James Ewing Mears
Encyclopedia
James Ewing Mears, also J. Ewing Mears M.D., LL.D. (October 17, 1838 - May 28, 1919) was a surgeon and author. He was a pioneer in jaw and mouth surgeries. He was the first to propose the use of Gasserian ganglionectomy
for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia
. He was the first surgeon in the United States
to successfully perform a subcutaneous osteotomy
for the relief of old dislocations. He was the first to open the peritoneal cavity
to drain puss
. He was professor of anatomy
and clinical surgery
at the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery
and demonstrator of surgery at Jefferson Medical College. He was a charter member of the American Surgical Association
and became its president in 1894.
to George Washington Mears and Caroline Sydney Ewing. He attended Trinity College, Hartford and in 1863 he entered Jefferson Medical School. In 1878 he authored a textbook on emergency surgery including amputations. He wrote a paper in 1875 describing an operation whereby the peritoneal cavity
was opened to drain pus
. In 1910 he wrote a book on the role of reducing yellow fever
during the building of the Panama Canal
. Mears also lectured Doc Holliday
on surgery
and anatomy
while in Philadelphia. While in Philadelphia Mears resided at 1429 Walnut Street. He died on May 28, 1919.
Trigeminal ganglion
The trigeminal ganglion is a sensory ganglion of the trigeminal nerve that occupies a cavity in the dura mater, covering the trigeminal impression near the apex of the petrous part of the temporal bone.-Relations:It is somewhat crescentic in shape, with its convexity...
for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia , tic douloureux is a neuropathic disorder characterized by episodes of intense pain in the face, originating from the trigeminal nerve. It has been described as among the most painful conditions known...
. He was the first surgeon in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to successfully perform a subcutaneous osteotomy
Osteotomy
An osteotomy is a surgical operation whereby a bone is cut to shorten, lengthen, or change its alignment. It is sometimes performed to correct a hallux valgus, or to straighten a bone that has healed crookedly following a fracture. It is also used to correct a coxa vara, genu valgum, and genu varum...
for the relief of old dislocations. He was the first to open the peritoneal cavity
Peritoneal cavity
The peritoneal cavity is a potential space between the parietal peritoneum and visceral peritoneum, that is, the two membranes that separate the organs in the abdominal cavity from the abdominal wall...
to drain puss
Puss
Puss may refer to:* Baby Puss , a fictional sabre-toothed tiger* Cookie Puss, an ice cream cake character* "Puss" , a 1992 noise rock song* Puss , a musical group which performs live bitpop...
. He was professor of anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
and clinical surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
at the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery
Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery
The Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery was founded in 1856 in Philadelphia and is the second oldest school of dentistry in the United States. In 1909, the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery, short of funds to modernize its equipment and enlarge its teaching staff, merged with the Dental...
and demonstrator of surgery at Jefferson Medical College. He was a charter member of the American Surgical Association
American Surgical Association
The American Surgical Association is the nation's "oldest and most prestigious surgical organization".-History:It was founded in 1880. Their publication, Annals of Surgery, was started in 1885.- Heads :*Edward Mott Moore...
and became its president in 1894.
Biography
He was born on October 17, 1838 in Indianapolis, IndianaIndianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
to George Washington Mears and Caroline Sydney Ewing. He attended Trinity College, Hartford and in 1863 he entered Jefferson Medical School. In 1878 he authored a textbook on emergency surgery including amputations. He wrote a paper in 1875 describing an operation whereby the peritoneal cavity
Peritoneal cavity
The peritoneal cavity is a potential space between the parietal peritoneum and visceral peritoneum, that is, the two membranes that separate the organs in the abdominal cavity from the abdominal wall...
was opened to drain pus
Pus
Pus is a viscous exudate, typically whitish-yellow, yellow, or yellow-brown, formed at the site of inflammatory during infection. An accumulation of pus in an enclosed tissue space is known as an abscess, whereas a visible collection of pus within or beneath the epidermis is known as a pustule or...
. In 1910 he wrote a book on the role of reducing yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
during the building of the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
. Mears also lectured Doc Holliday
Doc Holliday
John Henry "Doc" Holliday was an American gambler, gunfighter and dentist of the American Old West, who is usually remembered for his friendship with Wyatt Earp and his involvement in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral...
on surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
and anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
while in Philadelphia. While in Philadelphia Mears resided at 1429 Walnut Street. He died on May 28, 1919.
Publications
- Practical surgery: including surgical dressings, bandaging, ligations and amputations (1878)
- The triumph of American medicine in the construction of the Panama canal (1911)
- The old and the beginning of the new in surgery (1909)
- The destiny of the American Surgical Association (1917) Publisher: Philadelphia : W.J. Dornan