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History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

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General Surgery 181ported, and Dr. R. N. Isham <strong>of</strong> Chicago described one he had performedatthe Cook County Hospital. Osteotomy for knock knee was discussed,and 120 cases <strong>of</strong> fracture <strong>of</strong> the patella reported by Dr. Hamilton were reviewed.The method employed by McGill (a Scotch surgeon) was described<strong>in</strong> which he obta<strong>in</strong>ed a gradual draw<strong>in</strong>g together <strong>of</strong> the fragments so thatthey became united by a ligamentous band.In discussion, Dr. C. T. Parkes <strong>of</strong> Chicago said that it was dangerous toreduce strangulated hernia, and claimed that antiseptic surgery had madethe operation so safe that there need no longer be any hesitation to openthe abdomen, sac, et al. He believed that thymol was not as good an agentas carbolic acid, and reported that they had both been tried at the CookCounty Hospital with the result that thymol was discont<strong>in</strong>ued <strong>in</strong> favor <strong>of</strong>carbolic acid. His f<strong>in</strong>al remark was that carc<strong>in</strong>oma <strong>of</strong> the rectum more than3 <strong>in</strong>ches above the anus could not be removed via the anus as there wasdanger <strong>of</strong> a tear <strong>in</strong>to the peritoneal cavity. We must admit that he knewhis anatomy from a practical standpo<strong>in</strong>t.Dr. W. P. Verity's universal suspension spl<strong>in</strong>t(suspended from the ceil<strong>in</strong>g)was discussed. This was a metal spl<strong>in</strong>t on which the patient lay withapplication for traction permissible. It was used for fractures <strong>of</strong> the vertebrae,pelvis and thigh, for resection <strong>of</strong> the hip or knee, as well as forextensive burns. The entire spl<strong>in</strong>t was covered to conceal the iron workand it cost $ 10.00!In die 1880 issue <strong>of</strong> the Transactions there is published a letter from aman who had visited Boston, then the hub <strong>of</strong> <strong>medical</strong> <strong>in</strong>struction. He said:"I noticed that <strong>in</strong> fractures <strong>of</strong> the leg, especially compound, the good oldfracture box is still used, and for the thigh, extension by weight and pulley,and short spl<strong>in</strong>ts are used, and the results are most satisfactory. I th<strong>in</strong>kthat here less weight is used than is customary by some surgeons I know,and less than <strong>in</strong> the hospitals I have visited. The antiseptic method hasbeen tested <strong>in</strong> this <strong>in</strong>stitution (Boston City Hospital) but now ratherfallen <strong>in</strong>to disuse, as the results were not, <strong>in</strong> the hands <strong>of</strong> the surgeonshere, those claimed for it by Lister and others. Dr. Blake reported 19 cases<strong>of</strong> empyema treated by permanent open<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> the thoracic cavity; 15 cured.He also cited a case <strong>of</strong> avulsion <strong>of</strong> the scalp which had 2600 pieces <strong>of</strong> sk<strong>in</strong>grafted, once a week for three years, the grafts be<strong>in</strong>g furnished by 180different persons." The letter was signed by R. M. Lackey.1881The report <strong>of</strong> the Committee on Surgery was given by Dr. Charles T.Parkes <strong>of</strong> Chicago. In his discussion <strong>of</strong> the handl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> wounds he said:"The wonder results obta<strong>in</strong>ed . . . under'Listerisrn' or antiseptic surgery,led to an almost universal adoption <strong>of</strong> this method <strong>of</strong> treatment <strong>of</strong> wounds,

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