There has been a great change in regard to operations among the laity of
late years. There is much less opposition and prejudice. The people are
being educated to the necessity for operating in many diseases. A great
deal of the opposition was due to the doctors themselves. There have been
doctors who would operate at every opportunity. Some doctors could not
treat a woman for diseases of the womb and ovaries without suggesting that
an operation was necessary. There have been a great many healthy organs
removed, or at least organs that could have been saved by proper
treatment. Fortunately such doctors are becoming less in number and there
is more discrimination being used. On the other hand there has also been
too much conservatism. Many persons have spent years in suffering who
could have been relieved by an operation. Years ago a person suffering
from terrific attacks of gall stone colic continued to suffer all their
natural life. Now an operation is performed and relief is obtained at very
little risk to life. The same is true of cancers, tumors, etc. These, if
taken early, can be removed safely and successfully in very many cases and
lives saved and suffering relieved.
If an operation is needed the family should go to their family physician,
in whom they have confidence. He can do the operation or direct the family
as to what surgeon to choose. Bad results of operations are, sometimes,
due to the operator. It is the duty of the family to choose a competent
and honest surgeon. There are plenty of them all over the world,--and very
few competent surgeons operate simply for the money they receive. As a
rule they earn all and more than they are paid. There are more surgeons
today than ever and they are also more competent, for our medical schools
prepare them in the hospitals for that kind of work.
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The surgeons connected with our hospitals, public and private, are doing a
great work in relieving the ills of humanity, others in private practice
are doing great work. Here and there one is found who operates only for
the money, but persons who employ such a doctor are usually entitled to
the results they receive. Your family physician, even if he is not a
surgeon, is the best person to consult when an operation may be necessary.
He will send you to some honest and competent man. Operations usually
should be performed as early as possible. In malignant disease the
operation must be done early. This applies to cancers of the lip, face,
tongue, breast, womb, ovaries, stomach and the abdominal cavity.
Then again, operations are far less dangerous now than before the days of
aseptic and antiseptic surgery. Cleanliness on the part of the surgeon,
nurses and patient is the first law of success in all operations. Any case
that becomes infected through fault of the surgeon or attendants is no
longer looked upon as a thoroughly successful operation, even though the
patient recovers.
As in other branches of medicine, there are now many specialists in
surgery. In the major operations it is best to employ a specialist, but in
the minor cases the "family doctor" should be competent. If he does not
care to perform the operation himself he can advise and direct you in
selecting a competent surgeon. Always seek his advice early; do not wait
until the patient is weak or dying before you decide to allow the
operation, as then the chances are it cannot help. If you are in doubt as
to the necessity of the operation consult more than one surgeon. There is
a possibility of a wrong diagnosis in some cases.