Thoughts on amputation : Being a supplement to the letters on compound fractures, and a comment on Dr. Bilguer's book on this operation. To which is added a short essay on the use of opium in mortifications.

  • Kirkland, Thomas, 1721-1798.
Date:
1780
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Thoughts on amputation : Being a supplement to the letters on compound fractures, and a comment on Dr. Bilguer's book on this operation. To which is added a short essay on the use of opium in mortifications. 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.

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    / about amputation in mortified limbs, is, hiff operating lometimes in the found parts. Secondly, Any limb fo greatly hurt, whether by fraft lire, or dilaceration, that there is room to dread the mo ft fatal Consequences, a mortification, and death• This article he confiders in two points of view; where there is no probability, and where there is a probability, of faving the limb. If it is fo fluttered and torn, that there is no probability of hiving it, he cuts it off by dividing the in- jured parts, that keep it hanging together, which have very little feeling. He then faws off the ends of the bones, carefully removes all fplinters* and having reduced it to the date of a fitriple con- rufed wound, he dreffes it with digefiives, &c. And may not much pain to the patient be faved, and a good cure be made, in a multiplicity of infiances, by this treatment ? Would Wifeman * have recommended this very practice, had it not anfwered his end ? When the fingers are (o mafhed, that they cannot be kept on, we fre- quently make good cures by this method ; and I do not fee any reafon, why it will not in general hold good in other inftances. But thefe defperate cafes in compound fradtures, requiring immediate amputation, if I may judge from plain matter of fadi (except made by gun- fhot) are indeed very few. I have only feen two of them in full forty years pradlice. Mr. * Booh 6th, chap, 5th. Gooch,