A letter addressed to Sir Benjamin C. Brodie, bart. : containing observations and strictures upon certain parts of his lecture on spinal complaints, delivered to the young gentlemen of St. George's Hospital / by Edward Harrison.

  • Harrison, Edward, 1759-1838.
Date:
1836
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A letter addressed to Sir Benjamin C. Brodie, bart. : containing observations and strictures upon certain parts of his lecture on spinal complaints, delivered to the young gentlemen of St. George's Hospital / by Edward Harrison. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    eleven she was forcibly pushed into a saw-pit—was much bruised, especially on the whole of the left arm, which became black, and very painful upon motion. It is now believed, that she never wholly recovered from the first injury. After the second, she became gradu- ally more delicate and ailing. She was soon fatigued, had a continual leaning towards the left side, and the digestive apparatus was generally out of order. At the age of thirteen her deformity became clearly apparent, although it had probably commenced several years before. Notwithstanding the endeavours of different medical practitioners of high character, it visibly increased, and her bodily activity continually declined. When T was consulted Miss D. was fifteen. The spinal column had sensibly given way from the top to the bottom ; making, besides the double lateral curvature, other great contortions. Every ver- tebra was removed out of its proper place. The ribs, by their strong attachments to the vertebral pillar, following its irregularities, were also much displaced at the sternal ends. The breast-bone, clavicles, and scapulae, were, in consequence, sensibly removed out of their primitive stations. From these various derangements, the trunk was greatly reduced in length, and equally augmented in circumference, as may be seen on viewing the cast taken immediately before the treatment commenced. The anatomist will readily understand, that whenever the spine and thoracic bones are much deranged, all the internal organs are necessarily misplaced, and that infirm health must of course ensue. In the present instance every internal func- tion had been impeded for years. Constant difficulty, and shortness of breathing, increased by the slightest movement of the body, or the least agitation ; sneezing was often attempted, but could be seldom performed. There was a constant dry cough. The heart beat irregularly, and struck violently against its bony covering. Appetite was depraved, uncertain, and defective; pulse small and weak; bowels usually constipated ; menses had never appeared. As the spinal column recovered its natural position, the ribs, sternum, clavicles, and scapulae, all recovered their proper positions. By this restoration, the trunk is much elongated and more shapely. Among the happy results of this important change in the bony structure, she is not only taller, and transformed into a beautiful figure, but the internal organs being replaced, their healthy functions again mani- fested themselves. By this simple proceeding, and without the aid of drug.s, good health has been regained, thus terminating her other- wise interminable afflictions. Had Sir Benjamin accepted my invita- tion, he would have been introduced, among others, to this interesting lady, where the triumph of art is so strikingly exemplified. It, however, is only one of many instances, in which the superiority of the new practice is unequivocally displayed. I truly regret, that Sir Benjamin ventured to hazard the incon- siderate opinion given above under any circumstances; because, in an art pre-eminently conjectural, no one can foresee what improve- ments will hereafter take place. The declaration was moreover mis- placed in an address to young men, since the avowal was more likely