Research

Syracuse State School Surgeon's Daybook


Some content may contain outdated and offensive terminology. See: New York State Archives Statement on Language in Descriptive Resources


Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:
This series consists of a Syracuse State School's record of patient surgeries. Typical procedures include appendectomy, suturing, tonsillectomy. Entries include type of operation; date; patient name; surgeon; surgical assistant; anesthetist (sometimes), and nurse. Early listings note patient's sex; religion; type of anesthetic and time of the operation. For more complex cases, specific procedures are noted, along with surgical findings. Records are restricted.
Creator:
Title:
Syracuse State School surgeon's daybook
Quantity:

0.2 cubic feet

(1 volume)

Inclusive Dates:
1927-1952
Series Number:
B1646

Arrangement

Chronological by date of surgery.

Scope and Content Note

This series is a record of operations (surgeries) performed on patients from the Syracuse State School, with manuscript entries apparently made by the surgeon. Entries for typical procedures (e.g., appendectomy, suturing, tonsillectomy) include the date the operation was performed; type of operation; and names of patient, surgeon, surgical assistant, anesthetist (sometimes), and nurse.

The earliest entries (1927-1930) are one-line listings that also note patient's sex, religion, the type of anaesthetic (ether, novocaine, etc.), and time of the operation. Starting in 1930, this format changes to a very brief summary, in manuscript, of the surgery. For more complex cases, specific procedures of the operation are noted, along with surgical findings. Rarely, mention is made of the patient's post-operative condition. Later entries (ca. 1945-1951) document the practice of scheduling several patients for the same type of surgery (typically removal of tonsils and adenoids, called "T & A") on the same day.

Access Restrictions

Restricted in accordance with Mental Hygiene Law, Section 33.13, relating to confidentiality of clinical records. Access is permitted under certain conditions upon approval by the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.

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