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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/24564-8.txt b/24564-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..db37d16 --- /dev/null +++ b/24564-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12116 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Manual of the Operations of Surgery, by +Joseph Bell + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: A Manual of the Operations of Surgery + For the Use of Senior Students, House Surgeons, and Junior Practitioners + + +Author: Joseph Bell + + + +Release Date: February 11, 2008 [eBook #24564] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A MANUAL OF THE OPERATIONS OF +SURGERY*** + + +E-text prepared by Michael Ciesielski, Pilar Somoza Fernández, and the +Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team +(https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 24564-h.htm or 24564-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/5/6/24564/24564-h/24564-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/5/6/24564/24564-h.zip) + + +Transcriber's note: + + Spelling mistakes have been left in the text to match the original, + except for obvious typographical errors. + + + + + +A MANUAL OF THE OPERATIONS OF SURGERY + +For the Use of Senior Students, House Surgeons, and +Junior Practitioners. + +Illustrated. + +by + +JOSEPH BELL, F.R.C.S. EDIN. + +Lecturer on Clinical Surgery, Surgeon to the Royal Infirmary and to +the Eye Infirmary, and Late Demonstrator of Anatomy +in the University of Edinburgh. + +FIFTH EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED. + + + + + + + +Edinburgh: Maclachlan & Stewart, +Booksellers to the University. +London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. +1883. + + + + +TO THE MEMORY OF +JAMES SYME, ESQ., F.R.C.S. AND F.R.S.E. +SURGEON TO THE QUEEN IN SCOTLAND + +PROFESSOR OF CLINICAL SURGERY +IN THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH +ETC. ETC. + +THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED +BY HIS OLD HOUSE-SURGEON AND ASSISTANT + +THE AUTHOR. + + + + +PREFACE TO FIFTH EDITION. + + +To retain the small size of the work and to keep it up to date have been +the Author's aim in the Fifth Edition. + + +20 MELVILLE STREET, EDINBURGH, +_August 1883._ + + + + +PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. + + +Having been asked, year after year, by the members of my Class for +Operative Surgery, to recommend to them some Manual of Surgical +Operations which might at once guide them in their choice of operations, +and give minute details as to the mode of performance, I have been +gradually led to undertake the production of this little work. + +My aim has been to describe as simply as possible those operations which +are most likely to prove useful, and especially those which, from their +nature, admit of being practised on the dead body. + +In accordance with this plan, neither historical completeness of detail, +nor much variety in the methods of performing any given operation, is to +be expected. Hence, also, many omissions which would be unpardonable in +the briefest system of Surgery are unavoidable. For example, excision of +tumours and operations for necrosis are hardly mentioned, because for +these no special instructions can well be given; for, while general +principles may guide us to _what_ should be done, the special +circumstances of each case must dictate _how_ it is to be done. + +In such a work as this, to attempt originality would be undesirable and +intrusive; a judicious selection, a faithful compilation, are all that +can be expected. + +That the selection of operations may sometimes show "Northern +Proclivities" is possible; and this is perhaps not unnatural to a +scholar and teacher in the Edinburgh School. + +An earnest endeavour has been used to make the references correct and +copious: for any mistakes or omissions the author would crave +indulgence. + +The four plates which precede the letterpress were drawn on wood (from +original photographs) by Mr. D.W. Williamson, Melbourne Place, and the +lines of incision for the various operations were added by the author. + +The rough woodcuts scattered through the work were drawn on wood by the +author, and for their roughness he, not his engraver, is responsible. He +also hopes that the references in the letterpress will be accepted as +sufficient acknowledgment of the true ownership, in those few instances +in which the idea of the diagram has been borrowed. + +It has been thought unnecessary to introduce woodcuts of surgical +instruments, as the illustrated catalogues lately published by Weiss, +Maw, and others, are sufficiently accurate. + +In excuse of the frequent baldness and brevity of the style, the author +must point to the size and price of the work. Its composition would have +been easier had its dimensions been greater. + +Though intended chiefly to guide the studies, on the dead subject, of +students and junior practitioners, the author ventures to hope that the +Manual may be useful to those who, in the public services, in the +colonies, or in lonely country districts, find themselves constrained to +attempt the performance of operations which, in the towns, usually fall +to the lot of a few Hospital Surgeons. + + + JOSEPH BELL. + +5 CASTLE TERRACE, EDINBURGH, + _July 1866._ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER I. + +LIGATURE OF ARTERIES. + + PAGE + +Ligature of Arteries--General Maxims--Ligature of +Aorta--Iliacs--Gluteal--Femoral--Popliteal--Innominate--Carotids-- +Lingual--Subclavian--Brachial, etc., 1-45 + + +CHAPTER II. + +AMPUTATIONS. + +Eras of Amputation--Flap and Circular compared--Special Amputation of +Arm and Leg, 46-107 + + +CHAPTER III. + +EXCISION OF JOINTS. + +Brief Historical Sketch--Comparison of Excisions with +Amputations--Special Excisions of the six larger Joints--Excisions of +smaller Joints and Bones, 108-146 + + +CHAPTER IV. + +OPERATIONS ON CRANIUM AND SCALP. + +Trephining--Excision of Wens, 147-150 + + +CHAPTER V. + +OPERATIONS ON THE EYE AND ITS APPENDAGES. + +Entropium and Ectropium--Trichiasis--Tarsal Tumours--On Lachrymal +Organs--Mr. Bowman's Operation--Pterygium--Strabismus, convergent +and divergent--Paracentesis of the Anterior Chamber--Operations +for Cataract by Displacement, Solution, and Extraction--Various +methods of Extraction--Operations for Artificial +Pupil--Iridesis--Corelysis--Iridectomy--Excision of Staphyloma--Excision +of Eyeball, 151-174 + + +CHAPTER VI. + +OPERATIONS ON THE NOSE AND LIPS. + +Rhinoplastic Operations from Cheek, Forehead, and elsewhere--Removal of +Nasal Polypi--Excision of Cancers of Lips--Cheiloplastic +Operations--Operations for Harelip, 175-187 + + +CHAPTER VII. + +OPERATIONS ON THE JAWS. + +Excision of Upper Jaw--Of Lower Jaw, 188-195 + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +OPERATIONS ON MOUTH AND THROAT. + +For Salivary Fistula--Excision of Tongue, complete and partial--Fissures +of the Palate, soft and hard--Excision of Tonsils, 196-205 + + +CHAPTER IX. + +OPERATIONS ON AIR PASSAGES. + +Larynx and +Trachea--Tracheotomy--Tubes--Laryngotomy--OEsophagotomy--[see +Addendum, p. 302], 206-217 + + +CHAPTER X. + +OPERATIONS ON THORAX. + PAGE +Excision of Mamma--Paracentesis Thoracis, 218-221 + + +CHAPTER XI. + +OPERATIONS ON ABDOMEN. + +Paracentesis Abdominis--Gastrotomy--Ovariotomy--Operation for +Strangulated Hernia--Inguinal--Femoral--Umbilical--Operations for the +Radical Cure of Hernia, 222-255 + + +CHAPTER XII. + +OPERATIONS ON PELVIS. + +Lithotomy--Varieties--Lithotrity--Operations for Stricture--Puncture of +the Bladder--Phymosis--Amputation of +Penis--Hydrocele--Hæmatocele--Castration--Operation for +Fistula--Fissure--Polypi of Rectum--Piles, 256-295 + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +TENOTOMY. + +On Tenotomy for Wry Neck and Club Foot, 296-298 + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +OPERATIONS ON NERVES. + +Nerve-stretching--Nerve-cutting--Nerve suture, 299-301 + + +ADDENDUM to Chapter IX., 302 + +INDEX, 303-311 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + +FIG. PAGE + +I. Amputations of Fingers, 50 + +II. Diagram of Finger showing Articulations, 50 + +III. Dubrueil's Amputation at Wrist (front view), 57 + +IV. " " (dorsal view), 57 + +V. Amputations of Toes, 69 + +VI. Excision of Wrist-joint--Lister's, 126 + +VII. Operations for Ectropium and Entropium, 151 + +VIII. Operation for Trichiasis--Streatfeild's, 151 + +IX. Operation for Epiphora--Bowman's, 155 + +X. Greenslade's Instrument for above, 156 + +XI. Operations for Squint, 157 + +XII. Linear Extraction of Cataract, 162 + +XIII. Flap Extraction of Cataract, 162 + +XIV. Operation of Corelysis--Streatfeild's, 171 + +XV. Operation for Staphyloma--Critchett's, 172 + +XVI. Result of above, 172 + +XVII. Rhinoplastic Operation from Cheek, 176 + +XVIII. " " Forehead, 177 + +XIX. Operation on Lip, V-shaped incision, 181 + +XX. Operation on Lip, by scissors, 181 + +XXI. Operation for a new Lip, incisions, 182 + +XXII. Operation for New Lip sewed up, 182 + +XXIII. Diagram of Partial Fissure (Harelip), 184 + +XXIV. Nelaton's Operation for ditto, 184 + +XXV. Operation for Double Harelip, 185 + +XXVI. Diagram of Double Harelip, 186 + +XXVII. Excision of Upper and Lower Jaws, 189 + +XXVIII. Operation for Salivary Fistula, 196 + +XXIX. Operation for Fissure in Soft Palate, 201 + +XXX. Operation for Fissure in Hard Palate, 203 + +XXXI. Diagram illustrating Operations on Air Passages, 207 + +XXXII. Diagram illustrating Operations for Hernia, 241 + +XXXIII. Diagram of an Artificial Anus, 253 + +XXXIV. Diagram of Section of Prostate, 257 + +XXXV. Diagram of Membranous portion of Urethra, 259 + +XXXVI. Diagram illustrating Puncture of Bladder, 284 + +XXXVII. Diagram of Operation for Phymosis, 286 + +XXXVIII. Diagram of Amputation of Penis, 287 + + +[Illustration] + + +PLATE I. + +1. Ligature of Aorta--Sir A. Cooper's incision. + +2. Ligature of Aorta--South and Murray's incision. + +3. Ligature of Common Iliac. + +4. Ligature of External Iliac--Sir A. Cooper's. + +5. Ligature of Femoral in Scarpa's triangle. + +6. Ligature of Femoral below Sartorius.[1] + +7. Ligature of Innominate. + +8. Ligature of third part of Left Subclavian. + +9. Ligature of Axillary in its first part. + +10. Ligature of Axillary in its third part. + +11. Ligature of Brachial. + +12. Amputation of Arm by double flaps. + +13. Amputation at Shoulder-joint (1st method), showing portion of skin +left uncut till the conclusion of the disarticulation. + +14. Amputation at Ankle-joint by internal flap--Mackenzie's. + +15-16. Amputation of Leg just above the Ankle-joint. + +17-18. Amputation below Knee--modified circular. + +19. Amputation through Condyles of Femur--Syme, and Pl. III. 5. + +20. Amputation at lower third of Thigh--Syme, and Pl. III. 6. + + +A. Excision of Head of Humerus. + +B. Excision of Knee-joint; semilunar incision. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] This line is placed too low down; it should be in the middle third +of the thigh. + + +[Illustration] + + +PLATE II. + +1. Amputation at lower third of Fore-arm--Teale's. + +2-2. Amputation at Shoulder-joint by large postero-external flap--2d +method. + +3-3. Amputation at Shoulder-joint by triangular flap from deltoid--3d +method. + +4-5. Amputation through Tarsus--Chopart's. + +6-7. Amputation at Knee-joint. + +8. Amputation by Single Flap--Carden's, and Pl. IV. 16. + +9-10. Amputation of Thigh--Teale's. + + +A. Excision of Hip-joint. + +B-B. Excision of Ankle-joint--Hancock's incisions. + + +[Illustration] + + +PLATE III. + +1. Ligature of Popliteal. + +2. Amputation at Elbow-joint--posterior flap. + +3. Amputation at Shoulder-joint--posterior incision of first method, and +Pl. I. 13. + +4. Amputation at Ankle-joint--Mackenzie's, and Pl. I. 14. + +5. Amputation through Condyles of Femur--Syme, and Pl. I. 19. + +6. Amputation at lower third of Thigh--Syme, and Pl. I. 20. + +7. Amputation at Knee--posterior incision. + +8. Amputation of Thigh--Spence's, and at Pl. IV. 18. + +9. Amputation at Hip-joint, and Pl. IV. 20. + + +A. Excision of Shoulder-joint--deltoid flap. + +B. Excision of Shoulder-joint by posterior incision. + +C. Excision of Elbow-joint--H-shaped incision. + +D. Excision of Elbow-joint--linear incision. + +E. Excision of Hip-joint--Gross's. + +F. Excision of Os Calcis. + +G. Excision of Scapula. + + +[Illustration] + + +PLATE IV. + +1. Ligature of Carotid. + +2. Ligature of Subclavian (3d stage)--Skey's incision. + +3. Amputation at Wrist-joint--dorsal incision. + +4. Amputation at Wrist-joint--palmar incision. + +5. Amputation at Fore-arm--dorsal incision. + +6. Amputation at Fore-arm--palmar incision. + +7. Amputation at Elbow-joint--Anterior flap, and Pl. III. 3. + +8. Amputation at Arm--Teale's method. + +9. Amputation at Shoulder-joint--1st method, and Pl. III. 3. + +10-11. Amputation of Metatarsus--Hey's. + +12-13. Amputation at Ankle--Syme's. + +14-15. Amputation of Leg--posterior flap--Lee's. + +16. Amputation at Knee-joint--Carden's, and Pl. II. 8. + +17. Amputation of Thigh--B. Bell's. + +18. Amputation of Thigh--Spence's, and Pl. III. 8. + +19. Amputation of Thigh in middle third. + +20-20. Amputation at Hip-joint, and Pl. III. 9. + + +A. Excision of Wrist--radial incision. + +B. Excision of Wrist--ulnar incision. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +LIGATURE OF ARTERIES. + + +LIGATURE OF ARTERIES.--In a work of this nature there is no room for any +discussion of the principles which should guide us in the selection of +cases, or of the pathology of aneurism, or the local effects of the +ligature on the vessels. One or two fundamental axioms may be given in a +few words:-- + +1. In selecting the spot for the application of the ligature, avoid as +far as possible bifurcations, or the neighbourhood of large collateral +branches. + +2. A free incision should be made through the skin and subjacent +textures, till the sheath of the artery is reached and fairly exposed. + +3. The sheath must be opened and the artery cleaned with a sharp knife +till the white external coat is clearly seen. The portion cleaned +should, however, be as small as possible, consistent with thorough +exposure, so that the ligature may be passed round the vessel without +force. + +4. As the artery should never be raised from its bed, it is generally +advisable to pass the needle only so far as just to permit the eye to be +seen past the vessel. The ligature should then be seized by a pair of +forceps and gently pulled through, the needle being cautiously +withdrawn. When catgut is used, it is better to pass the unarmed needle +till the eye is visible, then thread and withdraw it, thus pulling the +catgut through. + +5. As a rule, the needle should be passed from the side of the vessel at +which the chief dangers exist. This will generally be in the side at +which the vein is. + +6. The ligature should be single, and consist of strong well-waxed silk, +and should always be drawn as tight as possible, so as to divide the +internal and middle coats of the vessel. In cases where the wound is to +be treated with antiseptic precautions and an attempt at immediate union +made, the ligature may be of strong catgut properly prepared, and both +ends of it may be cut off. + +7. Before the ligature is tightened, it is well to feel that pressure +between the ligature and the finger arrests the pulsation of the tumour. + + +LIGATURE OF THE AORTA.--It has been found necessary in a few rare cases +to place a ligature on the abdominal aorta; no case has as yet survived +the operation beyond a very few days, but they have in their progress +sufficiently proved that the circulation can be carried on, and gangrene +does not necessarily result even after such a decided interference with +vascular supply. + +_Operation._--The ligature may be applied in one of two ways, the choice +being influenced by the nature of the disease for which it is done. + +1. A straight incision (Plate I. fig. 1) in the linea alba, just +avoiding the umbilicus by a curve, and dividing the peritoneum, allows +the intestines to be pushed aside, and the aorta exposed still covered +by the peritoneum, as it lies in front of the lumbar vertebræ. The +peritoneum must again be divided very cautiously at the point selected, +and the aortic plexus of nerves carefully dissected off, in order that +they may not be interfered with by the ligature. The ligature should +then be passed round, tied, cut short, and the wound accurately sewed +up. + +2. Without wounding the peritoneum. + +A curved incision (Plate I. fig. 2), with its convexity backwards, from +the projecting end of the tenth rib to a point a little in front of the +anterior superior spinous process of the ilium. At first through the +skin and fascia only, this incision must be continued through the +muscles of the abdominal wall, one by one, till the transversalis fascia +is exposed, which must then be scraped through very cautiously, so as +not to injure the peritoneum, which is to be detached from the fascia +covering the psoas and iliacus muscles, and must be held inwards and out +of the way by bent copper spatulæ. The common iliac will then be felt +pulsating, and on it the finger may easily be guided up until the aorta +is reached. + +The really difficult part of the operation now begins: to isolate the +vessel from the spine behind, the inferior cava on the right side, and +the plexus of nerves in the cellular tissue all round. The cleaning of +the vessel must be done in great measure by the finger-nail, and much +dexterity will be required to pass the ligature without unnecessarily +raising the vessel from its bed, especially as the vessel itself may +very possibly be diseased, and the aneurism of the iliac trunk for which +the operation is required will displace and confuse the parts, and may +have set up adhesive inflammation. + +_Results._--Operation has been performed at least ten times. By the +first method by Sir Astley Cooper and Mr. James; by the second by Drs. +Murray and Monteiro, M'Guire, Heron Watson, and Stokes, and Mr. South, +and Czerny of Heidelberg. All the cases proved fatal; Dr. Monteiro's +survived for ten days, and eventually perished from hæmorrhage; the rest +all died at shorter intervals. + + +LIGATURE OF COMMON ILIAC.--_Anatomical Note._--This short thick trunk +varies slightly in its relations on the two sides of the body. As the +aorta bifurcates on the left side of the body of the fourth lumbar +vertebra, the common iliac of the right side would have a longer course +to pursue than that on the left, if both ended at corresponding points. +However, this is not always the case, as has been pointed out by Mr. +Adams of Dublin, as the right common iliac often bifurcates sooner than +the left does. With this slight difference, the position of the two +vessels is precisely similar, each extending along the brim of the +pelvis from the bifurcation of the aorta towards the sacro-iliac +synchondrosis for about two inches. Sometimes the division takes place a +little higher, even at the junction of the last lumbar vertebra and the +sacrum. This variation depends chiefly on the length of the artery, +which, as Quain has shown, varies from one inch and a half to more than +three inches. + +The anterior surface of both arteries is covered by the peritoneum, and +each is crossed by the ureter just as it bifurcates into its branches. + +The artery of the right side is in close contact behind with its +corresponding vein, which at its upper part projects to the outside, and +below to the inner side. The artery of the left side is less involved +with its vein, which lies below it, and to the inside. The right is in +contact with a coil of ileum, the left with the colon. The inferior +mesenteric artery crosses the left one, while to the outside of both, +and behind them, lie the sympathetic and obdurator nerves. + +There are no named branches from the common iliac. + +_Operation._--The chief difficulties to be encountered are--1. The close +proximity of the peritoneum, and specially the risk there is that it has +become adherent to the sac of the aneurism; 2. The depth of the parts, +and tendency of the intestines to roll into the wound; 3. Specially on +the right side, the proximity of the great veins. With these exceptions +the passing of the ligature is not so difficult as in some situations, +the lax cellular tissue in which the vessel lies generally yielding much +more easily than the tough sheath which elsewhere, as in the femoral, +requires accurate dissection. + +_Incision._--(Plate I. fig. 3.)--From a point about half an inch above +the centre of Poupart's ligament, a crescentic incision should be made, +at first extending upwards and outwards, so as to pass about one inch +inside of the anterior superior spine of the ilium, and then prolonged +upwards and inwards, as far as may be rendered necessary by the size of +the aneurism or the depth of parts. It must extend through skin and +superficial fascia, exposing the tendon of the external oblique, which +must then be slit up to the full extent visible. The spermatic cord may +then be easily exposed under the edge of the internal oblique, and the +forefinger of the left hand inserted on the cord, and thus beneath the +internal oblique and transversalis muscles, the peritoneum being quite +safe below. + +On the finger these muscles may be safely divided to the full extent of +the external incision. The deep circumflex iliac artery if possible +should not be divided, but may bleed smartly and require a ligature. + +The peritoneum must then be very cautiously raised from the tumour, and +supported, along with the intestines, by copper spatulæ. The surgeon +will rarely succeed in obtaining anything like a satisfactory view of +the vessel, but can expose it for the ligature by the aid of his +finger-nail. An ordinary aneurism-needle will generally suffice for the +conveyance of the ligature. + +The difficulties may occasionally be much increased by special +circumstances, such as great stoutness of the patient, and consequent +thickness of the abdominal wall; or large size of the aneurism, which +may cause alterations in the relation of parts and adhesion of the +peritoneum. The ureter generally gives no trouble, as in pressing back +the peritoneum it is adherent to it, and is removed along with it +towards the middle line. + +_Results._--Are not by any means satisfactory. + +Out of twenty-two cases in which the common iliac has been tied for +aneurism, eight recovered and fourteen died; while out of thirteen cases +where it required ligature for hæmorrhage after amputation, rupture of +aneurism, etc., only one recovered. + + +LIGATURE OF INTERNAL ILIAC.--Little need be added to the account just +given of the operation for ligature of the common iliac, as precisely +the same incisions are required. The operator having reached the +bifurcation of the vessel, must, instead of tracing it upwards, +endeavour to trace it downwards, and the same time inwards, into the +basin of the pelvis. To do this his finger must cross the external iliac +artery, which will pulsate under the joint of the ungual phalanx, while +the pulp of the finger is touching the internal iliac,--the external +iliac vein, which occupies the angle formed by the bifurcation of the +artery, lying between these two points. The ligature should be applied +within three-quarters of an inch from the bifurcation. + +_Anatomical Note._--This short thick trunk extends backwards and inwards +(Ellis); downwards and backwards (Harrison), in front of the sacro-iliac +synchondrosis, as far as the upper extremity of the great sacro-sciatic +notch, a distance varying in the adult from one and a half to two inches +in length. It forms a curve with its concavity forwards, and at its +termination divides into, rather than gives off, its two or three +principal branches. Its corresponding vein is in close contact behind, +as also the lumbo-sacral nerve, the obdurator nerve to its outer side. +The peritoneum covers it anteriorly, and it is crossed just at its +commencement by the ureter. On the left side it is covered anteriorly by +the rectum. Of its anatomical relations, that of the external iliac vein +is perhaps the most important, as it is apt to interfere with the +passing of the needle. + +_Results._--This vessel has been tied for aneurism of one or other of +its branches, or for wound, about seventeen times.[2] Of these seven +recovered; in ten the operation proved fatal, in most of them from +secondary hæmorrhage. In one case the hæmorrhage occurred within twelve +hours after the operation. The circulation of the parts supplied after +the ligature is carried on mainly by the lumbar and lateral sacral +branches, which become much developed even before the operation, in +cases of aneurism. + + +LIGATURE OF EXTERNAL ILIAC.--_Anatomical Note._--This artery extends +from the bifurcation of the common iliac to the centre of Poupart's +ligament, where it leaves the abdomen, passing under the ligament, and +becomes the common femoral. Its upper extremity is thus not always +constant, varying in position from the sacro-lumbar fibro-cartilage to +the upper end of the sacro-iliac synchondrosis, or even a little lower +down. Thus, though the position of the lower end is at a fixed point, +the artery varies in length. In an adult male of moderate stature it is +from three and a half to four inches in length. On the surface of the +abdomen the position of this vessel would be indicated by a line drawn +from about an inch on either side of the umbilicus to the middle of the +space between the symphysis pubis and the crest of the ilium. Its +relations to neighbouring parts are as follows:--The peritoneum lies _in +front_ of it, separated from it only by a subperitoneal layer of loose +fascia, in which the artery and vein lie, which varies much in +consistence and amount, and which occasionally gives a good deal of +trouble in the operation of ligature. Near its origin it is sometimes +crossed by the ureter, and near its termination the genito-crural nerve +lies on it. The spermatic vessels cross it, and occasionally a quantity +of subperitoneal fat marks its course. _Externally._--The fascia-iliaca +and some fibres of the psoas muscle separate it from the anterior +crural nerve, which lies outside of the vessel, and at a somewhat deeper +level, hidden amid the fibres of psoas and iliacus. _Internally._--The +external iliac vein lies on the same plane, and to the inner side of the +artery, at Poupart's ligament, on both sides of the body. As we trace it +upwards we find that on the left side it lies internal to the artery in +its whole course, while on the right side it becomes posterior to the +artery as it approaches the bifurcation of the common iliac. Lastly, +just before the vessel reaches Poupart, the circumflex iliac vein +crosses it from within outwards. + +_Branches._--The two large branches to the wall of the abdomen, the +epigastric and the circumflex iliac, rise a few lines above Poupart's +ligament. Their position is unfortunately apt to vary upwards, to the +extent of an inch and a half or even two inches, and they are important, +as, besides being liable to be cut during the operation, their position +very materially modifies the prognosis, as, if too high up, they +interfere with the proper formation of the coagulum. + +_Operation._--Various plans of incision through the skin have been +recommended by various operators, the chief difference being with regard +to the part of the artery aimed at; the plan known as that of Mr. +Abernethy, with various modifications, being intended to expose the +artery pretty high up, and enable the surgeon to reach it from above; +while the method going by the name of Sir Astley Cooper's exposes the +lower part of the artery, and enables the surgeon to reach it from +below. Though the latter is in some respects easier, the former method +is generally to be preferred, being further from the seat of disease, +and especially more out of the way of the epigastric and circumflex +arteries. + +The higher operation (ABERNETHY'S modified).--An incision must be made +through the skin about four inches in length, but longer in proportion +to the amount of subcutaneous fat, and the depth of the pelvis, +extending from a point one inch to the inside of the anterior superior +spine of the ilium, to a point half an inch above the middle line of +Poupart's ligament. It must be slightly curved, with its convexity +looking outwards and downwards.[3] + +The subcutaneous cellular tissue and the tendon of the external oblique +may then be divided freely in the same line. Then at some one point or +other (generally easiest below), the internal oblique and transversalis +muscles must be cautiously scraped through with the aid of the forceps, +till the transversalis fascia is reached; they may then be freely +divided by a probe-pointed bistoury (guarded by the finger pushed up +below the muscles) to the required extent. The muscles being held aside +by flat copper spatulæ, the fascia transversalis must be carefully +scratched through near the crest of the ilium, and thus the operator +will be enabled to push the peritoneum inwards, and by the forefinger +will easily recognise the pulsation of the artery lying on the soft brim +of the pelvis. + +A branch of the circumflex iliac artery will very likely be cut in +dissecting through the muscles, and must be secured, as also any +branches of the epigastric which may be divided in the incisions through +the abdominal wall (_ut supra_, p. 5). + +The operator should then, by pressing the peritoneum and its contents +gently inwards, endeavour to see the vessel; if, from the depth of the +pelvis, this cannot be done, the sense of touch will be in most cases +sufficient to enable him to isolate the artery by the point of his +finger-nail, or by the blunt aneurism-needle, from the vein. The +ligature should be passed from the inner side to avoid including the +vein, and thus there will be less chance of wounding the peritoneum +from the convexity of the needle being applied to it. If possible, the +genito-crural nerve should not be included in the ligature, but probably +such an accident would do no great harm. + +It is of much more consequence to avoid injuring the peritoneum. This is +sometimes very difficult, from the adhesions which are set up between +the peritoneum, the artery, and especially the aneurism, as the result +of pressure and inflammation. The accident of wounding the peritoneum +has happened to Keate, Tait, Post, and others, and in some cases with +perfect impunity. However, the peritoneum should be displaced as little +as possible from its cellular connections, as such displacement +increases the risk of diffuse inflammation of that membrane; and the +vessel itself should be raised and disturbed as little as possible, lest +destruction of the vasa vasorum cause ulceration of the weak coats and +secondary hæmorrhage. + +The operation from below (Plate I. fig. 4), SIR ASTLEY COOPER'S, is thus +described by Mr. Hodgson:[4]--"A semilunar incision is made through the +integuments in the direction of the fibres of the aponeurosis of the +external oblique muscle. One extremity of the incision will be situated +near the spine of the ilium; the other will terminate a little above the +inner margin of the abdominal ring. The aponeurosis of the external +oblique muscles will be exposed, and is to be divided throughout the +extent, and in the direction of the external wound. The flap which is +thus formed being raised, the spermatic cord will be seen passing under +the margin of the internal oblique and transverse muscles. The opening +in the fascia which lines the transverse muscle through which the +spermatic cord passes, is situated in the mid space between the anterior +superior spine of the ilium and the symphysis pubis. The epigastric +artery runs precisely along the inner margin of this opening, beneath +which the external iliac artery is situated. If the finger therefore be +passed under the spermatic cord through this opening in the fascia, it +will come in immediate contact with the artery which lies on the outside +of the external iliac vein. The artery and vein are connected by dense +cellular tissue, which must be separated to allow of the ligature being +passed round the former." + +In comparing the two methods of operating, we find that while the latter +is in some respects easier, and the vessel in it lies more superficial, +it has certain disadvantages which more than counterbalance its +advantages. Thus, first, the epigastric artery is very likely to be +wounded. It may be said, Well, if so, the ends can be tied; but this +tying is sometimes very difficult; and, as shown in Dupuytren's case of +this accident, involves considerable interference with the peritoneum, +and a possibly fatal peritonitis. Besides this, by cutting the +epigastric you destroy an important agent which would have carried on +the anastomosing circulation, and thus greatly increase the risk of +gangrene. By this method, also, the artery is exposed too near to the +seat of disease; and if found to be enlarged and involved in the +aneurism, considerable difficulty may be experienced in reaching the +upper part of the vessel. Again, ligature of the lower third or half of +the vessel, which this method implies, is dangerous from the occasional +high origin of the circumflex or epigastric, or both, rendering the +formation of a clot much more difficult, and secondary hæmorrhage much +more likely. + +The circumflex iliac vein must also be remembered, as it crosses the +artery from within outwards in the lower end of it, just before it goes +under Poupart's ligament. + +However, the method may occasionally vary with the individual case. In +every case of ligature of the great vessels of the abdomen, the bowels +should be carefully evacuated before the operation, and the bladder +emptied. A properly managed position, with the shoulders raised and the +knees semiflexed, will greatly facilitate the gaining access to the +vessel. + +In sewing up the wounds in the abdominal walls, advantage will be gained +by putting in a certain number of stitches so deeply as to include the +whole thickness of the muscles, and in the intervals between these deep +ones to insert others less deeply, so as accurately to approximate the +edges of the skin. This will both facilitate union and also render the +occurrence of hernia less probable. This latter accident did occur in a +case, otherwise successful, in which Mr. Kirby tied the external iliac. + +Both external iliacs have been tied in the same patient with success, on +at least two occasions, once by Arendt, with an interval of only eight +days between the operations; and a second time by Tait, at an interval +of rather more than eleven months. + +This operation is in the great majority of cases performed for femoral +aneurism, and naturally secondary hæmorrhage is a too frequent result. +Wounds of these great vessels generally result in so rapid death from +hæmorrhage as to give no time for surgical interference. One case, +however, is recorded,[5] in which the external iliac was cut in a lad of +seventeen by an accidental stab, and in which Drs. Layraud and Durand, +who were almost instantly on the spot, succeeded in stopping the +bleeding by compresses, till Velpeau arrived, who tied the vessel above +with perfect success. + +Of the first twenty-two cases collected by Hodgson, fifteen recovered--a +mortality of 31.81 per cent.; and of 153 in Norris's collection, +including Cutter's cases, forty-seven died--a mortality of only 32.5 per +cent.,--a very satisfactory result, considering the size of the vessel +and the importance of its relations. + + +LIGATURE OF GLUTEAL.--This vessel, though one of the branches of the +internal iliac, approaches the surface so nearly as to be occasionally +wounded. It is also, though very rarely, the subject of spontaneous +aneurism. The principle of treatment and the operation to be selected in +any given case, depends upon its origin, whether traumatic or +spontaneous. For if traumatic, the wound must almost necessarily be +accessible from the outside; the neighbouring part of the artery is +probably healthy, and hence the case can be treated by the old +operation, slitting up the tumour, and tying the vessel above and below +the wound. When the aneurism is spontaneous, there is no guide to tell +us where the aneurism may have first originated; it may be that it is +high up in the pelvis, and that the visible tumour is only its expansion +in the direction of least resistance, or the coats of the vessel may be +extensively diseased. The only chance is ligature of the internal iliac. + +1. The old operation, or ligature of the gluteal artery in the hip. + +_Anatomical Note._--The gluteal is the largest branch of the internal +iliac, and leaves the pelvis by the great sacro-sciatic notch just at +the upper edge of the pyriformis muscle. After a very short course, it +divides into superficial and deep branches opposite the posterior margin +of the glutens minimus, between it and the pyriformis muscles. + +Very precise rules have been given to enable the operator to hit on the +exact spot where the artery leaves the pelvis. These, though perhaps +interesting anatomically, are quite useless in a surgical point of view, +for the only reasons which could possibly induce a surgeon to cut down +upon the gluteal in the living body, are the existence either of a wound +of the vessel or an aneurism. In the first the flow of blood, in the +second the tumour, would give sufficient guidance. + +In cases of traumatic aneurism the operation should be something like +the following:--A free incision should be made into the tumour, dividing +it in its long direction; the contents should be rapidly scooped out, +and a finger placed on the bleeding point, just at the upper corner of +the sciatic notch. This will at once stop the hæmorrhage till the vessel +can be secured. This sounds easy enough, and has been done several times +with success. Thus, John Bell, by an incision two feet long, as he tells +us in his hyperbolical language, was enabled to tie the vessel in the +case of the leech-gatherer who had punctured the artery by a pair of +long scissors. Carmichael of Dublin used a smaller incision, removed one +or two pounds of clots, and tied the vessel, in a case of wound by a +penknife.[6] + +Now, though both of these cases were eventually successful, both +patients lost during the operation a very large quantity of blood; John +Bell's especially could not be removed from the operating-table for a +considerable time after the operation. The period at which the great +loss of blood took place was the interval after the incision was made, +and before the artery was exposed to view, _i.e._ the interval in which +the surgeon was busy dislodging the clots from the cellular membrane, +the sac of the false aneurism. The procedure devised by Mr. Syme to +obviate this difficulty, and which was put in practice by him in several +very trying cases, is best given in his own terse description of an +operation in a case of traumatic gluteal aneurism:-- + +"The patient having been rendered unconscious, and placed on his right +side, I thrust a bistoury into the tumour, over the situation of the +gluteal artery, and introduced my finger so as to prevent the blood from +flowing, except by occasional gushes, which showed what would have been +the effect of neglecting this precaution, while I searched for the +vessel. Finding it impossible to accomplish the object in this way, I +enlarged the wound by degrees sufficiently for the introduction of my +fingers in succession, until the whole hand was admitted into the +cavity, of which the orifice was still so small as to embrace the wrist +with a tightness that prevented any continuous hæmorrhage. Being now +able to explore the state of matters satisfactorily, I found that there +was a large mass of dense fibrinous coagulum firmly impacted into the +sciatic notch; and, not without using considerable force, succeeded in +disengaging the whole of this obstacle to reaching the artery, which +would have proved very serious if it had been allowed to exist after the +sac was laid open. The compact mass, which was afterwards found to be +not less than a pound in weight, having been thus detached, so that it +moved freely in the fluid contents of the sac, and the gentleman who +assisted me being prepared for the next step of the process, I ran my +knife rapidly through the whole extent of the tumour, turned out all +that was within it, and had the bleeding orifice instantly under +subjection by the pressure of a finger. Nothing then remained but to +pass a double thread under the vessel, and tie it on both sides of the +aperture." + +The bleeding in this case was thus rendered comparatively trifling, and +the patient made a speedy and complete recovery. He returned home within +six weeks after the operation.