On amputation at the hip-joint / by Richard G. Butcher.

  • Butcher, Richard G. H., 1819-1891.
Date:
1866
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On amputation at the hip-joint / by Richard G. Butcher. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

    17/42 (page 11)
    In the American Journal for the month of July, 1866, will be found an interesting paper by Dr. Thomas Morton, one of the surgeons to the Pennsylvania Hospital, with an account of a case in which he amputated successfully at the hip-joint; and in this memoir he like- wise details the histories of all the cases, eleven in number, which have occurred in Philadelphia. The table (on page 10), which is appended to his observations, is very interesting, conveying much information, and showing at a glance the results of these several amputations at the hip-joint. I am not aware that any recently published case has escaped my notice, so now shall detail the history, operation, procedure, and management of one recently under my charge in Mercer's Hospital. Enormous Osteo-Sarcomatous Tumour Involving the Leg and Thigh Extensively ; Amputation at the Hip-Joint. Mary Keogh, aged fifty-one years, admitted to Mercer's Hospital, in November, 1856. Her occupation was that of a servant, being employed chiefly in scouring out rooms. More than four years and a half before her admission on the above date, she struck her right knee forcibly upon a stone step, having slipped when carrying up a pail of water; the pain was very severe in the stricken part, on the inner surface of the head of the tibia—so acute that she became weak, and fainted; she was compelled to stay quiet for some days, but within a fortnight resumed her ordinary occupation. When in the kneeling position she constantly felt uneasiness; and, though but resting little weight upon the part, yet she was very sensible of its inability to bear the burden equally as the other; and so struggled on, occasionally working, always pained, often laid up altogether, and totally incapacitated from either kneeling or walking; slowly and gradually an enlargement of the upper part of the tibia, on its inner surface, attracted attention; an oblong defined swelling, not discoloured or painful, except when pressed forcibly upon; in its most elevated part it did not exceed three-quarters of an inch, and gradually fined off to its circumferential limits. Shortly after this, pain left the part altogether, confidence in the movements of the limb was regained, and the patient followed her former avocations uninterruptedly for many a month—I may even say years; she was industrious, and constantly employed, and though occasionally pained a little in the part, yet never to such an extent as to interrupt her engagements, or confine her to bed.