A DOCTOR TELL.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1923, Page 3

A DOCTOR TELL.

TALES OF THE Oi'ERA'IIM THEATRE.

MISTAKES OF SURGEONS. J >e.-'TI-:ALIAS AMI N.Z. l A lll.K ASSOt'IATKi"" LONDON. Jan 7. A eelehi a ted surgeon one, removed ; a imni'.- -01111,1 l"g. and. disi-nvoring , his mistake, wished to amputate the | other, whieii was l.adly injured. but i the patient objected, and finally left j the hospital with the remaining leg | completely healed. This story of one ! of the most amazing mistakes, at least [to tlit- mind of the lay reader, is related by Dr Harold Burrow.s. in it i v bonk “Mi-iakcs and Accidents of Surgery." The title completely explains the nature and cnntem.s of the hook. Dr Burrows explains that the mistakes related are “the other fellow's" hut the hook results in .sorrowful contemplation of many mistakes he hiinM’lf has eomiuitted. Relating to the incident of the amputated leg. lie ,’lie, rfully adds. “The same mietake ".ill probably lie made again.”

Dr Burrows explains that even e,,:n,miner i- the ea-e of the removal of a " rong linger. Euless the surgeon loops himself wide awake, the operating I heal re i- the scene oi dist timing

■•• wil- am! a.;.patently it i- not mi- , ;an on t > iae . e Mvah -. wads of cotton wooi. or bandage- in a patient’s interim - . Tim pntionl coin inning ill. he made anther exploration, and discovered a second s"n!t. lie* X-ray ill another ease disclosed tv.’u ridther lid K'.s in a patient's chest. Other mistakes mentioned are the -■quitting of neat chloroform in bulk into a patient's mouth: the administration fur hall an hour of pure oxygen .m-iead oh nitrous oxide ga.s. the dingim-iny. of Instil injuries a- drimhcuue--, and the gassing into iineotiM ioitsncss of the operator and the anae-ihe-li-t |,v ti,’ dei ~in j,o-iLion ol tlm produeis ~f ililorofoi’m in eoiitael with a gas stove. In this ease tie. nurse snv,il the -itiiation by holding the patient, a child, outside 1 he wind,". r.-.eiity —ix dilleieiit. di-ease- havi I, in i- 1 e eu for a],pendieit is. Dr Burre" s \ . and I oiiseqiiently have been improperly treated. Dr Burrows ,i;._ ea.-e wh’ie all a naest bet le was* adnii lll- Lered to a patient not Mtfitijl,e ft,,U| a p J,e I 111 let t is. toil lloll! ,1 nlilladv " iiieh tin- Utmost bet ie rendered fuial. Sprain.-, he -ays. are f req licit 11 V mistaken for tract tire-. Dr Burro".- declare- that the commoner the ma fin l\ tlm gr; atm- the tmstakes, owing to the tael that lit'th’ .-kill i- demanded, "hieh induce- cureh l n,. t tpera tioit- on the tonsils and for adenoid- are I repent ly open to

Tlm "Weekly Di.-paLi h," which ex,h. review.- the book, says:—“lt i- i- -.-iiring I■> find a readiness lo eon-fo-s. which'only means llmi surgeons have to 11 lid II.'" ways of rralueing the natural liabilit'’ to t I’l’or."