THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY OPERATIONS IN SURGICAL INJURIES.* BY R. HARVEY REED, M. D., MANSfield, o. The importance of early operations in surgical injuries is annually becoming more apparent. The old theory of delaying operative interference until after reaction has been established, is gradually losing precedence. It is the surgeon's imperative duty to save life, relieve pain and suffering, and give the best possible results by operation or otherwise his skill will permit. The question then arises as to which method will accomplish these results the most effectively, early operations in surgical injuries before reaction has been established, or delayed operations, after the shock has entirely subsided ? We are well aware of the instructions of surgical authorities for ages past on this subject, forbidding operative interference until after reaction has been established; which has been handed down from generation to *A paper read before the Forty-first Annual Meeting of the Ohio State Medical Society, held at Akron, O., June 2, 3, and 4, 1886. |