Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-11-23
NEWARKERS HEAR
EXPERT ON BONES
$50 Jersey Physicians Listen to
Lecture by Professor
j. B. Murphy.

Intense interest was shown in the
lecture of Professor John B. Murphy,
of Chicago. president of the American
Medical Association, given last night
before the Academy of Medicine OF
Northern New Jersey, in the Wiss
building. The lecture al attended by
45O physicians from the northern part
OF this State.
Professor Murphy's subject was THE
Conservation of Bones and Joints in
Infection: the Prevention of Ankylosis
and Necrosis DIR. Edward j. Ill,
dean of Newark physicians and presi-
dent of the Academy of Medicine, in
troduced the speaker. Slides We're used
to Illustrate many of the subjects dis
cussed by the speaker, and in this
manner entire operations were ex-
planned amid the APPLAUSE of the physi-
clans.
Professor Murphy declared ~anlxylosis
of the joints and necrosis of the bones
absolutely avoidable if the medical
profession fulfilled its obligations. Re-
ferring to fractures of the wrist he de-
plOfSu the IdCl lildl mdllIcdlHuSh Va
this class of fractures is SO frequent.
"Ninety-eight per cent. of the doc
tors do not know how to treat this
kind of fracture and 80 per cent. per-
sist in treating them" declared the
lecturer. Using one of the members
present he gave a graphic description
of the proper method of treatment in
these cases. He also told of an instance
-. ,-liaI, ~ tfanf,c ryrtut was dR-
formed after he had treated the frac-
ture.
1T seems to me that the old woman
will live forever" he added. Every
time she sees me she raises her hand
twisted out of shape, and I am re-
minded of my horrible mistake"
He divided bone infection into large.
general Observation-Disclosures infection
and acute infective osteomyelitis. When
speaking OF the latter class OF infec-
ton of a joint he said that instead or
the prompt treatment this class OF in
lection needs the average physician
treats it as rheumatism.
This kind of Infection" he said, III
not treated within twenty-four hours
will result in complete necrosis OF the
bone in seventy-two hours. At the end
of five or six days the physician Will
drain the infected area and remove a
wash basin full of pus and show 1t to
ahe patient as an evidence Of his skill.
I'm a few days more he will remove six
cor eight inches of necrosed hone n
show it to the patient as another evil
hence Of his skill, when 1t is really an
evidence of his Incompetence"
He criticised severely the use of the
~hypodermic needle and dope" when
operative treatment was the only rem
edy. when you get such a case" he
hsaid, "put your hypodermic needle in
hthe safe, sit down and seriously analyse
and diagnose the disease, instead of
Asaoping the patient to stop natures
ssisnals of danger and distress" He
then reiterated the statement that doc
isdhOrss were In a large measure RESPONSE
Sbie for malformed Joints.
when he stated that the prevention
sspf a disease carried with it the penalty
of the patients never knowing that he
Mad that disease his audience laughed
hnd applauded heartily. He point
ed out that it has been firmly estab-
aished that the regeneration of bones
land Joints car be accomplished with
knteIigent and well-directed efforts.