJ. d.