Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-01-07

"The Mystic Order of the Short
Rib" the latest organization to
come to national public attention,
is headed by a Butte man. He is
Hebert w. Wilson, "grand spare
rib" Of the order, who lives with
his wife and two children at 5000
Richardson street in Butte.
Wilson has no ribs on the left side
Of his body. having sacrificed them
while a patient at the Montana state
tuberculosis sanitarium at Galen, a
price he paid to save himself from the
ravageS of the great white plague. He
was recently discharged from the sani-
tarium, rehabilitated and for the first
time since 1888 spent Christmas with
his family in 1888.
1T was while convalescing at the
hospital that three of us conceived the
idea Of organizing the Mystic Order
told Of the many long days and nights,
weeks and months, he spent in the
hospital. Il was elected grand spare
rib. We invited all who had lost one
or more ribs in similar operations to
Join. The membership fee is IS cents.
We now have close to 1000 members,
located in every state In the union and
provinces Of Canada and in Hawaii
and the Philippines We hold no meet
ings, the only purpose being to fur
nish each member with names and
addresses Of others who have gone
through similar operations, so they
can write to each other and exchange
ideas. We like to talk about our OPP
erations, you know"
He said the order has about 100
honorary members, including doctors,
nurses and others interested in stamp
ing out tuberculosis. The science Of
removing ribs Is known as thoraco-
plasty. The ribs must be removed in
the course Of collapsing lung, re-
qlltrement In healing the infected area.
After the lung Is collapsed the broken
tissues heal, but the lung Is gone.
Wilson lost his left lung, but to all
outward appearances is in the best
OF health.
he entered the sanitarium weighing
$50 pounds. He now weighs close to
500 and was told by a doctor Just a
few days ago that he should live 40
years" He was given but few months
to live at the time he entered the
sanitarium.
Wilson had high words Of praise for
the Montana institution. 1T is the
best in the United States" he declared. |
''The care and reatment-medical and
otherwtse-is unsurpassed. Good food, |
good Care and good doctors Is the /
secret Of treating tuberculosis. DR.. F. |
7. Terrtll, the superintendent and chief
surgeon, IS an expert of experts in the I
field Of tuberculosis. Montana Is ex- !
tremely fortunate to have him."
Wilson was highly enthusiastic over
the sale of antituberculoSis seals. He /
said few persons who buy them realize
the great service they are doing He /
said there are close to 100 residents /
Of Montana who have lost ribs In I
operations similar to his most Of whom /
have already become members Of the |
Mystic Oroer Of the Short Rib. The |
other officers are Joseph Pirtz Of Bill
lngs, keeper of the royal boneyard,
and Edward r. Nett Of Augusta, chief
prime rib.
a prospectus Of the order lists the
purposes and aims of the order, one of
which is ito perpetuRte the friend
ships made at the sanitarium, espec-
tally those who have left goodly por-
ton Of their bones to bleach on the
hot sands In the little white ROOM"
and further, ito fight for federal and
state legislation to provide for rehabil-
ltatlon VI discharged patients, In par
ticular those who by reasons of
disability cannot work"
Wilson came TO Montana in 1880 as
4 government radio operator at Butte.
He superlnLended construction Of the
government Always station south of
Butte and continued as its operator.
ae was taken Ill In 1894