LOSS TO SURGERY

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 193, 17 August 1936, Page 2

LOSS TO SURGERY

Death of Mr. Henry P. Nelson

LONDON TRIBUTES

LONDON, July 27.

After a long fight for life lasting four weoks, the death occurred at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital on Juno 24 of Mr. Henry Philbrick Nelson, tho brilliant 34-year-old surgeon, son of Mr. Jeorge Nelson, Havelock North, New Zealand.

For a full month tho combined skill rnd knowledge of the surgical, medijal, and pathological staffs of the hospital had been devoted to his case. But their efforts proved in vain. Virulent .infection of his hand was mused by an accidental electrical burn from a diathermy needle, during an jperation ho was performing at the London Hospital. Ho was taken to 3t. Batholomew’s tho following day when it became obvious that tho finger was poisoned. Iu spito of tho best ittention tho infcctiou spread so rapidly that threo days later liis left arm bad to bo amputated. This inevitable operation was a tragedy for tlio young surgeon for it meant that ho would never bo able to operate agaiu. Even then the course of tho germ was not slopped, for the poison passed to varidus parts of his tody, necessitating a scries of operations to extract the poisonous fluid.

Throughout his long ordeal he re mained fully conscious, and watched with the deepest interest the development of each succeeding complication d£ his case, which his own knowledge jnabled him to follow, and oven antilipato. Indeed, it is understood, he aiado several suggestions about the treatment. A remarkable featuro ol the case was tho numerous offers of help and advice that reached tho hos Dital, from both doctors and laymen Many remedies wero suggested, sonic if them helpful, and a number of per ions submitted themselves for . bloor. -.ransfusion tests.

The tragedy’, culminating _ pcrliap! not -wholly unmercifully in liis death was a double one, since at the ago ot 34 he had already blazed new trails ii English surgery'. "If any y'oung sur goon may be said to have been on tin brink of world-wide fame, it was Nelson, because of the work he had ac complished in the surgery of the lungs md certain chronic aud hitherto in Durable lung diseases,’’ wrote the •‘Daily Telegraph” correspondent. Educated at Harrow and Caius Col lege, Cambridge, Mr. Nelson receiver liis medical education at St. Bar tholomcw’s Hospital, and after qualifying for and holding various minoi hospital appointments ho spent a year in America. It was there that his in terest in tho little-explored field ot :hcst surgery was awakened, and on returning to England ho began to carry both his practico and his researches further. His ability was quickly recognised, and ho was appointed to the permanent surgical staff ;>f tho Brompton Hospital for Diseases of tho Chest, and as consulting thoracic surgeon to the London County Council, most of his work in this latter capacity being done at St. Andrew’s Hospital, Bow. Just before his illness he had received the further honour of being appointed to the permanent surgical staff of the London Hospital, and had already performed successful operations there that had never previouslybeen undertaken within its w-alls. Technically, tho great value _ of his work was the demonstration it had given of the fact that certain chronic lung abcesses and chronically-dilated ind diseased portions of the lung could bo successfully eradicated by surgical moans. His name will also bo permanently associated with a method of anatomical drainage in another group u£ chronic lung complaints. Mr. Nelson was extremely popular, r.ot only among his colleagues, but all with whom ho came into contact. He leaves a widow and two little girls, ioi whom universal sympathy is felt. Throughout his illness his wife was within call of his bedside. She lived in. tho hospital, sleeping at night in tho nurses’ home, and her courage and fortitude won lit;- admiration of the staff.

Tho funeral took place privately yesterday morning at Colder’s Green Crematorium. Mrs Nelson was with her father, Mr. Allan Sullivan. The Rev. Quentin Nelson (brother of the deceased) was present, as well as tha allowing former colleagues from ‘Bart’s”: Mr. Harold Rodgers, Dr. .’rancis Roles, Mr. Girling Bali, and Mr. J. H. Roberts. Tho only other nourner was* Dr'J. \Y. Linnoll, a pliysi ian at the Metropolitan Hospital .'he service was taken by- tho Rev. J

Douglas, vicar of St. Bartholomew he-Less, the hospial church. Aftei ,ards, the small group of mourner; assed into the Garden of Roineni ranee, where tho wreaths had boei. •iced.