Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-07
HEART PAIN CURE
by USE OF SURGERY
is EXPLAINED HERE
Dr.. Harry h. Kerr Tells Medi-
Gal Society so Such Opera
tons Have Been Performed.
NEW LIMB SALVAGING
PRACTICE is OUTLINED
Ascheim-Zondec Test for Women
Declared Perfect-Dr. Christie
Is Elected President.

Relief from the extreme pain Of
angina pectoris and salvaging of limbs
apparently doomed to amputation be-
cause OF gangrene by a newly developed
branch OF surgery were described he
fore the Medical Society of the District
OF Columbia yesterday by DR.. Harry n
Kerr, Washington physician. who has
atoms.
DR.. Kerr spoke of surgery Of the All
tonomlc nervous system which was at
tempted f1rSt during the World War
ana gradually has attained an excel
fence OF technique which has made Dos
1ole It's application to a variety Of
hitherto practically incurable condi-
tons.
The autonomic nervous system. which
exists apart from the central nervous
system and centers in two chains OF
nerve ganglions on each side of the
spinal column, supplies nerve fibers 10
tne smooth muscles of the body, the
glands, the blood vessels and the heart
Although fundamental part Of the
nody mechanism, parts of it can be
disconnected without serious inconveu-
fence to the patient.
NOuIalBAA ut the k1cart.
A striking use Of surgery Of this sort.
as described by DR.. Kerr, was in the
treatment Of angina pectoris, the So
called neuralgia of the heart" which
is described as one of the most ago
nlzlng or all human ailments, which ends
fatally and for which little relief other
wise can be given. DIR. Kerr did not
claim cure for this fairly common dis
ease. but said that the pain can be
greatly relieved and life considerably
prolonged by severing q certain part of
the sympathetic system. Fifty per cent
OF his cases, he said, appeared to be
complete successes and in no case was
there complete failure.
Some of the most notable results were
those where sympathetic nervous system
surgery was applied to conditions caused
by contraction of the blood vessels In
the limbs, which Is governed by the
sympathetic system. BY disconnecting
at the proper points the vessels become
permanently dilated. The result is that
the limbs become numb, cold and blue,
the patient Is unable to use them, and
eventually gangrene may set in. Per-
manent dilation of the vessels at the
right time will restore a proper blood
supply and prevent the gangrene. which
Is due to its absence. Such conditions
In old people where calcium deposits
form on the inner walls of the arteries
preventing the flow of enough blood, in
frost bite. and in a variety of more
obscure diseases.
New WOman's Test Explained.
1t now is possible to diagnose preg-
nancy with certainty in less than q
month by means of the Ascheim-Zon-
dec test, which has given absolutely
perfect results in 100 cases just tested
in the laboratory of the Naval Hospi-
tai, DIR. Joseph j. Mundell told the
physicians. The certainty of this test,
he explained, Is due to the fact that
the condition is accompanied suto-
matically by the presence OF excretions
OF the Datient of some obscure, but
powerful bio-chemical substance, a
hormone which is secreted from the
anterior lobe OF the pituitary gland in
the inner brain.
Describes CardiOSpaSms Cure.
What were described as some of the
most rapid and dramatic cures known
to the science of medicine Of an ex-
tremely unpleasant and dangerous con-
dition were described by DIR. j. Russell
Verbrycke, jr. These are cures Of car
end Of the esophagus through which
food must pass to enter the stomach
1t Is not infrequently mistaken for can
Ger OF the stomach. No medicines do
any good. The patient, receiving very
little nouriShment from food, rapidly
declines in weight and general health.
But, DR.. Verbrycke said, the condi-
ton can be cured, in most cases per-
manently, in a few minutes by dilating
the CONSTRUCTED organ with a new in
strument the use of which In expert
enced hands is almost without danger.
1t Is lowered into the esophagus and
then opened by water pressure. He de-
scribed one patient who gained IL
pounds in a little over two days after
this operation had been performed and
again.
Effects of unrelieved proStratic OBJ
struction were described, with moving
pictures, by DR.. w. Calhoun Stirling.
Some remarkable exhibits are being
displayed at the annual meeting of the
medical society, notable of which are
series of fixed tissues illustrating various
conditions OF the brain.
prepared by DR.. Walter Freeman, DR..
Karl Langenstrass, DR.. S. Ross Taggart,
DR.. Lester Neuman and DR.. c. @. Aron-
st. Elizabeth'S Hospital.
At the annual business meeting OF
the society held last night the following
officers were elected: President, DR..
Arthur C. Christie: vice president, DR..
James A. Cannon; second vice presi-
dent. DR.. Mary O'Malley: secretary
treasurer, DR.. Coursen B. Conklin;
delegate to the American Medical Asso-
citation, DR.. Henry C. Macatee; alter
nate, DR.. Frank Leech; members Of the
Executive Committee, Drs. William H.
Hough, Edward Y. Davidson and Wallace
M. Yater; member of the Program
DR.. c. r. L. HALEY.
This afternoon there will be q hospi-
al conference, with discussion of the
hospital situation in Washington by
heads of the variouns hospitals. The
annual public meeting will be held to-
night, when DR.. C. Rufus Rorem OF the
Committee on the Costs of Medical
Care will present the findings of that
BODY to date.