Edville Gerhardt Abbott

Edville Gerhardt Abbott (November 6, 1871[1] – 1938) was an American orthopedic surgeon and orthotist. He was born in Hancock, Maine, and educated at Bowdoin College.

He was well known for his non-blood method of treatment of lateral curvature of the spine (scoliosis). In 1913 he successfully demonstrated results of his method at orthopedic congress in Berlin, Germany, in England and on the Continent. There he was called "Genius of orthopedics" for his new successful scoliosis treatment. And he made a first in world plastic modern scoliosis brace from celluloid at 1917. He was professor of orthopædics at Bowdoin College and was connected with the Maine General Hospital, the Children's Hospital, etc. He practiced medicine in Portland, Maine. His Children's Hospital, 68 High Street was listed on the National Register of Historic Places March 7, 2012. According to news archives, Drs. Edville Abbott and Harold A. Pingree and Frank W. Lamb founded the children's hospital for crippled children together in 1908. It closed in 1948, with most of the 56 patients at the time being transferred to Maine General Hospital, which was later renamed the Maine Medical Center.

Abbott, second child of Alonzo and Maria B. (Mercer) Abbott, was born in Hancock, Nov. 6, 1871. He received his early literary education in the public schools of Hancock and at the East Maine Conference Seminary at Bucksport, Maine, where he graduated in 1889. For the following six years he was associated with his father and brother in the granite business, having general supervision of their quarries on Mt. Desert Island.

He entered the medical department of Bowdoin College in 1895, from which he graduated in 1898. Subsequently he was appointed house physician to the Maine General Hospital, where he served one year. The following year was spent in Boston and New York, studying the specialty of orthopedic surgery. Still desirous of attaining the utmost knowledge and the greatest degree of skill in his profession, he went abroad and continued his course in orthopedics, passing one year in the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Berlin. Returning to the U. S. in 1901, he opened an office in Portland, and from that time he has devoted his whole attention to the one subject of orthopedic surgery. His success in his profession has been remarkable and his practice is very large and covers an extensive field.

After returning from his work in Europe, not being satisfied with his literary attainments, he re-entered Bowdoin College, pursued the regular courses and received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. With a further desire for a more intimate acquaintance with literature, he still continued his studies in this institution and two years later received the degree of Master of Arts promerito.

Abbott was surgeon-in-chief to the Children's Hospital; orthopedic surgeon to the Maine General Hospital; visiting surgeon to St. Barnabas Hospital; consulting surgeon to the Sisters' Hospital, and instructor in orthopedic surgery in the Maine Medical School, Bowdoin College.

His activities have not ended with his professional successes, but he has been connected with various enterprises and has interested himself in all civic questions.

He was a member of several Greek letter fraternities, a member of the Cumberland County Medical Society, Maine Medical Association, American Medical Association, and frequently contributes articles to the leading medical journals of the country. He was also interested in business affairs and his early experience has been invaluable. He was a director in the Fidelity Trust Company, member of the Board of Trade, and connected with various corporations. In politics, to which he has devoted considerable time with no small benefit to his party, he was a staunch Republican.

Abbott was also an Assistant Sec'y of The Maine Association Opposed to Suffrage for Women.[2] Mrs. E. G. Abbott was a member of the Board of Managers of the Female Orphan Asylum, Vice President of the Portland District Nursing Association of Portland, member of Parish House Committee of State Street Church, member Parish Banquets Committee of State Street Church, Chairman of Hospital Committee of the Madelyn Shaw Fruit and Flower Fund, Children’s Hospital.[3]

Edville Gerhardt Abbott in WHO'S WHO AMONG NORTH AMERICAN AUTHORS VOL - IV 1929 - 1930 (1921) : Sc.D., 1914; P.A.C.S., 1913; Prof, orthopedic surgery, Bowdoin College, 1912-1921; studied Friedrich Wilhelm Universitat, Berlin, 1900-1, also in Vienna, Paris, Göttingen and London; m. Sara Sargent, of Prospect Harbor, Me., Mar. 14, 1893. AUTHOR: Treatment of Scoliosis (trans, foreign langs.). Surgeon in chief, Children's Hosp., Portland, Me.; consulting surgeon, Me. Gen. Hosp., Sisters Hosp., Lewiston, Me., Webber Hosp., Knpx County Hosp., Augusta City Hosp.; visiting orthopedic surgeon, State St. Hosp.; mem. Am. Orthopedic Assn., Deutsche Orthopedische Gesellschaft, Societe International de Chirurgie, Societe Francaise D'Orthopedie, Me. Med. Assn., Nat. Inst. Social Sciences, Am. Acad. Polit. and Social Science, Psi Upsilon, Phi Chi. CLUBS: Cumberland, Country; Authors' (London). Contributor to leading med. jours. HOME: 17 Storer Street. OFFICE: 131 State Street, Portland, Me.

Edville Gerhardt Abbott in "Who's who in New England" (1916)... Home: 14 Deering St. Office: T.M.C.A. Bldg.. Portland, Me.

Terms

Abbott's method — treatment of scoliosis by lateral pulling and counterpulling on the spinal column by means of wide bandages and pads, until the deformity is over-corrected, and then applying a plaster jacket to produce pressure, counterpressure, and fixation of the spine in its correct position.

Abott's Sign — the obvious lateral curvature of the spine, when physicially observed at the back part of a patient suffering from scoliosis.

References

  1. ↑ "Abbott, Edville Gerhardt". Who Was Who Among North American Authors, 1921-1939. Detroit: Gale Research Co. 1976. p. 2. ISBN 0810310414.
  2. ↑ The Maine Association Opposed to Suffrage for Women
  3. ↑ Maine Memory Network

Their Relations to Scoliosis." The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery Am. 1917;s2-15:26-50.

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