Account of a remarkable case of suicide : with observations on the fatal issue of the rapid introduction of air in large quantity into the circulation during surgical operations / by P.D. Handyside.

  • Handyside, P. D. (Peter David), 1808-1881.
Date:
1838
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Account of a remarkable case of suicide : with observations on the fatal issue of the rapid introduction of air in large quantity into the circulation during surgical operations / by P.D. Handyside. 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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    expose to view the vertebral artery. The following parts were discovered to have been also freely divided;—theplatysma myoi- des to the breadth of four inches, the sterno-mastoid with the trunk of the spinal accessory nerve, the external and interna/ jugular veins, the superficial cervical and auricular branches of the third cervical nerve, the anterior and posterior facial veins, with the inferior border of the parotid gland, and the pos- terior margin of the submaxillary gland; the digastric and stij/o-hyoid muscles, the levator anguli scapula, the anterior mar- gin of the splenius capitis, and highest insertion of the splenitis colli muscles ; the pneumogaslric, and anterior branches of the drsceiidens noni nerves, and the posterior auris artery. The facial artery near its origin was found to have been opened slightly. On examining with great care the contents of the blood-vessels, I ascertained that the infernal jugular veins, though empty of blood, were slightly distended with air. The arteries of the neck generally, were empty, with the exception of the left carotid, which contained a considerable quantity of air. The middle and the inferior thyroideal veins, and, on opening the thorax, the vena anonymas, the descending vena cava and the vena azygos were found partially distended with air, besides containing a little fluid blood. On opening the pericardium, the cavities of the heart were found collapsed, and nearly empty. The right auricle was per- fectly empty of blood, with the exception of a minute coagulum at the foramen ovale, which (as I have had occasion to observe in the average of one out of every eight cases in the adult) was patulous. This cavity contained some atmospheric air. The ascending vena cava contained a little uncoagulated blood, and air. The coronary veins and right ventricle were empty of blood, but contained air. The pulmonary artery and its minute ramifications contained a very little frothy blood, quite insufficient to separate their walls, which were collapsed ; while again, the pulmonary veins, from their commencement to the left auricle, were in a state of distension on the left side, and in a state of partial distension on the right, from a commixture of dark-coloured blood in a fluid state, and atmospheric air. The substance of the lungs was distinctly emphysematous. The left cavities of the heart were found perfectly empty of blood, but in a state of partial distension like the other cavities of this organ, from the presence of air. The coro)iary arteries were empty of blood, but contained globules of air. The texture of the heart was paler in colour than natural. On opening the abdomen I found the vena, cava and the larger venous trunks to a greater or less degree distended with air, and containing very little blood, and that in a fluid state. On