SUNY Downstate Medical Center - Iatros Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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L V01 Qiqgcxfgfs' A '- ur'-ra 'qw -- .. . .'.',1F:'f nS r 5132 5432 I I Fm During the year of 1921, a total of 2905 examinations were made for the VW' My Hospital. The following report represents the work done z- 6 Piwvfl . Q . . .' 'I - E r Tissues examined microscopically. ..... . . 642 U Wasserman Reactions, blood ........ . . . 1836 . Wasserman Reactions, Spinal Fluid. . . . . 274 Special Examinations of Urine ...... . 79 Autopsies performed ................... 74 1 During the year 1921, there were 312 deaths in the Hospital and 74 autopsies were performed. This gives us a percentage of 23.7 percent, a rather poor showing. considering our facilities. If the cases from the Department of Medicine are considered ' alone the percentage is 41 percent. Several reasons might be given to account for this ' low figure, but the most important are adverse public opinion and prejudices of various kinds. The term autopsy generally conveys to the public mind the idea of dissection or mutilation of some kind. This idea is entirely erroneous. The body is not dissected or mutilated in any way. The organs are examined and small portions taken for micro- scopical examination and the body is then turned over to the undertaker for embalming. The public also fails to appreciate the importance of an autopsy. Among the benefits to be derived might be mentioned the following: : Cal The importance of the autopsy in determining the true cause of death. fbi The study of a particular case may help in the treatment or diagnosis of other similar cases. I ' fc, The family or relatives are enabled to learn regarding the presence of con- stitutional disease. fdl The knowledge derived from the autopsy as an aid to the progress of medical and surgical science for the proper understanding of the disease. fel The importance of correct vital statistics to the community, since the autopsy i is the only reliable evidence on which to have such statistics. ffl The aid of the exact cause of death as revealed by the autopsy in the settle- l ment of insurance claims. ' The fact that we know today the direct cause bf many diseases, does not mean that we can dispense with the autopsy or the microscopical examination of the tissues. , Take diphtheria, for example. We know that it is caused by a specific micro-organism, but the problem of the character of the diphtheritic process in the throat and the other changes the disease produces in the body can be solved only by a careful post-mortem I examination. This gives us information regarding changes in the heart and other organs which we could never derive from a study of the cause of the disease. I There is a great discrepancy between the number and percentage of autopsies in the 1 large European hospitals and those of the United States. In England, France and Cer- i , many, percentages of BOW to 9011, and over are the rule while in this country the V average figures for the largest hospitals probably run between IOZ, and 30'k. While fi it is true that three or four hospitals in the entire country can show percentages of 5-OCZ: ' to 70W,, they are the exceptions. Let us hope that as the public becomes educated in F' I regard to the importance of autopsies, the time may come when the next of kin will not g , only permit, but will insist on an autopsy being performed. v ' 'a .:'- -f-fl I 1 .422 gag :E-fs' f r , H -..f-v1'- Qx heb: Huis' CQ'-- ka ' 555 Page Twenty-Iwo

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P I - v s . i . l 'fe .- r wg Hz'- 1 ' U l l ' r-,- - . I X El I V I lg i f l 1-f nib if l. l i L 3 1 s P11 ..l.f..'f 1 ' 1 . The work of the Department of Pathology is divided between undergraduate ' instruction and laboratory routine, so-called. The instruction is given mainly to the members of the Sophomore Class. Each student devotes eight hours a week for the entire year to the study of General Pathology and Pathological Histology. R The course in General Pathology consists of lectures that are illustrated by draw- ings, charts, lantern slides, gross morbid material and autopsies. At the autopsies per- formed from time to time before the class, the student is instructed in the technic of post- mortem examinations. A pathological museum is being built up as rapidly as material can be collected from autopsies and surgical operations. Over 300 mounted specimens are now on the shelves. The specimens are mounted so that the natural colors are pre- served. A microscopic section is made from each specimen, and, when obtainable, a history of the case is Hled. The specimens are freely used in the classes in pathology. In the course in Pathological Histology stock sets containing about 200 selected ' slides are used. The slides illustrate the essentials of general and special pathology, in- cluding the cell degenerations, infiltrations, necroses, the various types of inflammation. infectious granulomata, pigmentations, tumors and the special pathology of the heart and pericardium, lungs and pleura, kidney, pancreas, liver, spleen, gall-bladder, gastro- intestinal tract, lymphatic glands, thyroid. thymus, uterus, ovaries, tubes, prostate and testicles. Study of each slide is preceded by a lecture embodying the theoretical and I practical consideration of the subject at hand and the student is trained to observe and ' correlate histological details and to depict them in colors. The pathological tissues are also demonstrated by means of lantern slides and a projection apparatus. From time to time fresh specimens from autopsies or operations are shown. . The Senior class receives a course in Gross Pathology. Here methods in autopsy ., technique, gross pathological Endings and medico-legal aspects are demonstrated and 5 discussed. ' The laboratory routine consists chiefly of examining the tissues of hospital and fb ' 9 dispensary patients for pathological processes. The work is carried on in the patho- 4, 'i logical laboratories at the Hoagland Laboratory and on the fourth lloor of the Pol- :Wag hemus Memorial where the Dispensary Wassermann Tests are made. . ' 5 u a A liifflfzuz F W ' F M' 5 t sb Fw- - f m.'.33:.35 9 5!Ji'si53 ' 964 Page Twenty-one

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C24 '7f-44 'Na A 'ISEKQJF 'vb' As a specialty Pathology offers unusual advantages to the student. This is a large and rapidly extending field of observation and research. Competition in this branch of Medicine is negligible. - In private practice a good pathologist commands a liberal remuneration for his efforts. Every hospital requires the services of one or more yrvq I ' i f' . U .,- :' -ur 4 lf I levi Ji? V rf 'A I pathologists, and the number of Hospitals is rapidly increasing. 3 2 1 I l I I I I Aisle in Palhalogy Museum I I ARCHIBALD MURRAY, M.D., Professor CALVIN B. COULTER, A.lVl., lVl.D., Assistant Professor Q if 9 CHARLES WUEST, lVl.D., Instructor in Medica-Legal Pathology WILLIAM M. HALA, M.D., Instructor '1 sq ff ' 'fg Q32 f H rrlrxieffs-ui f Pew 19 f.-, , . -..qf, .. .r xanga H4515 fsi:knfkrQwT Page Tmenly- lhrcc