The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-09-30
VEW SURGERY
)GREAT BOON TO
FIGHTING men
Wounds Of Sort Fatal in Past
Struggles, Now Easily Healed
Heart Injuries Repaired
MODERN ASEPSIs
SAVES MANY LIVES
Resources Of Medical Profession
Are Taxed To Limit by the
Present Struggle
D. lRvlNo W. VOORHEES,. N. o.

Dy t6NtN0 w. vOOHHEESs NJ. y.
The war now going on In Europe
will demand great deal OF effort
from the medical profession. Expert.
Aacsd surgeons win have ample OPP
Wortunity TO display their skill and
s the inexperienced will acquire an M
valuable training.
How different the equipment and
skin from that which our own forces
were able to command during the
Secession!
Then, asepsis was an unknown
word; anaesthesia by inhalation was
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. being relied
I'm 20 dull the senses outraged by
pain. Surgery consisted largely OF
ampusations and probing for bullets
"A procedure now seldom carried out.
Dgl0rses we're few and inefficient.
There was no great International Red
a Cross with It's coterie OF white
Ixbed angels" to minister to the wants
Of the suffering and dying.
Surgeons Greatly Hampered.
The work OF the surgeons was
Featly hampered by the difiicuity OF
Transporting patients TO q place Of
afsty. Ambulances were crude wag.
ns drawn by horses or mules OPP
Gators worked continuously for hou 3
9TH Q hail Of bullets flying about
hem. Even water was scarce COM
|, podity.
n How all this has cnangedl Now
here II "a trained ambulance corps
q those duty II Is to gather up the
A Bounded and transfer them quickly
"a b swiftly-moving autos to the relief
Nations. Here they are quickly pre-
Jared for operation--if operation be
kecessary--or are removed to good
a hospital, II such be within q range
n " twenty miles approached by
4 }assable road.
NJ The automobile bus" In these days
Sill save many life that In other
lays would have been sacrificed be-
ause Of the impossibility Of trans
jortation.s
All OF the sciences during the past
% years have contributed to the
torking out OF surgical problems.
Physics has lent aid through appli-
tation OF the Xray. Mechanics has
lDrnished the fundamental principles
upon which plaster and wax models
of various structures illustrating the
1adnence Of disease are made. BAG
biology has become most impor-
ht aid both In diagnosis and in
eatment. not only Of surgical con-
Ions. but of al diseases to which
tllman flesh IL heir
Pathology has made great strides
II the last two or three years. espe-
oally In the realm OF blood analysis
Uw,p vNx UY.u ~ lfv. ~
Hfof. Enrich OF Frankfort are among
oe foremost authorities In the world
pom the problems OF infection and
immunity. which depend. Of course.
vory largely upon a thorough under
sanding Of the blood and its reaction
70 various agencies, organic and In
0ekanic.
Chemistry has ever been Of the
greatest service to medicine, and Il
d none the less SO In these days or
highly specialized surgical endeavor.
Analysis OF the secretions and excre-
lions II indispensable, not only to
1lagnosis but to prognosis as well.
which, as the word implies, has TO
10 with the outcome of disease. II Is
bow possible to separate the secre
On from the two kidneys by means
pf tubes introduced through the blad-
Ter. In this way one can tell by an
analysis OF the secretion from each
kidney which Of the two kidneys IL
diseased, an especially desirable de-
termination after gunshot wounds OF
he abdomen, since Il Is nearly Inn
ossible to tell before operation
fhich kidney is affected.
When reviewing the history OF sur
pry for the past so years one 10
mpelled TO wonder at fits operative
ccesses and the daring OF its vota-
es In exploring new fields which
Eere formerly not Pnly unknown but
brbidden.
II - not unlikek that the fathers
men still livingi were among those
mo gathered at the house or Epn.
I'm Mcdowell when ne did the frst
1ccessful abdonQnal operation, ready
take his life NJ the patient sue.
umped TO this tiaring assault. In
lese days no hospital graduate three
~ OUT or the Operating room would
eeitate to EXPLORE the abdomen mere.
20 give Temporary relief even when
Sse u no quest bn OF saving life.
oranted that Hmsn has talent for
N BOVd training as an
te[ne peegde large hospital, the
aisf eqdisits then Il experience.
Leaxh to do by doing" must be tho
QUO OF every one who aspires fo
81 honors IN surgery, for nowhere
JUDGMENT more difficult or success
ore eternally elusive.
frequently the surgeon is oblieed
opeLete under the most unfagef-I
etadftions, hts Judgment. train.
And resources are tried to the nj.
CT This n less 20 than formerly
ms 70 the Increased facilities az
e4n3 fo0mS and q better under.
noln9 o. the surKeon's reouir :.
~ h0Wever the difficulties ara
groot upon the battIeneId I'm.
me ecsan steamship and in the
The 1Esat diaicultIes IN, diagnosis
pQuenky 9ouand that the surgeor
~ 9zn1c,atorv" operation. The
uReuzD - many diseases ara ~
identical that II Il next IN .,,,,
100 70 tell before actual insnsc<
4et oon6ltion one NAV ma
~ me body. This diGcuItr/ =,
2 ~ seee1 ~ The fact that
~ ~ permissible.
Public II not 90 we'll
eoning Of sutopsies
~ Il does not nm