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New Orleans, March 24, 1884.
N. S. Davis, m.d., ll.d., Chicago, Ill.
Dear Sir:
—Estlander's thoracoplasty, while conferring a great boon upon patients "across the water" suffering with chronic empyema or even hydrothorax, or pleuro-cutaneous fistula, is not a new surgical procedure in America. Our late Dr. Warren Stone advocated and utilized resection of the ribs for such cases more than 30 years since successfully. I have seen him perform it personally a little less than 20 years since.The phenomena present in Estlander's cases are identical with those of more antiquated reports of cases, yet his detailed reasoning embodies more technical ground than is generally accredited to the conditions pro and con. Apart from the fistulous outlet, the late Dr. Stone usually selected the sixth and seventh intercostal space, as well as I can recall.If this will be of any importance to your collected data, let all honor