Eisen-Suppressed-Inventions-and-other-Discoveries-True-Stories-of ...

120 Suppressed Inventions and Other Discoveries
mass in the policeman's shoulder was complete, it had separated from the
normal tissue and could be lifted out within two days. He could scarcely
believe his ears, insisted on examining the patient himself.
"This is something I want every doctor in the hospital to witness," he
asserted. "Would you be willing to perform that operation in the amphitheatre
before the entire staff"
Dr. Miller and I welcomed the opportunity.
That Wednesday at 10 A.M. when we arrived at the amphitheatre of the
Alexian Brothers Hospital we found it buzzing with excitement. The
gallery of seats surrounding the operating pit was crowded with more than
sixty interns, house physicians and visiting doctors. Scrubbed and
gowned, we took up our positions in the pit beside Dr. Harris. He cleared
his throat, and the gallery suddenly was silent.
He began with a concise review of the case, detailed the various treatments
given the patient, described the latter's condition when he was
turned over to us. Then he introduced us and explained our procedure.
When he'd finished the patient was wheeled in and we took over.
Dr. Miller removed the bandages from Mannix's shoulder. Self-conscious
and tense with awareness that scores of trained eyes were following
every move under the bright operating light, I picked up the forceps,
scraped and probed the black mass of necrosed tissue. It moved freely at
the perimeter but was still anchored at the base. I worked it loose, lifted it
out with the forceps, deposited it on the white enamel tray provided for
that purpose. And that's all there was to the operation.
Dr. Harris inspected the cavity left by the tumor. There was no sign of
blood, pus or abnormal tissue, clean scar tissue already had begun to form.
"In time it will heal level with the surrounding flesh," I told him. "There
will be no need for plastic surgery."
Shaking his head incredulously, he declared: "It's amazing, if I hadn't
seen it I wouldn't believe it!"
Then, looking closer: "What about the necrosis in the clavicular bone"
"That was caused by X-ray. It too will slough off."
Doctors and interns filled the pit and crowded around the operating
table, inspecting the patient, examining the necrosed tissue, firing questions
at Dr. Miller and me. The entire demonstration had taken less than
half an hour but it was nearly noon before we could break away. Dr. Harris
accompanied us to the door and asked where we were stopping.
I told him I was at the Sherman Hotel, and would remain there a couple
of days before returning to Taylorville. He promised to get in touch
with us before we left. On our way back to the hotel I was jubilant.
"We did it! Now they'll have to admit that we have a treatment that
cures cancer!"