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.

    258/312 (page 236)
    tages over excision ; the sufferings produced by their application are much more severe than those attendant upon the use of a knife. And, at present, it does not appear that any advantage is gained by their employ- ment. If removal be the object, it may be done more quickly, and with less suffering to the patient, with a knife. Within the last few years a plan has been introduced with the hope of improving the treatment of carci- noma. And this consists in local pressure. [rom personal observation, I cannot speak either as regards its advantages or disadvantages; but this I know, that one case said to be relieved came under my notice, and the tumor was extirpated on account of its daily increase. In other cases the plan was obliged to be discontinued. And some surgeons, formerly advocates of this method, have not been, of late, so enthusiastic m its support. I have lately seen another case in which pressure produced ulceration, and greatly aggra- vated the sufferings of the patient. On the other hand, Mr. Bossey, of Woolwich, informed me lately that, in a case under his care, he believed pressure had arrested the progress of the tumor in the mamma, although the patient was sinking under the effects of carcinoma in some of the internal organs. I purposely divided the progress of a carcinomatous growth into its various stages, with a view to the con- sideration of these points :— 1. In which stage removal of the tumor may be per- formed in the hope of prolonging life.