Journal of the Medical Society of New Jersey . ons, not accessible to a previous gen-eration. Wisdom did not begin with thisgeneration, but we have an unusual oppor-tunity to learn. Our opportunities in thelast decade have put us in a position wherethe advance of the next decade must neces-sarily be great and must therefore, withproper study and experience, give us agreater degree of personal skill in diag-nosis both in operative and non-operative our work tested by results as well as byintentions. This does not mean that re-sults must be anatomical. Perfect func-tional results give a much bet
Journal of the Medical Society of New Jersey . ons, not accessible to a previous gen-eration. Wisdom did not begin with thisgeneration, but we have an unusual oppor-tunity to learn. Our opportunities in thelast decade have put us in a position wherethe advance of the next decade must neces-sarily be great and must therefore, withproper study and experience, give us agreater degree of personal skill in diag-nosis both in operative and non-operative our work tested by results as well as byintentions. This does not mean that re-sults must be anatomical. Perfect func-tional results give a much better criterionas a rule. Damage to any machinery, hu-man or otherwise, does not increase itsefficiency, and in the human machinery, wecannot replace parts. Many breaks anddislocations do damage that is absolutelyirreparable; many do damage entirely un-recognizable at the time without the aid ofthe X-ray, and even then for many suchconditions, we cannot be held responsiblein any way. Imperfect results must becommon. Mistakes must occur and will. Fig. 2. (The same as Fig. 1.) Ten weeks after operation, with nails removed, showingflexion and extension possible; function good; patient doing his usual work after fourmonths. treatment. There is bound to be a morethorough recognition of the fact that eachfracture is a mechanical problem in itself sofar at least as reduction is concerned. Themore we study fractures and luxations, themore we see how definitely they fall intoseries of roughly constant types, but thesetypes arc not constant in detail, and theancient custom of treating a fracture witha given form of reduction or putting it upin the same certain kind of splints is nolonger adequate practice. Greater oppor-tunity gives greater responsibility, and ouropportunity to-day, or at least to-morrow,must involve us in the obligation of having occur in the practice of the best, but I cansee that the day has passed when we candefend ourselves by falling back on whatsome eminent surgeon
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