Why electrolytic treatment of stricture does not succeed in all hands / by G.C.H. Meier.

  • Meier, G.C.H.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Why electrolytic treatment of stricture does not succeed in all hands / by G.C.H. Meier. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    17 • Brown’s loaning toward the unfavorable result. Ignoring, as he dot's, all the different causes of failure in unskilled hands, what can he prove by a dozeu failures in the face of one demonstrated success? As far as the paper is published in this issue of the Journal, I find it filled tnamly with the statements of different observers, from which have been picked out the imjierfect or unsuccessful cases in their re- porta, leaving untouched the thousand of successful ones that could be gathered. The theory of hotr the stricture is removed seems also to be made a basis of argument against the success of the treatment. Because the greater number of ojairators have differ- ent opinions and theories os to the modus operandi of the removal of the stricture tissue, Dr. Brown argues that, therefore, the possibility of u cure is adversely influenced. To my mind this is simply a proof that as yet we do not know the scien- tific or physiological action of the current on the stricture-deposit, and no more. At the same time he mixes up those who use the current to produce an eschar and a Winterizing effect with those who main- tain as one of the mam fundamental principles of success, that only the primary electrolytic action of the current must be used, w hich leaves behind no sign of its action except the softening and gradual alisorption of the organic obstruction. Notwithstanding this stubborn opposition by some members of the profession, the treatment is rapidly gaming ground even here in New York; and the younger members of our profession are gradually freeing themselves from the trammel of tradition*