Some points in practical surgery suggested by the study of the life and work of John Hunter : being the Hunterian lecture delivered before the Hunterian Society of London, February 26, 1902 / by Reginald Harrison.

  • Harrison, Reginald, 1837-1908.
Date:
1902
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Some points in practical surgery suggested by the study of the life and work of John Hunter : being the Hunterian lecture delivered before the Hunterian Society of London, February 26, 1902 / by Reginald Harrison. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    tion of boracic acid I know of whicli can be given in sufficiently large doses to effect this purpose. Quinine and salol have a similar action, but they are not so well adapted as those mentioned. We would do well if we paid more attention to the subject of urine sterilisation in its relation to the preven- tion and treatment of urinary fever, in connection more particularly with some of the minor operations on these parts. In some surgical works hardly any reference is made to this as a necessary part of the preparatory treat- ment of persons about to undergo operations involving these organs. Hence urinary fever and the complications arising out of it, such as suppression of urine, are far com- moner than they should be. It seems probable that these intensely poisonous com- pounds derivable from the urine are of a fixed and deter- mined nature, though chemically we may net have been able to analyse them, and that the mere presence in the urine of other foreign agencies is capable of rendering them inert and inoperative. Hence may be explained the efficacy of the precautionary measure I have advocated. The whole subject, however, relative to this aspect of antiseptic surgery is worthy of a closer attention and application than it has hitherto received. I have merely touched the fringe of it in a practical form. Hunter, when evidently speaking of the treatment of residual and retained urine in cases of enlarged prostate, makes a very pertinent observation. Referring as to how the urine may be evacuated in these circumstances he says ; “ There are three ways in which it can be done, one, by allowing the parts to do their own business as much as they can, and this at first sight might be supposed to be the very best ; but it is in some cases the very worst.” He gives prominence to the view, now as then enter-