©2008 Genealogy Trails
Olmsted County Books and Articles
from "Transactions of the Florida Medical Association", 1905
A Visit to the Mayo Brothers, at Rochester, Minnesota
by Dr. E. Van Hood, Ocala, Fla.
Emerson says—"If a man can preach a better sermon, write a better book or make a better mouse trap then his neighbor, though he make his home in the midst of a wilderness the world will hunt him out and make a beaten path to his door."
This observation of the Sage of Concord finds a striking illustration in the lives of Wm. J. and Charles H. Mayo, of Rochester, Minnesota. It is difficult to proceed with any account of these men and their work without the use of descriptives which are likely to lay one liable to the charge of gross exaggeration, so knowing the tendency of medical men to take things cum grano salis it is hereby agreed that one full half of the adjectives legitimately belonging to this narrative have already been expunged leaving the naked truth in this matter, as Sheba said of the Hebrew Monarch's greatness, "not half told."
Born and reared in the little city of Rochester, Minnesota, which at present has not more than 6,000 population, they have studied worked, watched and waited and observed for the past nineteen years, most of the time at their home; they have also traveled to the homes of the celebrated surgeons of the world in order to see the latter at their best and to learn of them.
The outcome has been, to use the language of another, one of the most unique, elaborate and scientific clinics in this country. Their records of patients treated show that their fame has spread to almost every land and since the physicians and surgeons who visit them at Rochester are not asked to conform to any formality in the way of registering their name or paying a fee, not even to state that he is a physician, it would be impossible to say how many medical visitors they have had and from whence they came. The Surgeon's Club keeps a record of each visiting doctors' personal data, but it is not connected in any way with the Mayos. This Club will be mentioned again.
The supremest test of their merit it would seem, however, consists in the fact that professors of prominent medical colleges in the United States, have at different times stood in the arena at St. Mary's Hospital where the Mayos work, moreover surgeons of renown have brought members of their own families here for surgical treatment. Many other surgeons after being eyewitnesses to the character (or quality) of the work done, have in great numbers submitted to operations themselves.
Taken on the whole and viewed from the standpoint of one who has seen the work of many of the best surgeons, it may be said without fear of successful contradiction that they are doing better work and more work than any operators living.
But there are other things to study in this beehive of industry besides modern high grade and difficult surgery. Not the least interesting are the details of the evolution of the undertaking—how the daily routine is transacted —how they work—some of the things they are doing and the causes of success. Of the first it is with regret that not much information can be given definitely though internes and assistants are courteous and willing to speak freely of their line of work to any visitor. Much can be safely conjectured, however, and will be treated in a way under the head of causes of success.
Work in the amphitheatre begins at 8:00 a. m. and continues until about 1:30 p. m. Two operating rooms, Dr. Charlie's and Dr. Will's room, respectively, are kept going all the forenoon, operations alternating so that while an operation is being performed in one room by one surgeon, preparation for another is being made in the other. Expedition is the idea here and with the volume of material to be dealt with each day expedition becomes a necessity but withal there is no suggestion of confusion or "rush." The average time for each operation is about twenty (20) minutes including anesthesia. This would seem to indicate that the work was done with rapid strokes and flying movements but instead one is impressed with the deliberation if not positive slowness of the operator—a fact easily ascribed to a well understood technique. Assistants do a large part of most operations and occasionally while the main operator concerns himself with the minutiae of some more complicated technique, two assistants will be busy with minor details on the same patient, the whole having the effect of shortening the time of the operation and thus lessening mortality. They work in the office from 2:00 p. m. to 5 p. m. Here the next patients mainly are seen and gone over. They number, it's said, 75 or more daily. While patients with surgical diseases are practically the only ones treated, preparatory medical attention of course is often necessary. The following is a rule at present with them "If a bad case of exophthalmic goitre is not benefited to some extent by medical treatment (mainly belladonna) operation is not advisable. Please place emphasis on the words at present because the Mayos sometimes set aside time honored regulations, the only apology being that they have found something better. This being constantly on the lookout for weak places in technique, etc, is a marked characteristic and doubtless accounts in a measure for their matchless results in goitre, abdominal and especially gall bladder region surgery.
They have no hospital of their own but use the St. Mary's Hospital which, having a capacity of nearly 250 beds, is kept filled to overflowing. This building is an up-to-date, four story structure, beautifully located at the end of the Main street in the suburbs. An extensive corn field adjacent has given the place the name of "The Clinic in the Corn Field."
