Cache D - The Treves Trail

Old Hospital - Prince's Street, Somerleigh Court

DCH 175 Treves Trail

Behind you is the original Dorset County Hospital building, opened by charitable contribu4on in 1840. The building was designed by Benjamin Ferrey.

Treves and Dorchester In 1900, before the end of the Boer War, Treves’ services in South Africa were recognised in Dorchester and he was made a Freeman of the Borough.

In 1903 he opened an opera4ng theatre in the County Hospital.

Treves was par4cularly interested in opera4ng on abdomens and he became an expert on diseases of the appendix, such as appendici4s which was not really known about at this 4me.

Ironically, in 1900 Treves’ daughter became ill with appendici4s and despite opera4ng on her, it was too late and she died.

Surgery Surgery is much safer than in Treves’ day, but s4ll carries risks.

The current safety of surgery relies on the efficacy of an4bio4cs to control post-surgery infec4on.

However, over-use of an4bio4cs has leP us with some infec4ons for which there is no effec4ve an4bio4c. It is important that steps are taken to reduce the use of an4bio4cs and that new drugs are developed.

In Treves’ 4me people oPen died from uncontrolled infec4on.

For Example, a navvy on the new railroad died in Dorset County Hospital of a broken knee, and we must guard against a return to such fatali4es.

Then and Now‌ Treves prepared as a surgeon by prac4sing dissec4on on corpses and he oPen demonstrated prac4cal anatomy to students.

Now doctors and nurses are trained in anatomy and procedures through the use of models, mul4-media and simula4ons of the human body.

Invasive surgery has been replaced in many cases by methods which minimise the incision and use micro-instruments.

Proac4ve screening and MRI scanners reduce the need for inves4ga4ve surgery as well as saving lives through early diagnosis and treatment.