New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-07
Medical Association Plans to
Put End to Reckless
Operations
Surgery Claims Cure
For Infant Paralysis
New Blood TRANSMISSION
Method to Remake Heroes
Back of Battle Line

The medical profession itself,
through the agency Of some Of It's most
representative surgeons. came out in
plain and unvarnished admission yes
terday that human life has been sacri-
feed needlessly through the unskilled
use of the knife. Surgeons have been
turned ont too quickly in this country's
schools. the profession admits, and
plans were developed yesterday by the
section on surgery Of the American
Medical Association, in conference at
the Waldorf-Astoria. TO put an end 70
reckless ana incompetent operations.
Dr. Arthur Dean Bevan, of Chicago,
read the leading paper on the subject,
"The Problem of Unnecessary Opera
lions and Of Incompetent Surgeons
It was the desire Of the entire pro-
fession. he said, to place the practice
o. medicine and surgery on a skilled
and scientific basis. He declared that
there was not the slightest doubt that
number Of operations are performed
IN this country yearly that are wholly
unnecessary end that operations are
being performed by men who are not
oualfed lie ascribed the condition 70
three causes: ignorance, dishonesty
and bad Judgment. This problem
should be frankly admitted, he said and
the evil eliminated by publicity crlti-
cism and education.
DR.. Howard w Longyear, Of Detroit
chairman of the section on obstetrics
gvnecologv and abdominal surgery
rpoke along the same lines in his ad-
dress on "The Relations Of the Gynecol-
opis. 70 the General Surgeon Past and
Present
Surgeons Made Too Quickly
"Once seemingly impossible and IN
ap7roachable problems" he said are
now open 70 solution by the skiIiu'
and conscientious surgeon. Therein
lies the danger 10 the public. Skilfui
surgeons may be conscientious out
conscientious surgeons may not all he
skilful. Operations look too easy and
FOO simple on paper. Self-stylcd sur
,oons have been made TOO quickly IN
I this country. and when time and ex,
nerience have turned out rev good
80 from this number u has been az
a c+upendors cost Of health ana ne 20
thc nublic. The demand for the oesL
s,,r,erv Is still 70 be made by Doin
rLvefcians and the lalty
g. the conclusion Of the discussion
motion was passed calling for me
aopointment Of a committee Of ten %,
take up and study the problem OF
SURGICAL ncompetency and unnecessary
operations and report upon u 10 the
DR. Joseph Mutt. Of this city. at
tracted unusual interest before the
section on orthopedic surgery yester-
dav BY his description Of a new oper-
alton for the cure Of paralysis result.
ing from poliomyelitis. each phase OF
his paper being illustrated with lantern
slides. This operation. he SAID, mad
been performed on thirteen Children
and eleven have thus far shown re-
turn Of power.
New TRANSMISSION Method
significant and important paper
on a new method Of blood TRANSMISSION
49, +. ;e believed will be Of much
so,of. n the American surgeons on
~ be++ie line abroad was introduced
D.. Dr Rertram u. Bernheim. OF Bal
+inoro. His talk dealt with the sodium
citra+o treatment Of blood which would
crable eficacious TRANSMISSION. although
he giver and the recipient OF tne
Mood were thousands Of miles apart.
with this treatment, he said, 1t is no
longer necessary for a patient 70 De
rer9oved from his own bed or room or
- Nov that blood TRANSMISSION Is
beinc made. Blood treated with So
d;urr citrate. he declared. could he
preserved and transported a great DIS
lance in TASKS. ,...-
I. was brought out al the discussion
that here a. least was an oppoTtuhity
for some good red-blooded paIHollc
Americans unfit for military duty 20
give their blood in plentiful quantities
for the treatment Of Americans VINO
had spilled the most OF theirs IN
/ France.
,eDtive medicine. DR.. John Newell
Hnrtv. state Health Commissioner Of
Indiana. declared that civilized man
vas largely responsible for the ~
nesses that afflicted his and his chill
dren.
Man Alone TO Blame
"What a chump man Is 70 do so
many things 20 make himself weak
md sick" said the speaker. He Will
not give his children enough pure arr
IN breathe. nor will he take care Of
tho cbild's teeth. n the child has a
mining ear he will just let II run. He
nscks the child's stomach with impos-
.ible food. and II the child complains
81 stomach pains he gives him sooth-
inc syrup. He will let mis- child drink
water polluted with sewage. and when
the child dies OF typhoid he lifts his
eyos 20 heaven. and with resignation
avs. The Lord hath taken away.
Among the new exhibits presented
~ The Hotel Aston yesterday was a
c,binet containing the counterfeit
annuls. labels and aluminium cases
containing spurious mixture Of So
d5um chloride. put on the market re.
comfy as Salvarsan. Thousands or
lampuls we're sold before the fraud
was detected.