Retrospect of the progress of surgical literature, for the year 1838-9 / by Messrs. Newnham, W. Wickham, and Salter.

  • Newnham, W. (William), 1790-1865.
Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Retrospect of the progress of surgical literature, for the year 1838-9 / by Messrs. Newnham, W. Wickham, and Salter. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    44/48 (page 44)
    Finally, the attention of the profession has been recently called by Dr. Conquest to the operation of tapping the head in cases of chronic hydrocephalus: yet, notwithstanding the suc¬ cess attendant upon these cases, the treatment must as yet be considered as unsettled. Dr. Conquests plan resembles greatly that of Sir A. Cooper in spina bifida, viz. to diminish by degrees the quantity of fluid, and to aid its absorption by gentle pressure. A detailed account of Dr. Conquest’s cases may be found in the periodicals of the day; and within the range of our association, this operation has been lately performed by Mr. Dodd, Mr. Newnham, and Mr. W. Wickham, in each case with very promising early results, though in each case without ultimate success. At the same time, these gentlemen feel no wish to depreciate the operation, since there were circumstances in each individual case which would induce them to hope that, under more favorable conditions, a happier result might be obtained. In the “ Lancet” are reported cases, in which strapping the head is said to have been successful. And now, in closing their report, your reporters are fully sensible of the imperfections of the sketch which they have placed before you; but if a spirit of enquiry on these momentous points shall have been awakened, they do hope that neither your time nor theirs will have been wholly lost. Portsmouth ; June, 1839.