Volume 2

The collected papers of Sir W. Bowman, Bart., F.R.S / edited for the committee of the "Bowman Testimonial Fund" by J. Burdon-Sanderson and J. W. Hulke.

  • Bowman, William, Sir, 1816-1892.
Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The collected papers of Sir W. Bowman, Bart., F.R.S / edited for the committee of the "Bowman Testimonial Fund" by J. Burdon-Sanderson and J. W. Hulke. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    III. ON HEMORRHAGE FROM EXTERNAL INJURY. Written in the Spring of 1834. Read before the Birmingham Medical Students Debating Society. If there is one subject more imperatively demanding the attention of the surgeon than another, it is that which we are about to take into consideration this evening. At no time, and in no situation will so much coolness, promptitude, and judgment be required, nor so thorough an acquaintance with the means which lie within his power, be necessary, as on an occasion of alarming haemorrhage. Unlike most of the other great duties which devolve upon him, this is sure to come at an unlooked for moment, and often under the most disadvantageous circumstances of time, place and opportunity. If the bleeding be profuse, and a strong sense of danger arise in the minds of the bystanders, their terror and confusion will be tenfold increased ; and thus it usually happens that the difficulties which stand in the surgeon's way are multiplied, in pro- portion to the necessity there is for overcoming them. Let it be remembered that it is a perfect knowledge of the various means and principles of restraining haemorrhage that alone can give him confidence in the hour of trial, and enable him to direct his measures with the calmness and decision essential to success. At such a crisis ignorance is culpable, and entails not only bitter reflections, but just disgrace. Haemorrhages may be classed, first into arterial and venous. They ma}r also be divided in a different way, viz., into those which originate in general causes, and occur in internal organs ; and those which arising from specific external cause, require chiefly a local treatment, and though this plan is liable to some objections, I shall partly adopt it here. Among the former may be included sanguineous apoplexy, epistaxis, haemoptysis, haematemesis, haematuria; cystorhagia, with uterine and haemorrhoidal haemorrhages, and many others. Nothing more than a bare mention of these is now necessary. Of the latter form may be enumerated—bleeding from wounds of every