Historical surgery; or, the progress of the science of medicine: on inflammation, mortification and gunshot wounds.

  • Hunt, John.
Date:
1801
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Historical surgery; or, the progress of the science of medicine: on inflammation, mortification and gunshot wounds. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    426/442 (page 396)
    the public on this occafion, that the furgeon’s abilities are in general eftimated by the extent of the operation. But this is not merely a queftion of profefrional policy, it will be found to be a fubjeft of great praflical importance. Tlie facility with which an unlearned operator may remove a portion of the fcalp, and make a perforation with the trepan through any part of the fl-tull where there is no ine- quality in the thicknefs of the bone, may foraetimes prove a recom- mendation to this operation in cafes where it is unneceffary : but to form a critical opinion of the degree and extent of the injury, and to determine under all circumflances where the trepan may be applied with the lead hazard, and the greateft probabi!i;y of fuccefs, not only requires an accurate kno\\ltdge cjf the anatomy of the parts, but it will be alfo neceffary to form an opinion of the degree and extent of the dif- eafe, and for this purpofe to edimate the effeffs of inflammation on the integuments, on the bones, on the membranes, and on the brain. From this view of the fubjeft we (hall be led to the confideration of the fame principle that has already been pointed out as an important objeft in the fcientific department of the operations of furgery. And as 1 am apprehenfive that the prQgrefs of inflammation, in cafes of wounds, contufions, and frafiures of the fkull, is a fubjedl that has in general paffed unnoticed, for that reafon it becomes an objedf more deferving our attention. It frequently happens in very extenfive inju- ries of this kind that large portions of the integuments will dough away, that the parts of the fls.ull will die, and be removed by a tedious procefs of exfoliation, and all this will be attended with inflammation. And though the degree of ii flammation in fome indances may be inconfi- derable, yet the degree of injury and the confequences will always bear a certain