History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

General Surgery 171Davis's (New York) back splint was described but he condemned it bysaying that its so-called lifting qualities were nil and he favored the Taylorbrace, which was well illustrated in the paper. He mentioned a sole leatherbrace of this order illustrated by Dr. J.S. Sherman of Chicago in theChicago Medical Examiner for October, 1869. He advocated traction forall joint inflammation, and exhibited a posterior side iron splint for theleg to help extend the foot or to correct in talipes. He also showed (thereare cuts in the report) a substitute hand for use after amputation; this hada metal clasp with which to hold objects much like those in use at present,and there was an elastic strap attached to the chest for its manipulation. 41872Dr. S. C. Plummer of Rock Island was elected delegate to the AmericanMedical Association. Dr. Edwin Powell, surgeon at the Cook County Hospital,reported on "Transplantation of Cuticle" in defects of ulcers andlarge granular surfaces. Erysipelas was very common in the hospital at thattime, and small grafts with adhesive tape coverings were mostly failures onaccount of suppuration.Dr. A. L. McArthur of Rockford reported on "Restoration of Bone,"citing two open fractures of the femora from gunshot wounds; good regenerationand healing followed when he removed loose bone displacedfrom its periosteal connection. There followed a long discussion on thetransplantation of heterologous bone and the regenerative powers of theperiosteum. The speaker said that it was firmly established that "theblastema of ossification, as laid down by Kolliker and Virchow, belongs tothe layers next to the bone." This law had been formalized: "In the upperlimb, for the bones of the arm and forearm, it is the extremity which contributesto the elbow that grows the least. In the lower limb for the bonesof the thigh and leg, it is the extremity which contributes to the knee thatgrows the most." This law of growth, so promulgated, explained why"resections of the knee are followed by an arrest of development, whileresections of the hip and ankle are not. Conversely in the upper extremities,shortening follows excision of the shoulder and wrist joints. The same lawseems to determine the growth of morbid products (bone tumors). Thusexostoses, enchondromata, etc., appear preferably at the end of the bonewhich grows more rapidly." This was an excellent elementary observation.We at present state it as the law of the epiphyses based on the direction ofthe nutrient arteries in long bones. Today the medical student must learn* One of the bills allowed at this meeting was "To printing 100 blank certificates forrailroad passes for the meeting in Dixon—S5.00." Also one for $3.00 for "engraving twofractures." Those certainly were thecuts for paper on surgical use of plaster of paris indays that have gone forever!