[7] + +2. In one case, at least, the gluteal artery has been tied with success +(for traumatic aneurism) just where it leaves the pelvis, without the +tumour being opened. This was in the practice of Professor Campbell of +Montreal. The operation was a very difficult one, and while possible +only in cases seen very early, and where the tumour is very small, does +not appear to have any advantage over the old method. + +Cases of spontaneous aneurism of the gluteal artery should be treated by +ligature of the internal iliac. Steven's and Syme's cases of ligature +of the internal iliac were of this nature. + +Manuals of operative surgery occasionally devote pages to the +description of special operations for the ligature of such arteries as +the sciatic, epigastric, circumflex ilii, and pudic. They do not require +ligature, except in cases of wound either of the vessels themselves or +their branches; and, according to the modern principles of surgery in +such cases, the ligature should be applied to the bleeding point, rather +than to the vessel at a distance above it. + + +LIGATURE OF FEMORAL.--Under this head we practically mean cases of +ligature of the superficial femoral, for the common femoral, or (as +called by some anatomists) the femoral, before the profunda is given +off, very rarely requires to be tied. If it is wounded, of course the +bleeding point must be sought, and the artery tied above and below it, +but if an aneurism on the superficial femoral renders ligature of that +trunk impossible, experience teaches that ligature of the external iliac +gives better results than ligature of the common femoral. Erichsen +asserts that out of twelve cases in which the common femoral has been +tied, only three have succeeded, the others dying from secondary +hæmorrhage. The experience of the Dublin surgeons, Porter, Smyly, and +Macnamara, has been more satisfactory, as in eight cases of this +operation six were successful.[8] A ninth case was unsuccessful. Reasons +to explain the danger are not far to seek, for the numerous small +muscular branches, along with the superficial epigastric, circumflex, +and pudic trunks, reduce the chances of a good coagulum in the common +femoral to a minimum, even without taking into consideration the +shortness of the trunk before the great profunda femoris is given off. +For the common femoral artery is only from one to two inches in length, +and if there are some rare cases in which it is a little later in its +bifurcation, there are others in which it divides nearer to Poupart's +ligament. + +The superficial femoral is the name given to the main trunk between the +origin of the profunda, and the point at which, passing through the +tendon of the adductor magnus, it receives the name of popliteal. During +this long course it gives off no branch large enough or regular enough +to receive a name, except one, the anastomotica magna, which rises in +Hunter's canal, close to the end of the vessel, so in that respect it is +peculiarly suitable for the application of a ligature. Again, in the +upper part of its course, it is superficial, being covered only by skin +and fascia. A short notice of its most important anatomical relations is +necessary. + +For the first two inches or two inches and a half of its separate +existence, the superficial femoral lies in Scarpa's triangle, covered, +as we said, only by skin and fascia. This triangle is formed by the +sartorius and adductor longus muscles which meet at its apex, and by +Poupart's ligament, which defines its base. The artery lies almost +exactly in the centre of the space, and at the apex is covered by the +sartorius muscle. The spot where it goes under the sartorius is the one +selected for the application of the ligature. The femoral vein lies to +the inner side of the femoral artery in this triangle, but their mutual +relations vary with the portion of the limb; for, on the level of +Poupart's ligament, the artery and vein lie side by side on the same +plane, but in different compartments of their sheath; as the artery +dives below the sartorius, the vein is still on the inside, but on a +plane slightly posterior; while, by the time they reach Hunter's canal, +the vein has got completely behind the artery. The separate compartments +of the sheath in which the vessels lie are much less marked as the +vessels go down the limb, the septum between the artery and the vein +being in most cases very ill marked, even at the level where the +ligature is applied. The anterior crural nerve, which on the level of +Poupart's ligament lay outside of the artery and on a plane somewhat +posterior, has divided into numerous branches before it reaches the +point of ligature. One of its branches requires to be mentioned, and may +sometimes be noticed and avoided during the operation, namely the +internal saphenous nerve, which, first lying external to the artery, +crosses it in front, reaching its inner side just before it enters +Hunter's canal, where it leaves the vessel accompanying the anastomotica +magna branch. + + +OPERATION OF LIGATURE OF THE FEMORAL--SCARPA'S SPACE.--The patient being +placed on his back, and being brought very thoroughly under chloroform, +the knee of the affected limb should be bent at an angle of about 120°, +and supported on a pillow. Having previously ascertained the angle of +junction of the sartorius and adductor, the surgeon should make an +incision (Plate I. fig. 5) just over the pulsations of the vessel, in +the middle line of the space, having its lower end quite over the +sartorius muscle, and its upper one, at a distance from two and a half +to three and a half inches, varying according to the amount of fat and +muscle. The saphena vein can generally be recognised, and is almost +always safe out of the way of this incision at its inner side. + +The first incision should divide the skin, superficial fascia, and fat, +quite down to the fascia lata. The edges of the wound being held apart, +the fascia should be carefully divided, and the sartorius exposed; its +fibres can generally be easily enough recognised by their oblique +direction; once recognised, the fascia should be dissected from it till +its inner edge be gained, the corner of which should then be turned so +that it may be held outwards by an assistant with a blunt hook. The +sheath of the vessels is now exposed, and after having thoroughly +satisfied himself of the position of the artery by the pulsation, the +surgeon should carefully raise a portion of the sheath with the +dissecting forceps, and open it freely enough to allow the coats of the +artery to be distinctly seen. If the parts are deep, as in a fat or +muscular patient, great advantage will be gained by seizing one edge of +the sheath by a pair of spring forceps, and committing it to the care of +an assistant, while the operator holds the other in his dissecting +forceps; there is thus no fear of losing the orifice of the sheath, +which without this precaution may easily happen, from the parts being +confused with blood, or the position altered by movements of the +patient. Now comes the stage of the operation on which, more than on +anything else, success or failure depends. A _small_ portion of the +vessel must be cleaned for the reception of the ligature, and it must be +_thoroughly_ cleaned, so that the needle may be passed round it without +bruising of the coats, or rupture of an unnecessary number of the vasa +vasorum by rough attempts to force a passage for it. Hence all +compromises, such as blunted instruments, silver knives, and the like, +are dangerous, for in trying to avoid the Scylla of wounding the artery, +they fall into the Charybdis, on the one hand, of isolating too much of +the vessel and causing gangrene from want of vascular supply, or, on the +other, expose the vein to the danger of injury by the aneurism-needle in +their attempts to force it round an uncleaned vessel. + +The needle should in most cases be passed from the inner side, care +being taken to avoid including the vein which is on the inner side and +behind the vessel; the internal saphenous nerve, if seen, should be +avoided. The needle must not be passed quite round the vessel raising it +up, still less must the vessel be held up on the needle, as used to be +done, as if the surgeon was surprised at his own success, but the needle +should be passed just far enough to expose the end of the ligature, +which must be seized by forceps and cautiously drawn through. It must +then be tied very firmly and secured with a reef knot. + +The edges of the wound must be brought into accurate apposition, and +secured by one or two stitches. If antiseptics are used, drainage should +be provided for. + +From the very fact that ligature of the superficial femoral is a +remarkably successful operation in causing consolidation of the aneurism +and a rapid cure, there is also a corresponding danger that the limb be +not sufficiently supplied with blood at first. The limb may very +possibly become cold, and remain so for some hours at least after the +operation. To avoid this as far as possible, it should be wrapped in +cotton wadding, and very great care should be taken that it be not +over-stimulated by hot applications, friction, or the like, any of which +measures might very likely excite reaction, which would result in +gangrene. + +Complete rest of the limb and of the whole body must be enjoined; the +food must be nourishing and in moderate quantity. The chief danger is +from gangrene of the limb, which is especially apt to result when the +vein is wounded, or even too much handled during the operation. + +When properly performed, and in suitable cases, the operation is very +successful. Mr. Syme tied this artery for aneurism thirty-seven times, +and of these every one recovered. The statistics of Norris and Porta, +who collected all the cases in which ligature of the femoral had been +employed for _any_ cause, show a mortality of somewhat less than one in +four. Rabe's table up to 1869 with the additional cases collected by Mr. +Barwell to 1880 gives 297 cases with 53 deaths.[9] Mr. Hutchinson's +table, again, of fifty cases collected from the records of Metropolitan +Hospitals, shows the very startling result of sixteen deaths out of the +fifty cases, or a mortality, in round numbers, of one-third. + +Certain anomalies have been observed in the distribution of the femoral +vessels, of some importance as affecting the possibility of applying, +and the result of, ligature; such as--1. A high division of the branches +which afterwards become posterior tibial and peroneal. 2. A double +superficial femoral, both branches of which may unite and form the +popliteal, as in Sir Charles Bell's well-known case. 3. Absence of the +artery altogether, as in Manec's case, where the popliteal was a +continuation of an immensely enlarged sciatic. + +In such a case the absence of pulsation in front, and the presence of +increased pulsation behind the limb, ought to prevent any fruitless +attempt at search. + + +LIGATURE OF THE SUPERFICIAL FEMORAL BELOW THE SARTORIUS MUSCLE.--This +operation, though once common in France, and though the one recommended +by Hunter himself, is now comparatively little used in this country; and +rightly so; for while it has no advantage over the upper position, it is +at once nearer the seat of disease, and the vessel is more deeply buried +under muscles, and has a more distinct fibrous sheath, which requires +division. + +It is, however, by no means a difficult operation, and is thus +performed:-- + +The limb being laid as before on the outside, and slightly bent, the +skin shaved and the pulsation of the artery detected, an incision (Plate +I. fig. 6) must be made from the lower edge of the sartorius muscle just +as it crosses the vessel, along the course of the vessel, avoiding if +possible the internal saphena vein. + +The sartorius when exposed must be drawn inwards. The fibrous canal +filling the interspace between the abductor magnus and vastus internus +is then recognised, and must be fairly opened; the artery is now seen +lying in it, and over the vein which is posterior to it, but projects +slightly on its outer side; the internal saphenous nerve is lying on the +artery. The needle is best passed from without inwards so as to avoid +the vein. The anastomotica magna is sometimes a large trunk, and has +been mistaken for the femoral in this situation, and tied instead of it. + + +LIGATURE OF THE POPLITEAL.--This operation is now hardly ever performed +for aneurism, ligature of the superficial femoral having quite +superseded it, and it is very rarely required for wounds, from the +manner in which the vessel is protected by its position. + +Before the invention of the Hunterian principle of ligature at a +distance, the old operation for popliteal aneurism consisted in cutting +into the space, clearing out the contents of the aneurismal sac, and +tying both ends of the vessel; from the depth of parts and the close +connection of the popliteal vein, this operation was very rarely +successful, and is now quite given up. If the vessel is wounded the +bleeding point is the object to be aimed at, and is generally sufficient +guide. + +In cases of hæmorrhage for suppuration of an aneurismal sac, it might +possibly be advisable, and there are certain cases of rupture of the +artery, without the existence of an external wound, in which attempts +have been made to save the limb by tying the vessel.[10] From the +complexity of the parts, the numerous tendons, veins, and nerves crowded +together in a narrow hollow, and chiefly from the great depth at which +the artery lies, any attempt at ligature is very difficult. It is least +so at the lower angle of the space, where, between the heads of the +gastrocnemius, the vessel comes more to the surface, but is still +overlapped by muscle. + +_Operation._--The patient lying on his face, a straight incision (Plate +III. fig. 1), at least four inches in length, should be made over the +artery, and thus nearer the inner than the outer hamstring; a strong +fibrous aponeurosis will require division after the skin and superficial +fascia are cut through, the limb is then to be flexed, and the tendons +drawn aside with strong retractors; fat and lymphatic glands must next +be dissected through, and then the vein and artery, lying on a sort of +sheath of condensed cellular tissue, are seen, the vein lying above the +artery and obscuring it. The vein must be drawn to the outside, and the +thread passed round the artery, which lies close to the bone, on the +ligamentum posticum of Winslowe. + +It is a very difficult subject to decide what operations should be +described in a work of this character, on the vessels of the leg and +foot. A very large number of distinct methods of operations on the +various parts of the three chief arteries of the leg have been described +by surgeons and anatomists, but specially by the latter. + +The fact is, however, that these complicated procedures are rarely +required, for aneurisms of the arteries of the leg and foot are almost +unknown, while in cases of wound of the vessel, or rupture resulting in +traumatic aneurism, the proper treatment is not to tie the vessel higher +up, but by dilating the wound and clearing out the clots, if required, +to secure the bleeding point, and tie the vessel above and below. + +Again, a wound of the sole of the foot often gives rise to very severe +and persistent hæmorrhage, while the fasciæ and complicated tendons +render ligature of the vessel at the spot very difficult; yet ligature +of either the anterior or posterior tibial would probably be +insufficient; and to tie both these vessels, with possibly the peroneal +and interosseous as well, would be a much more severe and dangerous +procedure than ligature of the superficial femoral; while probably +careful plugging of the wound, combined with flexion of the knee, will +be found to stop the hæmorrhage sooner than either of the more +formidable methods. + +A competent knowledge of the anatomy of the part, and of the ordinary +methods of checking hæmorrhage, such as ligatures, graduated compresses, +and styptics, aided by position, specially flexion of the knee after Mr. +Ernest Hart's method, will suffice to enable the surgeon to check any +hæmorrhage of the foot or leg, without it being necessary to burden the +memory with the three positions in which to tie the peroneal, or the +various methods, more or less bloody and tedious, by which the posterior +tibial in its upper third may be secured. + + NOTE.--While, as a matter of surgical principle to guide our + practice on the living, I still hold very strongly the opinions + here expressed against special operations for ligature of the + arteries of the leg, and allow the sentences to stand as in the + first edition of this work, I insert in a note a brief description + of the more important ones, in deference to the advice of friends + and the urgent request of pupils, as these operations are used by + Examining Boards as tests of the operative dexterity of + candidates:-- + + 1. ANTERIOR TIBIAL ARTERY IN LOWER HALF OF LEG.--_Anatomical + Note._--This vessel is related on its tibial side to the tibialis + anticus, and on its fibular, to the extensor longus digitorum + above, and the extensor pollicis below. The anterior tibial nerve + lies first on its outer side, then crosses the artery, and + eventually reaches its inner side near the foot. _Operation._--An + incision, at least three inches long, parallel with the outer edge + of the tibia, and about three-quarters of an inch from it, exposes + the deep fascia. This being divided, the outer edge of the tibialis + anticus must be found, and will be the guide to the artery, which, + surrounded by its venæ comites, lies very deeply between the + muscles. + + 2. Posterior Tibial.--_A._ In middle third of leg. Here the artery + is separated from the inner border of the tibia, by the flexor + longus digitorum, and is covered by the soleus. _Operation._--An + incision at least four inches long, along the inner margin of the + tibia, exposes the edge of the gastroenemius; then divide the + tendinous attachment, then expose the soleus, and divide its + attachment also; the deep fascia will then be seen; slit it up, and + the vessel will be found about an inch internal to the edge of the + bone. The nerve is there just crossing it. + + Guthrie's, or the direct operation, has the very high authority of + the late Professor Spence in its favour. An incision through skin + and fascia in the middle of the back of the leg allows the two + heads of the gastrocnemius to be separated to the same extent. The + soleus is then to be scraped through in same direction, and its + deep aponeurotic surface carefully slit up. The artery and vein are + then easily seen. + + B. In lower third of leg.--This is an easier and more scientific + operation, as it does not involve the division of great tendons. An + incision midway between the internal malleolus and the tendo + Achillis, parallel with both, will expose the very deep and strong + fascia in which the tendons lie. The artery, with its venæ comites, + occupies a central position, having the tendons of the tibialis + posticus and flexor communis in front between it and the internal + malleolus, and the posterior tibial nerve behind it, while the + flexor longus pollicis lies still nearer the tendo Achillis. + + + TABLE illustrating anastomotic circulation after ligature of + arteries of lower limb. + + 1. AORTA.--Epigastric and mammary of both sides. Hæmorrhoidal and + spermatic, with branches of pudic both deep and superficial. + + 2. COMMON ILIAC.--Internal iliac and branches, with those of the + other side, along with the following:-- + + 3. EXTERNAL ILIAC.--Internal mammary and deep epigastric. + + Iliolumbar and lumbar branches of aorta, with deep circumflex ilii. + + Pudic from internal iliac, with superficial pudic of common + femoral. + + Gluteal, sciatic, and obturator, with the circumflex and + perforating branches or deep femoral. + + 4. FEMORAL.--External circumflex, with external articular of + popliteal. + + Perforating, with branches of gluteal and sciatic. + + Profunda branches with anastomotica and articular branches. + + Obturator and internal circumflex with anastomotica and superior + internal articular. + + NOTE.--The importance of the articular branches of the popliteal + explain the danger of gangrene after a sudden rupture or increase + in size of a popliteal aneurism. + + +LIGATURE OF THE INNOMINATE.--The performance of this extremely +dangerous, in fact almost hopeless operation, is by no means so +difficult as might be expected. + +The patient lying down with the shoulders raised and head thrown well +back, the sternal attachment of the right sterno-mastoid must be very +freely exposed. This may be done by an incision (Plate I. fig. 7) along +its anterior edge from the upper edge of the sternum, as far as may be +necessary; another about the same length along the upper edge of the +clavicle, will meet the former at an acute angle, and will include a +triangular flap of skin, which must be carefully dissected up. The +sternal, and probably a portion of the clavicular attachment of the +right sterno-mastoid, must then be cautiously divided. This being done, +the sterno-hyoid and sterno-thyroid muscles require division immediately +above their sternal attachments. + +A dense process of cervical fascia (just becoming thoracic) now covers +the vessel, binding it on the right side to the right innominate vein, +and on the left maintaining the relation of the innominate artery to the +trachea. The inferior thyroid veins lie on this fascia, and must be +drawn aside, not cut. The fascia is then to be scraped through very +cautiously, exposing the root of the right carotid, which, being traced +downwards, will lead to the innominate. The following parts lie in close +relation to the vessel at the point of ligature, and must be +avoided:--1. The left innominate vein crosses the artery in front from +left to right, and must be drawn down. 2. The right innominate vein and +right pneumogastric are in close contact with the artery on the right +side; to avoid them the aneurism-needle must be entered on the outside +(right of the vessel). 3. The apex of the right pleura and the trachea +are in close contact behind, requiring the point of the needle to be +kept close to the artery in bringing the thread round. + +It might have been expected that the sudden arrest of so large a +proportion of the vascular supply of the body, so very near the heart, +would cause serious, or even fatal symptoms; this, however, is not the +case, no serious inconvenience of this sort being experienced; yet +hitherto every case has proved fatal, either from secondary hæmorrhage +or inflammation of lungs and pleura. + +In fifteen well-authenticated, and in three more doubtful cases, the +ligature has been applied; all of these died at periods varying from +twelve hours (as in Hutin's case), to forty-two days as in Thomson's, +and sixty-seven days (Graefe's).[11] + +A successful case of ligature of the innominate along with the right +carotid and (after secondary hæmorrhage) the right vertebral, in a +mulatto aged thirty-two, for a subclavian aneurism, has been put on +record by Dr. Smyth of New Orleans, in the _American Journal of Medical +Science_ for July 1866. + +And here we may also note that Mr. Heath has lately treated a case of +innominate aneurism by simultaneous ligature of the third part of the +subclavian and the carotid. Both ligatures separated on the eighteenth +day, and the tumour was much smaller some months afterwards.[12] + +Mr. R. Barwell has reported several most interesting cases in which +simultaneous ligature of carotid and subclavian have proved of marked +benefit in aortic as well as in innominate aneurisms.[13] + +In four cases the operation was attempted, but the operators had to +desist before the application of the ligature, in consequence of the +diseased state of the arterial coats. Of these, three died, and one +(Professor Porter's of Dublin) case recovered, the patient leaving the +hospital with the aneurism nearly consolidated. + +Dr. Peixotto of Portugal applied a precautionary ligature to the +innominate in a case where secondary hæmorrhage occurred from the +carotid. The ligature was not tightened beyond what was necessary merely +to cause flattening of the vessel. The patient made a good recovery. + +Professor George Porter of Dublin records an interesting case of +subclavian aneurism, in which, after failing to close the axillary +artery by acupressure, he applied L'Estrange's compressor to the +innominate itself for three days, with temporary benefit. The patient +eventually died of hæmorrhage.[14] + +For a very full and interesting account of ligatures of vessels in root +of neck we may refer to vol. iii. of the 1883 edition of _Holmes' +Surgery_, pp. 119-122. + + +LIGATURE OF COMMON CAROTID.--Though the anatomical relations of the +right and left carotid are different at their origin, they so precisely +resemble each other in the whole of that part of their course which is +at all amenable to surgical treatment, that one description will suffice +for both, and the necessary anatomy will be brought out quite +sufficiently in the description of each operation. + +From its giving off no collateral branches, the common carotid artery +may be tied at any part of its course. + +It has been tied successfully at the distance of only three-quarters, +or, in one case by Porter, hardly to be imitated, one-eighth of an inch +from the innominate, and up to an equal distance from its bifurcation. +In choosing the part of the vessel for operation, the operator must be +guided by the position of the aneurism, if on the vessel itself, but if +the aneurism be distant, as in scalp or orbit, he need have regard to +position simply as facilitating the operation. + +The easiest position in which to apply the ligature is just above the +omohyoid muscle, the vessel being there superficial. + + +LIGATURE ABOVE OMOHYOID.--Using the anterior border of the +sterno-mastoid as a guide, but leaving it gradually above to a little +nearer the mesial line, an incision (Plate IV. fig. 1), varying in +length according to the depth of fat and cellular tissue in the neck, +but with its central point opposite the upper border of the cricoid +cartilage, must be made through skin, platysma, and superficial fascia. +While making the incision the head should be held back, and the face +slightly turned to the opposite side; the parts being now relaxed by +position, the edges of the wound must be held apart by blunt hooks or +copper spatulæ, and the deep fascia carefully divided over the vessel, +which will be recognised by the pulsation. It may be noted here that +even in thin subjects the sterno-mastoid edge _invariably_ overlaps the +vessel, though in many anatomical diagrams it would appear to be in part +subcutaneous. + +The descendens noni may possibly be seen, but this is by no means +invariably the case, crossing the sheath of the vessel very gradually +from without inwards in its progress down the neck. It must be carefully +displaced outwards. + +The sheath of the vessel is then to be cautiously opened to the extent +of about half an inch. The internal jugular vein, possibly much +distended, may overlap the artery on its outer side, and will require to +be pressed, emptied, and held out of the way. A small portion of the +artery being thoroughly separated from the sheath, the aneurism-needle +must be passed from without inwards to avoid the vein, and keep as close +to the artery as possible to avoid the vagus. + +The tendon of the omohyoid muscle, or, in muscular subjects, a portion +of its anterior fleshy belly, may be seen crossing the vessel from +above downwards and outwards at the lower angle of the wound. + +An enlarged lymphatic gland has occasionally given much trouble, by +being mistaken for the vessel and cleaned, while the ligature has even +been placed on a carefully isolated fasciculus of muscular fibres. + + +LIGATURE OF CAROTID BELOW THE OMOHYOID.--An incision in precisely the +same direction as the former, but at a slightly lower level, is +required, but the dissection is rather more difficult. The edge of the +sterno-mastoid when exposed must be drawn outwards; the sterno-hyoid and +thyroid inwards; the omohyoid upwards; the sheath opened, and the +descendens noni or its branches drawn to the tracheal side. The jugular +vein and vagus are both at the outer side, and must be avoided, while +the inferior thyroid artery and sympathetic nerve both lie behind the +vessel, and may be included in the ligature if care be not taken. + + VARIETIES.--_Sedillot's Operation._--To secure the artery still + lower in the neck: An incision two and a half inches long, from the + inner end of the clavicle obliquely upwards and outwards in the + interval between the sternal and clavicular attachments of the + sterno-mastoid; this divides the superficial textures; the two + portions of muscle must then be drawn apart. The internal jugular + vein lies in the interval, and must be drawn to the outside before + the artery can be seen at all, and it is this that makes this + operation very difficult and dangerous, especially on the left + side, where the vein is close to the artery, and probably even + crossing it from left to right. The thoracic duct is behind. + + _Malgaigne's modification of the above_ is an improvement: to + expose the external attachment of the muscle, to cut it through and + turn it to the outside, as in the operation for ligature of the + innominate, then to divide or pull inwards sterno-hyoid and + sterno-thyroid, thus exposing the sheath. The needle must be passed + from without inwards. + +_Results._--Pilz has collected 600 cases, of which 43.16 per cent. died. +The united tables of Norris and Wood give 188 cases, with a mortality of +sixty, or nearly one in three. These tables include cases in which the +vessel was tied for wounds, and as a preparatory step in the operation +of removal of tumours of the jaw, etc. Later statistics give a very much +lessened mortality, due chiefly to the use of animal ligatures. + +Of thirty-one cases in which it was tied for pulsating tumours of the +orbit, only two died from the operation.[15] Rivington's statistics to a +later date give forty-six cases on forty-four patients with six deaths. + +Both carotids have been tied in the same patient twenty-five times, at +intervals of less than a year; and it is a very remarkable fact that +only five of these fifty ligatures proved fatal,--two in which both were +tied on the same day, and three in which the operation was performed to +arrest hæmorrhage from malignant disease of the face and jaws--from +gunshot wound,--and from syphilitic ulceration. + +The external carotid, and also most of its principal branches, have been +tied for aneurisms, wounds, goitres, enlargement of the tongue, vascular +tumours on occiput and other lesions; also as a first stage in the +operation of extirpation of the upper jaw, for the purpose of preventing +hæmorrhage. However, such operations are rare, and will probably become +rarer still, and it is hardly necessary to describe the operations on +each _seriatim_. + +Aneurism of the external carotid or branches are rare; if idiopathic, +ligature of the common carotid will be found at once easier, not more +dangerous, and more effectual than ligature of the branch; if traumatic, +the aneurism itself should be attacked, and the bleeding point secured +by a double ligature. Wounds are common enough, but if accessible at +all, the injured vessel should be tied at the bleeding point; if +inaccessible (and under this head we may include wounds of the internal +carotid), the common carotid must be tied. + +No one would think of trying the superior thyroids for goitre, unless +they were so manifestly enlarged, tortuous, and pulsating, as to render +the operation so simple (from their superficial position) as to require +no special directions; besides this, the cases in which it has been +already done have given very little encouragement to repeat it. + +As cases may occur in which any diminution of the cerebral supply is +contra-indicated, and thus the more difficult ligature of the external +carotid may be preferred to the more simple operation on the common +trunk, and as the lingual may require ligature near its root, in +consequence of obstinate hæmorrhage from the tongue, short directions +are given for the performance of both these operations. + + +1. LIGATURE OF EXTERNAL CAROTID.--Head in same position as for the +common carotid. A straight incision parallel with the anterior edge of +sterno-mastoid, but about half an inch in front of it, must begin almost +at angle of jaw, and extend downwards nearly to the level of the thyroid +cartilage. Cautiously divide skin, platysma, and fascia; the lower end +of the parotid must be pulled upwards, and the veins, which are +numerous, cautiously separated. The anterior border of the +sterno-mastoid must be pulled backwards, and the digastric and +stylo-hyoid forwards and inwards. The superior laryngeal nerve which +lies behind the vessel must be avoided. + + +2. LIGATURE OF LINGUAL.--To secure this vessel either before it becomes +concealed by the hyo-glossus, or after it is under the muscle, a curved +incision is necessary, following the line of the hyoid bone, and +especially of its greater cornu, but a line or two above its upper +border. After the skin and platysma are divided, the posterior belly of +the digastric must be recognised, which again will guide to the +posterior edge of the hyo-glossus. The edge of the sub-maxillary gland +may very probably require to be raised out of the way. The artery can +then be secured, either before it dips under the hyo-glossus muscle, or +after it has done so, by the division of a few of its fibres on a +director. Care is needed to avoid injury of the hypo-glossal nerve, +which lies above the muscle. + +The internal carotid artery occasionally, but very rarely, is the +subject of aneurism. It may, like any other artery, be wounded, +especially from the fauces. The treatment of either of these lesions is +ligature of the common carotid itself, in preference to ligature of the +internal carotid. Guthrie's operation for securing the bleeding internal +carotid at the injured spot, by dividing and turning up the ramus of the +lower jaw, has never been performed in the living body, and is so +difficult, dangerous, and unnecessary, as not to merit description. + + +LIGATURE OF SUBCLAVIAN.--_Note._--In consequence of the difference in +the origin, and variety in the anatomical relations of the right and +left subclavian arteries, in so far at least as their first stage is +concerned, it is necessary to give a very brief separate account of +each. + +_Right Subclavian._--The innominate artery divides into the right +subclavian and right carotid exactly behind the sterno-clavicular +articulation. The right subclavian extends from this point in an arched +form across the neck, between the scalene muscles, over the apex of the +pleura, till, passing under cover of the clavicle, it changes its name +to axillary at the lower end of the first rib. For convenience of +description, the artery is divided into three parts, which have very +various anatomical relations, and differ from each other much in their +amenability to surgical treatment by ligature. The anterior scalenus +muscle defines the three parts, the first extending to the inner border +of the muscle, the second being concealed by the muscle, and the third +reaching from its outer border to the lower border of the first rib. + +_Branches of the Subclavian._--While the deep relations of pleura, +veins, and nerves can be noticed under the head of each operation in +detail, one anatomical point must never be forgotten as influencing very +much the success of all surgical interference with the subclavian +arteries--_i.e._ the branches given off. To give any chance of success +in the application of a ligature to such a large vessel, so near the +heart, a large portion of artery free from branches is required, that +the clot may be long, firm, and undisturbed. The first part of the +subclavian gives off the vertebral, thyroid axis, and internal mammary; +the second, the superior intercostal; while the third part has in most +cases no branch whatever. In these anatomical differences we find the +reason for the almost invariable fatality resulting on any interference +with the first and second parts, and the comparative safety of ligature +of the third part, without requiring to account for the difference on +other grounds, such as depth of part, importance of nervous relations, +or nearer proximity to the heart. + +The second and third parts of both arteries are so similar to each +other, that a separate account is not required for the two sides. + + +LIGATURE OF RIGHT SUBCLAVIAN.--_First Part._--_Operation._--An incision +just at upper edge of sternum and right clavicle, extending from inner +edge of _left_ sterno-mastoid transversely to outer border of right +sterno-mastoid through skin, platysma, and exposing sterno-mastoid, to +be joined at an angle by a second incision, which, two, three, or even +four inches long, must extend along inner border of right +sterno-mastoid. Flap to be raised upwards and outwards. The sternal +attachment of the sterno-mastoid must then be cautiously divided, as +also part or the whole of its clavicular attachment, according as room +is required. The sterno-hyoid and thyroid muscles will then require +similar division. The internal jugular will then be seen very +prominent,[16] and will require to be drawn inwards or outwards, +according to circumstances. The carotid and right subclavian arteries +will then be felt lying close together crossed by the pneumogastric and +recurrent nerves, the latter turning behind the subclavian. The nerves +must be drawn inwards; the cardiac filaments of the sympathetic will +then be observed, and drawn outwards. The subclavian vein lies below, +concealed by the clavicle, and will probably not be seen during the +operation. The needle should be passed round the artery from below +upwards, care being taken not to injure the pleura, which lies beneath +and behind the artery. + +_Results._--Twelve cases, all of which died; ten of hæmorrhage, one of +pleurisy and pericarditis, and one from pyæmia. Attempted in one case by +Mr. Butcher, but the artery was too much diseased to bear a ligature. +The patient died on the fourth day. + + +LIGATURE OF LEFT SUBCLAVIAN.--_First Part._--This operation, which has +been described by some as impossible, has, I believe, been only once +performed on the living body. _Operation._--Incisions as for the +preceding operation, except being on the opposite side. After the skin, +platysma, and muscles have been divided, as already described, the deep +cervical fascia requires division close to the inner edge of the +scalenus anticus. The artery lies excessively deep, and great difficulty +is experienced in avoiding injury to the pleura and the thoracic duct. + +_Results._--Once performed by Dr. Rodgers of New York; death from +hæmorrhage on fifteenth day. + +_Anatomical Note._--The course of the left subclavian in its first stage +is much straighter, as its origin is much deeper, than on the right +side. The pneumogastric, phrenic, and cardiac nerves lie parallel to its +course; the oesophagus and thoracic duct lie behind it, and to its inner +side. + + +LIGATURE OF SUBCLAVIAN.