Case of osteosarcoma of both jaws. In which amputation at the joint was effected, and very considerable portions of each bone were removed by operation / [William Hetling].

  • Hetling, William, 1773-1837.
Date:
[1833]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Case of osteosarcoma of both jaws. In which amputation at the joint was effected, and very considerable portions of each bone were removed by operation / [William Hetling]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    trifled with, and that no benefit could be derived from any remedy, except by such means as should destroy its texture, and at the same time prevent a renewal of its growth. The knife and actual cau¬ tery appeared to be the only resources advisable; the knife to remove the tumour, and the cautery to destroy that part of the bone in which it might be found imbedded. I was sufficiently aware of the tendency of the morbid action I had to contend with, and of its disposition to spread into surrounding parts, whatever might be their nature or tissue ; and from experience, that operations undertaken for this purpose, in many instances had been followed by relapses; at the same time, I had the consolation of knowing that tumours, considered of the most malignant, threatening, and hopeless aspect, in the opinion of some very eminent surgeons, had, as a forlorn hope, been removed with complete success: an instance of whichhas lately been given by Mr. Law¬ rence, in his very interesting paper, published in the 17th vol. of the Medico-chirurgical Transactions : so difficult and uncertain, sometimes, are both the diagnosis and prognosis of this class of diseases. I reflected, also, that in the opinion of the first autho¬ rities there were some features that might, at least, be considered not unfavourable in this case, namely, that the fungating process, which so frequently su¬ pervenes in this denomination of tumour, had not taken place; that constitutional derangement had not made so much progress as might have been ex¬ pected, considering the extent and long duration of the disease ; and, above all, that the neighbouring glands and the integuments immediately over the