A WORLD-FAMOUS SURGEON

New Zealand Tablet, 28 September 1916, Page 51

A WORLD-FAMOUS SURGEON

Dr. John B. Murphy, of Chicago, one of the . world’s most renowned surgeons, died suddenly on August 11, from an attack of heart disease while on a summer outing at Mackinac Island, Mich. He had been in ill health for several months. Dr. Murphy was born at Appleton, Wis., December 21, 1b57. His medical education was received at the University of Illinois, Rush Medical College, and at European universities. He attained prominence in the surgical world in the early ’nineties by his invention of the ‘ Murphy Button,’ a metal .attachment for uniting severed intestines. He is regarded as the founder of the present system of intestinal surgery. He was a pioneer in several departments of surgery, lie is credited with having performed one of the first, if not the first, operations for appendicitis; he was the first surgeon to make an artificial joint out of natural tissues; one of the first to transplant bone from one body to another, and the first to excise portions of the lungs. Some years ago Dr. Murphy was the recipient of the Laetare Medal bestowed each year by the University of Notre Dame on some member of the Catholic laity whose work reflects credit upon the Church. A few months ago the Holy Father conferred the honor of Papal Knighthood on Dr. Murphy in recognition of his valuable services to religion. The death of Dr. Murphy is a great loss to medical science, and especially to surgery, not only in the United States, but throughout the world. He was a figuie of international prominence and his clinic at the Mercy Hospital in Chicago, was the mecca of suigeons from all parts of the world. During his whole career he was a loyal and devoted Catholic and gave of Ins services unreservedly for the welfare of the Church and the good of religion. T wo memorial projects for the great surgeon have been announced. One is by a group of five prominent Chicago physicians and the other by the public service committee of the Cook County Board. The physicians plan a joint memorial for three of the citv’s famous men of medicine, including Doctors Murphy, Nicholas Senn, and Christian Fenger. They would build, an institution for medical research, the 81,000,000 for its erection to be raised by popular subscription. The plan of the county commissioners is for a laboratory building- to be known as the ‘Murphy Memorial Laboratory,’ to be added to the present Cook County Hospital group.