Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-02-26

1.-THE boy was playing in the yard.
Surgeons and physicians deplore
this more even than the laymen," he
said. "They realize it more and
probably sympathize with it less than
1--WE do, because they can comprehend
its fearful consequences"
Methods in Hospitals.
He quoted DIR. John B. Murphy's
address before the American Mcdi-
cal Association criticizing the prac-
tising OF unskilled surgeons in the
press the number of fatalities and
that other things go on that would
not bear the light of day.
| DR.. John NJ. Mackenzie of Johns
| Hopkins University was quoted at
length by the senator, condemning
the modern craze for removing chill
dren's tonsils by surgery, indiscrim-
inately and uselessly. DR.. Cabot was
again referred to as saying that an
appalling number of operations for
appendicitis and enlarged tonsils,
two fashionable Diseases" were
wholly unnecessary. Seventeen per
cent of the appendices removed in a
Boston hospital, he said, were shown
by autopsies to be absolutely nor
NAL.
A long list of newspaper clippings
was presented by the senator telling
of fatalities resulting from opera
tions, many of them needless.
Splitting Surgical Fees.
The custom of splitting surgical
fees between the physician who ad-
ivises an operation and the surgeon
who performs it, the senator con-
demned, and cited the condemnations
OF the practise, by number of the
profession. The prospect of share
in the large fee, gagged according to
the size OF the patients purse, he
that might otherwise be avoided
The only protection for an abused
public he quoted one doctor as say
ing, lis legislation which will make
surgeons and physicians legally as
well as morally responsible ior errors
in diagnosis, as we'll as in deliberate
cases where the knife is resorted to
for big fees"
DR.. George r. Cruickshank of
Windsor. Ont. Canada. was qouted
as saying that many operations are
made solely for the fee involved, and
that rs per cent of the operations
for appendicitis are unnecessary.
The appendix is in the body for
purpose, and is not useless append
age" said the doctor. "Tonsils are
necessary in the throat, otherwise
they would not be there. But hap
PLY customs are changing. Ten
years from now the operators of to-
day will be looked upon as barbar-
ians."
Serums Are Protested.
a protest against the compulsory
use OF serums and vaccination was
-madc by Senator Works.
| he hot h
er they have ever healed a single dis
ease or prevnted it. But it is known
beyond the possibility of doubt that
! thousands of people. many of them
J helpless and innocent children, have
, been killed and thousands of others
! innoculated with the loathsome dis
eases by their use. All kinds of ex-
) cuses are made for the consequences
OF doctors fatal blunder. Serums
, arc forced on whole armies and ma
!. vies and on school children, with
fearful results. We go on expert
, menting and risking our lives and
health and dictation OF the doctors
} in obedience to cruel laws upon mere
dicr and sailor is required to submit
. to this innoculation."
Senator Works submitted with his
remarks the correspondence between
himself and the secretary of the
navy in the case of Joseph Kapsa. a
gunners mate in the navy who, be-
ing a Christian Scientist, refused to
obey the order to be vaccinated. His
request for exemption because of his
beliefs was refused and he was i'm
prisoned. In this case Senator Works
protested TO the secretary of the navy
against the unjust treatment, but he
advised kapsa to submit to vaccina-
ton as his religion could not exempt
him from obeying orders. Acting on
Senator Works advice Kapsa sub
mitted to the serum treatment and
was restored to duty.
Antitoxin Called Failure.
The senator also called attention
to what he termed brutal treatment
OF flood victims along the Ohio and
Mississippi river, when the authori-
ties compelled refugees to be vac
cinated before they would give them
help, mo vaccination. no rations,
was the wording OF placards on re-
lief boats, he said.
A number OF cases of fatalities and
other serious consequences following
vaccination of normal persons were
cited by the senator. He pointed out
that many doctors are revolving
against the too-frec use of serums !;
that the consumption serum tubcrcu-
lin has been branded failure by
many authorities. while being rigid
ly required by others in the country.
He quoted authorities to show that
serums have not decreased mortal
|ity nor disease.
Diphtheria antitoxin is not sue
cess, he gave evidence to show. and
quoted a medical publication to the
effect that 1t is purely a commercial
enterprise promoted for the profit of
the manufacturers, the National Drug