Arthur Vidrine
Encyclopedia
Arthur Vidrine was a physician
from Ville Platte
, the seat of Evangeline Parish in south Louisiana
, who was best known for having operated on Democratic
U.S. Senator Huey Pierce Long, Jr.
, after Long was shot on September 8, 1935, in the Louisiana State Capitol
in Baton Rouge, presumably by another young physician, Carl A. Weiss
.
A veteran of World War I
, Vidrine was educated at Tulane University
in New Orleans, the University of Oxford
(where he was a Rhodes Scholar), and at hospitals in London and Paris.
Then Governor
Long first appointed Vidrine superintendent of Charity Hospital in New Orleans. Then in May 1931, Long named Vidrine dean of the newly established Louisiana State University
Medical School in New Orleans. Long passed up several more experienced doctors to select Vidrine, a Long political loyalist who had been a practicing physician for just four years. At the time, Vidrine was described as a "huge 200-pound man with a puffy face and grayish hair."
After Senator Long was shot, Vidrine performed an operation to repair two small wounds in the colon
. He then sutured the abdomen closed. Two surgical experts who had been called from New Orleans to operate on Long were delayed by an automobile
accident. Vidrine was later criticized by other doctors for having failed to recognize a kidney
wound that caused internal bleeding and which ultimately led to Long's death.However, due to the lack of technology at the time, it was easier to make that mistake. He also operated under extreme pressure and was unable to operate well with the added stress of it being the governor and having everyone watch him.
According to historian
Richard D. White, Jr.:
"Vidrine . . . talented but inexperienced . . . sewed Huey up after the hour-long operation, but his patient deteriorated. Still bleeding internally, probably from a damaged kidney, Huey lapsed into and out of a coma
. When the surgeons finally arrived from New Orleans, they recognized that he need another operation but decided he was too weak to undergo the trauma. Five blood transfusion
s helped little.
"With no hope of Huey's survival, his family and a few close political allies gathered at his bedside. Just after four on Tuesday morning and thirty-one hours after being shot, Huey Long, worshipped by tens of thousands of Louisianans and despised by tens of thousands more, thrashed briefly in his oxygen
tent, took one last labored breath, and died."
Vidrine left New Orleans due to the mishap and resided in Ville Platt, Louisiana with his family. He now has one remaining child of 3, his eldest daughter and child. His family moved back to New Orleans while he lived in Ville Platt, visiting each other often.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
from Ville Platte
Ville Platte, Louisiana
Ville Platte is a city in and the parish seat of Evangeline Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 8,145 at the 2000 census. Its name is derived from the French ville plate, or "flat town."-History:...
, the seat of Evangeline Parish in south Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, who was best known for having operated on Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
U.S. Senator Huey Pierce Long, Jr.
Huey Long
Huey Pierce Long, Jr. , nicknamed The Kingfish, served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana from 1928–1932 and as a U.S. Senator from 1932 to 1935. A Democrat, he was noted for his radical populist policies. Though a backer of Franklin D...
, after Long was shot on September 8, 1935, in the Louisiana State Capitol
Louisiana State Capitol
The Louisiana State Capitol building is the capitol building of the state of Louisiana, located in Baton Rouge. The capitol houses the Louisiana State Legislature, the governor's office, and parts of the executive branch...
in Baton Rouge, presumably by another young physician, Carl A. Weiss
Carl Weiss
Carl Austin Weiss was a young Baton Rouge, Louisiana physician who assassinated U.S. Senator Huey Pierce Long, Jr. on September 8, 1935.-Baton Rouge doctor:...
.
A veteran of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Vidrine was educated at Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
in New Orleans, the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
(where he was a Rhodes Scholar), and at hospitals in London and Paris.
Then Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Long first appointed Vidrine superintendent of Charity Hospital in New Orleans. Then in May 1931, Long named Vidrine dean of the newly established Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
Medical School in New Orleans. Long passed up several more experienced doctors to select Vidrine, a Long political loyalist who had been a practicing physician for just four years. At the time, Vidrine was described as a "huge 200-pound man with a puffy face and grayish hair."
After Senator Long was shot, Vidrine performed an operation to repair two small wounds in the colon
Colon (anatomy)
The colon is the last part of the digestive system in most vertebrates; it extracts water and salt from solid wastes before they are eliminated from the body, and is the site in which flora-aided fermentation of unabsorbed material occurs. Unlike the small intestine, the colon does not play a...
. He then sutured the abdomen closed. Two surgical experts who had been called from New Orleans to operate on Long were delayed by an automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
accident. Vidrine was later criticized by other doctors for having failed to recognize a kidney
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
wound that caused internal bleeding and which ultimately led to Long's death.However, due to the lack of technology at the time, it was easier to make that mistake. He also operated under extreme pressure and was unable to operate well with the added stress of it being the governor and having everyone watch him.
According to historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
Richard D. White, Jr.:
"Vidrine . . . talented but inexperienced . . . sewed Huey up after the hour-long operation, but his patient deteriorated. Still bleeding internally, probably from a damaged kidney, Huey lapsed into and out of a coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
. When the surgeons finally arrived from New Orleans, they recognized that he need another operation but decided he was too weak to undergo the trauma. Five blood transfusion
Blood transfusion
Blood transfusion is the process of receiving blood products into one's circulation intravenously. Transfusions are used in a variety of medical conditions to replace lost components of the blood...
s helped little.
"With no hope of Huey's survival, his family and a few close political allies gathered at his bedside. Just after four on Tuesday morning and thirty-one hours after being shot, Huey Long, worshipped by tens of thousands of Louisianans and despised by tens of thousands more, thrashed briefly in his oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
tent, took one last labored breath, and died."
Vidrine left New Orleans due to the mishap and resided in Ville Platt, Louisiana with his family. He now has one remaining child of 3, his eldest daughter and child. His family moved back to New Orleans while he lived in Ville Platt, visiting each other often.