Volume 1

The history of the lateral operation, or an account of the method of extracting a stone, by making a wound near the great protuberance of the os ischium ... first attempted by Frère Jacques ... and afterwards by Professor Rau ... With a postscript concerning the introduction and improvement of this method here in London / By James Douglas.

  • Douglas, James, 1675-1742.
Date:
1726
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of the lateral operation, or an account of the method of extracting a stone, by making a wound near the great protuberance of the os ischium ... first attempted by Frère Jacques ... and afterwards by Professor Rau ... With a postscript concerning the introduction and improvement of this method here in London / By James Douglas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    91/96 (page 83)
    Mr, Chefelden began to Cut in St. ‘Tbomass Hofpital a few Days after Dr. Bamber ; but as he has thought fit to vary Profeffor Raus Me¬ thod considerably, I mult beg leave to infill a little more on his Opera¬ tion. I have already mention’d an Account of Raus Method given by Mr. Chefelden, in the Preface to his Treatife on the High Operation for the Stoney published 1723, as he had received it from thofe who had been Scholars to Mr. Rau, and Several times prefen t at his Operations. His Informations were indeed very lame and imperfed ; but yet, even from thefe, he had conceived fo favourable an Idea of that Method, as to think it preferable either to that of Celfus or Mariams ; and withal, that it would be ftill more fo, if the Bladder was firfl filled with Water, Albinuss late Treatife has, as I have already remarked, given this in¬ genious and moft expert Surgeon an Opportu t ot examining the whole Matter with more Clearnefs and Certainty than he had done be¬ fore ; and the Fruit of the Pains he has been at, is not only to confirm him in his former favourable Opinion of it, but alfo to bring it to fuch a degree of Perfection, as in his Judgment makes it preferable to all the Methods of Cutting that have ever been invented. Now, as Mr. Chefelden s Method muft be reckon’d an Improvement of that firfl attempted by Frere Jacques, a Defcription of it, fuch as a Spe&ator is able to give, does even upon that Account very well deferve a Place in the Hiflory I have ventured to write of the Lateral Operation for the Stone: And if, in what I fhall fay about it, I fhall happen to mi- flake or omit any material Circumflance, I wifh that may ferve as an Inducement to the happy Improver to redify and compleat whatever is amifs or wanting in mine, by obliging the Publick himfelf with a more accurate and full Account of his own Operation. The Table upon which the Patient is placed is higheft at that End upon which his Buttocks reft and by means of a Pillow laid under him there, and another under his Head when he lies upon his Back, his Belly is lower than any other Part of his Body*