--_Second Part._--This very rare operation hardly +requires a separate description, as the incisions necessary for ligature +of the artery in its third part will, with very slight modifications, be +sufficient for the purpose. + +It has, however, special elements of danger in it, involved in the +unavoidable division, of part at least, or probably the whole, of the +scalenus anticus. The phrenic nerve, from its position on that muscle, +requires special care to avoid dividing it, and in most cases the +internal jugular vein is also in the way. The branches of the thyroid +axis, which cross the neck, are quite in the line of the incision. The +lowest cord of the brachial plexus lies immediately behind the artery, +between it and the middle scalenus. The pleura lies just below it. The +subclavian vein is generally quite safe, running in front of the +scalenus anticus, and at a lower level. + +The presence of the superior intercostal branch adds greatly to the +danger of ligature of the vessel in this position, from its interfering +with a proper clot. + +_Results._--Dupuytren[17] performed it successfully for a traumatic +axillary aneurism. Auchincloss[18] did it for a large true aneurism, but +the patient died sixty-eight and a half hours after the operation. +Liston cut through the outer portion of the scalenus with success for an +idiopathic aneurism. Thirteen have been collected by Wyeth with four +recoveries and nine deaths. + + +LIGATURE OF SUBCLAVIAN.--_Third Part._--For this comparatively common +operation, various methods of procedure have been suggested and +employed. + +In the dead body, where the axilla is free from swelling, and in thin +patients, the artery in this third stage is tolerably superficial, and +can be secured with ease. But in very muscular men, with short necks and +well curved clavicles, and specially when the axilla is filled up with +an aneurism, and the shoulder cannot be depressed, the operation becomes +very difficult. + +_Operation of Ramsden, Liston, and Syme._--_Position._--The patient +lying on his back with his shoulders supported by pillows, and his head +lying back, and drawn to the opposite side; the shoulder of the affected +side must be depressed as much as possible. + +_Incisions._--(Plate I. fig. 8.)--One through skin, superficial fascia, +and platysma, along the upper edge of the clavicle, for at least three +inches from the anterior edge of the trapezius to the posterior border +of the sterno-mastoid, and in muscular subjects freely overlapping the +edges of both muscles. Another two inches in length along posterior +border of sterno-mastoid meets the first at an angle. On reflecting the +chief flap thus made upwards and backwards, the external jugular will be +seen, and, if possible, must be drawn to a side; if not, it must be +divided, and both ends tied. The lower edge of the posterior belly of +the omohyoid must then be sought; this leads at once to the posterior or +outer margin of the scalenus anticus. The connection of the deep fascia +to that muscle must then be very carefully scraped through, and by +tracing the muscle to its insertion to the first rib, the artery is at +once reached, lying behind the insertion. The pulsation of the vessel +between the forefinger and the first rib will prove a great assistance; +yet care is required, lest one of the branches of the brachial plexus be +secured instead of the artery. The lowest cord lies very close to the +vessel. The subclavian vein is not likely to give much trouble, from +its being on a lower level, and (unless very much dilated) nearly +concealed by the clavicle. The suprascapular artery is also hidden, but +the transverse cervical crosses the very line of incision, and may give +trouble, being occasionally much enlarged, so much so as even for a time +to have been mistaken for the subclavian itself. If possible, both these +branches should be saved, as being important means of carrying on the +anastomosis for the future support of the limb. + +An absorbent gland is occasionally in the way, and has even been +mistaken for the vessel and carefully cleaned. Such may be removed +without scruple. + +Care must be taken not to injure the pleura, which lies immediately +behind and below the vessel at the seat of ligature. Various +instrumental devices have been invented for passing the ligature. The +simplest seems still to be best, a common aneurism-needle with a +considerable curve. + + _Other methods of operating._--A single curved incision above the + clavicle, with its concavity upwards, of about three or four inches + long, with its inner end rather higher than the outer (Green, + Fergusson). + + A linear transverse incision in the same situation (Velpeau). + + A single linear incision perpendicular to the clavicle (Roux). + + An arched incision (Plate IV. fig. 2) with its convexity outwards, + and its base on the posterior edge of the sterno-mastoid, from + three inches above the clavicle to the clavicular attachment of the + muscle (Skey). + +_Results._--Dr. Wyeth's Tables in 1877 give 251 cases with 134 or 53 per +cent. of deaths. + + The late Mr. Furner of Brighton reported a most interesting case, + in which he tied both subclavian arteries at an interval of two + years in the same patient, for axillary aneurisms, with success. + + +LIGATURE OF AXILLARY.--_Anatomical Note._--This vessel, the next stage +in the continuation of the subclavian downwards, may be defined +surgically as extending from the clavicle to the lower border of the +teres major. From the depth of the vessel at its upper part, the +numerous nerves, and the close proximity of the vein, the surgeon has +carefully to study the anatomical relations. It, like the subclavian, is +commonly divided into three stages, and, also like the subclavian, these +stages are defined by the relations of the artery to a muscle, the +pectoralis minor. Surgically we may draw a very close parallel between +the two vessels, for we find that in the axillary, as in the subclavian, +the first stage is very deep, and very rarely amenable to ligature; the +second, still deeper and more rarely attempted, as in both the operation +involves division of a deep muscle; while the third stage in each is the +one most frequently chosen by the surgeon. + +_First Stage._--Between the lower edge of the first rib and upper border +of the pectoralis minor the vessel is deeply seated, contained in that +process of deep fascia called the costo-coracoid membrane, and covered +above by skin, platysma, and the clavicular portion of the pectoralis +major. It lies on the first intercostal muscle and the upper digitation +of the serratus magnus, while the cords of the brachial plexus are on +its acromial side, and the axillary vein in close contact with it on its +thoracic side, and frequently overlapping the artery. + +_Operation._--The great desideratum is free access. An incision (Plate +I. fig. 9), semilunar in shape, with its convexity downwards, must +extend from half an inch outside of the sterno-clavicular articulation +to very near the coracoid process, stopping just before it arrives at +the edge of the deltoid, in order to avoid injury of the cephalic vein. +It must include skin, fascia, and platysma, and the flap must be thrown +upwards. The clavicular portion of the pectoralis major must then be +divided right across its fibres, which will retract. The arm must then +be brought close to the side to relax the pectoralis minor, which must +be drawn aside. The artery will then be felt pulsating, but hidden by +the costo-coracoid membrane, which acts as its sheath. This must be +carefully scratched through, the nerves pulled outwards, the vein +avoided and pulled downwards and inwards, and the thread passed round +from within outwards. (Manec, Hodgson, and, with slight modification in +the incision through the skin, Chamberlaine.) + + Ligature has been performed in this position by separating the + pectoralis and deltoid muscles, without dividing the muscular + fibres (Roux, Desault). + + To attempt to gain access between the clavicular and sternal + portions of pectoralis major, as has been proposed by some, is + almost impracticable in the living body, from the position of the + vein, to which, rather than to the artery, this incision leads. + + +LIGATURE OF AXILLARY, _in its second stage_, is not an advisable +operation, when it is merely intended to throw a ligature round the +artery for an aneurism lower down. + +It has been performed at least twice by Delpech, but it is a rude +procedure; in his cases, after the muscle was cut, a dive with the +finger was made to collect the whole mass of vessels and nerves, and +bring them to the surface near the collar-bone; in this position it is +said the artery was easily isolated and tied. + +In Mr. Syme's operation of cutting into large axillary aneurisms, and +tying both ends of the vessel, the pectoralis minor may, indeed +generally has, to be divided, and must take its chance without any +special notice or precaution, in the sweeping, free incisions required. + + +LIGATURE OF AXILLARY _in its third stage_.--This is an operation very +much more common, more easy of accomplishment, and safer in its results +than either of the preceding; the artery in this stage being more +superficial, in fact almost subcutaneous. + +_Operation._--The arm being extended and supinated, an incision (Plate +I. fig. 10) two and a half or three inches long, must be made in the +base of the axilla over the artery, involving at first skin and +superficial fascia only; the deep fascia is then exposed and must be +carefully scraped through, avoiding injury of the basilic vein, if (as +sometimes occurs) it has not yet dipped through the fascia. The vessel +can now be felt; the median nerve which lies over the artery, or +slightly to its outer side, must be drawn outwards, and the axillary +vein, which lies at the thoracic side, but often overlaps the vessel, +must be carefully drawn inwards. The ligature must then be passed from +within outwards. + +When the patient is very fat or muscular, the coraco-brachialis muscle +may be required as a guide to the vessel; but in general its superficial +position renders any guide quite unnecessary, even in the dead body. + +_Anatomical Note._--While in each stage the axillary artery gives off +branches, those arising from the third stage are by far the most +important, especially the subscapular, which leaves it at the edge of +the muscle of the same name. To avoid these the ligature should be +applied as low down on the vessel as possible, and, in point of fact, +the operation called ligature of the third stage of the axillary is, +anatomically speaking, really ligature of the brachial high up, and +where there is room at all, there will be the less chance of secondary +hæmorrhage, the greater the distance is between the ligature and the +great subscapular branch. + +_Mr. Syme's Operation for Axillary Aneurism._--Description of the +operation in his own words:-- + +"Chloroform being administered, I made an incision along the outer edge +of the sterno-mastoid muscle, through the platysma myoides and fascia of +the neck, so as to allow a finger to be pushed down to the situation +where the subclavian artery issues from under the scalenus anticus and +lies upon the first rib. I then opened the tumour, when a tremendous +gush of blood showed that the artery was not effectually compressed; +but while I plugged the aperture with my hand, Mr. Lister, who assisted +me, by a slight movement of his finger, which had been thrust deeply +under the upper edge of the tumour, and through the clots contained in +it, at length succeeded in getting command of the vessel. I then laid +the cavity freely open, and with both hands scooped out nearly seven +pounds of coagulated blood, as was ascertained by measurement. The +axillary artery appeared to have been torn across, and as the lower +orifice still bled freely, I tied it in the first instance. I next cut +through the lessor pectoral muscle close up to the clavicle, and holding +the upper end of the vessel between my finger and thumb, passed an +aneurism-needle, so as to apply a ligature about half an inch above the +orifice."[19] + +In a similar operation lately performed by the author for traumatic +aneurism, the result of a stab, very little blood was lost, though no +incision was made above the clavicle. The patient made a good +recovery.[20] + + +LIGATURE OF BRACHIAL.--To arrest hæmorrhage from a wound of the artery +itself, no special directions are required, except to enlarge the wound, +and secure the vessel above and below the bleeding point. There are, +however, rare cases in which for bleeding in the palm (after all other +means have failed), or for aneurism lower down the arm, a ligature may +be necessary. + +_Operation._--The biceps muscle, at its inner edge, is the best guide to +the position of the incision, or if it be obscured by fat or oedema, a +line extending from the axilla, just over the head of the humerus to the +middle of the bend of the elbow will define its course. An incision +(Plate I., fig. 11) three inches in length, about the middle of the arm +(when you have the choice of position), through skin and superficial +fascia, will expose the deep fascia, and probably the basilic vein. +Drawing the latter aside, cautiously divide the deep fascia. The artery +is then exposed, but in close relation to various nerves; of these the +ones most likely to come in the way are--1. The median, which lies in +front of, but a little to the outside of the artery, though in some rare +cases it lies behind it; 2. The internal cutaneous; 3. The ulnar, both +of which ought to be rather to the inside of the artery. Two brachial +veins accompany and wind round the vessel, occasionally interlacing. +Pulsation will, in the living body, usually suffice to distinguish the +artery from the other textures, and the ligature may be passed from +whichever side is most convenient. + + _Note._--The relation of the median nerve to the vessel varies + according to the part of the arm--thus, as low as the insertion of + the coraco-brachialis it is to the outer side, as has been + described, it then crosses the vessel obliquely, and two inches + above the elbow it is on the inner side of the artery. Again, the + operator must never forget the possibility of there being a high + division of the artery. This occurs, Mr. Quain has shown, perhaps + once in every ten or eleven cases, and may necessitate ligature of + both trunks. + +In those cases (once much more frequent than at present) where an +aneurism has formed after a wound of the brachial at the bend of the arm +in venesection, the aneurism may be either circumscribed or diffuse. + +If circumscribed, it is advised by some surgeons, specially by the late +Professor Colles of Dublin, that the brachial should be tied immediately +above the tumour. In most cases of circumscribed, and in all such cases +of diffuse aneurism, the preferable operation is boldly to lay open the +tumour, turn out all the clots, seek for the wound in the artery, and +tie the vessel above and below. A tourniquet above, or, better still, a +trustworthy assistant, prevents all fear of hæmorrhage, and such a +radical operation exposes the limb to far less chance of gangrene than +do any attempts at removing or lessening the tumour by pressure (as +recommended by Cusack, Tyrrell, Harrison), and is much more certain +than a mere ligature above.[21] + + +LIGATURE OF VESSELS IN FORE-ARM.--Here, as also we found is the case in +the leg, it is almost useless to go on giving exact directions as to the +method of throwing a ligature round the vessels in all possible +situations. + +For below the elbow spontaneous aneurism is almost unknown, and even +traumatic aneurisms are extremely rare. It is therefore for hæmorrhage +only that the vessels are likely to require ligature, and it is a rule +in surgery that to enlarge the wound and to apply a ligature above and +below the bleeding point is better practice than to apply a ligature at +a distance. + +In the case of wounds of the palmar arch, it is extremely difficult, and +very apt to injure the future usefulness of the hand, thus to seek for +the bleeding point under the palmar fascia, and for _these_, ligatures +of radial and ulnar have occasionally been practised. However, as even +this has proved ineffectual, and the interosseous has proved sufficient +to continue the bleeding, ligature of the brachial at once is preferable +to ligature of so many branches in the fore-arm. + +The use of graduated compresses, carefully applied, combined with +flexion of the elbow over a bandage, will generally prove sufficient to +check such hæmorrhage from the palm, without having recourse to either +of the above more severe measures. + + _Note._--As in the lower limb at page 24, and for the same reasons, + I here insert a brief account of the methods of tying the ulnar and + radial arteries. + + 1. LIGATURE OF ULNAR.--Only admissible in the lower half of its + course. _Operation._--Use the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris as + a guide, and make an incision along its radial edge, at least two + inches in length; expose the deep fascia of the arm and then + cautiously divide it; then bending the hand, the flexor carpi + ulnaris is relaxed, and the artery is found lying pretty deeply + between it and the flexor sublimis digitorum. The ulnar nerve lies + at its ulnar side, and the venæ comites accompany the artery. In a + tolerably muscular arm, the incision will have to be about an inch + inside of the ulnar border of the limb. + + 2. RADIAL.--This artery lies more superficial than the preceding, + and may be tied at any part of its course. + + _A._ Operation in upper part of fore-arm. Here the artery lies in + the interval between the supinator longus and the pronator radii + teres. In a muscular arm, the edge of the former muscle is the best + guide; in a fat one, the incision may be made in a line extending + from the centre of the bend of the arm to the inner edge of the + styloid process of the radius. The deep fascia must be exposed and + opened, and the muscles relaxed and held aside. The radial nerve + lies on the radial side of the vessel. + + _B._ Operation in lower half of arm. Here the vessel is more + superficial, lying in the groove between the flexor carpi radialis + and supinator longus. An incision two inches in length, and + parallel with these tendons, easily exposes the artery. The nerve + is still on its radial side. + + _C._ Operation at first metacarpal. The artery may be tied easily + enough in the triangular space bounded by the extensors of the + thumb, on the dorsum of the proximal end of the first metacarpal + bone. Skey[22] recommends a transverse,--Stephen Smith[23] and + others, a longitudinal incision. The author had lately to secure + the radial in its lower third, the superficialis volæ, and the + radial again in the triangular space, in a case where division of + the artery by a transverse cut had caused a large aneurism to form + close above the annular ligament. + + TABLE illustrating anastomotic circulation after ligature of + arteries of neck and upper limb. + + 1. Common carotid. + + (_a_) Across middle line: thyroids, linguals, facials, occipitals; + also terminal branches of external carotids; also internal carotids + by circle of Willis. + + (_b_) Of same side: occipital with vertebral; superior thyroid with + inferior thyroid, etc. + + 2. Subclavian, 3d part. + + Suprascapular with dorsal branches of subscapular; posterior + scapular with costal and muscular branches of subscapular. Thoracic + anastomosis between internal mammary and intercostals, with + branches of axillary. + + 3. Axillary and brachial. Anastomosis varies with the position of + the ligature, but is very free between the various muscular + branches of these vessels. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[2] Erichsen, _Surgery_. Sixth edition, vol. ii. p. 121. + +[3] The line 3 in Plate I. shows the direction required. It +will not be necessary to carry the incision so far up for the external +as for the common iliac. + +[4] _On the Arteries and Veins_, p. 421. + +[5] _Cyclopædia of Practical Surgery_, vol. i. p. 277. + +[6] John Bell's _Prin. of Surg._, vol. i. 421; _Dublin Jour._, +vol. iv. 321. + +[7] _Observations in Clinical Surgery_, Syme, pp. 171-3. + +[8] _Brit. Med. Jour._ 1867, Oct. 5. + +[9] _International Encyclopædia of Surgery_, vol. iii. p. 466. + +[10] Poland, _Guy's Hosp. Report_, ser. iii. vol. vi. + +[11] Mr. W. Thomson's most interesting paper on this subject is +full of information down to the latest date. + +[12] _Lancet_, Jan. 5, 1867. + +[13] _Lancet_, May 1879. + +[14] _Dublin Quarterly Journal_, Nov. 1867. + +[15] W. Zehender--Monatsbl. für Augenheilkunde. 1868. + +[16] Butcher, _Op. and Cons. Surgery_, p. 861. + +[17] _Leçons Orales_, iv. 530. + +[18] _Ed. Med. and Surg. Journ._ vol. xlv. + +[19] _Observations in Clinical Surgery_, pp. 148, 149. + +[20] _Edin. Med. Journal_, March 1879. + +[21] See case of recurrence, Fergusson's _Practical Surgery_ +1st ed. p. 222. + +[22] _Operative Surgery_, p. 279. + +[23] _Surgical Operations_, p. 50. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +AMPUTATIONS. + + +In ordinary surgical language the name Amputation is applied to all +cases of removal of limbs, or portions of limbs, by the knife, though in +strict accuracy it should be restricted to those cases in which a limb +is removed _in the continuity of a bone_, its removal _at a joint_ being +called a Disarticulation. + +The briefest outline of a history of amputation would fill a work much +larger than the present. I may be allowed in a few sentences to attempt +to show the principle on which such a sketch should be written, in +describing the three great eras of progress in improvement of the +methods of amputating.[24] + +I. Prior to the invention, or at least prior to the general +introduction, of the ligature and the tourniquet, the great barrier to +all improvement in operating was the impossibility of checking +hæmorrhage during an operation, and after its conclusion. Many surgeons +would not amputate at all, others only through gangrenous parts; others +more bold, only at the confines of parts in which gangrene had been +artificially induced by tight ligatures. + +With the exception of Celsus, who in one place recommends a flap to be +dissected up, and the bone thus divided at a higher level, all were in +too great a hurry to get the operation completed to think of flaps. Cut +through all the parts at the same level with a red-hot knife, if you +will, like Fabricius Hildanus; by a single blow with a chisel and +mallet, like Scultetus; or by a crushing guillotine, like Purmannus: or +by two butchers' chopping-knives fixed in heavy blocks of wood, one +fixed, the other falling in a grove, like Botal; and then try to check +the bleeding by tying a pig's bladder over the face of the stump, like +Hans de Gersdorf; or tying it up in the inside of a hen newly killed; or +by plunging it at once into boiling pitch. + +We are the less surprised to read of Celsus's description of a flap +operation, when we remember that it is almost certain that Celsus _was_ +acquainted with the ligature as a means of checking hæmorrhage.[25] + +II. A new era was ushered in when, about 1560, Ambrose Paré invented, or +re-introduced, the ligature as a means of arresting hæmorrhage, but not +for more than a century after this did the full benefit of his discovery +begin to be felt, when the tourniquet was introduced by Morel at +Besançon in 1674, and James Young of Plymouth in 1678, and improved by +Petit in 1708-10. + +_Now_ surgeons had time to look about them during an amputation, and to +try to get a good covering for the bone, so that the stump might heal +more rapidly and bear pressure better. Great improvements were rapidly +made, and any history of these improvements would need to trace two +great parallel lines, one the circular method, the other the flap +operation. + +1. The old method in which the limb was lopped off by one sweep, all the +tissues being divided at the same level, might be called the true +circular. This, however, was soon improved-- + +_A._ By Cheselden and Petit, who invented the double circular incision, +in which first the skin and fat were cut and retracted, and then the +muscle and bone were divided as high as exposed. + +_B._ By Louis, who improved this by making the first incision include +the muscles also, the bone alone being divided at the higher level. + +_C._ By Mynors of Birmingham, who dissected the skin back like the +sleeve of a coat, and thus gained more covering. + +_D._ Then comes the great improvement of Alanson, who first cut through +skin and fat, and allowing them to retract, next exposed the bone still +further up by cutting the muscles obliquely so as to leave the cut end +of the bone in the apex of a conical cavity. + +_E._ An easier mode, fulfilling the same indications, is found in the +triple incision of Benjamin Bell of Edinburgh, who in 1792 taught that +first the skin and fat should be divided and retracted, next the +muscles, and lastly the bone. + +_F._ A slight improvement on _E_, made by Hey of Leeds, who advised that +the posterior muscles of the limb should be divided at a lower level +than the anterior, to compensate for their greater range of contraction. + +2. In the progress of the flap operation fewer stages can be defined. +Made by cutting from within outwards, after transfixion of the limb, the +flaps varied in shape, size, position, and numbers, from the single +posterior one of Verduyn of Amsterdam, to the two equal lateral ones of +Vermale, and the equal anterior and posterior ones of the Edinburgh +school. + +Then came the battle of the schools: flap or circular. + +_Flap._--Speedy, easy, and less painful; apt to retract, and that +unequally. + +_Circular._--Leaving a smaller wound, but more slow in performance, and +apt to leave a central adherent cicatrix. + +3. The last era in amputation began after the introduction of +anæsthetics. Now speed in amputation is no object, and the surgeon has +full time to shape and carve his flaps into the curves most suited for +accurate apposition, and suitable relation of the cicatrix to the bone. +It has also been brought clearly out that different methods of operating +are suitable for different positions, and also that even in the same +operation it is possible to unite the advantages of both the flap and +the circular method. + +In the modified circular, which is best suited for amputation below the +knee, in the long anterior flaps of Teale, Spence, and Carden, we have +illustrations of the manner in which the advantages of both the flap and +circular methods have been secured, without the disadvantages of either. +The long anterior flap, not like Teale's to fold upon itself, but like +Spence's and Carden's to hang over and shield the end of the bones, and +the face of a transversely-cut short posterior flap, seems to be now the +typical method for successful amputations. There may be exceptions, as +when the anterior skin is more injured than the posterior, or where an +anterior flap would demand too great sacrifice of length of limb, but as +a rule it will be found the best method for the patient. + + +AMPUTATION OF THE UPPER EXTREMITY.--The extreme importance of the human +hand, its tactile sensibility, its grasping power, and the irreparable +loss sustained by its removal, render the greatest caution necessary, +lest we should remove a single digit or portion of one that might be +saved. In cases of severe smashing injuries involving the fingers, it is +the surgeon's bounden duty not recklessly to amputate the limb with neat +flaps at the wrist-joint, but carefully to endeavour to save even a +single finger from the wreck, though at the risk of a longer +convalescence, or even of a profuse suppuration. While a toe or two, or +a small longitudinal segment of the foot, may be comparatively useless, +and a good artificial foot, with an ankle-joint stump, certainly +preferable, a single finger, provided its motions are tolerably intact, +will prove much more valuable to its possessor than the most ingeniously +contrived artificial hand. + +[Illustration: FIG. I.] + +However, while in cases of extensive smash we endeavour to save anything +we can, the case is very much altered when it is only one or two fingers +that are injured. Here we find another principle brought into play, and +our conservative surgery must be limited by the following consideration. +In endeavouring to save a portion of the injured finger or fingers, will +the saved portion interfere with the important movements of the +uninjured ones? These two principles--1. Generally to save as much as we +can; 2. Not to save anything which may be detrimental or in the +way,--will guide us in describing the amputations of the upper +extremity. + +[Illustration: FIG. II.] + +_Amputation of a distal phalanx._--This small operation is not very +often required. In cases of whitlow in which the distal phalanx alone +has necrosed, removal of the necrosed bone by forceps is generally all +that is necessary. In cases of injury, however, in which nail and distal +phalanx are both reduced to pulp, it will hasten recovery much to remove +the extremity. There is no choice as to flap, the nail preventing an +anterior one, so a flap long enough to fold over must be cut from the +pulp of the finger in either of two ways (Fig. I. 1):--1. Holding the +fragment to be removed in the left hand, and bending the joint, the +surgeon makes a transverse cut across the back of the finger, right into +and through the joint, cutting a long palmar flap from within outwards +as he withdraws the knife. + + _Note._--Some difficulty is often felt in making the dorsal + incision so as exactly and at once to hit the joint; the most + common mistake being, that the transverse incision is made too + high, and the knife, instead of striking the joint, only saws + fruitlessly at the neck of the bone above. To avoid this, the + surgeon should take as a guide to the joint, not the well-marked + and tempting-looking _dorsal_ fold in the skin, but the _palmar_ + one, which exactly corresponds with the joint between the proximal + and middle phalanges, and is only about a line above the distal + articulation.--(Fig. II.) + +2. Making the long flap by transfixion, it may be held back by an +assistant, and the joint cut into. + +_Amputation through the second phalanx._--If the distal phalanx be so +much crushed that a flap cannot be obtained, two short semilunar lateral +flaps may be dissected (Fig. I. 2) from the sides of the second phalanx, +which may then be divided by the bone-pliers at the spot required. + +In cases of injury which do not admit of either of the preceding +operations, it is quite possible to amputate either at the first joint, +or even through the proximal phalanx. Patients are sometimes anxious for +such operations in preference to amputation of the whole finger. The +surgeon should, however, never amputate through a finger higher up than +the distal end of the second phalanx, unless absolutely compelled by the +patient, for the resulting stump, being no longer commanded by the +tendons, will prove merely an incumbrance, and may possibly require a +secondary operation at no distant date for its removal. + +This rule is applicable in cases in which a single finger is injured, +and two or three complete ones are left; in cases where all the fingers +have been mutilated every morsel should be left, and may be of use. + +_Amputation of a whole finger._--(Fig. I. 3)--This is an operation of +great importance, from its frequency. + +If the third or fourth digits require amputation, it should be performed +as follows:--The vessels of the arm being commanded, an assistant holds +the hand, separating the fingers at each side of the one to be removed. +The surgeon holding the finger to be removed, enters the point of a long +straight bistoury exactly (some authorities say half an inch) above the +metacarpo-phalangeal joint, and cuts from the prominence of the knuckle +right into the angle of the web, then, turning inwards there, cuts +obliquely into the palm to a point nearly opposite the one at which he +set out. + + _Note._--While most authorities agree with the direction in the + text regarding the palmar termination of the incision, I believe, + in most cases, it is not necessary to go so far, and that the + incisions may fitly meet in the palm at a point midway between a + point opposite to the knuckle, and the centre of the well-marked + "sulcus of flexion." + +He then repeats this incision on the other side, makes tense the +ligaments, first at one side and then at the other, by drawing the +finger to the opposite side, and cuts them. The tendons being cut, the +finger is detached. The vessels being tied, one point of suture is put +in on the dorsal aspect, and the fingers on each side tied together at +their extremities, with a pad of lint between them. + + _Modification._--Lisfranc's method is too long in its minute + description to give in detail. The principle is to make a semilunar + flap at one side (the one opposite the operator's right hand), by + cutting from without inwards, then to open the joint from this cut, + and, still keeping the edge of the knife close to the head of the + phalanx, cutting the other flap from within outwards. This can be + very rapidly done, but the last flap is apt to be irregular and + deficient, especially in those common cases, in which, after + whitlow or the like, the tissues are hard and brawny, and the skin + does not play freely. + +It is quite unnecessary to remove the head of the metacarpal, either for +the sake of appearance, or to render healing more rapid, and its removal +weakens the arch of the hand; where the cartilage is eroded by disease, +the cartilage-covered portion can be scooped off by a gouge or removed +entire by pliers, without interfering with the broad end to which the +transverse ligament of the palm is attached. If required either for +injury or disease, the metacarpal head may be easily removed by a single +straight incision from the knuckle upwards, as far as the point at which +it may be deemed necessary to saw it through, or better still, divide it +with the bone-pliers. This incision should be made as a first step in +the first incision for amputation of the finger, and the finger should +not be disarticulated, but kept on, to aid by its leverage in separating +the metacarpal head. + +_Amputation of the index or little fingers._--This operation differs +from the preceding only in this, that care must be taken to make a good +large flap on the free side of each; making the incision, which begins +at the knuckle (Fig. I. 4), enclose a well-rounded flap, and not +allowing it to enter the palm till it reaches the level of the web +between the fingers. The metacarpal heads may here be cut obliquely with +the bone-pliers, to prevent undue projection. + +_Amputation of one or more metacarpals._--These operations may be +rendered necessary by disease or injury. If the latter demands their +performance, no rules can be given for incisions or flaps, they must +just be obtained where and how they can best be got. If for disease, a +single dorsal incision (Fig. I. 5) over the bone will allow it to be +dissected out of the hand. + +_N.B._--In no case, except that of the thumb, should any attempt be +made to save a finger while its metacarpal is removed. (See _Excisions +of Bones_.) + +_Amputation of first and fifth metacarpals._--Various special operations +have been devised for speedy and elegant removal of these bones. Their +disadvantages, etc., are fully detailed under _Amputations of the Foot_. + +The vascularity and consequent vitality of the tissues of the hand and +arm sometimes afford very encouraging and satisfactory results in +conservative operations. + +The following is an instance of what may be accomplished in a young +healthy subject. + +A. A., æt. 18, ploughman, was harnessing a vicious horse, when it caught +his right hand between its teeth, and gave a severe bite. On admission, +I found the middle and ring fingers completely separated at the +metacarpal joints, but each hanging on by a portion of skin, the middle +by the skin on its radial side, the ring by that on its ulnar. The back +and the palm were both stripped of skin up to the middle of the third +and fourth metacarpal bones, which were exposed, but not fractured. As +it was important for him to maintain the transverse arch of the hand +intact, I determined to make an attempt to save the metacarpals, and +finding that the skin on the radial side of the middle, and ulnar side +of the ring fingers, was still warm, and apparently alive, I carefully +dissected as long a flap as possible from each, and then folded them +down, one at the front, the other at the back of the hand. The flaps +survived, and the result was admirable, the patient being able in a very +few weeks to guide the plough. The sensation in his new palm and back of +the hand is very peculiar, they being still the fingers, so far as +nervous supply is concerned. + +In amputations involving the metacarpals for injury, it is always +important to avoid entering the carpo-metacarpal joint, hence if it can +be done it is best to saw through the bones at the required level, +rather than disarticulate. This rule should be observed even in those +cases in which the thumb alone can be saved, for notwithstanding the +isolation of the joint between the first metacarpal and the trapezium, +it is very important for the future use of this one digit that the +motions both of the wrist and carpal joints should be preserved entire. + +No exact rules can be given for the performance of these operations, as +the size and positions of the flaps must be determined by the nature of +the accident and the amount of skin left uninjured. + +In the rare condition where the greater part of the metacarpus is +destroyed, and yet carpal joints are uninjured, a most useful artificial +band, preserving the movements of the wrist, may be fitted on; and as +much as possible should be saved, but in cases of injury, where the +carpus is opened and the hand irreparably destroyed, the question +arises, Where ought amputation to be performed? To this we answer that +there appears no conceivable advantage to be gained by leaving all or +any of the carpal bones. If successful, it would result only in the +retention of a flapping joint, unless from there being no tendons to act +upon it, except the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris attached to the +pisiform, and there are several risks it would run in the inflammation +of all the carpal joints, and the almost certain spread of this +inflammation to the bursa underneath the flexor tendons, beyond the +annular ligament, and up the arm among the muscles. + + +AMPUTATION AT THE WRIST-JOINT.--This is an operation by no means +frequent, and it has the advantages of preserving a long stump, and +retaining the full movements of pronation and supination, in cases where +the radio-ulnar joint is sound and uninjured, but in practice it is +often found that fibrous adhesions limit to a great extent the motions +of the two bones on each other, specially in those cases where the +radio-ulnar joint has been diseased or injured. + +Another advantage is the extreme ease with which disarticulation may be +performed on emergency, no saw being required, and the ordinary bistoury +of the pocket-case being quite sufficient for cutting the flaps. + +_Operation._--By double flap. An incision (Plate IV. fig. 3) on the +dorsal surface, extending in a semilunar direction from one styloid +process to the other, will define a flap of skin only, which must be +raised; the joint must then be opened by a transverse incision, and a +long semilunar flap of skin and fascia should be shaped (Plate IV. fig. +4) from the palm. Disarticulation is facilitated by the surgeon forcibly +bending the wrist when he makes the transverse cut, and it will be found +easier to shape the palmar flap from the outside by dissection, than to +do it by transfixion after disarticulation, on account of the prominence +of the pisiform on the inner side of the palm. + + In the thin wasted wrists of the aged, or in any case where the + skin is very lax, this amputation may be very easily performed by + the circular method. While an assistant draws up the skin as much + as possible, the surgeon makes an accurate circular incision + through the skin, about an inch below the styloid processes, just + grazing the thenar and hypothenar eminences. Another circular sweep + just above the pisiform and unciform bones divides all the soft + textures, after which the joint may be opened, and, if necessary, + the styloid processes cut away with saw or pliers. + + Amputation by a long single flap, either dorsal or palmar, may be + rendered necessary by accident. The palmar one of the two is + preferable; indeed, rather than trust for a covering to the thin + skin of the back of the hand, with its numerous tendons, it is + better to amputate an inch or two higher up through the fore arm. + + The following amputation by external flap has been described (so + far as I can discover, for the first time) by Dr. Dubrueil, in his + work on operative Surgery:[26]--"Commencing just below the level of + the articulation, while the hand is pronated, the surgeon makes a + convex incision, beginning at the junction of the outer and middle + thirds of the arm behind, reaching at its summit the middle of the + dorsal surface of the first metacarpal, and terminating in front + just below the palmar surface of the joint, again at the junction + of the outer and middle thirds of the breadth of the arm. This flap + being raised, the wrist is disarticulated, beginning at the radial + side. A circular incision finishes the cutting of the skin." (Figs. + III. and IV.) + +[Illustration: FIG. III.