New-York tribune., 1921-11-30
Dr. I.orenz Busy
With Sufferers
Till He Faints
Volume of Infirm Swarm.
ing in Upon Aged Surgeon
Takes From Him All of
His Energy and Strength
Lame In Line All Night
Many Cases Seeking Treat
rnent Are of a Kind That
Is Out of His Sphere

twice yesterday in the course of q
morning clinic at the Hospital of De-
formities and Joint Diseases DR.
Adolph Lorenz, the aged viennese sur
geon, swayed as if on the point of col
lapse. Once, hard pressed, he, begged
for . respite of five minutes and fore
stalled defeat. Later he dropped in a
faint and was led out, daxed and ey-
hausted, his great frame slack, his mas
slve head bowed, But in the afternoon,
renewed by his tremendous tenacity
or purpose. ne was back again ready for
scheduled clinic at Kings County
Hospital, Brooklyn.
Ihere was an oIninous admission OF
waning strength in the fact that he
omitted the operations WITH which his
clinics usually have begun. He began
at once the examination of his patients,
This went on as formerly. In cubicies
ranged on either side of the room. pa-
tients stripped and aweited him. At
tended by an escort of surgeons DR.
Lorenz made the round of the room,
again and again, as the cubicles refilled
with new sufferers. He had no energy
as formerly for comment He had at.
tention only for his patient; he manip-
ulated and tested muscles with sensi-
tive, almost mechanical fingers, and his
brief comments on the nature of the
case to the recording attendant were
made in low tones.
+ Around Eighteen Times
AT the end of two hours he had made
the round Of the cubicles eighteen
times and had examined 15O patients.
The strain on him was marked. After
the five minutes recess thirty patients
were stripped and brought to him.
When all but the last was examined
DR.. Iorcnz fell unconscious. A dis
appointed lame little boy and his
mother were hurried out.
But If DR.. Lorenz had given with
dramatic finality the last drop Of his
strength, it was as nothing to The hum
dreds that clamored in the waiting
door. Some Of these had been at the
door since 10 o'clock of the night
before.
At o'clock in the morning there
were forty-six in line. At raw east
wind whipped through the streets and a
fine drizzle penetrated through the
thickest wraps.
But this had no power to chill or
dampen the spirits of those who waited.
In the line was an unwonted animation,
q friendly comradeship and an ex-
Some came prepared to wait in COM
fort. Many brought camp stools and
newspapers to spread at their feet. The
occupants of several automobiles made
desultory efforts to sleep. Two or three
women had brought sandwiches, which
they shared with others less fortunate,
and toward morning q woman brought
pail of hot coffee.
There were many who had no right
to be there-sufferers from cerebral
and spinal injuries which DR.. Lorenz's
technique does not deal with; aged
persons whose deformities have set be-
yond the reach of any but open sur
gerry. and even one case of epilepsy, but
all with vague and unlimited belief in
the doctors power to help them, if
only they could get to him.
No Clinic Saturday
The gray light Of dawn showed the
true dismalness Of the scene. It wax
ened uncertainty in many who had
been hopeful through the long hours
OF darkness. They feared they would
be waiting only as on other DAYS to
see displayed the announcement:
DR.. Lorenz will see no more pa
tients. 1t is useless to wait"
Many. who waited all night did not
know that to gain admittance to tho
morning clinic they needed an appoint
ment card, to be obtained only in the
afternoons. There are enough appoint
'nent cards issued now to fill the sur
geon's time until next Monday. Those
given out now are issued for remoter
dates.
There will be no clinic on Saturday.
DR.. Lorenz will operate on private
patients that day. On Monday he will
examine only cases of diseases of the
joints - such as rheumatism, disloca-
tions and tuberculosis,