Remarks on a treatise on the rectum [by James Syme] / [A.W. Cockburn].

  • Cockburn, Archibald William, 1814-1862.
Date:
[1838?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on a treatise on the rectum [by James Syme] / [A.W. Cockburn]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    REMARKS ON A TREATISE ON THE RECTUM. Professor James Syme has favoured the public with what he calls 44 A Plain Statement of the Seat, Nature, Symptoms, and Treatment of the different Affections which are met with at the extremity of the Rectum.” Being himself in full possession of a Professorial chair, and consequently entitled to teach, to overlook, and to advise, he modestly 44 endeavours to assist practitioners in the discharging their duty to the patientand, full of the milk of human kindness, endea¬ vours 44 to protect patients from unprincipled or reckless practitioners.” Henceforth surgeons are inexcusable if they treat any case impro¬ perly ; and patients are entitled to no pity if they allow themselves to be the victims of 44 unprincipled or reckless” surgeons. Professor Syme’s book points out the unerring path of duty to the one, and affords ample protection to the other. He commences by conjecturing and wondering how fistula in ano should be so well known amongst the public as it actually is. The disease being so universally prevalent, and its attacking all ranks, and both sexes, is not sufficient, in his opinion, to account for its noto¬ riety. Fie even thinks that they are reasons against its being so well known; and is certain that 44 the disagreeable feelings connected with it, must tend to conceal the knowledge of its existence.” He means, that the pain which accompanies the disease (and in no small degree) should of itself draw the sufferer’s attention entirely away from the seat of mischief. We had always understood that pain was given us as a blessing, and that to pain we owed our knowledge of many a slight ailment, which, without its timely warning, would have proved a serious evil. But Professor Syme corrects the foolish thoughts of our ignorance. He is next surprised why 44 the slight incision required for its (fis¬ tula) remedy is performed in the theatre of the hospital, with all the pomp and circumstance of a great operation.” We had always thought, that in any public hospital, especially where students paid for attend¬ ance, it was a standing order that all operations should be performed in the theatre. 44 Pomp” is not, we believe, included in the order ; nor, so far as we have seen, except in Professor Syme’s practice, is 44 pomp” observed. But in addition to obeying the orders of the hos¬ pital, and behaving with courtesy to the students, there are other reasons why the operation for fistula should be performed in the theatre. In the first place, it does away with the necessity of other patients in the same ward witnessing the operation, — a sight which they would willingly be spared. In the second place, light, which in this operation is indispensable, cannot be obtained in a crowded ward.