[27]] + +[Illustration: FIG. IV.[27]] + + +AMPUTATION THROUGH THE FORE-ARM.--The method of operating must, in the +fore-arm, depend a good deal upon the part of the arm where you require +to amputate, the muscularity of the limb, and the condition of the skin +and subcutaneous cellular tissue. + +It must be remembered that a section of the fore-arm involves two bones, +not, like the tibia and fibula, on a constant permanent relation in +position to each other, but which rotate one upon another to an amount +which varies with the part of the limb divided, and which rotation is a +very important element in the future usefulness of the stump; again, +that two sets of muscles occupy, one the back, the other the front of +the limb, that these two are unequal in size, and that the outer sides +or rather edges of each bone are subcutaneous; again, that these sets of +muscles are comparatively fleshy in the upper two-thirds of the limb, +and almost entirely tendinous in the lower third. + +Remembering these points, we find that certain things require our +attention, and certain difficulties are present in amputation of the +fore-arm, from which amputation of the arm, with its single bone and +copious muscular covering on all sides, is completely free. + +Thus our flaps in the fore-arm must be antero-posterior; lateral flaps +are an impossibility. Great care is requisite to cut them at all equal, +from the inequality of the muscles on the two sides. In the lower third +we cannot obtain available muscular flaps. Lastly, care must be taken +lest, from the ever-varying relations of the two bones to each other in +the varying positions of the limb, the surgeon mistake their position +and pass his knife between them. + +The next question that arises is, Where are we to operate? In cases +where we have a choice, is there here, as in the leg, any "point of +election"? _No._ As a rule in the fore-arm, the surgeon should endeavour +to save as much as possible; especially when nearing the middle of the +fore-arm, he should try to save the insertion of the pronator teres, so +important in its function of pronating the radius. + + +AMPUTATION IN LOWER THIRD OF THE FORE-ARM.--By two flaps. These +antero-posterior flaps must consist of skin only, as the tendons are +only in the way, and thus should be made by dissection from without.[28] +Making the dorsal one first, the surgeon should enter his knife at the +palmar edge of the bone that is further from him, and cut a semilunar +flap of skin only, finishing the incision quite on the palmar edge of +the inner bone. The two ends of this incision must then be united by a +similar semilunar flap of skin on the palmar side. The two flaps having +been dissected back, he then clears the bones by a circular incision +through tendons and muscles, not forgetting to pass the knife between +the bones, and retracting all the soft parts, saws through the bones, at +least half or probably three-quarters of an inch higher up. It is +generally easiest to saw through both bones at once. + +_Long Dorsal Flap._--Where it is possible from laxity of the soft parts +and the wrist not being much destroyed, to get a long flap from the back +of the arm after Mr. Teale's method, a very good stump will result. This +rule is, "In tracing the long flap a longitudinal line is drawn over the +radius, so as to leave the radial vessels for the short flap (Plate II. +fig. 1). At a distance equal to half the circumference of the limb, +another line parallel to the former is drawn along the ulna. These are +then joined at their lower ends, across the dorsal aspect of the wrist +or fore-arm, by a transverse line equal in length to half the +circumference of the fore-arm. The short flap is marked by a transverse +line on the palmar aspect, uniting the long ones at their upper fourth. + +"The operator, in forming the long flap, makes the two longitudinal +incisions merely through the integuments, but the transverse one is +carried directly down to the bones. In dissecting the long flap from +below upwards, the tissues of which it is composed must be separated +close to the periosteum and interosseous membrane. The short flap is +made by a transverse incision through all the structures down to the +bones, care being taken to separate the parts upwards close to the +periosteum and membrane." The stump must be placed in the prone +position, "to allow the long dorsal flap to be the superior when the +patient is recumbent, and thus fall over the ends of the bones."[29] + +The principal objection to the long dorsal rectangular flap (which +makes an excellent covering) is, that unless it can be obtained from +over the wrist-joint it requires the bones to be sawn so very high up. +This may be avoided, to some extent, by making it shorter and rounded +off, as in Carden's Amputation, _q.v._ + + +AMPUTATION IN UPPER TWO-THIRDS.--Where the fore-arm is very fat or +fleshy, this amputation can be very easily performed by two equal +antero-posterior flaps made by transfixion. In most cases, however, from +the comparative leanness of the dorsal aspect of the limb, the following +method will have the best result. The surgeon must, as in the former +case, shape a rounded dorsal flap by dissection from without (Plate IV. +fig. 5), embracing the whole breadth of the limb down to the palmar edge +of both bones. Then at once he transfixes the two points of this dorsal +flap, and cuts out an equal one from the anterior aspect of the limb +(Plate IV. fig. 6). Dissecting up the dorsal flap he clears the bones at +least half an inch above as before, and applies the saw. + +_N.B._--This operation should be performed even in cases where only an +inch of radius can be retained, as the attachment of the biceps makes a +very small stump of fore-arm wonderfully useful. + + +AMPUTATION AT ELBOW-JOINT.--In cases where it is found impossible to +save any portion of the fore-arm, disarticulation at the elbow-joint may +be easily performed. This operation was proposed and performed so long +ago as the days of Ambrose Paré,[30] was much approved by Dupuytren, +Baudens, and Velpeau, had fallen into disuse for a time, but is now +again recommended by some excellent surgeons, especially by Gross[31] +and Ashhurst,[32] both of Philadelphia. + +It is tolerably easy to perform, and does not involve any sawing of +bones, but the flaps are apt to be cut too short, unless care be taken, +from the manner in which the trochlea projects downwards beyond the line +of the condyles, so that if the base of an ordinary-shaped flap be made +on a level with the condyles, it will prove insufficient to cover the +bone. It may be performed either by the circular method (Velpeau), oval +(Baudens), or by a long anterior and short posterior flap (Textor and +Dupuytren). Probably the best method is by a long anterior flap when it +can be obtained, thus:--The arm being placed in a slightly flexed +position, the surgeon transfixes in front of the joint, in a line +extending from the level of the external condyle to a point one inch +below the internal condyle (Plate IV. fig. 7); the tissue should be held +well forward at the moment of transfixion. The flap should be at least +two and a half inches deep at its apex, which must be rounded off. The +two ends of this flap may then be united behind by a semilunar incision +(Plate III. fig. 2), which will separate the radial attachments. The +ulna must then be cleared, and the triceps divided at its insertion. + + _Modifications._--Dupuytren used to saw through the ulna, leaving + the olecranon attached. Velpeau opposed this, but it is again + recommended by Gross, who leaves the olecranon, and at the same + time improves the shape of the stump by sawing off the "inner + trochlea" on a level with the general surface. + + +AMPUTATION OF THE ARM.--This amputation is best performed by double +flap, and is the typical instance which exhibits all the advantages of +two equal flaps made by transfixion, without any of the disadvantages of +that method. These advantages are, easiness of performance, rapidity, +excellent covering for the bone, with as little sacrifice of tissue as +is possible, while the fact that the cicatrix is opposite the end of the +bone is hardly a disadvantage in the arm (as it certainly is in the +leg), as no weight has to be borne on it. When they can be obtained, +anterior and posterior flaps are generally considered most satisfactory, +but Mr. Spence prefers lateral ones, lest the line of union should be +interfered with by the deltoid raising the bone. If the right arm has to +be amputated, the operator standing at the inner side raises the +anterior muscles with his left hand, and enters the knife just in front +of the brachial vessels (Plate I. fig. 12); keeping as close as possible +to the bone, he brings out the knife at a point exactly opposite, then +with a brisk sawing motion, cuts a semicircular flap, taking care to +bring out the knife more suddenly just at the end, in order to cut +through the skin as perpendicularly to the arm as possible. The knife is +again entered at the same point, carried behind the bone, and brought +out at the same angle, and an exactly corresponding flap cut from the +other side of the limb, the flaps are then retracted, the bone cleared +by circular incision and sawn through as high up as it is exposed. In +primary cases, where the muscles are firm and developed, the flaps +should be cut a little concave. + + _Modifications and Varieties._--Teale's method may of course be + used here as elsewhere. The internal line of incision (Plate IV. + fig. 8) should be made just in front of the brachial vessels. This + method requires the amputation to be performed higher up than would + otherwise be necessary (from the length of the anterior flap), and + this disadvantage is not counterbalanced by any special advantage + in the posterior retraction of the cicatrix. + + In feeble flabby arms, the true circular operation is very easily + performed, and with good results. A circular sweep of the knife is + made through the skin alone, which is drawn up by an assistant, + while the surgeon separates it from the fascia; another circular + cut through fascia and muscles exposes the bone, which must then be + cleared and cut through at a still higher level. + + +AMPUTATION AT THE SHOULDER-JOINT.--This operation, like that at the hip +joint, can, from the nature of the joint to be covered, and the abundant +soft parts in the normal state of the tissues, be performed on the dead +in very various ways, by single, double, or triple flaps, by transfixion +or dissection, rapidly or slowly. Hence manuals of operative surgery +might collect at least twenty different methods, most of which have some +recommendation, and all of which are practicable enough. + +When, however, we reflect that in the living body, in cases where +amputation at the shoulder-joint is required at all, the severity of the +accident, or the urgency of the disease, will, in general, leave no room +for selection, we shall see how utterly valueless is any knowledge of +mere methods of operating, and of how much greater importance it is that +we should be simply thoroughly familiar with the anatomy of the joint. + +For example, an accident which necessitates amputation so high up has, +in all probability, opened into the joint and destroyed the soft parts +on at least one aspect; in such a case the flaps must be cut from the +uninjured soft parts only. If an aneurism has rendered amputation +through it and through the joint a last resource, the flap must be +gained chiefly at least from the outside; a malignant tumour of the +humerus will almost certainly prevent any transfixion, and require flaps +to be made by dissection, wherever the skin is least likely to be +involved. Again, some of the most vaunted and most rapid operations +almost require for their success the integrity of the humerus, which has +to make itself useful as a lever in disarticulation, while in most cases +of accident we are amputating for compound injury of the humerus, almost +certainly implying fracture with comminution. + +From its proximity to the trunk, hæmorrhage is one of the chief dangers +to be apprehended during this operation, especially from the axillary +artery. As far as possible to obviate this danger, most plans of +operating are based on the principle that the vessels and nerves should +be the last tissues to be cut; in some they are not divided till after +disarticulation. + +While a good assistant, to make pressure on the subclavian above the +clavicle, is a most advisable precaution, too much must not be trusted +to this pressure above, as the struggles of the patient and the +spasmodic movements of the limb, which are so apt to occur under the +stimulus of the knife, are apt to render futile the best efforts at +compression. + +The operator should trust rather to making the incisions in such a +manner that the great vessel be not divided till the hand of an +assistant, or in default of a suitable one, his own left hand, is able +to follow the knife and grasp the flap. + +The bleeding from the circumflex, subscapular, and posterior scapular +arteries can easily be arrested by a dossil of lint till the great +vessel is tied, and they can be secured. + +In cases where proper assistants cannot be had, temporary closure of the +axillary vessel could easily be made by carrying a strong silver wire or +silk ligature completely round the vessel by a curved needle before the +incisions are commenced, and by tying this firmly over a pad of lint. + +Pressure on the artery above the clavicle is best made by the thumb of a +strong assistant, who endeavours to compress it against the first rib; +where the parts are deep and muscular, the padded handle of the +tourniquet, or of a large door-key, will do as the agent of pressure. + +A brief notice of three of the best methods of operating will be quite +sufficient to show what should be aimed at in shoulder-joint +amputations:-- + +#1.# In cases where the surgeon can choose his flaps, the following +method will be found the most satisfactory, as resulting in the smallest +possible wound, in having less risk of hæmorrhage during the operation +than any other method, and in providing excellent flaps. + +It is Larrey's method slightly modified. + +_Operation._--With a moderate-sized amputating knife an incision of +about two inches in length, extending through all the tissues down to +the bone, should be made from the edge of the acromion process to a +point about one inch below the top of the humerus; from this latter +point a curved incision, enclosing a semilunar flap, should be made on +each side of the limb to the anterior and posterior folds of the axilla +respectively (Plate IV. fig. 9, and Plate III. fig. 3). These flaps +should then be dissected back, including the muscles and exposing the +joint. When thoroughly exposed, the joint must then be opened from +above, and the bone separated. One small portion of skin lying above the +artery, vein, and nerves still remains to be divided (Plate I. fig. 13). +This may be done by an oblique cut from within outwards, in such a +direction as to form part of the anterior or internal incision, and with +the precaution of having an assistant to command the vessels before they +are divided. The resulting wound is almost perfectly ovoid, the flaps +come together with great ease in a straight vertical line, which admits +of easy and thorough drainage. Union is generally rapid. Larrey's +success by this method was very remarkable: ninety out of a hundred +cases in military practice were saved, notwithstanding the well-known +risks of such operations. + +#2.# As good as the former, and nearly as universally applicable, is the +method devised by Professor Spence, and practised by him in nearly every +case:--"With a broad strong bistoury I cut down upon the inner aspect of +the head of the humerus, immediately external to the coracoid process, +and carry the incision down through the clavicular fibres of the deltoid +and pectoralis major muscles till I reach the humeral attachment of the +latter muscle, which I divide. I then with a gentle curve carry my +incision across and fairly through the lower fibres of the deltoid +towards, but not through, the posterior border of the axilla. Unless the +textures be much torn, I next mark out the line of the lower part of the +inner section by carrying an incision through the _skin and fat only_, +from the point where my straight incision terminated, across the inside +of the arm to meet the incision at the outer part. This insures accuracy +in the line of union, but is not essential. If the fibres of the deltoid +have been thoroughly divided in the line of incision, the flap so marked +out, along with the posterior circumflex trunk, which enters its deep +surface, can be easily separated from the bone and joint, and drawn +upwards and backwards so as to expose the head and tuberosities, by the +point of the finger without further use of the knife. The tendinous +insertions of the capsular muscles, the long head of the biceps, and the +capsule, are next divided by cutting directly upon the tuberosities and +head of the bone; and the broad subscapular tendon especially, being +very fully exposed by the incision, can be much more easily and +completely divided than in the double-flap method. By keeping the large +posterior flap out of the way by a broad copper spatula or the fingers +of an assistant, and taking care to keep the edge of the knife close to +the bone, the trunk of the posterior circumflex is protected. In regard +to the axillary vessels, they can either be compressed by an assistant +before completing the division of the soft parts on the axillary aspect, +or to avoid all risk, the axillary artery may be exposed, tied, and +divided between two ligatures so as to allow it to retract before +dividing the other textures."[33] + + Another, but not so good method of making an external flap, is the + following:--(_a._) For the right arm.--The patient lying well over + on his left side, the surgeon stands to the inside of the arm to be + removed. Seizing the deltoid in the left, with the right he passes + an amputating knife, seven or eight inches in length, from a point + a little nearer the clavicle than the middle space between the + acromion and coracoid processes; then, transfixing the base of the + deltoid, and just grazing the posterior surface of the humerus, + thrusts the knife downwards and backwards till it protrudes at the + posterior margin of the axilla. When doing this, it is important + that the arm be held outwards and backwards, and even upwards, as + far as possible to relax the deltoid; without this it will be + impossible to make the flap of the full size. The flap must then be + cut of as full length as can be obtained, four or five inches at + least. An assistant then holds it upwards, while the surgeon, or + (if the arm is very muscular) another assistant, brings the arm + forwards well across the patient's chest, thus exposing the + posterior aspect of the joint. This may have very possibly been + already opened during the transfixion; the attachments of muscles + must now be divided, the knife passed behind the head of the bone, + which is dislocated forwards, and a suitable flap of the tissues in + front cut from within outwards. The assistant is to follow the + knife with his finger and compress the vessels. + + (_b._) If the left shoulder is to be amputated, the patient lying + on his right side, the surgeon stands behind him, and raising the + elbow of the limb to be removed from the side, and pulling it + slightly backwards, enters the knife at the posterior fold of the + axilla (Plate II. fig. 2), and passing the posterior aspect of the + head of the humerus, endeavours to protrude it as near the acromion + as possible; the flaps must be cut and the rest of the operation + performed in the manner we have just described for the other arm. + +#3.# Where the destruction of tissue has been chiefly below the joint, a +very good flap may be obtained from above, composed chiefly of the +deltoid muscle, and the skin over it. This may be made by transfixion at +its base, but is better obtained by dissection from without. + +The surgeon cuts (Plate II. figs. 3, 3) in a semilunar direction (with +the convexity downwards) from one side of the deltoid to the other, +viz., from the root of the acromion to near the coracoid process; he +then raises the large flap upwards and throws it back, opens the joint, +disarticulates, passes the knife behind the head of the bone, and cuts +out without attempting to save any flaps below, in a transverse +direction. By this means the artery is still almost the last structure +to be divided, and can be secured by a ready assistant. In cases where +much injury has been done to the floor of the axilla and wall of chest, +the deltoid flap must be made large in proportion, and triangular rather +than semilunar in shape. + +_N.B._--The statistics of amputation at the shoulder-joint bring out +some interesting facts: 1. That the primary amputations here are far +more successful than secondary ones. Guthrie records nineteen cases of +the former out of which only one died, while out of a similar number in +which the amputation was secondary, fifteen died. In the Crimea, British +surgeons had thirty-nine cases, with thirteen deaths; of thirty-three +primary, nine died; and of six secondary, four were fatal. + +S.W. Gross's[34] statistics confirm this: of one hundred and +seventy-eight primary, forty-six died--25.8 per cent.; ninety-five +secondary, sixty-one died--64.2 per cent. + + +AMPUTATIONS ABOVE THE SHOULDER-JOINT.--Under this head we may group the +comparatively rare cases in which, from accident or disease, the removal +of portions of the scapula and clavicle, or even the entire bones, is +rendered necessary. That it is quite possible to survive such injuries +has been frequently shown in cases of accident when the scapula along +with the arm has been torn off, and yet the patient recovered. + +Encouraged by such cases, Gaetani Bey of Cairo removed the whole of +scapula and part of the clavicle in a case where he had amputated at the +shoulder for smash. The patient recovered. Heron Watson has had a +similar case. Dr. George M'Lellan amputated arm and scapula in a youth +of seventeen for an enormous encephaloid tumour. Fifty-one such cases +are now on record. + +Syme amputated with success the arm along with the scapula and outer +half of clavicle, in a case in which he had previously excised the head +of the humerus for a tumour.[35] + +Gilbert, Mussey, Rigaud, Fergusson, and others have performed similar +operations, secondary to amputation at the shoulder-joint, for cases of +caries and malignant tumour. It is impossible to give any exact +directions for the incisions which must be planned for individual cases, +with two chief aims, to avoid hæmorrhage as far as possible, and to +leave abundance of skin. In operations on the scapula, it should be +freely exposed by large enough incisions. (See _Excisions_.) + + +AMPUTATIONS OF LOWER EXTREMITY.--Commencing with the most distal, and +gradually working our way upwards, we find that partial amputations of +the toes are extremely rare. Only in the case of the great toe is such +an operation _ever_ admissible, for the other toes are so short, and the +stumps left by amputation are at once so useless from their shortness, +and so detrimental from the manner in which they project upwards and rub +against the shoe, that any injury requiring partial amputation of a +lesser toe is treated by its complete removal. + +[Illustration: FIG. V.] + + +AMPUTATION OF DISTAL PHALANX OF GREAT TOE.--This is comparatively rarely +required now. It used to be thought necessary for the cure of those not +uncommon cases of exostosis of the distal phalanx, but it is now found +that most of these can be cured by simply clipping off the exostosis. +When necessary, however, and when the choice of flaps is possible, the +best plan is by a long flap from the plantar surface (Fig. V. 4), as in +the similar operation on the thumb; laying the edge of the knife over +the dorsal aspect of the joint, cutting through it, and turning the edge +of the knife round close to the bone, so as to cut out a large flap from +the ball of the toe. + + +AMPUTATION OF A SINGLE LESSER TOE--_second_, _third_, _or fourth_.--This +operation is on exactly the same principle as that described for the +corresponding finger; but it must be remembered that the +metatarso-phalangeal joint is more deeply situated in the soft parts +than is the metacarpo-phalangeal; and thus the commencement of the +elliptical incision which is to surround the base of the toe must be +proportionally higher up (Fig. V. 1). On the other hand, as it is very +important to avoid as much as possible any cicatrix in the sole of the +foot, the plantar end of the incision need not be carried to a point +exactly opposite the one from which it set out, but it will be +sufficient if it reaches the groove between the toe and sole. A little +more care may thus be required in dissecting out the head of the first +phalanx, but this is quite repaid by the cicatrix in the sole being +avoided. Early division of flexor tendons renders disarticulation easy. + + +AMPUTATION OF THE FIRST AND FIFTH TOES.--The incisions are conducted on +the same principle as in the other operations, the operator being +careful to preserve as much as possible (Fig. V. 2) of the hard useful +pad of the inner and outer sides respectively. + +Most surgeons are now agreed that in these toes it is best not to remove +the head of the metatarsal bone with the toe. Cutting off the large +cartilaginous head obliquely with a pair of bone-pliers may prevent an +awkward unseemly projection, but it does diminish the strength of the +transverse arch of the foot. + + +AMPUTATION OF ONE OR MORE TOES WITH THEIR METATARSALS.--It is not +necessary to give very particular details regarding such operations, as +the surgeon must be guided in the individual cases by the specialties of +accident or disease. + +One or two guiding principles are important:-- + +1. Having made up your mind at what point you are to cut the metatarsal, +if the amputation be a partial one, or as to the exact position of the +joint, if you intend to disarticulate, commence your dorsal incision +(Fig. V. 3) at a point fully half an inch higher up than the selected +spot, as free access is of the very last importance. + +2. Whenever it is possible, cut the bone through its continuity rather +than disarticulate. Specially is this important in the case of the +metatarsal bone of the great toe, that the insertion of the tendon of +the peroneus longus may be saved. If, however, the terminal branch of +the _dorsalis pedis_ artery be wounded, it may be necessary to +disarticulate the first metatarsal to secure it rather than trust to +compression to stop the bleeding. + +3. In cutting through the first and fifth metatarsals, remember to apply +the bone-pliers obliquely, not transversely, so as to avoid unseemly +projection. + +4. As far as possible avoid cutting into the sole at all. + +The plantar cicatrix is almost a fatal objection to a plan of removing +the first and fifth toes and their metatarsals which has much otherwise +in rapidity and elegance to recommend it. In the great toe, for example, +it is performed as follows:--Seizing the soft parts of the inner edge of +the foot in his left hand, the surgeon draws them _inwards_, transfixes +just at the tarso-metatarsal joint, and, keeping as close as possible to +the inner edge of the metatarsal bone, cuts the flap as long as to the +middle of the first phalanx; then the soft parts of the foot being drawn +as far _outwards_ as possible by an assistant, the surgeon enters his +knife between the first and second toes, and succeeds in entering his +former incision so as to separate the metatarsal bone without removing +any skin. All that remains is to open the tarso-metatarsal joint. It is +a very neat-looking operation, leaves a very good covering for the +parts, and is performed with extreme rapidity. This last is not so much +required in these days of anæsthetics, and the cicatrix in the sole is a +very formidable objection to it. + +The simplest and shortest rule that can be given for the amputation of a +toe, with the part or whole of its metatarsal, is to make one dorsal +incision, commencing about a quarter of an inch above the spot at which +you intend to divide the bone or to disarticulate, extending downwards +in a straight line to the metatarso-phalangeal articulation, and then +bifurcating so as to surround the base of the toe at the normal fold of +the skin. The soft parts are then to be cleared from the +metatarso-phalangeal joint, and the toe still being retained on the +metatarsal bone, it should be carefully dissected up, avoiding any +pricking of the soft parts below, till the joint is reached, or the spot +at which the bone-pliers are to be applied is fully cleared. + + +AMPUTATION OF THE ANTERIOR PORTION OF THE FOOT AT THE TARSO-METATARSAL +JOINT--HEY'S OPERATION.--This operation, which is now comparatively +rarely performed, has been invested with a halo of difficulty and +complexity which is to a great extent unnecessary. + +There is no doubt that the anatomical conformation of the joints +involved, especially the manner in which the head of the second +metatarsal (Fig. V. C) projects upwards into the tarsus, and is locked +between the cuneiform bones, renders disarticulation in the healthy foot +rather difficult; but it must be remembered that in cases where for +accident we have to deal with previously healthy tissues, it is quite +unnecessary to disarticulate, a better result being attained by simply +sawing the foot across in the line of the articulation; and again, where +we have to operate for disease, the tissues are so matted, and the +bones so soft, that complete removal of the metatarsus is much easier +than it appears when practising on the dead subject. + +Very various plans of incision have been proposed. Mr. Hey's original +procedure has not been much improved upon. His short account of it has +at once surgical value and historical interest:-- + +"I made a mark across the upper part of the foot, to point out as +exactly as I could the place where the metatarsal bones were joined to +those of the tarsus. About half an inch from this mark, nearer the toes, +I made a transverse incision through the integuments and muscles +covering the metatarsal bones (Plate IV. figs. 10, 11). From each +extremity of this wound I made an incision (along the inner and outer +side of the foot) to the toes. I removed all the toes at their junction +with the metatarsal bones, and then separated the integuments and +muscles forming the sole of the foot from the inferior part of the +metatarsal bones, keeping the edge of my scalpel as near the bones as I +could, that I might both expedite the operation and preserve as much +muscular flesh in the flap as possible. I then separated with the +scalpel the four smaller metatarsal bones at their junction with the +tarsus, which was easily effected, as the joints lie in a straight line +across the foot. The projecting part of the first cuneiform bone which +supports the great toe I was obliged to divide with a saw. The arteries, +which required a ligature, being tied, I applied the flap which had +formed the sole of the foot to the integuments which remained on the +upper part, and retained them in contact by sutures.... + +"The patient could walk with firmness and ease; she was in no danger of +hurting the cicatrix by striking the place where the toes had been +against any hard substance, for this part was covered with the strong +integuments which had before constituted the sole of the foot. The +cicatrix was situated upon the upper part of the foot, and had very +little breadth, as the divided parts had been kept united after being +brought into close contact."[36] + +_Lisfranc's method_ has, briefly, the following modifications.--Having +fixed the position of the articulations of the first and fifth +metatarsals with the tarsus, the operator unites them by a curved +incision across the dorsum of the foot, with its convexity downwards. He +then divides the dorsal ligaments over the articulations, opens the +first from the inside, the fifth, fourth, and third from the outside, he +then with a strong narrow-bladed knife divides the interosseous +ligaments between the sides and end of the head of the second metatarsal +and the cuneiforms, thus completing the disarticulation; bending the +fore part of the foot downwards, he then keeps the edge of the knife +close to the lower surface of the bones, separating the plantar +ligaments, and cutting out a long plantar flap of skin and muscles. + +In every case it must be remembered that the upper end of the fifth +metatarsal projects far up along the outer edge of the foot. Allowance +must be made for this projection in commencing the incision. A rule +given by Mr. Syme to guide the disarticulation of the three outer +metatarsals will often be of service; it is this: "Having once entered +the joint of the fifth, the knife must be drawn along in a direction of +a line drawn towards the distal end of the first metatarsal; for the +fourth, the direction must be changed to the middle of the same bone; +and to open the third it will be necessary to come across the dorsum of +the foot as if intending to reach the proximal end." + +To avoid the difficulties of disarticulation, Skey recommends cutting +off the head of the second metatarsal with a pair of pliers. Baudens, +Guérin, and others approve of sawing all the bones across in the line +desired. + +Most surgeons are now agreed that in this operation it is better to make +both flaps by cutting from without, in preference to transfixion of the +plantar one from within. In cases where, from injury and disease, the +plantar flap is deficient in size, it may be necessary to make the +dorsal flap longer. However, the long plantar is preferable both from +its superior hardness, and also because from its length it permits the +cicatrix to be well on the dorsum of the foot, and therefore less likely +to be injured by the pressure of the boot in front. + + +AMPUTATIONS THROUGH THE TARSUS.--Various plans of amputating through the +tarsus have been devised and described at great length. The most +important of these is the operation of removal of the anterior portion +of the foot, at the joints between the astragalus and scaphoid, and os +calcis and cuboid, well known to the profession by the name of its first +describer, Chopart. + +It has been so completely superseded by the infinitely preferable +amputation at the ankle-joint of Mr. Syme, as rarely, if ever, to be +practised in this country. Indeed, amputation at the ankle-joint may be +said to have taken the place of all these amputations through the +tarsus; for though cases are occasionally met with in which the +limitation of the disease or injury may render Chopart's possible, and +though at first sight it appears to have an advantage in removing less +of the body, still the following objections are nearly fatal to its +chance of being selected:--1. In cases of injury, through leaving a long +stump, and, at first sight, a useful one, experience shows that the +tendo Achillis sooner or later (being unopposed by the extensors of the +toes) draws up the heel so as to make the end of the stump point, and +the cicatrix press on the ground, rendering it unable to bear any +weight. 2. In cases of removal for disease of the tarsus, the bones left +behind, though apparently sound at the time, are almost sure to become +eventually diseased. + +As it has an historical interest, and as this operation (defective as it +is) had been the means of saving many legs prior to the invention of +amputation at the ankle-joint, a brief description may be appended:-- + +Chopart's own manner of operation was briefly somewhat as follows:-- + +The tourniquet having been applied, the surgeon is to make a transverse +incision through the skin which covers the instep, two inches from the +ankle-joint. He is to divide the skin, and the extensor tendons, and the +muscles in that situation, so as to expose the convexity of the tarsus. +He is next to make on each side a small longitudinal incision, which is +to begin below and a little in front of the malleolus, and is to end at +one of the extremities of the first incision. After having formed in +this way a flap of integuments, he is to let it be drawn upwards by the +assistant who holds the leg. There is no occasion to dissect and reflect +the flap, for the cellular substance connecting the skin with the +subjacent aponeurosis is so loose, that it can easily be drawn up above +the place where the joint of the calcaneum with the cuboides and that +between the astragalus and scaphoides ought to be opened. The surgeon +will penetrate the last the most easily, particularly by taking for his +guide the eminence which indicates the attachment of the tibialis +anticus muscle to the inside of the os naviculare. The joint of the os +cuboides and os calcis lies pretty nearly in the same transverse line, +but rather obliquely forwards. The ligaments having been cut, the foot +falls back. The bistoury is then to be put down, and the straight knife +used, with which a flap of the soft parts is to be formed under the +tarsus and metatarsus, long enough to admit of being applied to the +naked bones, so as entirely to cover them. It is to be maintained in +position with three or four straps of adhesive plaster, etc.[37] + +Chopart's amputation, after an interval of comparative neglect, was +introduced into this country by Mr. Syme in 1829. His method of +performance is simpler and easier than Chopart's. He thus describes +it:--"The blade of the knife employed should be about six inches long, +and half an inch broad, sharp at the point and blunt on the back. The +tourniquet ought to be applied immediately above the ankle, having +compresses placed over the posterior and anterior tibial arteries. The +surgeon should measure with his eye the middle distance between the +malleolus externus and the head of the metatarsal bone of the little +toe, which is the situation of the articulation between the os cuboides +and os calcis. Placing his forefinger here, he ought to place his thumb +on the other side of the foot directly opposite, which will show him +where the os naviculare and astragalus are connected. An incision (Plate +II. figs. 4 and 5) somewhat curved, with its convexity forward, is then +to be made from one of these points to the other, when, instead of +proceeding to disarticulate, the operator should transfix the sole of +the foot from side to side at the extremities of the first incision, and +carry the knife forwards so as to detach a sufficient flap, which must +extend the whole length of the metatarsus to the balls of the toes. The +disarticulation may finally be completed with great ease, as the shape +of the articular surfaces concerned is very simple, and nearly +transverse."[38] Regarding the method of disarticulating at the +astragalo-calcaneal joint, and removing all the foot except the +astragalus, no detail need be given. Malgaigne advises an internal flap, +thus sacrificing the valuable pad of the heel. Roux, Verneuil, and +others endeavour to save the pad. This operation, however, has now +fallen almost completely into disuse. + + +SUBASTRAGALOID AMPUTATION has been highly recommended. In it the flap is +made as in Syme's, then anterior bones removed as in Chopart's, and os +calcis grasped by lion forceps and twisted off, its attachment and the +insertion of tendo Achillis being cautiously avoided. If flaps are +scanty, head of astragulus may be cut off with a small saw.