A further statement of the case of Elizabeth Thompson : upon whom the Caesarean operation was performed in the Manchester Lying-In Hospital : in addition to that published by Mr. Wood, in the Memoirs of the Medical Society of London, vol. 5th / By Charles White, and Richard Hall, ... and George Tomlinson, and John Thorp.

  • White, Charles, 1728-1813.
Date:
1799
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A further statement of the case of Elizabeth Thompson : upon whom the Caesarean operation was performed in the Manchester Lying-In Hospital : in addition to that published by Mr. Wood, in the Memoirs of the Medical Society of London, vol. 5th / By Charles White, and Richard Hall, ... and George Tomlinson, and John Thorp. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    appeared to them, to be, where, the child could be most easily perceived ; where, they w'ere not likely to meet, either with Intestines or Placenta, or any intervening substance ot consequence. The operation w^as well performed, and with great steadiness, bv Mr. Wood, in the presence of Messrs. Wliite, Hall, Tomlinson, and Thorp, of Mr. Chippindall, (the Apothecary to the Charity,) Mr. Barlow, (Mr. Wood’s Assistant,) and Mrs. Turner, the Midwife. The Epigastric Artery was not wounded; the incision in the E/rrarwas not more, than sufficient to extract the child; there was no Hemorrhage to tlirealen life, or to impede her recov’^ery ; and what blood was shed into the cavity, was taken up by a sponge. The child lay upon its right side, with its head, in the neck of tne resting on the fourth of the loins, and on the right /W, and Fu^/s, completely above the superior aperture. Whoever will be at the trouble of applying a imtal skull to this distorted Pelvis^ will be convinced, that it could not take any other position, tne head could not descend so low as to be jammed in bet^aseen tbe bodies of the Pelvis; Jt could not even descend so low as the fifth Vertebra of the loins ; so that, the Cervix Uteri appeals to have been forced, at every pain, against the Os Insiosninatum on the right side, and the fourth Pertebra of the loins. 21ie natural shape of the head nvas not at all changed trom its round form, to an oblong, or sugar-loaf form; and it is impossible, that, it should have so changed, because the superior aperture was too narrow, and too distorted, to admit of its descending through any part of that aperture; and as the bones of the Pelvis could, Jiot give way, the child’s head, by every labour pain, would drive the Cervix Uteri against 'Ihe solid bone, and produce an alarming degree of contusion,—thence the danger. We attended the Patient three times a day, as long as she lived; and we are satisfied, that, the after-treatment was right, and proper in every respect. But thus far we may say, that, though she did not lose so much blood, as to endanger her life,or impede her recovery, we were of opinion, that, taking more, either generally, or locally, would, on account of her previous indisposition, have occasioned too great a debility. We thought seventeen hours after the Operation, early enough to inject a Clyster; as the Intestines had been sufficiently emptied, a little while before the Operation, by a violent Diarrhoea. JVe never^ at any one time^ thought her free from danger. She died an easy death, and was extremely thankful for wffiat had been done for her; and we hesitate not, to give it as our opinion, that, performing the Operation, was the greatest act of humanity, that could be done to the poor creature, who was labouring under as excruciating pains, as we ever knew to fall to the lot of a human being. The body w^as opened by Mr. Wood, in the presence of Ihe Medical Committee of the Hospital. The Gentlemen who attended, were Dr. Cowling, Messrs. White, Hall, Thorp, Foxley, Brigham, Ollier, and Clough. Mr. Chippindall, and Mr. Barlow, were also present.. There were about ten ounces of bloody serum,, with a little coagulated blood, (not more than an ounce) in the cavity of the abdomen. The Intestines were much distended with wind; but very few Faces were contained in them, and none of them were hardened. There was no appearance of peritoneal, or intestinal inflammation; no inflammatory exudation ; no flakes of coagulable lymph ; nor any extravasated fluid, of the nature of milk^ rpembllng unclarified whey, containing flakes of curd like matter, adhering to the Intes- tines ; nor had the Intestines formed any Adhesions; nor were there any unfavourable appearances about the Wound in the Uterus^ in that of the Integuments.