Outlines of the principles and practice adopted in the Orthopaedic Institution of Brooklyn / by Louis Bauer ... and Richard Barthelmess.

  • Bauer, Louis, 1814-1898.
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Outlines of the principles and practice adopted in the Orthopaedic Institution of Brooklyn / by Louis Bauer ... and Richard Barthelmess. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Vll is only adopted by men utterly ignorant of the real nature of these complaints. In the position that orthopaedic surgery at present occupies, it is easily perceptible that the medical profession at large has not given to this important branch the attention it deserves, thus leaving it in the hands of empirics and medical impostors, who, of course, are more governed by love of lucre than by devotion to science or the afflicted. The consequence of this has been the establishment of mere abstract theories, on the part of really qualified medical men, and of ineffec¬ tual torture and empirical treatment at the hands of quacks ; while ✓ the combination of sound theory and rational practice only can pro¬ duce beneficial results. That this is the only safe and effectual plan of serving science and suffering humanity, may be adduced from the great results attained by some few eminent medical men in Europe, who have devoted their whole time and attention to orthopae¬ dic surgery. But the material advancement of orthopaedy during lhe last decennium, important and considerable as it may appear, is by no means so extensive as to have rendered orthopaedic treatment infal¬ lible ; on the contrary, there still remain some deformities which are the very “noli me tangere” of the surgeon. In many instances he may be limited to a mere mechanical support or an amendment of the greatly distorted form of the body. With the clearer and more thorough understanding of the nature of deformities, however, the curative resources of orthopaedic surgery will greatly augment, and science and practice become more perfect and effectual. Who could have anticipated the rapid and amazing progress of surgery at large during the period of the last 25 years, and who can foresee what the next like period may hold in its lap ? We may hope for the best, and meanwhile contribute as much as we ourselves, by individual attainment, labor and opportunity can afford.