--Hancock and +Ashurst. + + +TRIPIER'S AMPUTATION[39] is a modification of above, the skin incisions +being made as in Chopart's amputation, and then the calcaneum is sawn +through on a level with the sustentaculum tali on a plane at right +angles to the axis of the leg. + + +AMPUTATION AT THE ANKLE-JOINT, OR SYME'S AMPUTATION.--This operation is +one of much interest and great practical importance. In our cold +variable climate caries of the bones of the tarsus, and strumous disease +of the ankle-joint, are very common and very intractable maladies, and +for both of these, when far advanced, Syme's amputation is the only +justifiable procedure. When properly done, according to the _exact_ plan +of its proposer, it removes the whole of the diseased parts and not an +inch more, is an operation of very slight danger to life, and results +almost invariably in a thoroughly useful comfortable stump. Much of its +success depends on the manner in which it is performed, and as many +surgical manuals are not sufficiently full, some positively in error +regarding this point, and as very many modifications have been devised +diminishing in value and applicability very much in proportion as they +diverge from the original description, I think it advisable to describe +the operation minutely, and point out in detail the parts of it which +seem absolutely essential to success. + +_Operation._--The foot being held at a right angle to the leg, the point +of a straight bistoury, with a pretty strong blade, should be entered +just below the centre of the external malleolus (Plate IV. figs. 12, +13), (1.) and then carried right across the integuments of the sole, in +a straight line (or in the case of a prominent heel, slightly +backwards), (2.) to a point at the same level on the opposite side. (3.) +This incision should reach boldly through all the tissues down to the +bone. Holding the heel in the fingers of his left hand, the operator +then inserts his left thumb-nail into the incision, and pushes the flap +downwards, as with the knife kept close to the bone, and cutting on it, +he frees the flap from its attachments. The thumb-nail guards the knife +from in any way scoring the flap. (4.) This process is continued till +the tuberosity of the os calcis is fairly turned, and the tendo Achillis +nearly reached. Shifting his left hand he then extends the foot, and +joins the extremities of the first incision by a transverse one right +across the instep. (5.) Thus he opens the joint between the astragalus +and tibia, (6.) divides the lateral ligaments, disarticulates, and still +keeping close to the bone, removes the foot by the division of the tendo +Achillis. + +The lower ends of the tibia and fibula are then to be isolated from the +soft parts, and a thin slice, including both malleoli, to be removed. If +the disease of the joint has affected the lower end of the bone, slice +after slice may be removed, till a healthy surface of cancellated +texture is obtained. The vessels are then secured. + +_Dressing of the Stump._--From its peculiar shape and position, the +escape of any blood into the stump is much to be deprecated, for as it +cannot easily get out, on the one hand it gives pain, and may cause +sloughing from its pressure, and on the other it is sure eventually to +cause suppuration, and delay union. To avoid such results care must be +taken to secure every vessel that can be seen; if there is any general +oozing it is best merely to pass the sutures through the edges of the +flaps, but not bring them together, thus leaving the stump open for some +hours; then apply cold, and when the surfaces are fairly glazed over, +remove any clots and bring the flaps together.[40] + +Another plan introduced by Mr. Syme was to make a longitudinal slit in +the flap, through which all the ligatures are to be drawn; these give a +dependent drain to any pus that may be formed, and by their presence +greatly expedite the healing of the wound. Again, in cases where from +the amount of disease existing before the operation, and the gelatinous +thickening of the flap and neighbouring parts, much suppuration may be +looked for, probably it will be found best to keep the flaps quite apart +for some days, by stuffing the wound with lint, and aiming only at +secondary union by granulations. + +A drainage tube passed through the breadth of the flap, and brought out +at the angles, and retained for a few days, will do admirably. + + _Notes._--(1.) If commenced further forward, as in Pirogoff's + modification, it will be found difficult to turn the corner of the + heel; if further back, the nutrition of the flap is endangered. + + (2.) This is very important. In several well-known text-books, even + in the last edition of Gross's _Surgery_, the incision is figured + passing obliquely _forwards_. This is a fatal error, for besides + making a flap far too long, it forces the operator to cut fairly + into the hollow of the sole, quite off the prominence of the os + calcis, and he finds that it is utterly impossible to free his flap + without using great force, and inevitably scoring it in all + directions. Sloughing is almost inevitably the result. + + (3.) The incision is to stop at least half-an-inch below the + internal malleolus. Most surgical manuals, even when they profess + to describe Mr. Syme's own method of operating, say that the + incision should extend from malleolus to malleolus. If this is + done, the flap becomes unsymmetrical, too long, and also the + posterior tibial artery, on which much of the vascular supply of + the flap depends, is cut. When the incision is properly made, the + vessel is not cut till after its division into the plantar + arteries. + + (4.) Scoring the flap. Some may ask, Why do you object to a little + scoring, the tissues are thick enough, and besides, don't you + advise a slit in the flap yourself? Yes. One look at an injected + preparation will show that the vessels supplying this thick flap + come to it from its inner surface, and are inevitably cut across in + any scoring of it, and also, that scoring cuts across the vessels, + and _must_ divide dozens of them; the slit we make is parallel with + their course, and _may_ not divide one. + + (5.) Across the instep. Some authors recommend a semilunar anterior + flap; this is quite unnecessary, increases bagging and delays + union. It can be required only in cases where the heel flap has + been destroyed or lessened by disease, or by operators in whose + hands the heel flaps occasionally slough. + + (6.) It is not impossible that a careless operator may (by cutting + a little too low) miss the joint and get into the hollow of the + neck of the astragalus, where he may cut away for a long time + without making much progress. + +_Advantages._--1. It is wonderfully free of danger to life. It is very +hard to obtain exact statistical information, but my experience is that +the mortality is certainly not more than about 10 per cent., a very +remarkable result when compared with that of amputations through the +leg, the operation which used to be required for those cases which now +require only amputation at the ankle-joint. + +In the Statistical Report by the Surgeon-General of the United States, +9705 cases of amputation resulted in death, the proportions being as +follows:-- + + Amputation of hip, 85 per cent. died. + " thigh, 64 " + " knee, 55 " + " leg, 26 " + Amputation of ankle-joint, 13 per cent. died. + " shoulder, 39 " + " arm, 21 " + " fore-arm, 16 " + +2. It is the most perfect stump that can be made, in fact the only one +in the lower extremity which can bear pressure enough to support the +weight of the body; all the others require the weight to be distributed +over the general surface of the limb by means of apparatus. A good +ankle-joint stump can bear the whole weight of the body, as when the +patient hops on it without any artificial aid, or without even the +interposition of a stocking between the stump and a stone floor. More +than this, I have seen a patient who had both his feet amputated at the +ankle-joint run without shoes or stockings on the stone passages, +without even the aid of a stick, and with very great swiftness. + +The reason of this may be found in the nature of the flap itself, +originally intended to bear the weight of the body, there being no +cicatrix at the part on which pressure is borne. I have noticed that +perfection in walking on an ankle-joint stump has a certain relation to +the freedom of movement which the pad has over the face of the bone. +This ought to be pretty considerable. It is explained by the new +attachments formed by the tendons, and is under the control of the +patient, being elicited when he is told to move his toes. + +It has been objected to this operation that the flap is apt to slough. +When improperly performed, as when the flap is scored transversely in +its separation, and especially when the flap is cut too long (as has +been already noticed), this may occur; but that there is nothing +whatever in the position or condition of the flap itself that at all +necessitates its sloughing, is thoroughly proved by the following +remarkable case, given by Mr. Syme in his volume of _Observations in +Clinical Surgery_. I quote it entire:-- + +"P.C., aged thirty-three, was admitted into the hospital on the 25th +July 1860, in the following state:--He had been treated in the +Manchester Infirmary for popliteal aneurism by pressure, so decidedly +applied that it had caused an ulcer, of which the cicatrix remained; but +without producing the effect desired. The femoral artery was then tied +with success, in so far as the aneurism was concerned, but with the +unpleasant sequel, some months afterwards, of mortification in the foot, +which was thrown off, with the exception of the astragalus and os calcis +with their integuments, a large raw surface being presented in front +where the bone was bare. Although the patient was extremely weak, and +the parts concerned might be supposed more than usually disposed to +slough, I did not hesitate to perform the operation, with the speedy +result of a most excellent stump and complete restoration to +health."--Pp. 49, 50. + +The modifications of Mr. Syme's original operation have been very +various. It will be unnecessary even to name them all. One or two may +require notice. Retaining Mr. Syme's incisions in their integrity, some +operators prefer not to disarticulate the foot, but remove it by sawing +through the tibia and fibula at once, while still in connection with the +foot. That most excellent surgeon and first-rate operator, Dr. Johnston +of Montrose, used to prefer this method. + +In cases where the pad of the heel has been destroyed by disease or +accident, so as to be partially or entirely unavailable for the flap, +the late Dr. Richard Mackenzie[41] practised the following operation by +internal flap:--With the foot and ankle projecting from the table with +their internal aspect upwards, he entered the point of the knife (Plate +I. fig. 14) in the mesial line of the posterior aspect of the ankle, on +a level with the articulation, carried it down obliquely across the +tendo Achillis towards the external border of the plantar aspect of the +heel, along which it is continued in a semilunar direction. The incision +is then curved across the sole of the foot, and terminates on the inner +side of the tendon of the tibialis anticus, about an inch in front of +the inner malleolus. The second incision (Plate III. fig. 4) is carried +across the outer aspect of the ankle in a semilunar direction, between +the extremities of the first incisions, the convexity of the incision +downwards, and passing half an inch below the external malleolus. + +Precisely the same principle might supply the flap from the outer side +in cases where the internal flap as well as the heel was deficient, but +probably the nutrition of the external flap would be more doubtful. +Neither the one nor the other is nearly so good as the true heel flap, +and they are both only very poor substitutes for it when it cannot be +had. + +The modification devised by Dr. Handyside does not seem to have any +advantages over the original operation, and has not been adopted. + +The modification invented by Professor Pirogoff involves a much more +important principle than any of the preceding. Instead of dissecting the +flap from the posterior projecting portion of the os calcis, and +removing the tarsus entire, he sawed off the posterior portion of the os +calcis obliquely, leaving it in contact with the pad of skin, which is +retained. Immediately after making the cut which defines the posterior +flap and divides the tissues down to the bone, he opens the joint in +front, disarticulates, and then putting on a narrow saw immediately +behind the astragalus and over the sustentaculum tali, he saws the os +calcis obliquely downwards and forwards till he reaches the first +incision; then removes the ends of the tibia and fibula and brings up +the slice of os calcis into contact with them. + +_Advantages._--It is easy of performance, saving the dissection from the +heel, which some find so hard. It leaves a longer limb. It is said to +bear pressure better, and there is certainly not so much chance of +bagging of pus, and the mortality is exceedingly small, Hancock's +collected cases giving only 8.6 per cent.; in cases of injury it is +quite a warrantable operation. + +_Disadvantages._--It is contrary to sound principle in cases of disease, +for it wilfully leaves a portion of the tarsus, in which disease is +almost certain to return. It leaves too long a limb, for it is found +that the shortening in Mr Syme's method is just sufficient to admit of a +properly constructed spring being placed in the boot to make up for the +loss of the elastic arch of the foot. It brings the firm pad of the heel +too much forward, thus tending to lean the weight of the body on the +softer tissues behind the heel. It takes much longer to unite and +consolidate. + +The author has now, in a large number of cases of Syme's amputation for +disease, found advantage in leaving the periosteum in the heel flap, +_i.e._ he cuts fairly into the os calcis when dividing the skin of heel, +and then using a periosteum scraper instead of the knife, it is quite +easy to remove the whole of the periosteum from the bone; this results +in a large and more rounded pad of great strength and thickness. + +In cases where from disease or injury it is impossible to obtain either +a heel flap or a substitute lateral one, the question is, Where should +amputation be performed? + +It was for a long time the opinion of nearly all the best surgeons, and +still is the opinion of many, that amputation of the leg should be +performed at what was known as the "seat of election," just below the +knee, even in cases where abundance of soft parts could be obtained for +an amputation much lower down. The rule in surgery, to save as much of +the body as possible in every amputation, was in the leg believed to be +set aside by objections which militated strongly against all the other +operations in the leg except the one performed just below the knee. Very +briefly, these were somewhat as follows:--1. Just above the ankle you +have large bones with nothing to cover them except skin and tendons. 2. +Higher up in the calf you have plenty of muscle, but it is all on one +side, and that the wrong one; it is very heavy, very difficult to dress +and keep in position, and then when you have succeeded with it, the +muscle wastes away and the stump is flabby. 3. And chiefly, as in all +the amputations of the leg, the cicatrices are so much in the way, and +the bones are so ill covered, that the patient can never rest his leg on +the stump itself, but has either to rest his weight on his patella +impinging on the top of a bottle-shaped leg, or just to stick out his +stump behind him and kneel on the top of his wooden leg; therefore it is +no use to have a stump longer than a few inches; in fact, the longer the +stump is the more it is in the way. And more than this, many of the +stumps made near the ankle, or through the calf, are not only useless, +but positively painful. The skin becomes attached to the bones, the +cicatrix never properly firms at all, the patient can hardly bear the +pressure of a stocking, far less can he make use of the limb. For these +reasons, secondary amputations below the knee are of very common +occurrence. + +Now, this idea has been much modified, and a few isolated cases in the +past, and series of cases considerably more numerous in the present day, +show that under certain conditions, and as a result of certain +precautions in their performance, such operations are both warrantable +and successful. + +In the past, as we find in an erudite note in South's Chelius, Dionis, +White, and Bromfield had each of them many successful cases of +amputation just above the ankle, successful in so far that artificial +limbs could be used which preserved the motion of the knee, and gave +the patient much more command of the limb than is possible with the +short stump below the knee. + +A still more important point to be remembered is, that amputation just +above the ankle is a much less fatal amputation than that just below the +knee (Lister in _Holmes's Surgery_, 3d ed. vol. iii. p. 716; Gross, 6th +ed. vol. ii. p. 1113; Ben. Bell, 6th edit. vol. vii. p. 312). + +There is little doubt, however, that the principle so much in vogue in +the present day, of one long anterior or posterior flap, instead of two +equal flaps, or of circular amputations, has done very much to make +amputations at the ankle or through the calf justifiable and useful in +bearing the weight of the body. + + +AMPUTATION JUST ABOVE THE ANKLE.--Cases admitting of this operation must +always be rare, for disease of the tarsus or ankle-joint hardly ever +goes so far as to contra-indicate the performance of Mr. Syme's greatly +preferable operation; and an accident which would require this operation +from injury to the ankle would in most cases require an amputation a +good deal higher up from the splintering of the tibia so apt to occur. + +In a suitable case the plan of the operation should be as follows:--A +long anterior flap slightly rounded at the end should be cut (Plate I. +figs. 15, 16)--from the outside, not by transfixion,--and the anterior +muscles dissected up along with it. It should be long enough to fall +down over the face of the bones at the point of section, and easily +cover the point of the posterior flap, which is to be made by cutting +through all the tissues with one bold transverse stroke of the knife. +This operation, which is the plan of Mr. Teale of Leeds very slightly +modified, is equally applicable at any point of the leg, with this +difference only, that the length of the anterior flap must always be +carefully proportioned to the mass of the muscular flap behind it has to +cover in. + +This operation provides a skin covering, without any danger of the +cicatrix being pressed on or becoming adherent. + + The author has within the last few years operated nine times in + this manner, in cases of accident in which the heel flaps had been + completely destroyed; and seen a tenth case in which Mr. Syme did + so. All ten cases recovered completely and rapidly, and walked on + useful limbs, with the free movement of the knee-joint. + +Where from injury in a muscular patient a long anterior flap cannot be +had, recourse should be had at once to the operation at the seat of +election, rather than run the risk of pressure on the cicatrix by using +a double flap operation, or trust that broken reed, the long posterior +flap from the great muscles of the calf. + +In June 1865, Mr. Henry Lee described a method of operating which he +hoped would unite the benefits of Mr. Teale's method to the ease of +performance of the old flap from the calf. I append a short account of +his method. From its position, however, it has the great disadvantage of +retaining the discharges, and by its weight straining the stitches and +weighing down the cicatrix:-- + + +LEE'S AMPUTATION _of the Leg by a long rectangular flap from the +Calf_.--The operation described was performed according to Mr. Teale's +method, as far as the external incisions were concerned, but the long +flap was made from the back instead of from the front of the limb (Plate +IV. figs. 14, 15). Two parallel incisions were made along the sides of +the leg, these were met by a third transverse incision behind, which +joined the lower extremities of the first two. These incisions, which +formed the three sides of the square, extended through the skin and +cellular tissue only. A fourth incision was made transversely through +the skin in front of the leg so as to form a flap in this situation, +one-fourth only of the length of the posterior flap. When the skin had +somewhat retracted by its natural elasticity, an incision was made +through the parts situated in front of the bones, which were reflected +upwards to a level with the upper extremities of the first longitudinal +incisions. The deeper structures at the back of the leg were then freely +divided in the situation of the lower transverse incision. The conjoined +gastrocnemius and soleus muscles were separated from the subjacent +parts, and reflected as high as the anterior flap. The deeper layer of +muscles, together with the large vessels and nerves, were divided as +high as the incision would permit, and the bones sawn through in the +usual way. The flaps were then adjusted in the manner recommended by Mr. +Teale.[42] + +The patients were able to bear the weight of the body on the end of the +stump. + +In cases of chronic disease, where the muscles are atrophied and +condensed, the following posterior flap method may be used with +advantage. It is approved of by Mr. Spence. An incision is made across +the front of the leg from the _posterior edge_ of the fibula to the +_posterior edge_ of the tibia, or _vice versâ_, according to the limb. +The limb is then transfixed behind the bones from the same points, and a +long and gently rounded posterior flap cut. The bones are then cleaned, +and cut through at a little higher level. + + +AMPUTATION IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE KNEE _at the_ "_true seat of +election_."--The principles on which this operation is founded are--1. +That a muscular flap is not necessary, skin being perfectly sufficient; +2. That as the muscles retract they must be cut at a lower level than +the bones, and as they retract unequally from their varying length, the +cuts must be made with due reference to that inequality; 3. That no more +of the tibia need be retained than what is just sufficient to retain +the attachment of the ligamentum patellæ, and to insure its vitality; 4. +That the head of the fibula must be retained in every case, as in a +certain proportion the tibio-fibular articulation communicates with the +knee-joint. + +_Operation._--Two equal semilunar flaps of skin must be cut--from the +outside, not by transfixion,--one anterior and external, the other +posterior and internal, their extremities meeting at points about two +inches below the tuberosity of the tibia on either side (Plate I. figs. +17, 18). These must be reflected up, and with them a further extent of +skin, embracing the whole circumference of the limb, must be dissected +up (as if pulling off the fingers of a glove), so as to expose the bone +one inch below the tuberosity. The anterior muscles being very close to +their origin, and consequently being able to retract very slightly, must +be cut as high as exposed, and the posterior ones about the middle of +their exposed surface. + +The bones must then be sawn as high as exposed, with the following +precautions:--1. In order to prevent splintering of the fibula, +endeavour to saw it along with the tibia, so as to finish it first; 2. +To prevent projection of a sharp prominence of the edge of the tibia, +enter the saw obliquely a little higher up than where you intend to +divide the bone, then withdraw it, and enter the saw again at right +angles to the bone, and a line or two lower down. Some surgeons prefer +to make this section afterwards with a finer saw or the bone-pliers. + +This operation is very frequently required to remedy painful and +unhealed stumps, the result of amputations lower down, specially those +in which the long posterior flap from the muscles of the calf has been +used. In the above amputation the patient will not be able to rest the +weight of his body on the _face_ of the stump, but by putting the limb +into a well-padded case with soft rounded edges, the weight might be +borne partly on the sides of the stump, and partly on the lower edge of +the patella; and the patient will be able to walk with great comfort, +preserving the use of his knee-joint. + + +AMPUTATION AT THE KNEE-JOINT.--This "relic of ancient surgery," as Mr. +Skey calls it, has been revived only of late years, and seems in certain +cases to be a justifiable and successful operation. + +Practised by Fabricius Hildanus and Guillemeau in the sixteenth and +seventeenth centuries, it had fallen into disuse till revived by Hoin, +Velpeau, and Baudens, on the Continent, Professor Nathan Smith in +America, and Mr. Lane in London. + +It is not possible that this operation can be at all frequent, since the +cases in which it is applicable are comparatively rare; for, to be +successful, the following conditions are essential:--1. That there be +abundant skin in front of the knee-joint to make a long anterior flap; +2. That the patella and articular surface of the femur are healthy. +These conditions at once exclude nearly every case of disease or +accident. If the joint is diseased some amputation through the thigh +must be attempted; if injured, and the front of the knee is safe, it may +very likely be possible to amputate below the knee. Hence this operation +may be useful in cases where, for malignant disease, the _whole_ tibia +requires removal, and yet the knee-joint is sound, or for gunshot +injuries, in which the tibia is splintered but the soft tissues +comparatively uninjured. + +_Operation._--A long anterior flap should be cut with a semilunar end +(Plate II. figs. 6, 7), extending as far as the insertion of the +ligamentum patellæ. This flap, including the patella, should be thrown +up, the joint cut into, and a short posterior flap made by transfixion. + +It is important to retain the patella, if possible, as it fills up the +hollow between the condyles; it sometimes becomes anchylosed, but in +other cases it remains freely mobile, and adds to the value of the +stump. + +Professor Pancoast has practised an amputation at the knee-joint by +three flaps, performed entirely by the scalpel, which, he says, results +in a good stump. One flap, the anterior one, is longest and semilunar in +shape, its convexity passing three inches below the tuberosity of the +tibia; the other two are much smaller, and postero-lateral.[43] + +_Advantages._--The bone is not cut into at all, there is a free drain +for matter, no tendency to retraction of the flaps, and the weight of +the body is borne on skin previously habituated to pressure. + + The statistics seem to be favourable: out of 55 cases, Continental, + American, and English, 21 died, a mortality of 38 per cent., while + in a table of 1055 cases of amputation of the thigh, 464 died, + being a mortality of 44 per cent. In some of the American cases the + articulating extremity of the femur seems to have been removed, as + in the following operation:-- + + +AMPUTATION THROUGH THE CONDYLES OF THE FEMUR.--In the _London and +Edinburgh Journal of Medical Science_ for 1845, Mr. Syme advocated a +method of amputation through the condyles of the femur as specially +suitable in case of diseased knee-joint. Amputation at this spot has +certain advantages:--1. The shaft of the bone being untouched, there is +no injury of the medullary cavity, and hence no fear of inflammation of +its lining membrane. 2. There is less risk of exfoliation, the +cancellated texture of the epiphysis not being liable to it. 3. Being +close to the joint, the muscles are cut through where they are +tendinous, thus very much diminishing the risk of retraction and +consequent protrusion of the bone. 4. A large broad surface of bone is +left to bear the weight of the body, and one which, like the ankle-joint +stump, will round off and afford a comfortable pad over which the skin +of the flap will freely play. + +One objection used to be urged against this mode of operating, the fear +lest the thickened, brawny, and often ulcerated textures in the +neighbourhood of a diseased knee-joint, would not make a good covering. +This, however, is no longer a bugbear, as we see in cases of resection, +where the diseased joint alone is taken away, how very soon all swelling +and disease departs, once its cause is removed. + +Mr. Syme's original operation was briefly as follows:--With an ordinary +amputating-knife make a lunated incision (Plate I. fig. 19) from one +condyle to the other, across the front of the joint, on a level with the +middle of the patella, divide the tissues down to the bones, and then +draw the flap upwards, then cut the quadriceps extensor immediately +above the patella. The point of the blade should then be pushed in at +one end of the wound, thrust behind the femur, and made to appear at the +other end; it should then be carried downwards (Plate III. fig. 5), so +as to make a flap from the calf of the leg, about six or eight inches in +length, in proportion to the thickness of the limb; the flap should then +be slightly retracted, and the knife carried round the bone a little +above the condyles to clear a way for the saw, which should be applied +so as to leave the section as horizontal as possible. + +This method is now hardly ever used, as the following seems a much +better one:-- + + +GRITTI'S[44] AMPUTATION.--In this two flaps are formed--an anterior long +one rectangular and a posterior short one. The condyles of the femur are +divided through their base, and the lower surface of patella is removed +by a small saw, and then the surfaces of bone approximated. + + +STOKES'S[45] MODIFICATION OF GRITTI'S AMPUTATION.--In this +"supracondyloid" amputation, the femur is sawn just above the condyles, +without going into the medullary canal. The anterior flap is oval, twice +as long as posterior, and the patella is brought up after denudation +against end of femur. + + +CARDEN'S AMPUTATION AT THE CONDYLES OF THE FEMUR.[46]--The operation +consists in reflecting a rounded or semi-oval flap of skin and fat from +the front of the knee-joint, dividing everything else straight down to +the bone, and sawing the bone slightly above the plane of the muscles, +thus forming a flat-faced stump, with a bonnet of integument to fall +over it. + +The operator standing on the right side of the limb, seizes it between +his left forefinger and thumb at the spot selected for the base of the +flap, and enters (Plate II. fig. 8) the point of the knife close to his +finger, bringing it round through skin and fat below the patella to the +spot pressed by his thumb; then turning the edge downwards at a right +angle with the line of the limb, he passes it through to the spot where +it first entered, cutting outwards through everything behind the bone +(Plate IV. fig. 16). The flap is then reflected, and the remainder of +the soft parts divided straight down to the bone; the muscles are then +slightly cleared upwards, and I saw it applied. + +I have ventured to make a slight change in the method of performing this +most excellent operation, for having found the posterior flap, as cut in +the method above described, rather scanty in the earlier cases in which +I have had occasion to perform it, after dissecting back the anterior +flap and cutting into the knee-joint, I shape a slightly convex +posterior flap of skin only, at least one and a half inches in length +in adult, and allow it to retract before dividing the muscles by a +circular cut to the bone, and have had every reason to be satisfied with +the change. + + +AMPUTATION OF THE THIGH.--Amputation of the thigh has been the favourite +battle-ground where flap and circular, antero-posterior and lateral, +long and short flaps, double, triple, and conical incisions, have +striven with each other; so were I to attempt to describe one quarter of +the various methods employed, I should need to rewrite the history of +Amputation. + +It will suffice merely to describe the _best_ modes of amputating the +thigh through its lower, middle, and upper thirds respectively, and at +the hip-joint. + +In one word, it may be stated that, with the exception of those +amputations performed through the lower third of the bone, the flap +method is to be preferred, and the flaps should in almost every case be +made by transfixion. + +In the lower third, however, the flap method, though exceedingly easy, +and capable of very rapid performance, has certain defects; the chief of +these being the tendency which the muscular flaps (the necessary result +of transfixion) have to cause undue retraction, and hence protrusion of +the bone. This is seen specially in the hamstrings, which from the great +distance of their origin, and the purely longitudinal direction of their +fibres, retract to a very great extent, much more than the anterior +muscles can do from the pennate direction of their fibres, and the +manner in which they are mutually bound down to each other and to the +bone. + +Even in this one position, the lower third of the thigh, the methods +that may be needed are various, and require separate notice;--for +operations here are extremely frequent from the frequency of strumous +disease of the knee-joint in our variable climate, and from the fact +that compound fractures or dislocations of the knee-joint so very often +necessitate amputation. + +In cases where the skin over the patella is uninjured and available, the +operation by long anterior flap (either by Teale's method, or by Mr. +Spence's modification of it, which curiously is almost exactly similar +to the amputation of Benjamin Bell by a single flap) is suitable enough. +But, I believe, preferable to either of these is the operation of Mr. +Carden, already described. In cases where the knee-joint is injured, and +the skin over the patella unavailable, and yet where it is not necessary +to go higher up the limb, the modified circular amputation of Mr. Syme +will be found very suitable. + +As it is in this lower third of the thigh that a very large proportion +of the cases requiring a long anterior flap is to be found, it affords +the best opportunity for comparing in their detail the three almost +similar plans of B. Bell, Teale, and Spence--after which Mr. Syme's +modified circular may be described. + + +BENJAMIN BELL'S FLAP OPERATION ABOVE THE KNEE (reported in his own +words, slightly abbreviated).--"When this operation is to be performed +above the knee, it may be done either with one or two flaps, but it will +commonly succeed best with one. The flap answers best on the fore part +of the thigh, for here there is a sufficiency of the parts for covering +the bones, and the matter passes more freely off than when the flap is +formed behind.... The extreme point of the flap should reach to the end +of the limb, unless the teguments are in any part diseased, in which +case it must terminate where the disease begins, and its base should be +where the bone is to be sawn. This will determine the length of the +flap, and we should be directed with respect to the breadth of it by the +circumference of the limb, for the diameter of a circle being somewhat +less than a third of its circumference, although a limb may not be +exactly circular, yet by attention to this we may ascertain with +sufficient exactness the size of a flap for covering a stump (Plate IV. +fig. 17). Thus a flap of four inches and a quarter in length will reach +completely across a stump whose circumference is twelve inches; but as +some allowance must be made for the quantity of skin and muscles that +may be saved on the opposite side of the limb, by cutting them in the +manner I have directed, and drawing them up before sawing the bone, and +as it is a point of importance to leave the limb as long as possible, +instead of four inches and a quarter, a limb of this size, when the +first incision is managed in this manner, will not require a flap longer +than three inches and a quarter, and so in proportion, according to the +size of the limb. The flap at its base should be as broad as the breadth +of the limb will permit, and should be continued nearly, although not +altogether, of the same breadth till within a little of its termination, +where it should be rounded off so as to correspond as exactly as may be +with the figure of the sore on the back part of the limb. This being +marked out, the surgeon, standing on the outside of the limb, should +push a straight double-edged knife with a sharp point to the depth of +the bone, by entering the point of it at the outside of the base of the +intended flap; and carrying the point close to the bone, it must here be +pushed through the teguments at the mark on the opposite side. The edge +of the knife must now be carried downwards in such a direction as to +form the flap, according to the figure marked out; and as it draws +toward the end, the edge of it should be somewhat raised from the bone, +so as to make the extremity of the flap thinner than the base, by which +it will apply with more neatness to the surface of the sore. The flap +being supported by an assistant, the teguments and muscles of the other +parts of the limb should, by one stroke of the knife, be cut down to +the bone, about an inch beneath where the bone is to be sawn; and the +muscles being separated to this height from the bone with the point of a +knife, the soft parts must all be supported with the leather retractors +till the bone is sawn," etc., arteries tied, and dressings applied.[47] + + +AMPUTATION OF THIGH BY RECTANGULAR FLAP--(Teale's).--I take the +opportunity here of describing fully, and as far as possible in his own +words, Mr. Teale's method of amputating, this being the situation where +his method is most frequently available. The same principle may be +applied to amputations at almost any other part of the body. + +After advising the surgeon to mark out the proposed line of incision +with ink before the operation, he gives the following directions for +fixing the exact size of the flap:--"Supposing the amputation to take +place (Plate II. figs. 9, 10) at the lower part of the middle third of +the thigh, the circumference of the limb is to be measured at the point +where the bone is to be divided.[48] Assuming this to be sixteen inches, +the long flap is to have its length and breadth each equal to half the +circumference, namely, eight inches. Two longitudinal lines of this +extent are then traced on the limb, and are met at their lower points by +a transverse line of the same length. The inner longitudinal line should +be first traced in ink as near as practicable to the femoral vessels, +without including them within the range of the long flap. The outer +longitudinal line, which is somewhat posterior, is next marked eight +inches distant from the former and parallel to it. These two lines are +then joined by a transverse line of the same extent, which falls upon +the upper border of the patella, or upon some lower portion of this +bone. The short flap is indicated by a transverse line passing behind +the thigh, the length of this flap being one-fourth that of the long +one; or, assuming the circumference of the limb to be sixteen inches, +and the length of the long flap eight inches, the length of the short +flap is two inches. The operator begins by making the two lateral +incisions of the long flap through the _integuments only_. The +transverse incision of this flap, supposing it to run along the upper +edge of the patella, is made by a free sweep of the knife through the +skin and tendinous structures down to the femur. Should the lower +transverse line of the flap fall across the middle or lower part of the +patella, the transverse incision can extend through the skin only, which +must be dissected up as far as the upper border of the patella, at which +place the tendinous structures are to be cut direct to the thigh-bone. +The flap is completed by cutting the fleshy structures from below +upwards close to the bone. The posterior short flap, containing the +large vessels and nerves, is made by _one sweep_ of the knife down to +the bone, the soft parts being afterwards separated from the bone close +to the periosteum, as far upwards as the intended place of sawing.... In +adjusting the flaps, the long one is folded over the end of the bone, +and brought, by its transverse line, into union with the short flap, the +two corresponding free angles of each being first united by suture. One +or two additional stitches complete the transverse line of union. Care +is now required in arranging the two lateral lines of union. As the long +flap is folded upon itself so as to form a kind of pouch for the end of +the bone, it is requisite that it should be held in its folded state by +a point of suture on each side. Another stitch on each side secures the +lateral line of the short flap to the corresponding part of the long +one. A longitudinal line of union thus passes at right angles each end +of the transverse line."