The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-02-24
MODERN SURGERY IS NOT CRUEL.

A surgeon of the farer gentler quoted
saying in interview few days that follow
the work that attaches a
the same pleasure the harp to the musician"
also spoke of the "snag froid" lad
sectad cadavers
The Statesman will not accuracy of
interview, enthusiastic reporters allow their
imagination and their love of word painting sensation
alism to exaggeration. People generally
not relish the idea Of playing upon
with his instruments a musician play upon a
chiefly for mis- amusement, regardless
the harp might think about
In pleasing contrast this seemingly heartless
cruel view of the surgeons work. Dr. Sem Chicago
of the most successful in the world, says:
We have waded though slough O fads. We have
left behind us sucn opening iiocy
and in hundreds of insane asyums the needless victims
our for ovarotomy mark the path by
come back to rational methods in gynecology There
still many Who led into by the hope of rich
wards, have had time principles
Brilliant operators, they diagnose with the knife. Remem
Der tnis That with exceptions
be taken up until the trouble is determined The time for
conservatism has come. We here assist nature
not to dictate The great modern surgery is to
limit operations to the where
Modern surgery has accomplished wonders in saving
human lives but all the good that as pracsed
by competent surgeons of Judgment
by the reckless operations performed by daring young
experlmenters who look upon their diplomas licenses
dissect living body commit highway robbery
the abdomen of living subject
According to Samuel Hopkins Adams who contributes
an instructive article Modern Surgery McClures
for March, the pioneer abdominal surgery was Dr.
Ephraim Mcdowell of Danvile Kentucky in 1909
determined to operate Mrs Crawford ovarian
tumor Other physicians denounced his plan
and aroused the people against him. day of the
operation mob gathered outside the windows
carrying guns and ropes, but Mcdowell with
their tnreats ringing in his Had the
would probably have been lynched. other
similar operations successful. Then came
ward of the pioneer pulpit and-bitteres of all
his own profession Mcdowell and his methods
with degree of unparalleled outside of reg-
lous controversy But ovariotomy established
it spread though slowly. Nearly fifty years after Nc
Dowell, Dr. Marion Sims, later became New York's
most distinguished gynec0ogfs called upon
similar case When ne told his colleagues of his determ-
aoh 10 remove the diseased they only
The but threatened prosecution for mall
practice His operation successful were scores
of others
Anaesthetics and antiseptics unknown in Nc
Dowefs day and the chances from shock or
notwithstanding resulting from operation were MANY
nmes as great Before the discovery of
thousands of wounded upon battlefelds onerated
upon with bullet between bite on sue
cufnneu 70 their sheer and shock
died as noperabe cases. because weakened con-
oon the torture of the knife fatal be-
for The ordeal could nave finished
Inc matter of time saving, by the way one the
most important considerations surgery The ontrre
With tn: Murphy button abdominal operations takes
method of sewing and the mortality is greatly reduced
Two visiting surgeons at New hospital got a
AafAeoy varying proportion of mortality in a common