WONDERS OF SURGERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2985, 31 May 1911, Page 10

WONDERS OF SURGERY.

In a recent issue we published a cablegram annoimaxig the successful transplantation of a bone taken from a corpse, the operation having been performed by a professor in the Brcslau University. The following letter in the Argus from one of the surgeons in the Alfred _ Hospital, Melbourne, will be read with interest: It may interest your readers to learn that the principle of replacing diseased or damaged bone by a corresponding bene taken from a corpse was first conceived and practised four years ago at the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne; and during the en suing period has been practised many times and under diverse conditions in that in stitution.

The first oaee in which it was put into practice was that of a girl of 17, who came to the hospital with a tumour of one of the banes of tho arm, which, treated by ordinary surgical methods, would have involved serious maiming- of the limb. The surgeon in charge conceived the project of taking out the diseased portion of the bone and putting in a corresponding piece taken from a corpse. Convinced of the feasibility of doing this, and of the soundness of his guiding- principles, he did it. Tho success of the procedure was absolute, and the arcn is now, four years after the operation, as sound as thougih nothing had happened to it. An amazing and unique experience was furnished by a man who had an ununited fracture of one of the bones of the arm. Attempts bad been made by skilled surgeons elsewhere to remedy the defect, but without success; and the case had assumed a character which is looked on by surgeons of experience as being practically irremediable. In this case a portion of the bone, about 4in in length, including the ununited fracture, _ was taken out and a corresponding portion of sound bono substituted. This patient 'turned out to be a criminal degenerate of the worst type. Three weeks after the operation he took off his stiff bandages and left the hospital. He started brawling, fighting-, and resisting the police, and was soon in gaol for 14 days, and immediately after his release was rearrested and reincarcerated. He took every opportunity of shaking the loose piece of bone in his arm about and displaying! it to magistrates and police officials in oi-der to excite compassion In spite of all his efforts to prevent it. the bone gradually got firmer, and eventually, 11 weeks after the operation, it was found that the bone was soundly fixed, and the operation had resulted in complete suaCOS'S.

In 'numerous other oases simijar procedures have bean carried out under varying conditions and with varying aims, bait in one respect the experience has been invariable and very notable. Even in cases where the existing conditions might be expected to introduce an element of hazard, in no instance has a patient suffered, even temporarily, in health. The safety of theprocedure, whtein carefully carried out, has been quite surprising. There is little doubt that the operation performed by Professor Kuttner, of Breslau, is the direct outcome of the published results of work done at the Alfred Hospital. It is a fact that in the Alfred Hospital tlhis surgical departure had its origin, and that in that hospital, along among the hospitals of the world, this work has been quietly and unostentatiously practised and studied for the last four years. It has also happened that on the very first occasion cm which a method which originated here, and with which we are perfectly familiar, has been successfully carried out in_ Europe so much amazement has been excited that the incident finds a prominent place among the cable messages.