[49] + +Mr. Teale's account of the resulting stumps is too long to quote entire, +but in a few words, we find that by retraction of the short posterior +flap, the cicatrix is drawn up quite behind and out of the way of the +bone, that a soft mass without any large nerves or vessels is the result +of the partial atrophy of the long flap, and that the patient is able to +bear one-half, two-thirds, or even in some cases the entire weight of +his body on the face of the stump. Such a power of support is to be +found in no other flap except in Mr. Syme's amputation at the +ankle-joint. + + +SPENCE'S AMPUTATION BY A LONG ANTERIOR FLAP.[50]--The method used by Mr. +Spence in amputations just above the knee-joint obtains the advantages +of Teale's method, and avoids many of its disadvantages. He makes two +flaps. The anterior one, which is to fall loosely over and cover in the +posterior segment of the stump, must have a breadth fully equal to +one-half of the circumference of the limb, and must be gently rounded at +its extremity, so as to adjust itself readily to the curve of the cut +margin of the posterior half of the stump. He begins the anterior +incision below, or on a level with, the lower margin of the patella, and +when the skin is retracted to a little above the patella, cuts down +_obliquely_ to the bone, so as to divide the soft parts up to the base +of the flap. For the posterior incision, he begins about two +fingers'-breadth below the base of the anterior flap, and the assistant +retracting the skin, the edge of the knife is carried obliquely up to +the bone (in Alanson's manner) and the posterior soft parts divided, the +bone is sawn through--or immediately above--the condyloid portion. Mr. +Spence does not advise or practise this method high up. The results are +good, for by these means the end of the bone has a thick covering, +including muscular fibres, over it, and the cicatrix is not pressed +upon in walking. The stump remains full, mobile, and fleshy, as in Mr. +Teale's method, without the disadvantage which it has, in requiring the +bone to be divided so far above the seat of injury or disease. This is +an exceedingly good method of operating in the lower third of the thigh, +in muscular patients the very best, and in all cases only equalled in +value by Carden's method. + +The next is now hardly ever used here, except in cases where the skin +over the patella is destroyed. + + +MODIFIED CIRCULAR AT LOWER THIRD OF THIGH (Syme's).--Two equal semilunar +flaps of skin should be cut (Plate I. fig. 20, Plate III. fig. 6), one +anterior, the other posterior, their convexities being towards the knee. +The skin and subcutaneous cellular tissue should be raised from the +fascia, and then retracted to a further distance of at least two inches; +the muscles should then be divided right down to the bone, on a level as +high as they are exposed in front, and as low as they are exposed +behind. This allows for the different amount of retraction at the two +sides of the limb, and leaves the muscles cut on a level; the whole mass +of muscles should then be drawn well up, and the bone exposed, and sawn +through at a level about two inches higher than where it was first +exposed by the anterior incision through the muscles. + +In very weak thin flabby limbs this process may be simplified by just at +once including the muscles in the skin flaps, and carefully exposing the +bone higher up. In performing the retraction the assistant should be +cautioned not to overdo it, lest he strip the periosteum from the bone +higher than is necessary. This is very easy to do in the weak limbs of +strumous patients, and may cause exfoliation, and greatly delay cure. + + +AMPUTATION IN THE MIDDLE THIRD OF THE THIGH.--A very short notice will +suffice here. The exact position, shape, and size of the flaps must in +every case be modified by the nature of the injury for which the +operation is performed, taking the flaps where they can be obtained. As +a general rule, a long anterior flap with a short posterior, on the +principle described above, should be preferred. In cases where the long +anterior cannot be obtained, two equal flaps should be made by +transfixion. The flaps should always be antero-posterior, the lateral +flaps introduced by Vermale, and indorsed by Chelius and Erichsen, +having the great disadvantage of allowing the bone, which is drawn up by +the psoas and iliacus, to project at the upper angle. + +Supposing the right thigh is to be amputated, the surgeon, standing on +the inside of the leg, should raise the skin and muscles of the front of +the limb in his left hand, and entering the knife just in front of the +vessels, should transfix the limb, the knife passing in front of the +bone, and including as nearly as possible an exact half of the limb +(Plate IV. fig. 19); having by a sawing motion brought out the knife and +cut a flap of the required length, the knife is re-entered at the same +place, and passing behind the bone, the point must be brought out at the +angle on the other side. Both flaps being then held back by an +assistant, the bone is cleared by a circular turn of the knife, and the +saw applied, the vessels are found cut high up in the inner angle of the +posterior flap. + +In muscular patients it is often better to make the incision through the +skin first and allow it to retract before transfixing; this is slower +and not so brilliant looking, but avoids redundancy of muscle. + + +AMPUTATION AT THE HIP-JOINT.--This operation, exceedingly dangerous from +the amount of the body removed, the great hæmorrhage, and the risk of +pyæmia, is of comparatively modern invention. Though the proportion of +recoveries is at present to that of deaths about one to two or two and a +half, it is still a perfectly justifiable operation in many cases of +disease and injury. + +Like amputation at the shoulder, amputation at the hip has given rise to +very many various methods of performance. Under the heads of single +flap, double flap, oval, circular, and mixed flap and circular, at least +twenty distinct methods have been put on record, and, including +modifications, there are thirty-seven or thirty-eight different surgeons +who have each their own plan of operation. + +The reason of this fearful complexity in its literature depends on this +fact, that this amputation has generally been performed for cases of +such severe injury of the limb, that no milder amputation was possible, +and thus the flaps had to be taken just where the surgeon could get them +best. And this will have to be the guiding principle in most amputations +at this joint; the surgeon must just cut his coat according to his +cloth--get his flaps where and how he can. + +In cases, however, where it is possible to have a choice, and to select +the flaps, the following is, I believe, both the best and quickest +method:-- + +This is one of the very few operations in which quickness of performance +is a desideratum; the use of anæsthetics has, in most other cases, given +time for elaboration of flaps, and careful dissection; here the risk of +loss of blood, specially from the posterior flap, renders rapid +disarticulation imperative. + +_Amputation by double flap, anterior the longer._--In hip-joint +amputations, besides the ordinary sponge-squeezers, two assistants are +necessary, whose duties are exceedingly important. + +The first is to check hæmorrhage. Pressing with a firm pad on the +external iliac just as it passes the bone, he must be prepared, the +instant the anterior flap is cut, to follow the knife and seize flap and +artery in his hand, and he is to hold it there till all the vessels in +the posterior flap are first tied. + +The second has to manage the limb, and on the manner in which he +performs his duty much of the success and nearly all the celerity of the +operation depend. While the surgeon is transfixing the anterior flap, +this assistant is to support the limb in a slightly flexed position, so +as to relax the muscles; the instant the flap is cut he is to extend the +limb forcibly, and at the same time be careful not to abduct it in the +least, but to turn the toes inward so as to bring the great trochanter +well forwards on a level with the joint; if this precaution is +neglected, the operator in making the posterior flap is almost certain +to lock his knife in the hollow between the head of the bone and the +great trochanter. + +If it is the left side, the operator, standing on the outside of the +limb, enters the point of a long straight knife midway between the +anterior superior spinous process of the ilium and the great trochanter, +and passes it as close to the front of the joint as possible, making the +point emerge close to the tuberosity of the ischium (Plate IV. fig. +20-20). With a rapid sawing movement he then cuts a long anterior flap, +avoiding any pointing of it, and endeavouring to make the curve equal. +The fingers of the assistant must be inserted so as to follow the knife +and seize the vessel even before it is divided. The flap being raised +out of the way, the surgeon, without changing his knife (as used to be +advised), opens the joint, divides the ligaments as they start up on the +limb being extended and adducted, the round ligament, and the posterior +part of the capsule; and then getting the knife fairly behind both the +head of the bone and the trochanter, cuts the posterior flap as rapidly +as possible. Instantly on the limb being separated, assistants should +be ready with large dry sponges or pads of dry lint to press against the +surface of the posterior flap, till the large branches, chiefly of the +internal iliac, which are cut in it, are tied one by one. + +The lever invented by Mr. Richard Davy, by which the common iliac is +compressed from the rectum, has in many cases proved of great service in +preventing hæmorrhage, but has dangers of its own in cases of abnormal +position of rectum, or even in sudden movements of the patient. + +In every case the abdominal tourniquet will be found of great service in +checking hæmorrhage, during the operation of amputation at the +hip-joint. It consists of an arch of steel fitted with a pad behind, +which rests against the vertebral column, and a pad in front playing on +a very fine and long screw, through an opening in the arch. When screwed +down tightly on the aorta just before the incisions are commenced, it +checks hæmorrhage admirably without injuring the viscera. When this is +applied, a method of amputation once practised by Mr. Syme, though not +so rapid as the double-flap method by transfixion, will be found very +easy, and to result in most excellent flaps. He cut an anterior flap in +the usual manner by transfixion, then made a straight incision from its +outer edge down to about two inches below the great trochanter, thus +exposing it fully, and from the lower end of this incision transfixed +again, cutting a posterior flap nearly equal in size to the anterior; a +few strokes of the knife round the joint finished the disarticulation. +The resulting flaps came together with great accuracy, and were not +burdened with the great unequal masses of muscles so often noticed in +the posterior flaps which are made by cutting from within outwards +_after_ disarticulation. + +In some cases of amputation where the femur has been badly shattered, it +is a good plan to amputate through the upper third of thigh, tie all the +vessels, and then, aided by an incision at outer side, dissect out the +head of the bone. + +Mr. Furneaux Jordan of Birmingham carries out this principle by first +dividing the soft parts in circular direction low down the thigh, and +then dissecting out the head of the bone from the muscles by a long +incision on the outer aspect of the limb. + + _Note._--In severe cases of smash when both lower limbs have + required amputation, the author has derived much assistance from + the method of managing the operation detailed below:-- + + _Double Primary Amputation of (both) Thighs from railway + smash_--_Rapid recovery._--G., a healthy-looking man, aged + twenty-seven, but looking much older, while driving a horse near + Granton, caught his foot on the edge of a rail at a point, fell, + and both his legs were run over by several loaded wagons. A special + engine was procured, his thighs tightly tied up, and he was sent up + to hospital at once. + + I was in hospital at the time, so with as little delay as possible + he was placed on the operating table, and the necessity for + amputation being too evident, I obtained his leave to remove both + his legs above the knee; but his pulse was very feeble, and he was + intensely nervous, throwing his arms wildly about, panting for + breath, and looking very ill, cold, and exhausted. + + I determined that by great rapidity he might be got off the table + alive, so operated in the following manner:--Fixing the tourniquet + firmly near both groins, I first amputated the right leg by + Carden's method, and tied the femoral only, wrapped up the stump in + a towel wrung out of carbolic solution 1-20, then took off the + other limb by Mr. Spence's method,--it had been injured higher than + the right, so that I could not save the condyles of the + femur,--then tied the femoral there, and fixed it up with another + towel; then returning to the first, I tied one or two large + branches which spouted, and rolled it up again, then back to the + left one, doing the same, and getting the tourniquet off both + limbs. On going back to the right the surface was nearly dry and + glazed, so, asking Dr. Maclaren, who assisted me, to stitch it up + and insert a drainage-tube, I did the same for the left, so rapidly + that the patient was in his bed with his limbs dressed and bandaged + in 24-1/2 minutes from the time he entered the hospital gate. + + The strictest antiseptic precautions were observed, two engines + being used to furnish spray. Of course this great rapidity was due + to the fact that everything was ready, the assistants all in + hospital, admirably disciplined, and steam had been up in the spray + engines. Shock was comparatively trivial; his temperature once, and + only once, reached 100°. His stumps healed by first intention, and + he was in the garden on the seventh day after the operation. + + I have now in three cases found the benefit of this mode of dealing + with double primary amputation in avoiding shock, lessening the + time needed, and greatly diminishing the number of vessels + requiring to be tied. In a previous case of double amputation for + railway smash at the knees, the patient was almost pulseless, and + had he been kept many minutes more on the table would not have left + it alive. He also rapidly recovered. + + The case is interesting also as showing that, when the assistants + know their work, the strictest adherence to antiseptic precautions + need not in itself make either the operation or the dressing + tedious, though it can easily be made an excuse for much fussing + and many delays.[51] + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[24] For details see article "Amputation" in Cooper's _Surgical +Dictionary_, and the short sketch of the history in Mr. Lister's paper +in the third volume of Holmes's _System of Surgery_. + +[25] See a most interesting foot-note to Professor Lister's paper on +"Amputation," in Holmes's _System of Surgery_, vol. iii. pp. 52, 53. + +[26] _Manuel d'Opérations chirurgicales._ + +[27] FIG. IV. shows dorsal view of incision. FIG. III. shows face of +completed stump; R, radial; U, ulnar. + +[28] As the surgeon will find it most convenient to stand on his own +right side of the limb to be removed, the knife will be entered on the +palmar side of the radius of the right arm, of the ulna of the left. + +[29] Teale, _On Amputation by Rectangular Flaps_, pp. 46-48. + +[30] Johnson's folio ed., p. 342. + +[31] Gross's _Surgery_, 6th ed. vol. ii. p. 1103. + +[32] _International Encyclopædia of Surgery_, vol. i. p. 641. + +[33] Spence's _Surgery_, pp. 800, 801. + +[34] Gross's _Surgery_, 8vo., 6th ed., vol. ii., p. 1106. + +[35] _Excision of Scapula_, p. 33. + +[36] Hey's _Observations_, 3d ed. pp. 552, 556. + +[37] Roux's _Parallel between English and French Surgery_. Translation +abridged from Cooper's _Surgical Dictionary_, p. 106. + +[38] Syme's _Principles_, 4th edit. p. 145. + +[39] _International Encyclopædia_, vol. 1. p. 655. + +[40] _Observations in Clin. Surgery_, p. 48. + +[41] _Monthly Journal of Medical Science for 1849_, vol. ix. p. 951. + +[42] _Med. Times and Gazette_, June 3, 1865. + +[43] _Operative Surgery_, p. 170. + +[44] _Annali Universali de Medicina_, Milano, 1857. + +[45] _Med. Chir. Transactions of London_, vol. liii., p. 175. + +[46] Carden's (of Worcester) Pamphlet, pp. 5, 6; and _British Medical +Journal_, 1864. + +[47] B. Bell's _Surgery_, 6th ed. vol. vii. pp. 336-339. + +[48] In diagram the amputation is drawn as if for middle third of thigh. + +[49] Teale, _op. cit._, pp. 34, 39. + +[50] _Edin. Med. Journal_, for April 1863. + +[51] _Edin. Medical Journal_, March 1879. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +EXCISION OF JOINTS. + + +_Historical._--Beyond a passage ascribed to Hippocrates, but of very +doubtful authenticity, and slight allusions in the works of Celsus and +Paulus Ægineta, the ancients give us no information whatever on this +subject. + +Hippocrates says,--"Complete resections of bones in the neighbourhood of +joints both in the foot, in the hand, in the tibia up to the malleoli, +and in the ulna at its junction with the hand, and in many other places, +are safe operations, if that fatal syncope does not at once occur, and +continued fever does not attack the patient on the fourth day." + +Celsus and Ægineta both advise the removal of protruding ends of bone in +compound dislocations, but without giving any cases. + +From the days of these classic fathers of Surgery, we have hardly an +indication of any attention whatever having been paid to their hints +till quite within the last hundred years. + +The first distinct publication on the subject was by Henry Park of +Liverpool, in a letter to Percival Pott in 1783. He proposed the removal +of the articulating extremities of diseased elbow and knee-joints to +obtain cures. He says he was led to this by its having been the +invariable custom, for more than thirty years, at the Liverpool +Infirmary, to take off the protruded extremities of bones in cases of +compound dislocation. + +The chief credit, however, in practically elevating excisions into the +catalogue of recognised surgical operations, is owing, British surgeons +most cordially own, to two provincial surgeons of France, the Moreaus +(father and son) of Bar-sur-Ornain. They took the lead in the most +marked manner, having excised the shoulder in 1786, the wrist and elbow +in 1794, knee and ankle in 1792, and had followed this up so well that, +in 1803, the younger Moreau could boast, "the town has become in some +sort the refuge of the unfortunate afflicted with carious joints, after +they have tried all the means usually recommended by professional men, +or have had recourse to empirical nostrums, or when amputation seemed to +them the last resource." + +Moreau's papers and cases, which, between 1786 and 1789, he frequently +read to the French Academy, were, some violently opposed, others utterly +neglected by his compatriots, and many of them lost and buried in the +unpublished papers of that body. + +And though diseased joints did not decline in frequency, and though +injured ones were extremely numerous during these long years of European +war, excisions were but rarely performed. + +With the exception of the removal of head of humerus after gunshot +injury, hardly any British, and but very few French, limbs were saved by +excision taking the place of amputation. + +The limbs that were saved by Percy by excision of the head of the +humerus really owe their recovery and safety to the elder Moreau; for an +operation of his, at which he was assisted by that distinguished +military surgeon, gave the latter the hint, which he followed so +successfully, that by 1795 he had performed it nineteen times, and had +indoctrinated Sabatier, Larrey, and others, and elevated it into a +recognised operation of military surgery. + +So far, however, as the application of the great improvement of the +Moreaus to disease went, the French surgeons have little reason to +boast, for it is to English surgery, and especially to one Edinburgh +surgeon, that this class of operations owes nearly all its improvement +in methods and frequency of performance. + +For though (as we shall see under the special heads) here and there one +or two cases were performed, it was not till the publication of Mr. +Syme's monograph on the excision of diseased joints, in 1831, that the +importance and value of the discovery were fairly brought before the +profession; and the conservative surgery, of which excision as preferred +to amputation is the great type, must ever be associated with British +surgeons--Syme, Fergusson, Mackenzie, Jones of Jersey, Butcher of +Dublin. + +On the Continent--Langenbeck, Stromeyer, Heyfelder, Ollier, Esmarch of +Kiel, specially in the surgical history of the first Schleswig-Holstein +war, have followed up the example set them here. + +Before proceeding to describe the operations on the various joints, one +or two questions may be briefly asked and answered by way of +introduction. + +In what cases, or sorts of cases, are excisions suitable? + +1. In cases of compound injury or dislocation of a large joint, as used +by Filkin, Park, White, and other English surgeons long ago. In hospital +practice, or in private, where there is every advantage of rest, food, +and appliances, such operations will frequently be found suitable where +the joint is alone or chiefly the seat of injury, and where the general +health seems fit to bear a prolonged suppuration. But long and sad +experience has shown that, as a general rule in military practice, with +the difficulties of transport, the generally bad sanitary state of the +hospitals, and the want often of adequate dressings and attention, +excisions are much more fatal than amputations, and, except in elbow and +shoulder (_q.v._), should be as a general rule avoided. + +2. Excision for deformity (generally speaking for bony anchylosis) will +require for decision the consideration of many points, _i.e._ the joint +affected, the nature of the disease or injury which has caused the +anchylosis: and in each case--(1.) the state of health of the patient; +and (2.) his occupation, and the consequent position of limb which would +suit him best. As a general rule, I believe, experience will prove that +such operations on the lower extremity are almost absolutely +inadmissible, except under very special urgency on the part of the +patient, and a very high condition of health--while in the upper, the +elbow-joint is the only one which you will ever be likely to be asked to +remedy, or should comply with the request if asked; as the shoulder, +even if anchylosed, will (1.) from its own weight generally become so in +the most favourable position; and (2.) from the extreme mobility which +the scapula can acquire, its anchylosis will not be so much felt. + +The elbow, however, from the frequency of fractures of the condyles of +the humerus obliquely into the joint, and from the manner in which these +are so often neither recognised nor properly treated, very often becomes +anchylosed in the most awkward possible position, _i.e._ nearly +straight; and operations undertaken for such deformities are in general +both quite safe and very satisfactory. Mr. Syme had one case (resulting +from a fall, causing a double fracture), in which both arms were thus +firmly anchylosed in such a position that the sufferer could absolutely +perform none of the commonest duties of life without assistance. +Excision of both joints cured him. + +The author excised with success for disease the elbow-joint of a patient +whose other arm had required the same operation. + +The occupation of the patient must always be taken into consideration +when settling the position of an anchylosis, or the necessity or +advantage of a resection. + +Thus, Bryant[52] tells of a painter who wished his arm to be fixed in a +straight position, and of a turner whose knee at his own request was +permitted to stiffen at a right angle, as that position allowed him to +turn his wheel. + +3. _Excision for Disease of the Joint._--In our cold climate, so cursed +by scrofula, and specially among the children of the labouring poor, +such joint diseases are very prevalent, and whether the disease +commences in the synovial membrane, the articular cartilages, or the +heads of the bones, it frequently so disorganises the joint as to make +it a question whether something must not be done to preserve the very +life of the patient. + +The difficulty of diagnosing the cases in which excisions are suitable +or necessary is often very great; and we must balance its +performance--(1.) against the possibly good results of an expectant +treatment; (2.) against amputation of the limb. + +(1.) _Against expectant Treatment._--The patient has youth on his side, +could we give him fresh sea air, good diet, cod oil, etc., we might very +likely obtain anchylosis; true, but he may die while trying for this +anchylosis, and also this anchylosis, when got, may so lame or deform +him that resection may still be required. + +These points must all be considered, but as a general rule, I would say +that such attempts at preservation of the limb are much more +justifiable, and longer justifiable in the hip and knee-joints than in +the elbow or shoulder; for the results in the lower limb will probably +be as good, if the patient survive, if not better, than those obtained +by excision, while the danger of the operation is greater; while in the +upper limb, the danger to life in operating is less than that of leaving +the limb on, and the results obtained by a successful operation, with +well-managed after treatment, are far more satisfactory than the best +possible anchylosis. + +Another point bearing on this, of very great importance: In children, +the most frequent subjects of such disease, excision of the lower limb +may, by removing the epiphyses, cause to a very considerable degree +disparity in their length, thus rendering them nearly useless, while in +the upper such disparity is neither so extensive nor so injurious to the +usefulness of the limb, which is not required for purposes of +progression. + +In the hip-joint especially, all the resources of the art should be +tried in the expectant treatment, for amputation at the hip-joint is +hardly ever admissible for disease of the joint, while excision has +anything but satisfactory statistics. + +(2.) _Against Amputation._--Many questions must be considered, chiefly +under the heads of the separate joints:-- + +1. As to the difficulties and dangers of the operations contrasted. + +Such as the following:-- + +Excisions give the surgeon more trouble, require more manual dexterity; +take longer to perform; are very painful operations. Not valid +objections in these days of chloroform and operative surgery on the dead +body. + +Excisions have the special peculiarity and danger of dealing chiefly +with cancellated bone, broadened out, open, with numerous patulous +canals for large veins, tending on any irritation or inflammation to set +up a diffuse suppuration, and to culminate in phlebitis, myelitis, and +other pyæmic conditions. + +Excisions are performed through degenerate or disorganised, amputations +through healthy, tissue. + +Excisions require extreme care and absolute rest (_i.e._ in lower limb) +for many weeks and months after the operation. + +But, on the other hand,-- + +Amputations remove a portion of the body; excisions a much less one. +Amputations are always necessarily nearer the centre than the +corresponding excisions, and statistics show that the fatality of +operations increases in exact proportion as they approach the centre. + +A successful excision, especially in arm, saves a limb nearly perfect; +an amputation at best is only the stump for a wooden one. + +On the whole, there is actually very little difference in the mortality +of excisions and amputations. + +2. As to the results of the operation on the usefulness of the limb, +depending on joint involved, age of patient, and amount of bone +removed:-- + +A. _Joint involved._--These must be noticed separately, but one thing is +absolutely certain, that a much higher standard of usefulness, both in +equality of length, amount of anchylosis, and position, is needed in the +lower than in the upper limb. For a leg hanging like a flail, or +shortened by some inches, is not so good for purposes of locomotion as a +wooden leg is, while an arm, even though powerless at the elbow, and +perhaps much shortened, can be so strengthened and supported by slings +and bandages as to give a most useful hand, the complex movements and +uses of the fingers of which no mechanism can at all imitate. + +B. _Age of Patient._--It must be remembered that excision in a child +removes the epiphyses by which in great measure the growth of the bone +is to be managed, and the stunted limb, especially in the leg, will +eventually be of little advantage, though after the operation it looked +excellently well, if a few years later it be found to be seven or eight +inches shorter than its neighbour. + +C. _Amount of Bone removed._--From an erroneous view of the pathological +changes in the bone affected, far too much was removed by many of the +earlier operators, especially Moreau and Crampton. + +The reason that this is often still the case, is well seen in many +preparations. The bones are thickened to a considerable distance, and +covered with irregular warty excrescences. These, which used to be +considered evidences of disease, are only compact new healthy bone, +thrown out like the callus of a fracture in consequence of the +irritation. + +In a word, what we require to remove is the following:-- + +1. All the cartilage, dead or alive, healthy or diseased. + +2. Only the bone involving the articular extremities, in thin slices, or +with the occasional use of the gouge, till a healthy bleeding surface is +obtained. + +3. The synovial membrane, however gelatinous or thickened looking, +really requires very little care or notice; it will disappear of itself, +partly by sloughing, partly by absorption during the profuse +suppuration.[53] + + +EXCISION OF THE SHOULDER-JOINT.--Before considering the method of +operating, a word or two is required on the subject of how much is to be +removed, and in what cases the operation should be performed. The +shoulder and hip joints are the only ones in which partial excision is +ever admissible, indeed, in the shoulder excision of the head of the +humerus only is in many cases found to be all that is necessary, while +in all it is much less dangerous to life than when the glenoid cavity +also requires to be interfered with. + +It is rarely necessary to remove more of the bone than merely its +articular extremity (when performed for disease of the joint), and if +possible this should be done inside the capsule, _i.e._ through an +incision in the capsule, but without involving its attachment to the +neck of the bone. When the glenoid is also diseased, mere gouging or +scraping the cartilaginous surface will not suffice, but the neck must +be thoroughly exposed, so that the whole cup of the glenoid may be +removed by powerful forceps. + +_Cases suitable for Excision._--Cases of chronic disease of the head of +the humerus (generally tubercular), or of chronic ulceration of the +cartilages which has resisted counter-irritation. Cases of gunshot +injury of the joint, or of compound dislocation, or fracture involving +the joint. Cases of limited tumours affecting merely the head and upper +third of the bone, and non-malignant in character. Anchylosis very +rarely requires and would not be much benefited by such an operation. + +_Operation._--Though perhaps not the easiest, the following method is +the one followed by the best results. It is suited especially for cases +of caries or other disease of the joint, where the head of the humerus +is either alone or chiefly affected:-- + +A single straight incision (Plate I. fig. A.) is made from a point just +external to the coracoid process downwards along the humerus for at +least three inches. It corresponds almost exactly to the bicipital +groove, and has the advantage of avoiding the great vessels and nerves. +The long head of the biceps may then be raised from its groove, and +drawn to a side so as to be preserved. This is deemed of importance by +Langenbeck and others. Mr. Syme, however, did not attach much value to +its preservation, as it is often diseased. The capsule, which is often +much altered, perhaps in part destroyed, is then opened, and the tendons +of the muscles which rotate the head of the humerus divided in +succession, while the elbow is rotated first inwards and then outwards +by an assistant so as to put them on the stretch. The arm being then +forced backwards, the head of the bone can be protruded through the +wound, and sawn off at the necessary distance down the shaft. The +glenoid must then be carefully examined, and any diseased bone removed +by the cutting pliers. One or two small branches supplying the anterior +fold of the axilla are the only vessels divided, and may not even +require ligature, unless, indeed, from necrosis, or to remove a tumour, +a larger portion of the humerus than usual has been removed. If the +limit of capsule has been infringed on below, the circumflex vessels may +probably be cut, in which case the bleeding may be considerable. + +_N.B._--In cases of fracture of neck of humerus, or of compound gunshot +injury, or where the head has been separated by necrosis from the shaft, +or where, as has happened to Stanley and others, the bone broke in the +endeavour to tilt the head out, the surgeon will require to seize the +detached head with strong forceps, and dissect it out with care. + +_Other methods of Resection._--When from great thickening and induration +of the soft parts, enlargement of the head of the bone, or other reason, +the straight incision may be deemed insufficient for the purpose (and we +may remark that there are comparatively few cases in which it is +insufficient), access may be obtained to the joint by raising a flap +from the deltoid (Plate III. fig. A). Its shape--V-shaped, semilunar, or +ovoid--is not of much consequence, for there are no great nerves or +vessels to wound on the outside of the joint, and the surgeon should be +guided, as in all other operations on the joint, very much by the +position of any pre-existing sinuses. This flap being raised upwards +towards its base, very free access is gained to the joint. + +In these cases, fortunately comparatively rare, in which there is reason +to believe that the glenoid is chiefly involved in disease, and yet that +the disease can be removed without amputation, access will be gained +most easily by an incision (Plate III. fig. B.) on the posterior surface +of the joint, corresponding in size and direction to the linear incision +in front. This gives a much easier mode of access to the glenoid. I have +seen this practised in one very remarkable case by Mr. Syme, in which +the glenoid cavity and neck of the scapula were extensively diseased, +while the head of the bone was quite sound. + +_After-treatment_ is exceedingly simple; for the first day or two the +shoulder is to be supported on a pillow with a simple pad in the axilla, +if there is any tendency for the arm to drag inwards; after this the +patient should be encouraged to sit up and move about with his arm in a +sling, the elbow hanging freely down. + +_Results._--Hodge records ninety-six cases in which this excision was +performed for gunshot injury, of which twenty-five proved fatal, and +fifty for disease, of which only eight died,--results which are more +encouraging than those of amputation at the shoulder-joint for disease; +though for injury the mortality is much greater than Larrey's famous +Statistics of Amputation, _q.v._ p. 65. + +Spence had thirty-three cases, with three deaths. He generally made a +counter-opening behind to get rid of discharges, and inserted a +drainage-tube. + +Gurlt's statistics of excision for gunshot injury give of 1661 cases +1067 recoveries, 27 doubtful results, and 567 deaths, the mortality +being 34.70 per cent. + +EXCISION OF THE ELBOW-JOINT--_In what cases should it be performed?_--1. +For disease of the elbow-joint which has resisted ordinary remedies, and +is wearing down the patient's strength, including caries, ulceration of +cartilages, and gelatinous synovial degeneration. + +2. For wounds of the elbow penetrating the joint, the prognosis both as +to the patient's life and the usefulness of his arm is much better after +excision than after endeavours to save the joint without excision. This +is especially the case when the wound of the joint is small and +punctured, but if the case is seen early and treated by free drainage, +with antiseptic precautions, excision may not be required. + +3. For anchylosis, in cases where after disease or injury the limb has +stiffened in a bad position, especially when, with a straight elbow, +the hand is rendered almost perfectly useless. + +_How much should be removed?