"When these two professors operated, we students saw the contrast of two eras in the history of surgery—
''One used a huge amputating' knife"—the ex-student's hand made a swift, circular slash through an imaginary thigh— "and he went through the bone with a butcher saw.
"The other used a delicate scalpel. Every tissue was clearly defined To cut the bone, he used a Gigli saw. This is a thin steel wire with fine cutting edges—it's still used today. And lie also used a tourniquet always tried to conserve blood—" '
* * *
THE SPEAKER, Dr, Isidore Cohn, was recalling his student days in the Tulane medical school, 1903-1907.
"One teacher," he said, "stood for the era before anaesthesia. With this man, speed was essential. The second surgeon stood for the era when chloroform and ether had come into use. Surgery on an anaestheized patient could be more precise. He was the first *great modern' in our field . . ."
Dr. Cohn was a slender, dark-haired "country boy" when he followed these early , teachers through the wards of j Charity Hospital and Touro | Infirmary,
The river road towns, and steamboat whistles, and horse-and-buggy travel were part of his Louisiana background.
* * *
TODAY, at 70, white-haired distinguished—both in looks and in his lifetime of achievement— he still keeps this youthful awe for the medical giants of yesterday who taught him when he came to the big city.
* * *
SUNDAY at 5 p. m, Dr, Cohn's own record as a "great modern" in New Orleans surgery will be honored at Touro Infirmary.
He is retiring after 48 years: His career included thousands of operations, and a great deal of scientific writing, teaching, speaking, traveling—and a period as Touro's chief of surgery. As •'chief he succeeded world-famous Dr. Rudolph Matas, who picked him for the pob.
Dr. Matas, now 95, is honorary chairman of the ceremonies on Sunday. Dr. Walton W. Butterworth, 91, another who taught Dr. Cohn, is scheduled to attend. Leo L. Hirsch, president of the Touro board of managers, and other speakers will review Dr. Cohn's "long association with Touro Infirmary and his numerous professional contributions." ...THE SOUTH was in near hysteria over the last yellow fever epidemic in New Orleans.
He was appointed intern at Shreveport Charity Hospital— and made the trip by way of St. Louis, Border guards, with guns, demanded "fever free" health certificates,
"Conditions at the hospital were bad—and, for tubercular patients, unspeakable."
Three of the six interns contracted tuberculosis. One died. Cohn, exhausted, and losing weight, was in despair. When he returned to New Orleans, he went to Dr. Butterworth for a chest examination.
"AS LONG AS. I live" Dr. Cohn said, "I will remember his skill and his kindness—and his words that seemed like a reprieve from a death sentence: 'You do not have tuberculosis. You can re-enter the medical school?'
In 1907 he became a Touro intern.
Dr. Cohn smiles blissfully, touches his snow-white moustache, and somehow he looks like a youth, a beginner-surgeon, as his voice rolls out the mighty staff names of that era—
"Dr. Marcus Feingold, Dr. J, N. Roussell, Dr. Joseph D. Weis, Dr. E, D. Fenner . v ." And all the others. [photo] DR. ISIDORE COHN
... surgeon, scholar, biographer
