Identifier: 101485230.nlm.nih.gov
Title: The American practice condensed, or The family physician : being the scientific system of medicine ...
Year: 1848 (1840s)
Authors: Beach, W. (Wooster), 1794-1868 Beach, W. (Wooster), 1794-1868. American practice of medicine
Subjects: Medicine Therapeutics Materia Medica
Publisher: New York : Published and for sale by James M'Alister
Contributing Library: U.S. National Library of Medicine
Digitizing Sponsor: Open Knowledge Commons, U.S. National Library of Medicine

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ned to disparage the noble science ofsurgery ; we view it as even the most honourable of professions ; but we woulddeprecate that precipitate zeal in imprudent practitioners which, in its ear-nestness to make exhibitions of skill, loses sight of the grand truth—that artis hut natures auxiliary. In young persons especially, the utmost cautionami hesitancy ought to be observed. Such is the practice with ail experiencedsurgeons, before applying the cruel instruments, whereby misery and de-formity are for ever entailed upon the unfortunate suflerer. From the New York Herald. The details of an operation, as related in the Morning Herald of 21st July, 1841, are sufficient to sicken the soul at such rash and merciless treatment. The next case (represented in the annexed engraving) was an interesting one of white swelling, for which the thigh was to be amputated. The patient was a youth about 15, pale, thin, but calm and firm. One professor 20 !64 GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE REFORMED PRACTICE
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OF MEDICINE, AND INDICATIONS OF CURE. f55 felt for the femoral artery, had the leg held up for a few moments to ensurethe saving of hlood, the compress part of the tourniquet was placed upon theartery, and the leg held by an assistant: the white swelling was frightful.A little wine was given to the lad ; he was pale, but resolute ; his father sup-ported his head and left hand : a second professor took the long, glitteringknife, felt for the bone, thrust in the knife carefully, but rapidly ; the boyscreamed terribly, the tears ran down the fathers cheeks. The first cut fromthe inside was completed, and the bloody blade of the knife issued from thequivering wound; the blood gushed by the pint; the sight was sickening,the scuams were terrific, the operator calm. Again the knife was thrust inunder the bone ; the terrific screaming was renewed ; one or two picked uptheir hats to leave ; scream on scream—and again the bloody blade of theknife issued from the wound, and was laid aside. The

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