_--In the elbow-joint, more than any other +joint in the body, complete excision is absolutely necessary; any +portion of the articular surface being left proves a source of +unfavourable result. + +The surgeon is apt to err rather in removing too little than too much. +For the removal of too little bone is, on the one hand, apt to result in +long-standing sinuses, on the other, to induce anchylosis. + +In making the section of the bones, the saw ought to be applied to the +humerus transversely just at the commencement of its condyloid +projections, and to the radius and ulna, at least at a level with the +base of the coronoid process of the ulna. + +But while removing enough, we must not be led into the error of removing +too much. If this is done, as was done by Sir Philip Crampton in his +first case, and as happens occasionally of necessity in cases of +excision for gunshot wounds or other accidents, much of the power of the +arm is lost as a consequence of the shortening and excessive mobility. + +A mistaken pathology sometimes deceives in the examination of the state +of the bones, and causes an unnecessary amount to be removed. For in +many cases of disease the bones in the neighbourhood of the joint are +stimulated to an excessive amount of what is in reality Nature's effort +at repair, and while the cartilaginous surfaces are denuded of +cartilage, soft, and porous, the bones close by are roughened with a +stalactitic-looking growth, projecting in knobs and angles. Now, if this +be mistaken for disease and removed, too much will almost certainly be +taken away, and the result will be unsatisfactory. + +Much less care need be taken exactly to discriminate and remove the +diseased soft parts; indeed they may be left alone; the synovial +membrane in a state of gelatinous degeneration sometimes presents a +very formidable appearance of disease, but if the bones be properly +removed, all this swelling will soon go down, and a healthy condition of +parts succeed, without any clipping or paring on the surgeon's part. + +_Operation._--The back of the joint is of course chosen for the seat of +the incisions, both because the bones are there just under the skin, and +because the great vessels and nerves lie in front of the joint. The form +and number of the incisions vary considerably, and ought to vary +according to the nature of the case and the amount of disease or injury. + +Though it is now little used, for historical interest I retain the +description of the H-shaped incision (Plate III. fig. C.), used first by +Moreau, and re-introduced by Mr. Syme, and used by him for most of his +very numerous cases. + +The posterior surface of the joint being exposed, the surgeon, with a +strong straight bistoury, makes a transverse incision into the joint +just above the olecranon. It should begin just far enough outside of the +internal condyle to avoid the ulnar nerve, which the surgeon should +protect by the forefinger of his left hand, and should extend +transversely across to the outer condyle. From each end of this incision +the surgeon should next make at a right angle two incisions, each about +one inch and a half or two inches long, right down to the bone, thus +marking out two quadrilateral flaps. These should next be raised from +the bones, up and down, as much of the soft parts being retained in them +as possible, so as to add to their thickness. The olecranon is thus +exposed, and should be removed by saw or pliers by cutting into the +greater sigmoid notch; the lateral ligaments must then be cut, if they +are not already destroyed by the disease, and the humerus protruded, a +proper amount of which is then to be sawn off in a transverse direction. +The head of the radius is then easily removed by the bone-pliers, and +the ulna also protruded, the attachment of the brachialis anticus to the +coronoid process divided, and the bone sawn across just at the base of +that process. + +Few vessels, if any, will require ligature, and the arm being bent to +nearly a right angle, the transverse incision must be very carefully +sewed up with silver sutures closely set and deeply placed, as much of +the future success of the joint depends on the completeness of the +primary union of this incision. The external incision may also be +accurately adjusted, the internal one not so completely, to allow free +vent for the discharge, which is aided by the ligatures, if any are +required, being brought out at its lower angle. A figure-of-8 bandage +should be applied over pads of dry lint, and the limb laid on a pillow. +No splint is necessary; in a few days the patient will be able to rise +and walk about. + +Passive motion should be begun so soon as the first inflammatory +symptoms have passed off. + +If properly performed, in a tolerably healthy subject, the surgeon +should not be satisfied with any results short of almost perfect +restoration of motion in the joint. Flexion and extension to their full +extent, with a very considerable amount of pronation and supination, are +to be expected, with proper care, in a patient of average intelligence. + +Numerous cases are now on record where almost perfect performance of all +the duties of life was retained after excision of the elbow-joint.[54] + +In most cases it is possible, and in nearly all advisable, to excise the +joint by means of a less complicated incision. Thus one long vertical +incision at the posterior surface, with its centre about midway between +the ulna and the external condyle, with a transverse incision at right +angles to it, and reaching almost to the internal condyle, has been +often practised with a very good result. + +By nearly universal consent this single straight incision is now used, +and when it is properly dressed and _drained_ gives admirable results. + +A single vertical incision (Plate III. fig. D.) without any transverse +one, as long ago recommended by Chassaignac, is, in most cases, quite +sufficient to give access. It is most suitable in cases of anchylosis, +where there is little deposit of new bone, or in cases of disease of the +joint, accompanied with little swelling or thickening of surrounding +tissues. It has the advantage of avoiding the cicatrix of a transverse +incision, which doubtless may, if at all a broad one, somewhat interfere +with the future flexion of the limb, but, on the other hand, unless care +is taken, it does _not_ give such free egress for the discharge, and +when there is much delay in healing, the vertical incision may leave a +cicatrix nearly as troublesome as the other. + + The following modification, suggested and practised by the late Mr. + Maunder, seems to be a step in the right direction when it is + practicable. "After a longitudinal incision crossing the point of + the olecranon I next let the knife sink into the triceps muscle, + and divide it longitudinally into two portions, the inner one of + which is the more firmly attached to the ulna, while the outer + portion is continuous with the anconeus muscle, and sends some + tendinous fibres to blend with the fascia of the fore-arm. It is + these latter fibres that are to be scrupulously preserved. + + "Two points have to be remembered: first, the ulnar nerve, often + unseen, must be lifted from its bed, and carried over the internal + condyle to a safe place, and then the outer portion of the triceps + muscle with its tendinous prolongation, the fascia of the fore-arm + and the anconeus muscle must be dissected up, as it were, in one + piece, sufficiently to allow of its being temporarily carried out + over the external condyle of the humerus."[55] + + This method aids in retaining the power of _active_ extension of + the elbow-joint. + +Excision for osseous anchylosis in the extended position of the joint +may be sometimes rendered very difficult by the density, firmness, and +extensive hypertrophy of the bones, which become fused into one solid +mass. Any attempt to isolate the bones, and remove the anchylosed joint +entire, by incising the bones as if for disease, will both prove very +laborious, and also probably end in doing some damage to the vessels and +nerves in front. But by sawing through the anchylosis about its centre, +as was pointed out many years ago by Mr. Syme, the fore-arm may be +flexed, and the bones as easily displayed, cleaned, and removed, as in +the operation for disease. In this operation, as there is less +thickening of the skin and subjacent textures, and in consequence more +risk of deficiency and even sloughing of the flaps made by the H-shaped +incision, a single straight incision will serve the purpose admirably. + +Partial incisions of the elbow-joint are, as a rule, less successful and +more dangerous to life than complete ones, except in cases of excision +for anchylosis. Even in gunshot wounds, where the bones were previously +healthy, and where uninjured portions might have been left with some +hopes of success, this is the case. + + Dr. Heron Watson has devised the following operation for cases of + anchylosis the result of injury:--(1.) A linear incision over ulnar + nerve at inner side of olecranon. (2.) The ulnar nerve to be + carefully turned over the inner condyle. (3.) A probe-pointed + bistoury to be introduced into the elbow-joint in front of the + humerus, and then behind and carried upwards, so as to divide the + upper capsular attachments in front and behind. (4.) A pair of + bone-forceps to be next employed to cut off the entire inner + condyle and trochlea of the humerus, and then introduced in the + opposite diagonal direction so as to detach the external condyle + and capitulum of the humerus from the shaft. (5.) The truncated and + angular end of the humerus to be divided, turned out through the + incision, and smoothed across at right angles to the line of the + shaft by means of the saw, whereby (6.) room might be afforded, so + that partly by twisting and partly by dissection the external + condyle and capitulum are removed without any division of the skin + on the outer side of the arm.[56] Six cases have had satisfactory + results. + +The mortality from this operation is considerably less than that from +amputation of the arm. Of a series of excisions for disease, injury, and +anchylosis, 22.15 per cent. died, while out of a similar series of +amputations of the arm the mortality was 33.4 per cent.[57] Our +mortality of excision of the elbow here is certainly much less than the +above. All of the cases, between thirty and forty, in which I have done +it have recovered with but one exception, and Mr. Syme lost only one +during the time I was his assistant. + +Professor Spence lost only 16 in 189 cases, or 8.3 per cent. + +Gurlt's statistics for gunshot injury give a mortality of over 24 per +cent. + +Out of 82 cases where the joint was excised for injury in the +Schleswig-Holstein and Crimean campaigns, only 16 died; and out of 115 +cases in which the joint was excised for disease, only 15 died. + +The period after the injury at which the excision is performed seems to +be important. + + Deaths. + Thus of 11 cases within first twenty-four hours, 1 = 1-11 + " 20 " between second and fourth days, 4 = 1-5 + " 9 " " eighth and thirty-seventh, 1 = 1-9 + -- -- + 40 6 + + +EXCISION OF THE WRIST.--Very various methods have been proposed and +executed for the purpose of excising this joint. These vary much in +difficulty and complexity, in proportion to the endeavours made to save +the tendons from being cut. + +The principles which must guide all attempts at operative interference +with this joint are-- + +1. To remove all the diseased bone, including the cartilage-covered +portions of the radius, ulna, and of the metacarpal bones, as little of +these bones being removed as possible, beyond the cartilage-covered +portions. + +2. To disturb the tendons as little as possible, especially to avoid +isolating them from the cellular sheath. + +3. To commence passive motion of the fingers very soon after the +operation. + +It is rarely possible to remove the carpal bones as a whole, from the +diseased condition which renders the operation necessary, and the +digging out of the various bones piecemeal renders the operation very +tedious, especially if the proximal ends of the metacarpal bones are +involved and require to be removed, hence this operation was practically +impossible till after the discovery of anæsthesia. + +In describing the operation elaborated and described by Professor +Lister, the type of the various plans in which the tendons are saved is +given, while a very few words descriptive of the incisions used by +others who cut the tendons will suffice. + + +LISTER'S OPERATION OF EXCISION OF THE WRIST-JOINT.--Even an abridgment +of Mr. Lister's account of his operation must necessarily be long, +because the operation itself is so complicated and prolonged, and guided +by such precise principles, as to render much abridgment almost +impossible. + +A tourniquet is put on, to prevent oozing, which would conceal the state +of the bones; any adhesions of the tendons must be then broken down by +free movement of all the joints. + +_The radial incision_ (Plate IV. fig. A.) is then made. It commences at +the middle of the dorsal aspect of the radius, on a level with the +styloid process, passes as if going towards the inner side of the +metacarpo-phalangeal joint of the thumb, in a line parallel to the +extensor secundi internodii, but turns off at an angle as it passes the +radial border of the second metacarpal, and then longitudinally +downwards for half the length of that bone. The extensor carpi radialis +brevior tendon is divided in the incision. The soft parts at the radial +side are to be carefully dissected up, and the tendon of the extensor +carpi radialis longior divided at its insertion. The cut tendons, and +the extensor secundi internodii tendon and the radial artery can thus be +pushed outwards, enabling the trapezium to be separated from the carpus +by cutting-pliers. The extensor tendons being relaxed by bending back +the hand, the soft parts must be cleared from the carpus as far as +possible towards the ulnar side. + +[Illustration: FIG. VI.[58]] + +_The ulnar incision_ (Plate IV. fig. B.) extends from two inches above +the end of the ulna, in a line between the bone and the flexor carpi +ulnaris, straight down as far as the middle of the palmar aspect of the +fifth metacarpal. The dorsal lip of this incision is then raised, and +the tendon of the extensor carpi ulnaris cut at its insertion, and +reflected up out of its groove in the ulna along with the skin. The +extensor tendons are then raised from the carpus, and the dorsal and +lateral ligaments of the wrist divided, the tendons still being left as +far as possible undisturbed in their relation to the radius. In front +the flexor tendons are cleared from the carpus, the pisiform bone +separated from the others though not removed, and the hook of the +unciform divided by pliers. The knife must not go further down than the +base of the metacarpal bones, in case of dividing the deep palmar arch. +The anterior ligament of the wrist being now divided, the carpus and +metacarpus are to be separated by cutting-pliers, and the carpus +extracted by strong sequestrum forceps. By forcible eversion of the +hand, the ends of radius and ulna can be protruded at the ulnar +incision; as little as possible should be removed, consistent with +removing all the disease. The ulna should be cut obliquely, leaving the +base of the styloid process, and removing all the cartilage-covered +portion. A thin slice of the radius is then to be cut also with the saw, +so thin as to remove only the bevelled ungrooved portion, and leaving +the tendons as far as possible undisturbed in their grooves. The ulnar +articular facet is to be snipped off with bone-pliers. If the bones are +more deeply carious, the diseased parts must at all hazards be removed +with pliers or gouge. The metacarpal bones must then be treated in +precisely the same way, their ends sawn off and their articular facets +snipped off with the bone-pliers longitudinally. The trapezium is then +to be seized by forceps and carefully dissected out, the metacarpal bone +of the thumb pared like the others, the articular surface of the +pisiform removed, the rest of the bone being left if it is sound. The +radial incision is stitched closely throughout, and also the ends of the +ulnar incision, any ligature being brought out through the centre of the +ulnar incision, which is kept open with a piece of lint, which also +gives support to the extensor tendons. + +The after-treatment is important, the principal specialities being--(1.) +early and free movement of the fingers; (2.) secure fixing of the wrist +to procure consolidation. (1.) By passive motion of the joints of the +knuckles and fingers, commenced on the second day, and continued daily +after the operation; (2.) By a splint supporting the fore-arm and hand, +the fingers being held in a semiflexed position by a large pad of cork +fastened firmly on to the splint and made to fit the palm; this prevents +the splint from slipping up the arm, and by a turn of a bandage insures +fixation of the wrist-joint. The anterior part of this splint below the +fingers may be gradually shortened, allowing more and more passive +motion of the fingers, but the patient must wear it for months, indeed, +till he finds his wrist as strong without it as with it. + +Among the various operations that have been devised, the following +require notice:--Mr. Spence, Dr. Gillespie, Dr. Watson, and the author, +use a single dorsal incision with excellent results, and find it quite +easy to remove all the bones from it. Mr. Spence had sixteen cases +without a death. + + POSTERIOR SEMILUNAR FLAP, from carpal attachment of metacarpal of + index finger round to styloid process of ulna; dividing integuments + only, then separating the tendons of the common extensor + longitudinally, and drawing them aside by blunt hooks, the diseased + bones are removed piecemeal by curved parrot-bill forceps.[59] + + POSTERIOR CURVED FLAP.--An incision down to the carpal bones, + extended from a point two lines to the ulnar side of the extensor + secundi internodii pollicis, and from a quarter to half an inch + below the radio-carpal articulation, swept in a curvilinear + direction downwards, close to the carpal extremities of the + metacarpal bones, to a point just below the end of the ulna. The + flap thus marked out was dissected up, and consisted of the + integuments, areolar tissue, and extensor tendons of the four + fingers, together with large deposits of fibrine, the products of + repeated and prolonged inflammatory action. The tendon of the + second extensor and its soft parts around were separated from the + bones. The remains of the ligaments were cut, flexion of the hand + protruded the carious ends of radius and ulna. The bones were then + dissected out, leaving the trapezium, which was not diseased, and + hand placed on a splint.[60] + + +EXCISION OF THE HIP-JOINT.--The question as to the propriety of +performing this operation in any case is still debated by some surgeons, +and the selection of suitable cases for the operation is greatly +modified by the varying opinions of the different schools of surgery. +Enough here to describe the method of operating, and the amount of the +bone which is to be removed. + +As in the shoulder-joint, the head of the femur is much more liable to +disease, and, as a rule, much earlier attacked than is the acetabulum, +but unfortunately the acetabulum does eventually become affected also in +probably a much larger proportionate number of cases than the glenoid. +Caries of the head, neck, and trochanters of the femur is a very common +disease in this variable climate, and frequently connected with the +strumous taint. After much suffering, abscesses form and discharge, +giving considerable pain, and often end by carrying off the patient. As +a result of the abscess and destruction of the ligaments, the head of +the bone is apt to be displaced, and under some sudden muscular exertion +or involuntary spasm, consecutive dislocation of the femur (generally on +to the dorsum ilii) very often occurs. + +In such a case the operation of excision of the head of the femur is by +no means difficult, and not excessively dangerous, especially in young +children. + +_Operation._--It is hardly necessary, or indeed possible, to lay down +exact rules for the performance of this operation, in so far as the +external incisions are concerned, for the sinuses which exist ought in +general to be made use of. + +When the surgeon has his choice, a straight incision (Plate II. fig. +A.), parallel with the bone, extending from the top of the great +trochanter downwards for about two inches, and also from the same point +in a curved direction with the concavity forwards, upwards towards the +position of the head of the bone (see diagram), will be found most +convenient. The incisions should be carried boldly down to the bone, +which will often be felt exposed and bathed in pus, any remains of the +ligamentous structures must be cautiously divided with a probe-pointed +bistoury, and then by bringing the knee of the affected side forcibly +across the opposite thigh, with the toes everted, the head of the bone +is forced out of the wound. The head, neck, and great trochanter should +be fully exposed, and the saw applied transversely below the level of +the trochanter, so as to remove it entire. If this is not done, it +prevents discharge, protrudes at the wound, and besides this it is +almost invariably diseased along with the head. Chain saws are quite +unnecessary, it being in most cases easy to apply an ordinary one to the +bone, if it is properly everted. + +Great care in the after-treatment is required to prevent undue +shortening of the limb, or in the event of a cure to secure the most +favourable position for the anchylosis. The femur occasionally tends to +protrude at the wound, and hence may require to be counter-extended by +splints. If required at all, the splint should be made with an iron +elbow opposite the wound to admit of its being easily dressed. In most +cases counter-extension may be best managed by a weight and pulley. + +Various forms of hammock swings to support the whole body, and slings of +leather or canvas to support the limb only, have been found to aid +recovery, and render the patient much more comfortable. + +When the acetabulum is also diseased the prognosis is much more +unfavourable than when it is sound. + +The experiments of Heine and Jäger on the dead body, and operations by +Hancock, Erichsen, and Holmes, on patients, have shown that in cases of +extensive disease of the acetabulum it is quite possible by a prolonged +and careful dissection to remove it all without injury of the pelvic +viscera. + +The details of incisions for such an operation need scarcely be given, +as they must vary in each case with the amount of bone diseased, and the +position of the already existing sinuses. The amount of bone that _may_ +be removed varies much. Erichsen in one case excised "the upper end of +the femur, the acetabulum, the rami of the pubis, and of the ischium, a +portion of the tuber ischii, and part of the dorsum ilii."[61] + +A less formidable proceeding may be useful in cases where the acetabulum +is diseased, but not deeply. The moderate use of an ordinary gouge may +succeed in removing the diseased bone. + +Experience and the cold evidence of statistics prove, however, that the +prognosis in any case is modified very much for the worse by the +presence of any disease of the acetabulum, more than one-half of the +cases proving fatal in which it is diseased, whether attempts to remove +the disease of the acetabulum be made or not, and that those cases do +best in which the head of the femur has been displaced, and lies outside +the joint almost like a loose sequestrum among the soft parts. + +The results of excision of the hip have as yet been very discouraging, +the mortality of the whole series of published cases being, according to +Dr. Hodge's careful table, very little under 1 in every 2 cases, viz., 1 +in 2-5/53. Later statistics are however more favourable. + +Like all other excisions, the mortality increases very much with the +patient's age. + +Thus of 103 completed cases in which the age is given, 53 recovered and +50 died, but dividing the cases at the end of the sixteenth year, we +find that of the children below this age 43 recovered and 29 died, a +mortality of 40.2 per cent.; of the adults, 10 recovered, and 21 died, +or a mortality of 67.6 per cent. + +If we remember the marvellous power of recovery from joint diseases we +find in childhood, under the influence of good diet, cod-liver oil, and +fresh air, we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that such results and +such a mortality are by no means encouraging. + +From an extensive experience in a special hospital for hip-disease, +where fresh air, abundant nourishment, and very excellent nursing are +provided, the author is learning more and more to trust to the power of +nature in the cure of even very advanced cases of hip-disease in +children, and he believes that operation is rarely necessary, or even +warrantable, except for the removal of sequestra. + + Mr. Holmes's[62] statistics are interesting. He has operated on no + fewer than nineteen cases. Of these seven died, one after secondary + amputation at the hip. Another required amputation and recovered. + Two others died of other diseases without having used their limb. + Of the remaining nine, three were perfectly successful, four were + promising cases, and two unpromising. + + Professor Spence in 19 cases had 6 deaths, or a mortality of 31.6 + per cent. + + Culbertson's collection gives out of 426 cases, 192 deaths, or 45 + per cent. + + Mr. Croft, whose skill and success as an operator are well known, + has recorded 45 cases of excision of hip in his own practice; of + these 16 died, 11 were under treatment, 18 had recovered, of which + 16 had moveable joints and useful limb; the other two are + "potentially cured."[63] + + Various other incisions have been devised for gaining access to the + joint. The most noticeable are those in which a flap is made + instead of a linear incision. Sedillot makes a semilunar or ovoid + flap, the base of which is just below the great trochanter, and + which includes it, the convexity being upwards and the flap being + turned down. Gross's modification of this is preferable, being + turned the opposite way, the convexity being downwards (Plate III. + fig. E.), and the flap thus being turned up. + +_Results in successful cases._--Of fifty-two in Hodge's table, +thirty-one had useful limbs, six indifferent, three decidedly useless, +four died within three years, and of the remaining eight no details are +given. + +The shortening is always considerable, a high-heeled shoe being required +in most cases; a stick is indispensable; in many, crutches are +necessary. + + Various operations have been devised for the treatment of osseous + anchylosis of the hip-joint when in a bad position. All are more or + less dangerous. Perhaps one of the least dangerous is the plan of + subcutaneous division of the neck of the femur by a narrow saw, + proposed by Mr. Adams of London. It is sometimes a very laborious + operation. + + +EXCISION OF KNEE-JOINT.--_Removal of Bone._--In every case the excision +of the joint ought to be complete. Some attempts have been made to save +one or other of the articular surfaces, but they have proved failures. +The patella has frequently been left when it was not diseased, as is +often the case, but the results have not been such as to recommend such +a practice. + +_Direction of Section of the Bones._--The bones should be cut +transversely, and, as far as possible, be in accurate and complete +apposition. A slight bevelling at the expense of the posterior margin +will produce an anchylosis of the limb in a very slightly flexed +position, which is found to aid the patient in walking. + +It has been proposed by some[64] to cut both bones obliquely, so as to +obviate the difficulty of making the transverse surfaces parallel. This +involves a still greater practical difficulty in keeping these oblique +surfaces in position during the after-treatment. + +This plan might possibly be valuable in cases where the disease was +limited to one or other edge of the bone. + +Among the various incisions recommended, the best seems to be the +_Semilunar Incision_. + +_Operation._--The limb being held in an extended position, a single +semilunar incision (Plate I. fig. B.) is made, entering the joint at +once, and dividing the ligamentum patellæ. It should extend from the +inner side of the inner condyle of the femur to a corresponding point +over the outer one, passing in front of the joint midway between the +lower edge of the patella and tuberosity of the tibia. The flap is then +dissected back, the ligaments divided, when by extreme flexion of the +limb the articular surface of the tibia and femur are thoroughly +exposed. The crucial ligaments must then be divided cautiously, and the +articular portion of the femur cleaned anteriorly by the knife, +posteriorly by the operator's finger, so far as possible to avoid injury +of the artery. The whole articular surface of the femur must then be +removed by a transverse cut with the saw as exactly as possible at a +right angle with the axis of the bone. The amount of the femur which +will require removal will in the adult vary from an inch to an inch and +a half or even more. It _must_ involve all the bone normally covered by +cartilage; and this being removed, if the section shows evidence of +disease, slice after slice may require removal till a healthy surface is +obtained. Occasionally, if the diseased portion appears limited, though +deep, the application of a gouge may succeed in removing disease without +involving too great shortening of the limb. Specially in children, it is +of great importance to avoid removing the whole epiphysis. The tibia +must then be exposed in a similar manner, and a thin slice removed; if +the bone be tolerably healthy, even less than half an inch will prove +quite sufficient. + +This method has an immense advantage in that it provides an excellent +anterior flap for the amputation, which may be required in cases where +the disease of bone is found too extensive to admit of the excision +being practised. + +This method, with slight deviations, is substantially that of Richard +Mackenzie of Edinburgh, Wood of New York, Jones of Jersey. + +Hæmorrhage must then be stopped, and that as thoroughly as possible, by +torsion, cold, and pressure, and the flap brought accurately together +with sutures. + +In some rare cases, it may be found necessary to divide the hamstring +tendons to rectify spastic contraction of the muscles; but this can +generally be done quite well from the original wound. + +Holt makes a dependent opening in the popliteal space for drainage. This +is unnecessary if the incisions are made sufficiently far back, and if +the wound is properly drained. It is unsafe, as approaching so close to +the artery and veins. If much bagging takes place, the use of a +drainage-tube will prove quite sufficient. + +_After-treatment._--Wire splints lined with leather and provided with a +foot-piece; special box-splints with moveable sides, as Butcher's;[65] +plaster-of-Paris moulds are used by Dr. P.H. Watson[66] of Edinburgh and +others; this last form of dressing is the best, and allows the limb to +be suspended from a Salter's swing. + +H-_shaped incision._--The internal incision should commence at +a point about two inches below the articular surface of the tibia, and +in a line with its inner edge; it should then be carried up along the +femur in a direction parallel to the axis of the extended limb, so as to +pass in front of the saphena vein, and thus avoid it, for a distance of +five inches. The external incision, commencing just below the head of +the fibula, must be carried upwards parallel to the preceding for the +same distance. Both incisions must be made by a heavy scalpel with a +firm hand, so as to divide all the tissues down to the bone. The +vertical incisions are then united by a transverse one passing across +just below the lower angle of the patella. The flaps thus formed must +then be dissected up and down, and the internal and external lateral +ligaments divided, thus thoroughly opening the joint and exposing the +crucial ligaments. These must be divided carefully, remembering the +position of the artery. The bones are then to be cleared and divided, as +in the operation already described. This is the method of Moreau and +Butcher.[67] + +_Patella and Ligamentum Patellæ retained._--"A longitudinal incision, +full four inches in extent, was made on each side of the knee-joint, +midway between the vasti and flexors of the leg; these two cuts were +down to the bones, they were connected by a transverse one just over the +prominence of the tubercle of the tibia, _care being taken to avoid +cutting by this incision the ligamentum patellæ_; the flap thus defined +was reflected upwards, the patella and the ligament were then freed and +drawn over the internal condyle, and kept there by means of a broad, +flat, and turned-up spatula; the joint was thus exposed, and after the +synovial capsule had been cut through as far as could be seen, the leg +was forcibly flexed, the crucial ligaments, almost breaking in the act, +only required a slight touch of the knife to divide them completely. The +articular surfaces of the bones were now completely brought to view, and +the diseased portions removed by means of suitable saws, the soft parts +being hold aside by assistants."[68] + +Results of Excision of Knee-joint:--Holmes's Table of recent cases from +1873-1878-- + + 245 cases; 25 deaths, and 47 failures. + Spence's--33 cases; 22 recovered, 11 died. + + +BUCK'S OPERATION FOR ANCHYLOSED KNEE-JOINT.--The principle of this +operation is to remove a triangular portion of bone, which is to include +the surfaces of the femur and tibia, which have anchylosed in an awkward +position, and by this means to set the bones free, and enable the limb +to be straightened. Access to the joint may be obtained by either of +the two methods already described. Sections of the bones are then to be +made with the saw, so as to meet posteriorly a little in front of the +posterior surface of the anchylosed joint, and thus remove a triangular +portion of bone; the portion still remaining, and which still keeps up +the deformity, is then to be broken through as best you can, either by a +chisel, or a saw, or forced flexion. The ends are to be pared off by +bone-pliers, and the surfaces brought into as close apposition as +possible. The operation is a difficult one, a gap being generally left +between the anterior edges of the bones, from the unyielding nature of +the integuments behind, and the difficulty of removing the posterior +projecting edges from their close proximity to the artery. Of twenty +cases on record, eight died, and two required amputation. + +_Relation of Age to result in Excision of Knee-Joint from Hodge's +Tables._ + +Of 182 complete cases:-- + + 68 below 16 years: 50 recovered--18 died; or 26 per cent. died. + 114 above 16 years: 55 recovered--59 died; or 51.7 per cent. died. + + +EXCISION OF THE ANKLE-JOINT.--_In what cases is it to be done, and how +much bone is to be removed?_ + +In cases of compound dislocation of the ankle-joint, the tibia and +fibula are apt to be protruded either in front or behind. When this +happens it is a dislocation generally very difficult to reduce, and when +reduced to retain in position. In such cases, if there seems to be any +chance of retaining the foot, excision of the articular ends of tibia +and fibula greatly add to the probabilities in its favour. It may be +done without any new wound, and, in general, by an ordinary surgeon's +saw. + +When the astragalus does not protrude, it seems to matter little for the +future result whether its articular surface be removed or not. When, on +the other hand, it protrudes, as a result either of the displacement of +the entire foot, or of a dislocation complete or partial of the +astragalus itself, there is no doubt that excision either of its +articular surface or of the entire bone will give very excellent +results. Jäger reports twenty-seven such cases, with only one fatal, and +one doubtful result. + +_In cases of disease of the Ankle-joint._--Excision has been performed a +good many times, and should in most cases be complete. A work like this +is not the place to discuss the propriety of operations so much as the +method of performing them, but one remark may be permitted. Few points +of surgical diagnosis are more difficult than it is to tell whether in +any given case disease is confined to the ankle-joint, and whether or +not the bones of the tarsus participate. If they do even to a slight +extent, no operation which attacks the ankle-joint only has any +reasonable chance of success. It may look well for a time, but sinuses +remain, the irritation of the operation only hastens the progress of the +disease of the bone, and the result will almost certainly be +disappointing, amputation being almost the inevitable _dernier ressort_. + +_Methods of Operating_:-- + +_Mr. Hancock_ has been very successful by the following method:-- + +Commence the incision (Plate II. figs. B.B.) about two inches above and +behind the external malleolus, and carry it across the instep to about +two inches above and behind the internal malleolus. Take care that this +incision merely divides the skin, and does not penetrate beyond the +fascia. Reflect the flap so made, and next cut down upon the external +malleolus, carrying your knife close to the edge of the bone, both +behind and below the process, dislodge the peronei tendons, and divide +the external lateral ligaments of the joint. Having done this, with the +bone-nippers cut through the fibula, about an inch above the malleolus, +remove this piece of bone, dividing the inferior tibio-fibular +ligament, and then turn the leg and foot on the outside. Now carefully +dissect the tendons of the tibialis posticus and flexor communis +digitorum from behind the internal malleolus. Carry your knife close +round the edge of this process, and detach the internal lateral +ligament, then grasping the heel with one hand, and the front of the +foot with the other, forcibly turn the sole of the foot downwards, by +which the lower end of the tibia is dislocated and protruded through the +wound. This done, remove the diseased end of the tibia with the common +amputating saw, and afterwards with a small metacarpal saw placed upon +the back of the upper articulating process of the astragalus, between +that process and the tendo Achillis, remove the former by cutting from +behind forwards. Replace the parts _in situ_; close the wound carefully +on the inner side and front of the ankle; but leave the outside open, +that there may be a free exit for discharge, apply water-dressing, place +the limb on its outer side on a splint, and the operation is completed. + +Skin, external, and internal ligaments, and the bones are the only parts +divided, no tendons and no arteries of any size.[69] + +_Barwell's_ method by _lateral incisions_ is briefly as follows:-- + +On the outer side, an incision over the lower three inches of the fibula +turns forward at the malleolus at an angle, and ends about half an inch +above the base of the outer metatarsal. The flap is to be reflected, +fibula divided about two inches from its lower end by the forceps, and +dissected out, leaving peronei tendons uncut. A similar incision on the +inner side terminates over the projection of the internal cuneiform +bone; the sheaths of the tendons under inner angle are then to be +divided, and the artery and nerve avoided; the internal lateral +ligament is then to be divided, the foot twisted outwards, so as to +protrude the astragalus and tibia at the inner wound. The lower end of +the tibia and top of the astragalus are to be sawn off by a +narrow-bladed saw passing from one wound to the other.[70] + +Dr. M. Buchanan of Glasgow has described an operation by which the joint +can be excised through a single incision over the external malleolus. + +_Results._--So far as can be gathered from cases already published, the +results are very often (at least in one out of every two cases) +unsatisfactory. Sinuses remain, which do not heal, the limbs are +useless, and amputation is in the end necessary. + +Langenbeck has performed it sixteen times during the last +Schleswig-Holstein war (in 1864), and the Bohemian war in 1866, with +only three deaths. In these cases the operation was subperiosteal. + + +EXCISION OF THE SCAPULA.--More or less of the scapula has in many cases +been removed along with the arm, and even with the addition of portion +of the clavicle. + +Excision of the entire bone, leaving the arm, has been performed in two +instances by Mr. Syme. The procedure must vary according to the nature +and shape of the tumour on account of which the operation is performed. +Mr. Syme operated as follows:-- + +In the first case, one of cerebriform tumour of the bone, he "made an +incision from the acromion process transversely to the posterior edge of +the scapula, and another from the centre of this one directly downwards +to the lower margin of the tumour. The flaps thus formed being reflected +without much hæmorrhage, I separated the scapular attachment of the +deltoid, and divided the connections of the acromial extremity of the +clavicle. Then, wishing to command the subscapular artery, I divided +it, with the effect of giving issue to a fearful gush of blood, but +fortunately caught the vessel and tied it without any delay. I next cut +into the joint and round the glenoid cavity, hooked my finger under the +coracoid process, so as to facilitate the division of its muscular and +ligamentous attachments, and then pulling back the bone with all the +force of my left hand, separated its remaining attachments with rapid +sweeps of the knife." (Plate III. fig. G.) + +Mr. Syme's second case was also one of tumour of the scapula; the head +of the humerus had been excised two years before. + +He removed it by two incisions, one from the clavicle a little to the +sternal side of the coracoid, directed downwards to the lower boundary +of the tumour, another transversely from the shoulder to the posterior +edge of the scapula. The clavicle was divided at the spot where it was +exposed, and the outer portion removed along with the scapula.