
audiobook
CHARLES C. MILLER, M. D.
FOREWORD.
OPERATION WITHOUT ANESTHESIA A GREAT ADVANTAGE.
PREPARATION OF THE SKIN.
PREPARATION OF THE HANDS OF THE OPERATOR.
THE SYRINGE.
PREPARATION OF THE SYRINGE.
PREPARATION OF THE PARAFFIN.
POSTURE OF PATIENT FOR INJECTION.
SKIN INFILTRATION TO PERMIT OF INSERTION OF LONG NEEDLE WITHOUT UNDUE PAIN.
This early‑twentieth‑century medical pamphlet introduces a surprisingly straightforward alternative to conventional hernia surgery. The author argues that injecting paraffin directly into the defect can stimulate the body’s own connective‑tissue growth, effectively sealing the opening without the need for scalpels or stitches. By describing the physiological basis of the method, the text positions the technique as both economical and accessible, especially for patients wary of the risks and costs associated with operative care.
Listeners will hear a step‑by‑step outline of the injection procedure, including the modest preparation required, the brief duration of treatment, and the minimal need for auxiliary staff. The work also addresses common criticisms from the surgical establishment, emphasizing lower infection rates, the avoidance of general anesthesia, and the possibility of performing the therapy in a physician’s office. It offers a balanced view of the benefits and cautions, making it a fascinating snapshot of a once‑controversial practice that aimed to broaden therapeutic options for hernia sufferers.
Language
en
Duration
~54 minutes (52K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Carol Brown and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
Aug 9, 2015
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1880–1950
A pioneering early plastic surgeon, he wrote practical and surprisingly modern books about cosmetic procedures at a time when the field was still taking shape. His work offers a rare window into how beauty, surgery, and medical ambition met in the early 20th century.
View all books
by A. T. (Andrew Taylor) Still

by Albert Schweitzer

by Dan McKenzie

by Catharine Esther Beecher, Harriet Beecher Stowe

by Galen

by Alice B. (Alice Bunker) Stockham

by Annie Matheson