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Buck's extension
“BUCK’S EXTENSION”
G
URDON BUCK was a product of New York City. He was born on FuIton Street on May 4, I 80;. His father and mother were grandchiIdren of Governor Gurdon SaItonstalI of Connecticut. Gurdon Buck went to Nelson CIassicaI SchooI and finaIIy made up his mind he wanted to be a physician. So he studied, as was the custom in those times, under Dr. Thomas Cock, and in 1830 received his M.D. from the CoIIege of Physicians and Surgeons, now a part of CoIumbia University. He interned in the New York HospitaI. Having finished his hopita training he migrated to Europe, this being the “uItra” method of adding the finishing touches to an education, and in Europe he continued his studies in the hospitals of Paris, BerIin and Vienna for a term of two and a haIf years. In 1836 he made a second visit to and in Geneva, Switzerland, Europe, married Henrietta E. WoIff of that city. He returned to America and in 1837 was appointed visiting surgeon to the New York HospitaI. This position he heId until his death. He aIso was appointed visiting surgeon to St. Luke’s HospitaI and the Presbyterian HospitaI at the time of their organization. In addition, Buck was visiting surgeon at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, from 1852 to 1862. He was a FeIIow of the Academy of Medicine from the time of its organization, and served as its vice-president for one term. He was a member of the New York PathoIogicaI Society and served one term as president. As wouId be expected, he was a member of his County and State medica societies.
As a surgeon he was remarkable for his boldness in operating, and the thoroughness of the detai1 of his after-treatment. He was particuIarIy devoted to fractures and spent hours in the wards of his hospitaIs studying this type of surgery. As a resuIt he revoIutionized the current system of treatment. The improvements he inaugerated in the then-existing apparatus are briIIiant chapters in surgica1 history. His method of treating fracture of the thigh by the weight and puIIey was at once recognized by the profession throughout the civilized world as the establishment of an original principIe of great vaIue. To this day it is known as “Buck’s extension, ” Buck’s investigations with regard to the peIvic fascia are to be found in the first voIume of the Transactions of the American Medical Association. His joint surgery was especialIy creditabIe in a preantiseptic era. He excised the eIbow joint1 and the knee joint2. He was successfu1 in treating edema of the gIottis, and was deepIy interested in rhinopIastic, stomatopIastic and other reparative operations, pubIishing a work of some 237 pages in 1876. Buck was a very reIigious man, charitabIy incIined to the poor, and his sense of honor was Puritanical in professiona its ideaIism. He died of uremic poisoning on March 6, 1877. He Ieft a widow, two daughters and three sons, two of whom became doctors of medicine. IN. Y. J. Med. &+Surg., 2Am. J. M. SC., 1845.
1841.
GURDON BUCK [1807-18771
Thr
.4mermn Jourd of Surgery N.S.Vol.v,rl,Februarv, 1930
G
URDON BUCK was a product of New York City. He was born on FuIton Street on May 4, I 80;. His father and mother were grandchiIdren of Governor Gurdon SaItonstalI of Connecticut. Gurdon Buck went to Nelson CIassicaI SchooI and finaIIy made up his mind he wanted to be a physician. So he studied, as was the custom in those times, under Dr. Thomas Cock, and in 1830 received his M.D. from the CoIIege of Physicians and Surgeons, now a part of CoIumbia University. He interned in the New York HospitaI. Having finished his hopita training he migrated to Europe, this being the “uItra” method of adding the finishing touches to an education, and in Europe he continued his studies in the hospitals of Paris, BerIin and Vienna for a term of two and a haIf years. In 1836 he made a second visit to and in Geneva, Switzerland, Europe, married Henrietta E. WoIff of that city. He returned to America and in 1837 was appointed visiting surgeon to the New York HospitaI. This position he heId until his death. He aIso was appointed visiting surgeon to St. Luke’s HospitaI and the Presbyterian HospitaI at the time of their organization. In addition, Buck was visiting surgeon at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, from 1852 to 1862. He was a FeIIow of the Academy of Medicine from the time of its organization, and served as its vice-president for one term. He was a member of the New York PathoIogicaI Society and served one term as president. As wouId be expected, he was a member of his County and State medica societies.
As a surgeon he was remarkable for his boldness in operating, and the thoroughness of the detai1 of his after-treatment. He was particuIarIy devoted to fractures and spent hours in the wards of his hospitaIs studying this type of surgery. As a resuIt he revoIutionized the current system of treatment. The improvements he inaugerated in the then-existing apparatus are briIIiant chapters in surgica1 history. His method of treating fracture of the thigh by the weight and puIIey was at once recognized by the profession throughout the civilized world as the establishment of an original principIe of great vaIue. To this day it is known as “Buck’s extension, ” Buck’s investigations with regard to the peIvic fascia are to be found in the first voIume of the Transactions of the American Medical Association. His joint surgery was especialIy creditabIe in a preantiseptic era. He excised the eIbow joint1 and the knee joint2. He was successfu1 in treating edema of the gIottis, and was deepIy interested in rhinopIastic, stomatopIastic and other reparative operations, pubIishing a work of some 237 pages in 1876. Buck was a very reIigious man, charitabIy incIined to the poor, and his sense of honor was Puritanical in professiona its ideaIism. He died of uremic poisoning on March 6, 1877. He Ieft a widow, two daughters and three sons, two of whom became doctors of medicine. IN. Y. J. Med. &+Surg., 2Am. J. M. SC., 1845.
1841.
GURDON BUCK [1807-18771
Thr
.4mermn Jourd of Surgery N.S.Vol.v,rl,Februarv, 1930