The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-06-03

II
ally during the last half century.
Formerly the patient who submitted
TO an operation was literally "ouiver.
ing VICTIM under a cruel knife sub
lect to various complications resulting
from the shock of pain and the dangers
of infection from impurities All of
this has been changed Operations are
executed without suffering to the pa
Ilent, and wounds heal without the
healthy suppuration that was for
merly the most encouraging sign of
progress. Before anaesthetics were dis
covered surgery was confined chiefly TO
treating fractures and dislocations. am
putatlne limbs, removing tumors, ligat-
ing arteries and cutting for the removal
of gall stones. Even the treatment of
a dislocation was serious because of the
barbarous forcibe extension methods
that preceded manipulation.
The surgeon who attempted new
major operations before discovery of
antiseptics and anaesthetics exposed
himself to suspicion, and, in event of
failure, to ostracism and possible vio-
lence; One of the greatest names in the
annals of surgery is that of Ephriam
Mcdowell. of Danville, Kentucky. who
had the courage to attempt au opera
tion which opened the way for ali alb.
qoHllnai surgery as IL ls pFactlced 10"
day, and which has resulted in the allie
Walton of untold suffering and the saw
ing of countless lives in all civilized
countries, The Mcdowell operation,
ovariotomys was performed under the
most disadvaptageous circumstances,
and in the face Of public sentiment
which would have crvstallized in lynch
ing had the patient died DR.. Mcdowell
realized that the woman under his care
n bap he
dinary treat atment under such conditions
was to be applied He candidly told
the patient that the operation he pro
posed to attempt had never been per
formed. and that it was attended with
the gravest danger. After gaining her
consent the surgeon, approaching the
danger Of his reputation and possibly
his lie, as well as that Of the patient,
retired 10 his room and offered up n
PRAYER for success. Without the use Of
any drug TO dull the pain, merely cover
ing the woman S face with towel to
prevent her from seeing the lnstru
ments. he performed the operation and
the patient recovered. His success was
regarded by the profession as happy
accident II was looked upon as little
short of miracle when the public
learned of it through dispatches to she
New York and London papers,
The London Lancet. then as now an
authority, published an editorial rldl-
culine the reports of DR., Mcdowell S
success. ard although he repeated the
operation, he and others who initiated
him wero bitterly criticised by their
colleagues After a number Of years
results proved bevond cavil the value
of the Mcdowell operation and the sur
geon was honored in this country and
in Europe. Upon the occasion of his
visit TO London. after he bad been ac-
corded world wide recognition, the Ian
cei published an editorial giving hlm
credit for having made the most marked
advance in his profession, and reprinted
with apologies the sneering editorial
published when the first news of his
discovery reached London. A monu-
meut raised by American PHYSICIANS
and surgeons TO tho memory of DR..
Mcdowell now stands in DanVllle, al
though tins great medical pioneer was
born IN Virginia.
When the use Of snaesthetics became
general there followed considerable dis
cussion as TO who should have the
credit for the discovery. AS early as
ls42 Crawford W. Long of Daniels
VILE, Georgia. used an anaesthetic IN
removing n tumor from negro neck.
Like many country surgeons he failed
TO recognize the Importance OF his dis
covcry, moJestly regarding it as an
cxpcdient, and taking no trouble TO give
II publicity About the same time Dr.
T. G. Morten. who had studied medl-
ciuc after failing in business In Bos-
ion. became Il partner of Horace Wells,
dentist who had discovered the use
of nitrous oxide gas as an anacstnetlc
in dentistry DR.. Morten had been cx'
perimentiug with anaesthetics. upon an
mals, dental patients and himself,
while in the office of DR. Charlcs T.
Warren Three months thereafter The
world knew of his success, Sir James
Pagct said that while Long waited,
Z Wells turned back and Jackson was
thinking, Morten acted and proclaimed
results. DR.. Long has not been forgot
/ ten, however and the State Of Georgia
recently appropriated funds to place a
statmc Of him in Statuary Hall in the
! United States capitol, and he will be
the first surgeon so honored.
| Another name prominent i'll surgical
! history is that of DIR, Oliver Wendell
! Holmes, the pioneer in antisePtle MD,
wifery. When he declared puerpcral
! fever Il contagious disease directly due
! TO negligence he was ridIculed, put
i IPllt05IlullpD VI lht tpllS'bbSSo VI ~
position resulted in reducing The NOR.
taiity rate from this disease from l.
/ TO : per cent, and in we'll equipped hos
/ pitals today child birth has lost prac
ticaily all of its dangers.
DR.. Marion Sims Of Mobile became
famous after long years of study pnr
sued under the disadvantages of pov,
crty and i'll health, The greatest OF
Dr.. Sims Inventions. the spcculum, re
suited from an inspiration that came
to him when u woman was so injured
by fall from pony that the lnstru
mcut vas necessary 10 save her hfe
The value Of that discovery can hardly
be appreciated today save by the sur
geops Of the world. DR.. Sims was hon
ored by the crowned heads Of Europ'
for his services 10 humanity, and
monument to him now stands IN Ceutra
Park. New York.
NY Rohort Raticy of Rome Georgia