Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-01-17

infested with the larvae Of certain kind
of blow-fy, but, strangely enough, were heal
ing exceptionally well.
1t was this incident, apparently trivial in
itself that started DR.. Baer on Investigations
which led a few months ago to his unique
contribution to his beloved profession. For
some 80 years, while connected with the Johns
Hopkins Medical School, he had been special
izing in the surgical treatment OF strange bone
diseases, outstanding among which is osteo-
myelitis, characterized by pronounced mf1am-
nation of legs and arms. Indeed many pa
tients have been forced to undergo numerous
operations over long periods of time.
The greatest difficulty in attempting to cure
this disease. which all too frequently results In
crippled limbs and unsightly wounds, has been
that it seemed virtually impossible to clean
out thoroughly the large mass OF infected,
dead material lodged deep down in the bony
crevces, where most antiseptics failed to pene-
trate
However, some months ago, DR.. Baer, re-
membering wildly that observation French
battlefield, decided to try an experiment. Why
not, he reasoned, put some Of the little healers
into the wounds and see whether or not they
could accomplish in an antiseptic and curative
way what medical science, with all its reputed
knowledge, had failed to do? Certainly there
must be some excellent reason for the clean
and wholesome appearance of the wounds OF
those two soldiers.
| IERE, indeed, was bold decision. If the
I I experiment failed, then possibly DR.. Baer
would be accused by his learned colleagues of
essaying crazy move. But if it succeeded?
Well then think Of the thousands of cripples
who would be restored from living death to
normal health.
Anyhow, the distinguished surgeon, bearing
all these things in mind, went right ahead
with his plans. First of all, he made PAINS
taking study Of flies and then when he be-
neved he had found the particular species he
wanted he hired qualified assistants and took
the plunge.
As luck would have it, the method utilized
by the scientist on his very first patient met
with pronounced success. Employing his
surgical skill to best advantage, he cut clear
down to the bone itself, making wedge
shaped cavity in the infected region, and then
placed large number of living larvae of two
kinds of bow-f1y into the cavity, covering them
with piece of disinfected wire gauze.
Whereupon DR.. Baer adopted the practice
of removing the larvae by the simple process
of washing them out with an antiseptic solu-
ton after they had remained in the wound
five days, Then he would put In a fresh batch
of "heaers.'
After his first test had been completed, DR..
Baer tried the new insect treatment about
300 patients. All the children and three
fourths of the adults were cured. Today many
other IMPORTANT medical interests contem-
plating the utilization of the unique method
he developed, including private surgeons in
Washington and important hospitals IN Ohio
and New York State
The success of DR.. Baer's experiments and
the great number of cases throughout the
Nation to which the new treatment Is adapted
have created an ever increasing demand for
the little healers," which now propagated
In large quantities.
Copyright, 1922