Biggar, of Cleveland, also has witnesses of his, great skill in a living mother with two fine children delivered at different births by Caesarean section. He has a new method of forming the flaps in extrophy of the bladder. His method of repairing the perinaeum is worthy of note, and an original method of covering amputated bone with periosteal flaps for which he claims three benefits: 1. Protection. . Medium of nourishment. 3. More rapid healing and less deformity.
Dr. Knoll, of Chicago, has made several advances in surgery. 1. He has on original operation for radical cure of fistula in ano by dissecting out all the diseased tissue which forms the canal and stitching up the parts, first advocated in 1887. 2. An operation for the radical cure of hernia, consisting in opening up the carnal to the peritoneum, freshing the edges of the whole ring and stitching the parts together with heavy silver wire.- Medical Era, July, 1888. This operation he claims is in advance of any other operation of the kind even up to the present date. 3d. His treatment of eccentric stricture of the oesophagus by the stylet and dilators method of using and cut of the instrument.- Sharp and Smith’s Catalogue, Chicago, 1893.
Lee, of Rochester, has a wonderful record in laparotomies. See Transactions, American Institute, 91.
N. Schneider, of Cleveland, has the honor of being the first surgeon in America to remove a tumor from the brain with recovery of patient. This tumor was the size of a walnut, situated back of the colt. The operation was reported in 1860, in the Ohio Medical Reporter, and was copied in the New York papers and acknowledged to be unique.
Dr. Schneider introduced to the profession the use of carbolized oil in the dressing of wounds. It used to be known on the road, in his days of railroad surgery, as Schneider’s oil.
It is probably true that the modern treatment of wounds is a growth which all surgeons have nourished and cultured, but the following statement was made to me by Dr. Dudgeon, of England, in replay to recent inquires as to the part taken by our foreign brethren in the development of medical science, viz, that Dr. Bolle, a Homoeopathic physician of Aix is Chapelle was the father of the modern treatment of wounds.
In a recent number of an Allopathic journal, the Medical News, there appears a Columbian article upon the work of American surgeons, which, in the usual style, ignores the work of Homoeopathic surgeons. Well might Helmuth sound the toxin; it is time the history of Homoeopathic surgery was written. But they cannot deceive the dear public. It well knows that we have a galaxy of surgeons, with Helmuth as Nestor, who have made Homoeopathic surgery honorable the world over.
In mechanical therapeutics, our surgeons have invented many appliance of recognized value. Dr. Dudgeon’s sphygmograph is acknowledged to be the very best instrument of the kind in the world. Garey, of Baltimore, has invented the instrument called the vibrinator, for massaging the sound apparatus of the inner ear, which is destined to be of incalculable value to the afflicted.
The protection sheet which is now used in all the hospital for the insane, and which has banished camisoles, cribs, anklets, straitjackets, and all other cruel restraints of iron, wood and leather was invented in the Middletown, New York, State Homoeopathic Hospital, under the suggestion of Dr. Seldon H. Talcott.
Dr. Edwin Hale has invented a bivalve expanding speculum which is now used by both schools in the United States. Also the pistol-handle forceps for which he claims that the line of traction and the curve of the handles make it equal if not superior to Tarnier’s.
Dr. Griswold Comstock has invented a pair of obstetrical forceps which are a great favorite with many physicians. dr. J.C. Morgan, of Philadelphia, has invented an apparatus for fracture of clavicle which is a acknowledged to be the best ever devised. He was also in advance of all others in using and publishing the aluminum probe now in universal use. He also invented a vectus which has saved the lives of many babes after uniform previous mortality, and many other instruments. Dr. Campbell, of St. Louis, has invented many eye and many eye and ear instruments. The late Dr. Sebold devised the neatest and most ingenious speculum forceps and scissors for operating upon the eye that ever was invented.
Dr. Harold Wilson, of Detroit, has invented several important eye and ear instruments.
Dr. Knoll has invented several valuable instruments; 1. The large bivalve rectal speculum, which with slight modifications is now sold everywhere and frequently is called the Pratt speculum. 2. An artery forceps which is the strongest, most reliable instrument of its kind made. 3. A punch forceps for skull operations.-Century, January, 1893. 4. The stylet and dilators for stricture of oesophagus and urethra.
Dr. S.L. Hall, of Cleveland, has devised a very ingenious apparatus for remedying a deflected nasal septum. It is able to metamorphose a badly deformed nose into one of the purest Grecian type.
Dr. George Gorham, Albany, N.Y., has invented an apparatus for treatment of Pott’s disease which is acknowledged to be a valuable appliance.
Dr. E.D. Baun, of Passaic, N.J., has invented an attachment for the bedstead with ropes and handles for the use of women in labor, which is valuable, also an insufflator for the resuscitation of asphyxiated infants at birth which is very successful.-North American Journal of Homoeopathy.
Horace Ivins, Philadelphia, has a nasal speculum which is good. See his recent book on Nose and Throat, p. 15.
Bushrod W. James has invented several good things.
Dr. Edward Blake, of England, has introduced a rhinometer for measuring the depth of the nasal cavity and destroying adenoid growths.
Dr. Horace Packard, of Boston, has improved and invented a number of surgical instruments, but is known of all schools for his alliance for administering ether. By his method the same effect is produced by a drachm which formally required ounces; thus he become a benefactor to the thousands of suffering humanity, who must take the risks of anesthetics.
To recapitulate, there was no true medical science until Homoeopathy was introduced. Allopathy was not true medical science because it did not cure the sick, or alleviate human misery, but rather added to it new tortures.
Homoeopathy discovered a true law of cure, proved hundreds of drugs, animal viruses, and diseased products to be able to relieve human misery. It built up and is constantly improving a Materia Medica, which applied to disease, is capable of restoring the sick to health. Allopathy has made no progress except as it has developed Hahnemannian principles or stolen outright from our system. Homoeopathy has made wonderful strides of progress and greatly influenced all medical practice.
It has written libraries, founded colleges for the teaching of its system, and hospitals for its practical demonstration, and the relief of human misery. It has compelled the dominant school to cease its vampirism and to adopt our methods, our remedies and our dose; it has educated the laity in regard to their own physical being and the superior claims of Homoeopathy; it has improved surgical therapeutics and enriched mechanical therapeutics; and in short has been of more benefit to humanity than all other discoveries the world has ever known.
DISCUSSION.
THE CHAIRMAN: Dr. Hawkes, of Liverpool, England, wishes to speak on this paper.
DR. HAWKES: I am exceedingly sorry that I was away when I ought to have spoken. Nothing illustrates the completeness of this paper more than the flew touches our friend has given of our lamented friend’s work, which is as complete as anything I could have written. If we were to speak in our country of lady doctors and the work that they can do, or discuss that matter in our medical societies and tell them of this paper to which I have just listened, it would be almost incredible to them. Not that our friends there, as a body, or as Englishmen, do not appreciate the abilities exactly her sphere. If they could have heard that paper read that argument would lose very much of its force.
I am astonished to gather from her paper what has been done by Homoeopathis in this country, and, although I profess to know a little of medical literature, I most admit that very could not added to the paper by anybody with whom I am acquainted. Skinner, as you know, invented that apparatus that I see is used very much here for giving chloroform, but that was before he became a Homoeopath. I think we must go back to this fact that what Hahnemann taught us and to what his followers had insisted upon is this: the proving of medicines and the application of those substances that were never employed as medicines at all until Homoeopathy came to the front, which feature of things they ought to be most thankful for. What Homoeopathy has gained will go to form a monument to Hahnemann which no power can destroy and which no time can efface.
