The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-05
SURGEONS GATHER
TO DISCUSS WORK
CONTINUED from First Page.)

Continued from First Page)
Warren in 1879 had called together a
NUMBER OF surgeons to obtain from
them an expression OF opinion In re-
gard to the formation of an associa-
ton for the scientific advancement OF
surgery The spirit of this meeting
was decidedly hostile. but In spite OF
opposition the organization was ef-
fectcd in New York City on May s1st
of the following year, and DR.. Samuel
Gross was elected the first president.
an Office he held for five years. 1t is
interesting to note here that the next
meeting was held,in Richmond, May
5, 1881. DR.. Hunter Mcclure was at
that time an honored member OF the
Iassociation. DR.. Mears traced care
Ito the present year, being voted an
extension of time In order to complete
his paper.
DR.. Stephen II. Weeks. OF Portland.
Me-. presented paper on Surgery OF
the Gasser!an Ganglion.' After care
full resume of the anatomy OF this
structure he reviewed In turn the IN
dication. for It's removal. the prepara 4
ton OF the patient. the selection OF
anesthetic-his personal preference be-
ing ether-and stated in detail the tech
lnioue OF his operation, which was with
slight notifications the one used py
Sir victor Horsley, of England he
eu1pha sized the statement that he saw
no necessity for doing tho operation
IN two stages. Photographs were eN-
limited and the doctor mentioned tour
cases with recovery In each instance.
He regarded as of minor impor.ahee ',ie
danger of hemorrhage. on which many
laid stress.
Dr. Mfnter, of Boston, in reply.
N ought the danger OF hemorrhase eN
ceedingly great, and was OF the opinion
that the operation should be done IN
two stages
He thought the less done the better
FIR the patient. DIR. Richardson, OF
Boston. and DR.. Van der Neer, OIL AZ
hany also took part in the discussion !,
after which DR.. Weeks was hcaru
again.
Noted Surgeon Speaks.
~ John p. Murphy. OF Chicago, was
Introduced. and by special request read
naner on Acute General Perforating
paritonitfs" instead of the subject
originally assigned to him. DR.. Mu:-
nhv has contributed probably as much
to the advancement of the science OF
surgery as any other man In America
to-day, and the announcement OF ms
name at this iuncture was the sigma
for generous and prolonged applause.
He is a man of striking personal APP
nearance. and delivered splendid pa
per coucheh in the most preclsc, YET
nuent Language. He stated at the very
outset that he wished his subject
clearly understood. viz: General,
Free. Spreading, Perforativc Perito-
nitis." He said that the facts present
ed and conclusions drawn would be
based on the observation OF forty
eight consecutive cases treated by MN
during period of five years. re
differed with those who held 70 the
theory that the result depended on
the yirulence of Infection. and he de-
Tended his position a some length.
statistics which showed that during
1898 and 1894 the mortality in berfo-
rating peritonitis was 81 per cent.
from 1894 to 1896, SO per cent. and
that since 1895 it had greatly dinlin-
ished. were cited. He attributed the
difference in results to the difference
in the management Of the cases, the
shortened interval between perfora-
tion and operation the diminished me-
chanical disturbance of the abdominal
contents. the shortness of the opera
t,on itself, the recognition of condi-
tions favoring absorption before and
after the operation. and the ellmlna-
ton of toxic materials existing In the
blood both before and after perfora-
tion.
Discussion of Paper.
Though tho time allotted to him had
expired. DR. Murphy was asked to give
summary Of tho treatment he pur-
sued in tho cases on which he oper-
ated.
Discussion of his paper was then
! opened by Or. Deaver, who paid his
colleague high tribute, and reports
cd a number of similar cases he had
operated on at the German Hospital
in philadelphia. He emphasized par
ticularly the fact that no allowed his
patients no morphine after operation.
lie was followed by Or, Gerster, of
eral cases. In which the Murphy treat
ment had been instituted.
He differed very strongly with DIR.
Beaver in regard to the Withholding
| of morphine from the patient,
At this point the association adj
iourned for dinner until e:s0 o'clock.
lust before the members dispersed DR..
Johnston announced that owing to the
poor acoustics of the auditorium, tho
another part of the hotel much better
suited to the purposes of the sur
geons.
Afternoon Session.
When the association reconvened at
$3.50 o'clock the discussion of DR.. MUIR
Iphy's paper was reopened and was
participated in by eight rten mem-
lbers, among them Dir. Moore. of Min
|neapolis; Or, Richardson, of Boston;
DR., Armstrong,8of Montreal; Dr.. Harris,
of Chicago, and Mr. Moynihan, of Leeds.
England Dn Moore protested against
ldeprivinG patient Of morphia; pr, Fitch
4 II + + y q p. i r d did