History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

162 History of Medical Practice in Illinoistion to improve tracheotomy, for the compression and cure of aneurysm,for resection of the knee joint (4 cases, 1 death), for the cure of chronichydrocephalus by injection of iodine, an operation for absence of thevagina, for the treatment of spina bifida by injection of iodine, for thetreatment of urethral stricture by dilatation and external incision, andfor trephining the skull for epilepsy caused by an ancient fracture of theskull.Brainard's paper was followed by one by Dr. J.S. Whitmire of Metamoraempyema and other abscesses by iodine.on the treatment of snake bite,Dr. David Prince read a paper on the use of metallic sutures and ligaturesexperimentally on dogs (he was one of the earliest vivisectionists in Illinois),employing silver wire to tie the carotid artery and the abdominal aorta.He had also used the wire as ligatures in removing a scirrhus carcinoma ofthe breast. He said the metal did not absorb fluid and excited no inflammationor suppuration and, if the external wound healed per primam, theresult was good. This idea was not new as it had been reported in 1853 bySimpson and also by Sims. Dr. Edwin Powell presented a report on a seriesof fractures successfully treated by extension (traction) with adhesive tape.This was new, as most fractures were then treated in fracture boxes madeof wood or by plaster of pans casts.1863Dr. Edmund Andrews of Chicago was appointed chairman of the Committeeon Surgery. Dr. Prince read a paper on "Delayed Union of Fracturesof the Bones" and made remarks on amputations, comparing advantagesof circular and flap operations in military surgery. In the discussion of thispaper, Dr. Andrews said that resections of the shoulder and elbow had alower mortality than amputations at these levels. Resections of the femurwere uniformly fatal, and in those of the knee joint the results were doubtful.At this meeting Dr. H. G. Davis of New York read a paper on the treatmentof tuberculosis of hip and knee by means of a traction splint. Dr.Andrews in discussion stated that he had used and improved this type ofsplint treatment. Characteristically, Dr. Andrews was constantly devisingnovel operations and splint arrangements. His son, Dr. E. Wyllys Andrews,once told the writer that his father in later years was much interested ingastric surgery and up to the time of his death was continually devising newresections and hook-up operations for the stomach and bowel, especiallyfor carcinoma.Spinal curvature and apparatus for its attempted cure were discussed.Thus is recorded the interest and diligence of Illinois surgeons in keepingabreast with surgical advances.