The diseases of the breast, and their treatment / by John Birkett.

  • Birkett, John, 1815-1904.
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The diseases of the breast, and their treatment / by John Birkett. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    After decomposition had commenced, a thick, opaque, white fluid was expressible. The minute csecal terminations of gland tissue and a large quantity of fibre tissue were seen in the new growth. The preparation is in the Museum at Guy's Hospital. Case LXV. , get. 27. At 22 years of age, five years since, she first found a tumor in the right breast. Her health had previously been indifferent. The catamenia had always been regular. She looked tolerably healthy, was of short stature, and did not appear particularly excitable. The tumor had always been most painful at the catamenial periods. The right breast, which had been even larger, was now about three times the size of the left, which did not present any mor- bid change. The entire mass felt as if made up of a fluid in the areolar tissue; there was nevertheless a sensation to the touch as if the tumor was composed of two very distinct structures— one hard and firm, the other soft and yielding. It was painful on manipulation, and for some time afterwards. The skin became oedematous, and the cutaneous follicles very curiously distinct. The superficial veins were dilated, and might be traced running in furrows over the breast. It had been larger than at present, and now perhaps weighs on the patient from three to four pounds. The areola was greatly stretched, and the nipple thrust to- wards the middle line of the body, with at least some part of the gland. From none of the remedial agents employed did any benefit accrue. Pressure was tried, but without producing any dimi- nution of the tumor. I saw this girl in the London Hospital, and she was then under the care of Mr. Adams. She afterwards left, and the