Account of the dissection of a patient in whom the subclavian artery had been tied for axillary aneurism : with practical remarks / by William Fergusson.

  • Fergusson, William.
Date:
[1841]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Account of the dissection of a patient in whom the subclavian artery had been tied for axillary aneurism : with practical remarks / by William Fergusson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    wonderful dissections of arteries among which it is placed. In the museum at Guy's, there is a splendid preparation, illustrative of the collateral circulation, in a case in which Mr Key tied the subclavian for aneurism, twelve years before, an account and drawing of which have been published in the first volume of Guy's Hospital Reports. By far the greater number of preparations of parts illustrative of appearances after operations for aneurism, are either of so recent date after the operation, or have been, of necessity, so hurriedly and imperfectly “ snatched away, that arterial displays, similar to the preparations referred to, cannot be looked for often; yet even in their mutilated condition they are well wor¬ thy of preservation; and though it has always been a subject of regret with me, that in the preparation I am now about to de¬ scribe, the collateral circulation has been so imperfectly display¬ ed, I have ever looked upon it as a valuable teaching prepara¬ tion, both to myself and my pupils; and though it did cost me an eighty-mile trip to secure it, I have always deemed my time and trouble well bestowed. The history of Mark Robson, subsequent to his return to his native place, may be briefly told. The fresh and invigorating air of the country soon restored him to the enjoyment of excel¬ lent health; and it was the remark of all who were wont to be amused with his eccentricities, that he had become a graver and a “ better man. The old leaven was still, however, deep within him; the keen edge of the surgeon's knife had produced no per¬ manent effect here; Mark gradually returned to his old habits ; there was no Mathew in these parts; and the only “ pledge he was ever known to take, was to the prosperity of those, who good-naturedly gave him the means of indulging in his favourite propensities. He considered himself more than ever the lion of the district; and up to the date of his death, led a careless good-for-nothing kind of life. In the severe part of the winter of 1835, however, nearly four years after the operation, he suf¬ fered the penalty of his recklessness; he was found dead a little off the road-side one morning in February, and no doubt could be entertained that he had perished of cold, whilst sleeping away the effects of intoxication in the open air at this inclement season. Having been apprised of his death, I lost no time in proceed¬ ing to Kelso, when I enjoyed an opportunity of making the fol¬ lowing observations. The external surface of the body presented no unusual appearance; no trace of the axillary tumor could be perceived; and the cicatrix above the clavicle, where the ope¬ ration had been performed, as well as that below, where the ab¬ scess had been opened, were distinctly visible. Having opened the thorax, and thrown some tallow injection along the innomi- nata, I proceeded with the inspection. On laying off the integu-