Medical breakthroughs save Bluff citizens

When Poplar Bluff’s police chief was hospitalized for severe influenza, he received a shot of insulin. Now ubiquitous to diabetic life and treatment, in 1925 it was the cutting edge of medical science. Doctors made headlines again in 1950 by saving a boy’s life during heart surgery.

For fans who bleed Mules maroon or TRC black and gold, good news — both teams won games in 1975.

100 years ago

Feb. 27, 1925

• Poplar Bluff’s police chief is fighting for his life against influenza with help from a recent medical breakthrough: insulin.

Chief Ward Hendrickson fell ill several days ago and was treated locally at Brandon Hospital before his doctor and family moved him to St. Louis by train. Dr. J. Lee Harwell told The Daily Republican the chief, “stood the trip fairly well, but was weakened considerably before they got him to the hospital.” A bulletin from Barnes Hospital this afternoon reported Hendrickson arrived semi-conscious, and his condition was now critical.

Hendrickson was given a shot of insulin upon arrival, which Harwell said was, “a new discovery and has proven quite successful in treatment of diabetics.”

The article didn’t state whether Hendrickson was diabetic. However, severe influenza can cause pancreatitis.

75 years ago

Feb. 17, 1950

• Surgeons in St. Louis saved a Poplar Bluff boy during delicate operation on Feb. 9.

Seven-year-old Donald Cochran, Jr. was undergoing surgery to correct a narrowing of his aorta when his heart stopped entirely for 30 seconds. He was saved using cardiac massage, a technique of palpating the heart by hand to keep blood flowing. Donald recovered and was reportedly up and playing five days after his operation.

Donald’s heart condition was discovered while doctors prepared for plastic surgery on burn scars. The Cochran family was caught in a house fire at their prior home in Kansas; all sustained serious burns, and one of Donald’s siblings died.

50 years ago

Feb. 17, 1975

• Two local teams achieved recent victories on the court. The Poplar Bluff High School Junior Varsity Mules won a tournament in Sikeston last week, and last night the Three Rivers Community College Raiders beat Florissant Valley Community College 103-95. The highest scorers on the team were Larry Marshall with 29 points an Alvin Pierce with 28. Next up: a semi-final match with Mineral Area Community College in March.