A case in which the common carotid artery was successfully ligatured / by James McNicoll.

  • McNicoll, James.
Date:
1861
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A case in which the common carotid artery was successfully ligatured / by James McNicoll. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    almost fainting. I immediately put one finger into the wound and the other into the mouth, applying pressure as near as possible to the erring point. The patient getting weaker and evidently sinking, a consultation was called of the members of the Medical Staff of the Hospital, and about two hours afterwards the operation was commenced. OPERATION. Dr. McNicoll operated, assisted by Drs. McGrath and Hutchinson. I administered the chloroform. The operator commenced by making the usual incisions, about three inches in length, along the inside of the sterno-mastoid muscle, dissecting cautiously, until when coming to the deep cervical fascia, when the pulse became so frequent and weak that it was decided that the chloroform should be discontinued. The operation was continued but for a few minutes only, for most unexpectedly, bleeding commenced afresh from the mouth and nose to a most alarming extent—in fact one could hardly believe that a human being could survive so sudden and great amount of bleeding. Dr. McNicoll laid down the knife for a moment, but saying that the operation must be finished ^,t all hazards—even while the patient was pulseless —continued the operation, and in order to bring the artery easier and sooner into view, he made a