OLD MUHLENBERG STUFF

Since there is little new Monday politically in the papers or the blogs except for Jerry posting another union endorsement, the nurses. Again these endorsements mean you better give me what I want even if it is not in the public interests, time permits a change in pace.

Earlier I wrote about the General Surgical Staff at Muhlenberg in 1950. It was so long ago I forgot the title of the blog. I did not have time to recall those practicing the Surgical Specialties. So here goes

Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat:
Resident Consulting Surgeons (Senior staff members exempt from ward duties but actively practicing)
Robert Childers
Archie Paulson
Roger Cooley
Senior Attendings
Lucien Hirsch
Douglas Kramer
John Sheedy
Jerome Wolfe (eyes only)

Junior Attending
Albert Falcone

Orthopedic Surgery
Resident Consulting Surgeon
Harold Corbussier
Senior Attending Surgeon
E..H. Dogget
Elmer Weigel (F.A.C.S.)
Junior Attending Surgeon
Hugh Babbitt
George Marts
Assistant Junior Attending
William K. Goodspeed
Paul Kandra

Neuro Surgery
Senior Attending
Thomas S.P. Fitch (F.A.C.S.)

Genito-Urinary Surgery
Senior Attending
Raphael Cantini
Thomas Morris
Junior Attending
Nicholas Falcone
Ralph Ferencheck
Thoracic Surgery
Senior Attending
Paul Geary
Junior Attending
Philip Kunderman

Some highlights about these docs that some may remember.. Dr. Doggett's office was I believe on the corner of 8th and Park across from the Library. He has a large dog Great Dane or Boxer that stayed in his office with him. Dr Weigel lived on Inman Ave, and kept chickens. He had a side business of supplying eggs to members of the Surgical services who thought they were most beneficial.. George Marts had been a flight Surgeon during WW2 and had his own airplane. He and Hugh Babbltt had offices in what was once doctor's row destroyed for the High School. Dr Corbussier had served in either the Spanish American or WW1 wars and always rode a horse at the head of the 4th of July parade when it went down Park Ave.

Dr. Fitch was one of the few Neurosurgeons in the Central and Northern part of the State. he was very dignified looking with his goatee. He always complained about other physician's handwriting, his was so good that if one could decipher every third word one could understand what he was talking about.

Paul Geary was the only chest surgeon in the Plainfield- Amboy - New Brunswick area. In those days Chest Surgery was limited to lung disease, heart surgery, the main focus today was unknown. Dr. Kunderman started with Geary but moved to New Brunswick.

EJ. O'Brian a GP removed more tonsils annually than all the EENT guys. Jerry Wolfe was the only one limiting himself to opthamology. Cataract surgery. was touch and go, the patient after the operation had to lie flat in bed for days with the eye covered and a weight on the dressing. Afterwards they wore milk bottle thick lenses in their glasses. How times have changed.

Urology was a rough trade. The prostate operation at that time could best be described as brutal and the rate of infection post-op was high.