An inquiry into the present methods of performing the operation of lithotomy.

  • Shaw, John, 1792-1827.
Date:
1821
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An inquiry into the present methods of performing the operation of lithotomy. 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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    It will not be denied, that before a surgeon is entitled to con- demn the lateral operation, that he must be acquainted with the anatomy of the parts which are cut in this operation. We shall not hypocritically say, that we are sorry to bring forward proofs from the same author, of his having at least a most extraordinary idea of the anatomy of the perineum, for we wish, in as strong a manner as possible, to shew the erroneous data upon w'hich some imagine the lateral operation to be condemned—and in its stead, a most dangerous one proposed. It will not be neces-r sary in proof, to quote the whole of pages 134 and 135, in which the author says,—“ Before we consider what is done in the lateral operation, it is necessary that we should understand the situation of the bladder and its connections.” “ If, for a mo- ment, we consider the situation of the bladder and the parts connected with it (such as the levatores ani, the obturatores in- tern!, the coccygian muscles, the muscles from the rami of the ischium), we shall find that those muscles act on a part (i. c. the bladder) which is but slightly attached to the pubes by cellular substance and by the lateral ligaments. These I find, by re- peated dissections, are seldom the same in different subjects. I say, if we consider the action of these, muscles, the situation of the bladder must vary under different circumstances.” Now, we boldly eisk, does any one who ever dissected these parts, either as a tyro, or in the investigation of the surgery of the part, imagine that the most convulsive action of the coccygeus, or obturator, which is not only separated from the bladder by a strong dense fascia, but is inserted into the femur, can have the slightest action on the bladder j or did they ever see them “ as the parts connected with it ?” et description de la taille lalerale suivant la mr.thode perfectionee par Chesselden, i^c. traduit de Vanglah par M. H. Guerin suivie (Tune mclhode uouvtlle pour la taille trouuee par M. Dupuylren, 1S18. “ 4.—On a aussi public drs Memoirrs sur la Liihotomie Vaginale; M. Clpmot de Rochefort et M. Flaubers de Rouen out donn^ des observations. “ 5.—Je ne vous parle pas de I’ouvrage de votre compatriote M. Carpue, il esf, connu, jug^, et condamn^ par voui et par nous. “ 6.—J’ai appris que votre ami M. Cross .s’occupait d'uiie travail sur le mfme iiijet—mieox que moi vous devez savoir cc qn'l en dit. ‘‘ Voila moil chore confrere ce que Je sais sur le point de chirnrgic pour lequel vous me faites demander des renseignemeuts, si je puis vous itre agrdable eii tout autre point J'y suis egalement disposi^, “G BRESCIIET. P. S.—“ Je salt que M. Soubcrbiellc prepare un ouvrage sur le hniit apparcil mais il n’a pas encore paru.’’