Clinical surgery : address delivered in the University of Glasgow, 4th Novermber, 1874, on the occasion of the inauguration of the Chair / by George Buchanan.

  • Buchanan, George, 1827-1905.
Date:
1874
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Clinical surgery : address delivered in the University of Glasgow, 4th Novermber, 1874, on the occasion of the inauguration of the Chair / by George Buchanan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    extensive, and by whatever means of study acquired, is of no essential use unless it has been put to the test of experience—an experience gained by the practice of surgery both in public and private. This double experience is, I think, important; for although the principles of treatment are the same, whether applied to a patient in the hospital or one in his own house, still the application of the principle must vary according to the means available for carrying it out. This remark is especially applicable to me¬ chanical surgery or the application of splints, bandages, and other apparatus, in the treatment of dislocations, fractures, and other casualties. In the hospital there is always at hand a plentiful supply of the most useful apparatus, so that the surgeon and his assistants are not often called upon to exercise much ingenuity in contriving suitable appliances for the cases admitted ; but in private practice a surgeon is often called to see persons living at a distance from any depot of such appara¬ tus, and must rely on his own mechanical skill to furnish what is necessary. Accordingly, in giving clinical instruction to students, a most important feature is the introduction of such contrivances as the surgeon has found available in emergencies, and making the students imitate or contrive for them¬ selves, with such materials as may be found in any house, the applications required, for a given case. Besides this there are a number of surgical affections,