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History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

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General Surgery 199which he decried the use <strong>of</strong> traction <strong>in</strong> the treatment <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>flamed jo<strong>in</strong>ts,ma<strong>in</strong>ly on account <strong>of</strong> the unyield<strong>in</strong>g character <strong>of</strong> the jo<strong>in</strong>t ligaments. Hedoubted that even a heavy weight used for traction would secure anyseparation <strong>of</strong> articular surfaces or <strong>in</strong>fluence a copious effusion. "Theweight, however, does neutralize the reflex muscular contractions but doesnot dim<strong>in</strong>ish <strong>in</strong>tra-articular pressure. The muscular contraction causespa<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> the jo<strong>in</strong>ts and wear on the articular surfaces followed by spontaneousdislocation." This was a well written paper and an excellent exam<strong>in</strong>ation<strong>of</strong> the rationale <strong>of</strong> the orthodox treatment from the pathologicstandpo<strong>in</strong>t. It had great <strong>in</strong>fluence on the treatment <strong>of</strong> highly <strong>in</strong>flamedand especially tuberculous jo<strong>in</strong>ts. Dr. Senn's conclusions were: " (1) Aweight applied over a pulley is the best method <strong>of</strong> mak<strong>in</strong>g permanent extension(traction); (2) extension should always be first made <strong>in</strong> l<strong>in</strong>e <strong>of</strong>the deformity; (3) extension acts as an antiphlogistic and orthopedic agentremov<strong>in</strong>g muscular and ligamentous contractions; (4)permanent extensionis most useful <strong>in</strong> jo<strong>in</strong>t affections when cartilage and bone ends arediseased; (5) as an ord<strong>in</strong>ary orthopedic measure, extension should alwayssupersede brisement force as long as tenderness exists."This volume also conta<strong>in</strong>ed abstracts from foreign journals and someforeign correspondence. The first use <strong>of</strong> neurectasy on the brachial plexuswas credited to Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Nussbaum on June 22, 1872, and subsequent casesfrom England, France and Philadelphia were cited. The first operation <strong>of</strong>this k<strong>in</strong>d (nerve stretch<strong>in</strong>g) <strong>in</strong> the United States was credited to Dr.Edmund Andrews <strong>of</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois on May 15, 1876. The subcutaneous use <strong>of</strong>carbolic acid diluted with glycer<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> the treatment <strong>of</strong> erysipelas was reportedby Dr. James S. Whitmire <strong>of</strong> Metamora, Ill<strong>in</strong>ois.Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Brown-Sequard <strong>of</strong> France gave three lectures <strong>in</strong> Chicago onFebruary 21, 22 and 23, 1878. These concerned paralysis and convulsionsresult<strong>in</strong>g from disease at the base <strong>of</strong> the bra<strong>in</strong>.An editorial asked: "Does Chicago Need Two Medical Societies?" Beforethe fire <strong>of</strong> 1871 there had been only one Chicago Medical <strong>Society</strong>, but onaccount <strong>of</strong> the distance to meet<strong>in</strong>gs held on the West Side,the Chicago<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> Physicians and Surgeons was founded <strong>in</strong> 1877.An abstract was given <strong>of</strong> an article by Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Letievant <strong>of</strong> France onthe practical aspects <strong>of</strong> Lister's antisepsis <strong>in</strong> surgery; 1500 operations atthe Hotel Dieu were recorded without an <strong>in</strong>fection!Dr. Wallace Blanchard described "A New Apparatus for Potts' Disease<strong>of</strong> the Cervical Vertebrae" us<strong>in</strong>g a leather extension applied to a plaster <strong>of</strong>paris corset with a head band to hold the neck and head motionless.Special Surgical SocietiesAmerican Surgical Association. The year 1880 was a most importantone <strong>in</strong> surgery <strong>in</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois, because <strong>of</strong> the formation that year <strong>of</strong> the Ameri-

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