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History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

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192 <strong>History</strong> <strong>of</strong> Medical Practice <strong>in</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois1891Dr. John H. Hollister, <strong>in</strong> mak<strong>in</strong>g the report <strong>of</strong> the Committee on Biography,said: "But <strong>in</strong> the after history <strong>of</strong> Medic<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois, we are confidentthat a position most honorable and most endur<strong>in</strong>g will be accordedto the Founders <strong>of</strong> its Medical Institutions and to the active membership <strong>of</strong>the State <strong>Society</strong> dur<strong>in</strong>g the period <strong>of</strong> its first fifty years." May this historybear out that hope.The Address <strong>in</strong> Surgery was given by Dr. John E. Owens who discussedsuprapubic cystotomy and reported a series <strong>of</strong> ununited fractures treatedby sew<strong>in</strong>g with silver wire.Dr. Christian Fenger read a paper on "Elephantiasis<strong>of</strong> the Scrotum" with remarks on operative treatment. The mass<strong>of</strong> scrotum <strong>in</strong> this <strong>in</strong>stance weighed 22 pounds and extended down to theknees. Dr. Fenger devoted two weeks to antiseptic treatment before theoperation. Dr. Edmund Andrews read a paper on an improved method<strong>of</strong> perform<strong>in</strong>g Rose's operation for tic douloureux, which was ably discussedby Dr. L. L. McArthur.1892An address was given by Dr. J.H. Etheridge <strong>of</strong> Chicago, Chairman <strong>of</strong>the Surgical Committee, on "The Technique and After Management <strong>of</strong>Laparotomies." He reported that he had performed 70 laparotomies atthe Presbyterian Hospital <strong>in</strong>the preced<strong>in</strong>g seven months without sepsis<strong>in</strong> a s<strong>in</strong>gle case. Five patients died, 3 <strong>of</strong> shock and 2 <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>test<strong>in</strong>al obstruction.He used overnight preparation: soap and water scrubb<strong>in</strong>g; bichloride <strong>of</strong>mercury (1:3000) from the shoulders to the knees, and then the surfaceswere bathed with alcohol and ether. F<strong>in</strong>ally an iod<strong>of</strong>orm pad, cover<strong>in</strong>g thewhole abdomen, was supported by a b<strong>in</strong>der overnight, to be removed atoperation the next day. The needles, <strong>in</strong>struments and ligatures used wereboiled for one-half hour. Hands were scrubbed with soap and water andthen immersed <strong>in</strong> bichloride <strong>of</strong> mercury solution. Visitors wore asepticgowns "or should witness at such a distance from the operator, <strong>in</strong>ternesand nurses, that they, <strong>in</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g and turn<strong>in</strong>g about, will not permit theirhands <strong>in</strong> any way to touch the visitors' clothes." He also issued the edict:"When <strong>in</strong> doubt, dra<strong>in</strong>." He employed Hagedorn needles, silk throughand-throughsutures, and for shock, hot water bottles.Dur<strong>in</strong>g this meet<strong>in</strong>g there were also presented short papers on "Hodgen'sSpl<strong>in</strong>t for Fracture <strong>of</strong> the Femur" by Dr. William J.Chenoweth <strong>of</strong> Decatur;"Movable Kidney with Hydronephrosis" by Dr. D. W. Graham; "Ingu<strong>in</strong>alHernia" by Dr. William M. Harsha, and "Empyema" by Dr. D. A. K.Steele.

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