The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-03-14
THE EDUCATION OF DOCTOR ADAMS

IIa appeals to me at once. T am one Of those men he aaya "doing general surgery who has never gotten away entirely from general practice a.o ~ diagnostic work. have always taKen tne p" .s,ion that a good surgeon must first of all be good doctor" Too many operators pose before the profession as dong erassy ractea under GOV. CT to fill in the tedious waits between opcratIos. And among these operators they nave cer.ha, .,n. technical skill in dissection and repair put tnht does not endow them with surgical 1udgrnenU there are too many who take ndvantage Q, popu, lar credulity and pretend 10 have knowiedgc ana judgment which only years of general practice and study give q doctor. 4 .,, Doctor Adams, let us call him. goes on to te,i how often he felt disgu3ted at surgical tonsihec- tomies which were done by throat speciaiists on his patients. Some patients. after being oper. ated upon would return with throat muscles 50 badly mutllated that their throats remained per- | manentIy uncomfortable. Now and then Il pa pa tient suffered some such compncauoh .. ss 'eu aa. litis extending down the neck into the chest cav- ity and demanding prolonged surgical drainage though external ncisons; or perhaps an nncon. n. believe In washing the dirty linen of the profess sion before the public eye. ,,, Al, Nor Well do not believe in handing the public untruthful reports or suggestions apout any health, medical or surgical question Doctor Adams goes on: T believe that tne ma iority of the profession arc sincere In ther CT forts to save human life and fo relieve suffering. Yes? So do l. cannot think that any doc tor of standing repute would subject any pa tient to event a slight unnecessary risk or suf. fcriup: t iy not a question of humaneness It IS question of knowledgc. am not criticising the old timers, the stand .patters, the rcactionary doctors for their cruelty or crudity; am critic cisng them for their ignorance and intolerance Doctor Adames resumes: "I have always had under my care a number of cardiovascular-renal cases be8fdes patients with other serious condt- tions. where felt that removal of infected ton. sils would rebound to their benefit. but feared to remove them sursically under either general or local anesthesia."
 Too many in our profession dismiss such ham dcapped patients with the assurance that noth- ing can be done for them. This is the story of the education of Dr Adems. Let him go on with 1t: hc n practically devoid of danger in competent bands. that is the method to be advised in all eases wherever practicable and for the past three or four months I have been referring these patients 10 ~=- who removes tonaS with d. athcrmy, with great satisfaction and benefit: . glad 10 add my word of encouragement and ap- proVal for your work
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS A Good Man Wins Ills Spurs What causes ''spur heels" and what method Of treatment do you suggest? friend of msnc has them md hc went tO (a good surgcOn) wIiO advised against opcration and told him there Is very little that can bc donc. e. s. E)
 Answc--That's more than know about t.
 ScrapIng an Acquaintance
 For what reason must the - he scrapcd ? Is 1t just q business? Why are they so careful? GA. S.)
 Answer Question Is out of order. Glad to give any information or advice can about q correspondents own health or trouble.
 Amncsla
 Articles [ have read about scopoIamln- -mor. DlIine ancstiicsIn or 6f,-cnlIcd "twiIight" sleep have interested greatly. ! gather faInt sue. cess in that line depends on finely trained, con st'icntOns persons what y0u think Of lt as
 AnFwer-- Only physicians cnn administer the drugs. nurses under he attending physicians orders. if you mean td become nurse and spe- cnlllze In such work. that is fine. though be- lleye there are already plenty of good nurses Co do such work What ,he hypodermic injections of anesfheaia- Is forsetfuiness and indifer. cnce, not loss of sensation.