ACHIEVEMENTS OF SURGERY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 395, 2 January 1909, Page 3

ACHIEVEMENTS OF SURGERY.

v - ■ i' : - ■: Dr.'.J. C. Munro, o? Boston, told the Cana-. dian : Medical, Association that-the ordinary medical man is-about five years behind the: times'-in surgical knowledge; and that' thepublic is .at least a generation-behind. "It' should be made clear at the outset that the publio must expect of surgeons not absolute efficiency, but a reasonable degree of it," says Diy Munro. .."Such a degree can be acquired; by any surgeon who has aptitude, a,love for constant.'.self-improvement, and a readiness , to make sacrifices to his ideals. Of this typo there - arc many; in.-your .coiintry. as well as mine; H'The masters of surgery,- on the other hanij, .are few in number.' : It is to them>'that wb of the rank arid file- must look ' for -the instruction and inspiration' which should' constitute a largo and by' 110 means' . unimportant; 'part• of : their, work: v . It.:is :only a relatively. small proportion., off the people that'can have the benefit of their skill; 4To: their teachings the medical as well , asthe : surgical; practitioner, must list-en., ; After : a' patient, hais;;decidcd .upon operative-treatment * no ' has the., right to demand, , first of. all, ;asepsis,-proper anesthosia,'' and - intelligent: after-care," adds- Dr. Munro. ," He should roilisej' however/.' that, although ' absolute asepsis; is^.tliei.ideal, to . which..,all .surponß aspire/ practical 'asepsis' altftti-fcait?be'-guaTatf-teed in.tho light-of-our knowledge at, tho present time.".-.^