How is one to go about getting access to the Hospital you may ask? It has not been heard that the Mayos expect any formality at all. They treat all alike. Everything is free. You are at liberty to go in with the crowd and many visitors do this but you will all agree it is much better to write a letter from your home asking the privilege of attending the clinics. Unless there is good reason to the contrary, I am sure that such a request will receive a prompt and courteous reply in the affirmative.
A sample of what was done in one day in October, 1907, ought to show how the clinic compares with clinics elsewhere.
Here it is —
1st—Appendectomy by gridiron incision.
2nd—Hernia Inguinal—Bladder found in sack.
3rd—Perineorrhaphy.
4th—Appendectomy with pus—enlargement of gridiron incision by Weir's Extension.
5th—Salpingitis. Removal of tube.
6th—Cholecystostomy for gall stones.
7th—Varicose veins of leg—operated with Mayo's vein stripper.
8th—Hysterectomy by vagina for prolapse of uterus and bladder.
9th—Appendectomy and femoral hernia.
10th—Cholecystectomy.
11th—Alexander's operation—internal.
12th—Hair lip and cleft palate.
13th—Prostatectomy by perineum.This is a fair average for one day's work in a surgical way, though when both Mayos are on hand the average is much greater.
The Surgeons Club, an organization of doctors who attend the clinics, is of great value both scientific and social. It has a permanent President and Secretary who are elected annually and who must reside in Rochester, Minnesota. It has a temporary President and Secretary and a reporter who are elected from the visiting surgeons weekly, also two other reporters who are elected daily to give an outline of clinics, one reporter being placed in each operating room. These reporters meet with the Club at 3.30 p. m. at the Club rooms and make their report. The third reporter who is elected weekly reports the process of cases from time to time in the hospital and explains after treatment. Membership fee is $2.00 or $5.00 for life. Something like 35 doctors are constantly on hand attending the clinics. They come from both Americas and various countries across the water. The representation from the Southern States is and has been small to judge from the records. In the month of October 1907, however, there were ten from the South in a class of forty and four of that number were from Florida. The very first by the way to attend from our own State.
The Club has about 5,000 members.
Now as to causes that have and do contribute to this phenomenal success. The members of the Club are responsible for most of the following reasons:
1st—Manual dexterity and a thorough anatomical knowledge which is apparent at all times.
2nd—The careful estimate of each patients vitality, the locating of other diseases in the patient under consideration thereby enabling them to determine the patients ability to withstand operation.
3rd—Trained assistants who do nothing scarcely but assist, each and every one of whom is not only well known but has been trained by the operator himself. Sister "Joe" of the Catholic sisterhood, who has learned the art of assisting at the right hand of Dr. Will (beginning about sixteen years ago) is the ideal of this type and her ways of doing would be sheer meddlesomeness in almost any other clinic
4th—Their preparedness. This is a better term than resourcefulness or ingenuity though they are all that one could ask in the latter. The fact that they operate practically nowhere except in St. Mary's Hospital at Rochester, Minnesota, makes this ever-ready state of affairs of course more easy of attainment.
5th—Team work. The co-operation of specialists. The immense amount of work done daily (except Sunday) would soon crush them but for a corps of efficient specialists and helpers. These are twelve to fifteen in number. They make examinations, look after medical cases, apply after dressing, etc., and often perform operations in absence of one or the other of the Mayos.
6th—Even the bracing climate has been held to play a part in the result.
7th—It is claimed that since their operative work is practically all done at Rochester (having all they can do there) the patient that is able to stand a trip across the country is able as a rule to successfully undergo an operation.
8th—Even "Good Luck" has been accused of following in their wake. This is mentioned only to be condemned for however grateful we might feel to the fickle Dame for the outcome in a medical case no one expects her co-operation—no, not even a smile—in modern surgery.
9th—Good sense, good judgment, self control, executive ability, good strong bodies, well balanced minds, a courteous manner and general refinement of speech and conduct is noticeable to the most superficial observer.
In accounting for results some of these reasons obtain in cases—all perhaps in a measure at times and it's probable that some of you gentlemen have even other opinions as to the causes which go to make the sum total, but whatever else may be true in the matter, practical surgeons can easily agree with the late A. C. Bernays, in that: "They are surgical artists, that they have fingers that see and eyes that feel, that they teach you in the only way one man can really teach another—that is, to allow you to see them do their work and that they wear no cloak."
©2008 Genealogy Trails