[71] + +The author has in a case of osseous tumour removed the whole body of the +scapula, leaving glenoid, spine, acromion and anterior margin with +excellent result and a useful arm. + +Large portions of the shafts of the humerus, radius, and ulna have been +removed for disease or accident, and useful arms have resulted; but as +the operative procedures must vary in every case, according to the +amount of bone to be removed, and the number and position of the +sinuses, no exact directions can be given. + +For very interesting cases of such resections reference may be made to +Wagner's treatise on the subject, translated and enlarged by Mr. Holmes, +and to Williamson's _Military Surgery_, p. 227. + + +EXCISION OF METACARPALS AND PHALANGES.--To _excise_ the metacarpal +implies that the corresponding finger is left. Except in cases of +necrosis, where abundance of new bone has formed in the detached +periosteum, the results of such excisions do not encourage repetition, +the digits which remain being generally very useless. It is quite +different, however, if it is the thumb that is involved; and every +effort should, in every case, be made to retain the thumb, even in the +complete absence of its metacarpal bone. For the good results of a case +in which Mr. Syme excised the whole metacarpal bone for a tumour, see +his _Observations in Clinical Surgery_, p. 38. + +The operation is not difficult, and requires merely a straight incision +over the dorsum, extending the whole length of the bone. + +In the same way the proximal phalanx of the thumb may be excised, and +yet, if proper care be taken, a very useful limb be left. I quote entire +the following case by Mr. Butcher of Dublin:-- + + +EXCISION OF PROXIMAL PHALANX OF THE THUMB.-- + +The thumb of the right hand was crushed by the crank of a steam-engine. +The proximal phalanx was completely shivered; its fragments were +removed, the cartilage of the proximal end of the distal phalanx, and +also of the head of the metacarpal bone, were pared off with a strong +knife. The digit was put up on a splint fully extended. In about a month +cure was nearly complete, a firm dense tissue took the place of the +removed phalanx, and the power of flexing the unguinal was nearly +complete.[72] + + +EXCISION OF THE JOINTS OF THE FINGERS.--These operations may be +performed for compound dislocation, specially when the thumb is injured; +no directions can be given for the incisions.[73] + +In cases of disease it is rarely necessary or advisable to attempt to +save a finger, but if the metacarpo-phalangeal joint of the thumb be +affected, excision should be performed with the hope of saving the +thumb. A single free incision on the radial side of the joint will give +sufficient access. + + +EXCISION OF THE OS CALCIS.--In those comparatively rare cases in which +the os calcis is alone affected, the rest of the tarsus and the +ankle-joint being healthy, a considerable difference of opinion exists +as to the proper course to be followed. By some surgeons it is +considered best merely to gain free access to the diseased bone, and +then remove by a gouge all the softened and altered portions, leaving a +shell of bone all round, of course saving the periosteum and avoiding +interference with the joint. This operation requires no special detailed +instruction. We find many surgeons, among them Fergusson and Hodge, +supporters of this comparatively modest operation. The author has many +times performed this operation with excellent results. Even when nothing +but periosteum is left, the new bone becomes strong and of full size. + +Excision of the whole of the diseased bone at its joints, with or +without an attempt to leave some of the periosteum, has been deemed +necessary by others. Holmes, who has had considerable experience, +removes the bone at once by the following incisions, without paying any +reference to the periosteum:-- + +_Operation._--An incision (Plate III. fig. F.) is commenced at the inner +edge of the tendo Achillis, and drawn horizontally forwards along the +outer side of the foot, somewhat in front of the calcaneo-cuboid joint, +which lies midway between the outer malleolus and the end of the fifth +metatarsal bone. This incision should go down at once upon the bone, so +that the tendon should be felt to snap as the incision is commenced. It +should be as nearly as possible on a level with the upper border of the +os calcis, a point which the surgeon can determine, if the dorsum of the +foot is in a natural state, by feeling the pit in which the extensor +brevis digitorum arises. Another incision is then to be drawn vertically +across the sole, commencing near the anterior end of the former +incision, and terminating at the outer border of the grooved or internal +surface of the os calcis, beyond which point it should not extend, for +fear of wounding the posterior tibial vessels. If more room be required, +this vertical incision may be prolonged a little upwards, so as to form +a crucial incision. The bone being now denuded by throwing back the +flaps, the first point is to find and lay open the calcaneo-cuboid +joint, and then the joints with the astragalus. The close connections +between these two bones constitute the principal difficulty in the +operation on the dead subject; but these joints will frequently be found +to have been destroyed in cases of disease. The calcaneum having been +separated thus from its bony connections by the free use of the knife, +aided, if necessary, by the lever, lion-forceps, etc., the soft parts +are next to be cleaned off its inner side with care, in order to avoid +the vessels, and the bone will then come away.[74] + +Attempts may occasionally be made in such an operation to save a portion +of periosteum in attachment to the soft parts, but success or failure in +this seems to have very little effect on the future result. + + _Hancock's Method._--A single flap was formed in the sole, with the + convexity looking forwards, by an incision from one malleolus to + the other. + + _Greenhow's Method._--Incisions made from the inner and outer + ankles, meeting at the apex of the heel, and then others extending + along the sides of the foot, the flaps being dissected back so as + to expose the bone and its connections.[75] + + +EXCISION OF ASTRAGALUS.--A curved incision on the dorsum of the foot +extending from one malleolus to the other, and as far forwards as the +front of the scaphoid. The chief caution required is to divide all +ligaments which hold the bone in place, and dissect it clean on all +other parts before meddling with its posterior surface where the groove +exists for the flexor longus pollicis tendon near which the posterior +tibial vessels and nerve lie.[76] + + +EXCISION OF ASTRAGALUS AND SCAPHOID.--An incision similar to the +anterior one in Syme's amputation at the ankle. The flap was then turned +back from the dorsum of the foot. The joint was then opened, the lateral +ligaments of the ankle-joint divided, the foot dislocated so as to show +the astragalo-calcanean ligaments, and allow them to be divided. The +bones were then grasped with the lion-forceps and pulled forwards, while +the posterior surface of the astragalus was very cautiously cleaned, so +as to avoid the posterior tibial artery.[77] + + +EXCISION OF METATARSO-PHALANGEAL JOINT OF GREAT TOE.--Butcher performs +it by splitting up the sinuses leading to the carious joint, exposing it +and cutting off with bone-pliers the anterior third of the metatarsal +bone, and the proximal end of the first phalanx. He also cuts +subcutaneously the extensor tendons to prevent them from cocking up the +toe.[78] Pancoast prefers a semilunar incision. A lateral incision is +usually to be preferred. + +The author has performed this excision frequently for disease; when the +whole cartilages are removed and the wound is freely drained, an +admirable result is obtained. + +In cases of compound dislocation of the head of the metatarsal bone, it +will occasionally be found necessary to excise it either by the +original, or a slightly enlarged wound. + +The author lately excised one-half of shaft of metatarsal and the +corresponding half of proximal phalanx of great toe for exostosis, with +antiseptic precautions. The result was a useful toe with a _mobile +joint_. + + +EXCISION OF METATARSAL BONE OF GREAT TOE.--For this operation a +quadrilateral flap has been recommended, but this is quite unnecessary. +A single straight incision along the inner border of the foot, extending +the whole length of the bone, renders it very easy to remove the whole +bone from joint to joint. This is an operation, however, which is rarely +needed, and which would leave a very useless flail of a toe. The +operation, which is at once more commonly required, and also gives +promise of a more satisfactory result, is the one performed for +cario-necrosis of the shaft only, and in the following manner:-- + +A straight incision through all the tissues, including the periosteum, +right down to the bone; then with nail or handle of the knife to +separate the periosteum from the bone; then with a pair of bone-pliers +or a fine saw to divide the shaft from both its extremities and remove +it entire.[79] + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[52] _On Diseases and Injuries of Joints_, p. 121. + +[53] For a very large amount of most interesting and valuable +information on the whole subject of excisions of joints, I would refer +to Dr. Hodge's most excellent work on this subject--_On Excisions of +Joints_. By Richard M. Hodge, M.D., Boston, Massachusetts. + +[54] See Syme's _Observations on Clinical Surgery_, pp. 55, 57; Hodge +_on Excision of Joints_, p. 63. + +[55] Maunder's _Operative Surgery_, 2d ed. p. 123. + +[56] _Edin. Med. Journal_, May 1873. + +[57] Quoted by Mr. Porter. _Dublin Quarterly Journal_ for May 1867, p. +264. + +[58] A-A. Deep palmar arch; B. Trapezium; C. Articular surface of ulna; +Dotted lines include the amount removed in Lister's earlier operations; +Unshaded portions are those removed by Lister in cases where the disease +is limited to the carpus. (Reduced from Lister's diagram in _Lancet_, +1865.) + +[59] Skey, _Op. Surg._, 2d ed. p. 438. + +[60] Abridged from Butcher, _Op. and Con. Surgery_, p. 208. + +[61] _Science and Art of Surgery_, 3d ed. p. 745. + +[62] _On the Surgical Treatment of Children's Diseases_, pp. 454-6. + +[63] _Clinical Society's Transactions_, vol. xiii. p. 71. + +[64] Billroth of Vienna and Pelikan of St. Petersburg, quoted from +Heyfelder by Hodge _on Excision of Joints_, p. 161. + +[65] _Operative and Conservative Surgery_, pp. 28, 138. + +[66] _On Excision of Knee-Joint_, pp. 18, 20. + +[67] _Operative and Conservative Surgery_, p. 169. + +[68] Mr. Jones of Jersey, _Med. Chir. Trans._, vol. xxxvii. p. 68. + +[69] _Lancet_, Oct. 1, 1859. + +[70] Barwell _On Diseased Joints_, p. 464. + +[71] Syme _On Excision of the Scapula_, pp. 13-26, 1864. + +[72] Butcher's _Operative and Conservative Surgery_, p. 225. + +[73] For an excellent case, see Annandale on _Diseases of the Finger and +Toes_, p. 261. + +[74] Holmes's _Surgery_, 3d edition, vol. iii. p. 771. + +[75] _Brit. and Foreign Med. Chir. Review_ for July 1853. + +[76] Mr. Holmes in _Lancet_ for February 18, 1856. + +[77] _Ibid._ for May 1865. + +[78] Butcher, _Operative and Conservative Surgery_, p. 354. + +[79] See Butcher, _Operative and Conservative Surgery_, p. 356. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +OPERATIONS ON CRANIUM AND SCALP. + + +TREPHINING AND TREPANNING are the names given to operations for the +removal of portions of the cranium by circular saws which play on a +centre pivot. When the motion is given to the saw simply by rotation of +the hand of the operator, as is common in this country, it is called +_trephining_; when (as used to be the case in this country, and still is +on the Continent) the motion is given by an instrument like a +carpenter's brace, the operation is called _trepanning_. + +The nature of the operation varies according to the nature of the case +for which it is performed. Thus (1.) it may be performed through the +uninjured cranium in the hope of evacuating an abscess of the diploe or +dura mater, or of relieving pressure caused by suppuration in the brain +itself, or by extravasation into the brain or membranes; or (2.) it may +be required in cases of punctured and depressed fracture for the purpose +of removing projecting corners of bone and allowing elevation of the +depressed portions; or (3.) it is sometimes used to remove a circular +portion of bone in cases of epilepsy in which pain or tenderness is felt +at some limited portion of the cranium. + +1. _In cases where the cranium and its coverings are entire._--There are +certain positions where, if it is possible, the trephine should _not_ be +applied. These are the longitudinal sinus, the anterior inferior angle +of the parietal bone, where the middle meningeal artery is in the way, +the occipital protuberance, and the various sutures. These being +avoided, a crucial incision is to be made through the skin, and its +flaps reflected. The pericranium should then be raised from the centre, +for a space large enough to hold the crown of the trephine. The +pericranium should never be removed, but carefully raised and preserved, +as its presence will greatly aid in the restoration of bone.[80] The +centre pin should then be projected for about the eighth of an inch and +bored into the bone. On it as a centre the saw is then worked by +semicircular sweeps in both directions alternately, till it forms a +groove for itself. Whenever this groove is deep enough the pin should be +retracted, lest from its projection it pierce the dura mater before the +tables of the skull are cut through. Were the cranium always of the same +thickness, and even of similar consistence, the operation would always +be exceedingly easy; but in both these particulars different skulls vary +much from each other, and thus by a rash use of the instrument the dura +mater may possibly be injured. The tough outer table is more difficult +to cut than the softer and more vascular diploe, and the inner table is +denser than either, but more brittle. In many old skulls, however, the +diploe is wanting altogether, and the two tables are amalgamated, and +often very thin. + +Great care must be taken in every case to saw slowly, to remove the +sawdust, and examine the track of the saw by a probe or quill, lest one +part should be cut through quicker than another. The last turns of the +instrument must specially be cautious ones. When the disk of bone does +not at once come away in the trephine, the elevator or the special +forceps for the purpose will easily remove it. If the abscess, +extravasation, or exostosis be then discovered and removed, all that +remains is to remove any sawdust or loose pieces of bone, and possibly +to smooth off any sharp edges of the orifice by an instrument called the +lenticular. This is very seldom required, and now hardly ever used. + +2. _In cases of depressed or punctured fracture_ the trephine is +occasionally required (when symptoms of compression are present) for the +purpose of enabling the depressed portion to be elevated. It is unsafe +to apply it to the depressed or fractured bone, lest the additional +pressure of the instrument should cause wound of the dura mater or +brain. It is generally applied on some projecting corner of sound bone +under which the depressed portion is locked, and hence it is rarely +necessary to remove a complete circular portion. In fact very many cases +of such displacement may be remedied more easily by a pair of strong +bone-forceps, or a Hey's saw, applied to remove the projecting portion +of sound bone. The same precautions must be used as in the operation +already described, and the sawing must be done even more cautiously, as +it is rarely more than a semicircle that requires cutting. + +In former days trephining was a much more frequent operation than it is +now, and apparently more successful. The reason of the greater apparent +success can easily be found in the fact that it was performed in many +cases merely as a precautionary measure against dreaded inflammation of +the brain, which probably never would have appeared at all, and that the +operation itself is one by no means dangerous. Very numerous +applications of the trephine have been made in the same individual--two, +four, six, and even in one case twenty-seven disks having been removed +from the same skull, and yet the patients have survived. + + +TUMOURS OF THE SCALP, _Removal of_.--By far the most frequent are the +encysted tumours, or wens. These consist of a thick firm cyst-wall, +which contains soft, curdy, or pultaceous matter, sometimes almost +fluid, at others dry and gritty. They are loosely attached in the +subcutaneous cellular tissue, and unless they have become very large, or +have been much pressed on, are non-adherent to the skin. + +The treatment is thus very simple. They should merely be transfixed by a +sharp knife, the contents evacuated, and the cyst seized by strong +dissecting forceps and twisted out. + +If they have once become adherent, they must be dissected out in the +usual manner, after the adherent portion of skin has been defined by +elliptical incisions. + +In the case of large wens on visible parts of scalp or face, the author +avoids scar, by the following plan:-- + +Make a small incision, two lines at most, through skin only, then with a +blunt probe separate the cyst from the skin subcutaneously; then, +pulling it to the wound with catch-forceps, empty the cyst and gradually +pull it out, as if taking out an ovarian cyst. No scar but a dimple will +remain. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[80] See case by the author in the _Edin. Med. Jour._ for June 1868. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +OPERATIONS ON EYE. + +_Operations on the Eye and its Appendages._ + + +OPERATIONS ON THE LIDS.-- + +[Illustration: FIG. VII.[81]] + +[Illustration: FIG. VIII.[82]] + +1. FOR ENTROPIUM OR INVERSION OF THE LIDS, OFTEN COMBINED WITH +TRICHIASIS, IRREGULARITY OF THE CILIÆ.--As in many cases the entropium +seems to depend partly on a too great laxity of the skin of the lid, +combined occasionally with spasm of the orbicularis, the simplest and +most natural plan of operation is (_a_) to remove (Fig. VII. _a_) an +elliptical portion of skin, extending transversely along the whole +length of the affected lid, including the fibres of the orbicularis +lying below it, and then to unite the edges with several points of fine +suture. (_b_) An improvement on this in obstinate cases is proposed by +Mr. Streatfeild (Fig. VIII.) He continues the same incision, but in +addition removes a long narrow wedge-shaped portion of the tarsal +cartilage, grooving it without entirely cutting it through, in such a +manner that the retraction of the skin bends the cartilage backwards, +thus everting to a very considerable extent the previously inverted +ciliæ.[83] + +2. ECTROPIUM is the opposite condition from entropium; in it the eyelids +are everted and the palpebral conjunctiva is exposed. + +If the result of cicatrix, of a burn, or of disease of bone, the +treatment must be varied according to circumstances, and in many cases, +skin must be transplanted to fill the gap. + +In the more usual cases resulting from chronic inflammation the +following simple operations are required:--1. In mild cases the excision +of an elliptical portion of conjunctiva may suffice, the edges must not +be left to contract, but should be brought carefully together. 2. In +more chronic cases, where all the tissues of the lid are very lax, it is +necessary to remove (Fig. VII. _b_) a V-shaped portion of lid and skin, +and then stitch it very carefully up with interrupted sutures. + + +TUMOURS OF EYELIDS.--1. _Encysted tumours; cysts of the lids; tarsal +tumour._--Under these and similar names are recognised a very frequent +form of disease, chiefly in the upper lid: small tumours which rarely +exceed half a pea in size, convex towards the skin, which is freely +moveable over them; they give no pain, and are annoying only from their +bulk and deformity. + +_Operation._--Evert the lid, incise the conjunctiva freely over the +tumour, insert the blunt end of a probe and roughly stir up the contents +of the cyst, thus evacuating it. If the tumour is large and of old +standing it may be requisite to cut out an elliptical or circular +portion of its conjunctival wall. The probe may require to be reapplied +once or twice at intervals of two or three days, and in certain rare +cases it may be necessary as a last resource freely to cauterise the +inside of the cyst with the solid nitrate of silver. + +In _no_ case is it ever necessary to excise the tumour from the outside +of the eyelid; when this has been done in error there frequently remains +an awkward and unsightly scar. + +2. _Fibrous cysts_, frequently congenital, are met with in one +situation, just over the external angular process of the frontal bone. +These are larger in size than the preceding, ranging from the size of a +barley pickle to that of an almond. Their treatment is excision by a +prolonged and careful dissection from the periosteum, to which they +almost invariably are adherent. + + +OPERATIONS ON THE LACHRYMAL ORGANS.--In a system of ophthalmic surgery, +various operative procedures might be detailed under this head, +authorised and sanctioned by old custom. Excision of a diseased +lachrymal gland, and removal of stones in the gland or ducts, need no +special directions for their performance, and the operation immediately +to be described, under the head of Mr. Bowman's operation, is applicable +in almost every one of the diseased conditions of the lachrymal canal, +sac, and nasal duct, to the exclusion of all the older methods. + +_Mr. Bowman's Operation._--In cases of obstruction of the punctum, +canaliculus, and nasal duct, resulting in watery eye, accumulation of +mucus in the canal, and dryness of the nose, great difficulty used to be +experienced in the treatment. To pass a probe along the punctum was +extremely difficult, in fact, possible only with a very small one, while +the common operation of opening the dilated sac, through the skin, and +then passing probes through this artificial opening, was found quite +useless from the rapid closure of the wound, unless the treatment was +followed up by the insertion and retention of a style in the nasal +duct. This was painful, unsightly, often unsuccessful; and even in some +cases dangerous, from the amount of irritation, suppuration, and even +caries of the nasal bones which is set up. + +The principle of Mr. Bowman's most excellent operation is, that the +punctum, canaliculus, and nasal duct resemble in many respects the +urethral passage, and in cases of stricture require to be treated on the +same principle. If, then, it were possible to pass instruments gradually +increasing in size through the seat of stricture, it would be gradually +dilated. It is, however, in the normal state of parts, impossible to +pass any instrument beyond the size of a human hair past the curve which +the canaliculus makes on its entrance to the duct, hence the proper +dilatation cannot be performed. Again, it is found that the puncta, +specially the lower one, are themselves very often to blame, in cases of +watery eye, sometimes because they are inverted or everted, more often +because, sympathising with the lid, they are turgid, angry, and +inflamed, pouting and closed like the orifice of the urethra in a +gonorrhoea. + +Mr. Bowman found that by slitting up the inferior punctum and +canaliculus as far as the caruncula, several advantages were +gained:--(1.) The swollen, angry, displaced punctum no longer impeded +the entrance of the tears; (2.) and chiefly when the canaliculus was +slit up, the curve, or rather angle, which impeded the passage of +probes, was done away with, and the nasal duct could be readily and +thoroughly dilated. + +_Operation._--The surgeon stands behind the patient, who is seated, and +leans his head on the surgeon's chest. The affected lid is then drawn +gently downwards on the cheek, so as to evert and thoroughly expose the +lower punctum. Into this the surgeon introduces a fine probe of steel +gilt, the first inch of which is very thin, especially at the point, and +deeply grooved on one side, exactly like a small (and straight) Syme's +stricture director. + +Keeping the canal relaxed by relaxing his hold on the lid, the surgeon +now gently wriggles the probe along the canaliculus, gradually +stretching it as the probe advances, so as to avoid catching of the +sides of the canal before the point of the instrument, till he is +satisfied that it has fairly entered the nasal duct. He then stretches +the eyelid, brings the handle of the probe out over the cheek so as to +evert the punctum as much as possible, and then with a fine +sharp-pointed knife enters the groove (Fig. IX.), and fairly slits up +the punctum and the canal to the full extent. The incision should be as +straight as possible, and through the upper wall of the canaliculus. A +dexterous turn of the instrument upwards on the forehead will generally +enable it to be passed at once fairly into the nose through the nasal +duct, the usual rule being observed of passing it downwards and slightly +backwards, the handle of the probe passing just over the supraorbital +notch. + +[Illustration: FIG. IX.[84]] + +For several days after the operation the probe will have to be passed, +both to prevent the wound in the canaliculus from healing up, which it +is too apt to do, and also to gradually dilate the nasal duct if it has +been previously strictured. Probes and directors of various sizes are +required; in fact very much the same instruments (in miniature) as are +required for the treatment of stricture of the urethra. + +Mr. Greenslade has invented a very ingenious little instrument, of +which, through his kindness, I am able to show a woodcut (Fig. X.), for +slitting up the canaliculus without having to fit the knife in the +groove. + +[Illustration: FIG. X.] + +PTERYGIUM, the reddish fleshy triangular growth, with its base at the +inner canthus, and its apex spreading to and often over the cornea, +requires invariably a small operation for its removal. In most cases it +will be found sufficient merely to raise the lax portion over the +sclerotic with forceps, and divide it freely, removing a transverse +portion. If it has encroached upon the cornea, the portion interfering +with vision must be dissected off with great care and removed. + +In some cases, however, it has been found that after removal of a large +pterygium, a retraction of the caruncle and the semilunar fold is apt to +take place, which renders the eyeball unpleasantly prominent. To avoid +this the pterygium may be carefully dissected up from its apex to near +its base, and then displaced laterally either upwards or downwards, its +apex and sides being stitched to a previously prepared site of +conjunctiva. + + +OPERATION FOR CONVERGENT STRABISMUS.--_Division of the internal +rectus._--_Subconjunctival operation._--The spring-wire speculum (C) +separating the lids, the surgeon divides the conjunctiva by a pair of +scissors in a horizontal line (Fig. XI. A A) from the inner margin of +the cornea, a little below its transverse diameter to the caruncle, +then snipping through the sub-conjunctival tissue, he passes a blunt +hook bent at an obtuse angle under the tendon of the internal rectus, +and endeavours by depressing the handle to project the point of the hook +at the wound. Then with successive snips of the scissors he divides the +tendon on the hook, close to its sclerotic margin. Lest it should not be +freely divided, various dips with the hook may be made to catch any +stray fibres left untouched; but very great care should be taken not to +wound the conjunctiva beyond the first horizontal cut in it. The tendon +being divided satisfactorily, the edges of conjunctiva should be +replaced, and the eye closed for a few hours. + +[Illustration: FIG. XI.[85]] + +The original operation of Dieffenbach, now rarely practised, consisted +in making an incision, B B, across the tendon, then, by cutting the +areolar tissue exposing the insertion of the tendon, and dividing it +freely; after which the sclerotic in the neighbourhood was to be cleaned +and any band of fibres divided. There are risks on the one hand of a +most unseemly exophthalmos with divergent squint, and on the other of a +retraction of the semilunar fold, so that the sub-conjunctival operation +is always preferable. + + +OPERATIONS FOR DIVERGENT SQUINT.--This very serious deformity is often +the result of the operation for convergent squint, and is associated +with a fixed, leering, and prominent eye, and frequently with most +annoying double vision. + +1. In a simple case of primary divergent strabismus (very rare) it is +sufficient simply to divide the external rectus in the manner already +described for division of the internal. + +2. If secondary to an operation for convergent squint, the indication is +to restore the cut internal rectus to a position on the sclerotic a +little behind its previous one, as the cause of the divergence is found +in a complete detachment of the internal rectus. This is attempted in +various ways. + +(1.) _Jules Guérin_ carefully divided the conjunctiva over it, and +sought for the remains of the internal rectus, freeing it from its +attachments. He then passed a thread through the sclerotic on the +_outer_ side of the globe, and by pulling on it and fixing it across the +nose, rotated the eye inwards, in the hope that the remains of the +internal rectus would secure a new attachment. + +(2.) _Graefe's modification_ of this is more certain. Without any minute +dissection he merely separated the internal rectus, along with the +conjunctiva, and fascia over it, so that it can be pulled forwards, then +cut the external rectus, and inverted the eyeball to a sufficient extent +by means of a thread passed through the portion of the tendon of the +external rectus, which remains attached to the sclerotic. The risk of +all these operations, in which both muscles are divided, is protrusion +of the eyeball from the removal of muscular tension. + +(3.) _Solomon's operation for the radical cure of extreme divergent +strabismus_,[86] is at first sight a very curious one. Without going +into all the details, the steps are as follows:-- + +_a._ A square-shaped flap, with its attached base at the nasal side, is +raised, containing the remains of the inner rectus and its adjacent +parts. + +_b._ A flap similar in shape and size, but different in the position of +its attached base, is made on the other side of the cornea. It is made +by dividing the external rectus just behind its tendon, and then +reflecting forwards the tendon with its conjunctiva. + +_c._ These two flaps are united over the vertical meridian of the cornea +by sutures, three generally being sufficient. This entirely hides the +cornea for a time, but eventually shrivels and contracts, and the +remnants are to be cut off with scissors three weeks after the +operation. + + +PUNCTURE OF THE CORNEA.--_Paracentesis of the Anterior +Chamber._--_Tapping of the Aqueous Humour._--This very simple operation +is in many cases extremely useful. In cases of corneal ulcer, the result +either of injury or disease, where there is much pain in the bone, and +evidence of tension of the globe, it gives great relief, and when +repeated at short intervals greatly hastens a cure. Sperino of Turin +recommends its frequent use in cases of chronic glaucoma. + +_Operation._--The surgeon stands behind the patient, who is seated; the +lids being fixed, the upper by the surgeon's left hand, and the lower by +an assistant, the cornea is punctured a little in front of the sclerotic +margin, either with a broad needle, or, what is as good, a well-worn +Beer's knife. Care must be taken on entering the knife, on the one hand, +not to wound the iris, which is sometimes arched forwards in the cases +of commencing glaucoma, and, on the other, fairly to enter the anterior +chamber, not merely split up the layers of the cornea. On withdrawing +the cataract knife, the aqueous humour gets out by its side, aided by a +slight turn of the knife, sometimes with great force, and in much larger +quantity than usual. If the operation has been done by a needle, a blunt +probe requires to be introduced on the removal of the needle. Once +punctured, the remarkable fact is that the same wound suffices for many +succeeding tappings, which are effected by pressing the probe into the +wound day after day, sometimes several times a day, with great relief +to the symptoms. If the probe is to be used for succeeding evacuations, +the operator must be careful to remember the exact spot at which the +needle or knife was entered. To facilitate remembering it, it is best, +when nothing prevents it, to operate always in the same spot. Sperino +chooses the horizontal meridian of the cornea at the temporal side, at +the junction of the cornea and sclerotic. + + +CATARACT OPERATIONS.--Here we cannot enter into any discussion of the +pathology of cataract and the varieties of it. Enough for our purpose to +know that the lens is in some cases hard, in others soft, and that thus +in the latter it may be removed piecemeal, and by a small incision, +while in the former, removal must be almost entire, and by a larger +opening. + +In cataract, the lens, which should be transparent, has become opaque, +and the object of treatment is to get it out of the line of sight, to +prevent it from obstructing, now that it can no longer assist sight. + +The operations used for this end may be classed under three heads:-- + +1. _Operations for the removal of the lens out of the way without its +removal from the eye._--These used to be extensively practised under the +name couching, and are of two kinds,--_Depression_, where the lens is +simply pushed down from its place by a needle; _Reclination_, in which +it is shoved backwards (turning on its transverse axis) as well as +downwards. These are relics of old surgery, and very rarely practised by +any oculists of eminence, as, though easy to perform, and with very +flattering immediate results, the risks of chronic inflammation of the +whole globe and injury to the retina are very great. + +2. _For solution._--THE NEEDLE OPERATION.--Suitable (among other cases) +especially in congenital cataracts in infants, and in cases of diabetic +cataract. + +The principle of this operation is that the lens, once the capsule is +freely opened in front and the aqueous humour admitted, is found rapidly +to become absorbed and disappear, if the cataract has been a soft one. + +_Operation._--A needle with a lance-shaped head is to be used. It should +be so made that the rounded shaft of the needle is just large enough to +play freely in the wound made by the broader point, and yet not so small +as to allow the aqueous humour to escape rapidly. The pupil has been +dilated, the patient is lying on his back, and the globe is fixed by +forceps attached to the conjunctiva of the inner side of the eye, and +held by an assistant. The surgeon then enters the needle close to the +sclerotic margin of the cornea, carries it fairly on in the anterior +chamber, till the centre of the pupil is reached. He then, by bringing +forward the handle, projects the point backwards against the anterior +capsule, which he freely lacerates with the point and edge in several +directions. + +In infants, where processes of repair go on very rapidly, the whole lens +may be freely broken up. In diabetic cataract, or indeed in all cases of +solution, where the patient is adolescent or adult, or the eye at all +weak, only a small portion of the lens should be attacked at one +sitting. + +The needle should then be withdrawn gradually and with great care, that +the broad axis of the blade be in exactly the same position in which it +entered, _i.e._ flat and parallel with the iris, lest the iris be +wounded, entangled, or prolapsed. + +The eye is then to be closed for twenty-four hours; if there is much +pain, atropia must be freely used. + +_Varieties in the Operation._--Some use two needles at once for breaking +up the lens. Some surgeons prefer to enter the needle through the +sclerotic; this complicates the operation and renders it less certain, +as the point of the needle is of course out of sight in its progress +between the iris and the lens. + +Even in children this operation requires in most cases to be repeated at +least once, while in adults it may be required at short intervals for +many months. + +3. _By Extraction._--In these operations the lens is at once removed +from the eye-- + +(1.) By linear, or perhaps, more correctly, rectilinear incision. This +method is specially suited for cases of soft cataract. + +_Operation._--A fine spear-shaped needle is very cautiously introduced +through the cornea, about a line from its outer margin, and the anterior +capsule lacerated, and the lens broken up, great care being taken not to +injure the posterior capsule. The pupil must then be kept freely +dilated, the wound heals at once, and the aqueous humour reaccumulates. + +[Illustration: FIG. XII.] + +[Illustration: FIG. XIII.] + +From three to six days after this first operation, a linear incision +(Fig. XII.) is made in the outer side of the cornea by a straight stab +from a double-edged knife, or rather spear. The size of the incision +must vary with the size and consistence of the lens, and can be +regulated by the breadth of the knife and the distance to which it is +entered. By careful withdrawal of the knife, in many cases a large +portion of the soft lens can be removed along with it, and then what +remains must be cautiously lifted out by a flat spoon introduced through +the wound, and behind the remains of the lens. + +Care must be taken lest any of the lens substance remain in the wound; +with this precaution the incision generally heals rapidly, and with much +less risk of general inflammation of the ball than in the ordinary flap +operation of extraction. + + EXTRACTION OF SOFT CATARACT BY SUCTION.--Mr. T. P. Teale, of + Leeds,[87] has invented an instrument by which the removal of soft + cataract is made more easy, through a linear incision by suction, + applied through the medium of a hollow curette furnished with an + india-rubber tube and mouth-piece. + + The curette is of the usual size, but is roofed in (instead of + being merely grooved) to within one line of its extremity, thus + forming a tube flattened above, but terminating in a small cup. + This is screwed into an ordinary straight handle, which is hollow + for a short distance, far enough to join with a second tube fixed + at right angles to the handle, and into which the india-rubber pipe + and mouth-piece, through which suction is to be made, is attached. + In many cases it seems to serve its purpose extremely well. + + Certain points require attention:--1. That the puncture to admit + the curette is large enough; 2. That its end be sufficiently + rounded; 3. Its open end must be held in the area of the pupil, and + not allowed to pass behind the iris, else there is great risk of + the iris being drawn in. Among other advantages claimed by its + inventor, the chief seems to be a more thorough removal of the lens + than by the ordinary means, and consequently less risk of opaque + deposit in the posterior capsule. + +(2.) EXTRACTION BY FLAP.--When properly performed in a suitable subject, +and when free from accident, this operation is one of the most +thoroughly beautiful and satisfactory in the whole domain of surgery; +but it is difficult, and liable to many risks which neither skill nor +caution can completely guard against. + +It is required in many cases of hard cataract, which are amenable +neither to solution nor linear extraction. + +_Operation_ must be considered in various stages:-- + +_a._ To make a flap of cornea large enough to permit of the removal of +the entire lens without pressure or bruising. To make it of cornea only, +to prevent the escape of the vitreous, and to avoid injury of the iris. + +The great difficulty in making the required section of the cornea is, +that we are debarred from using scissors or any ordinary knife or +scalpel in making it, for this reason, that the sawing movements +required in all ordinary cutting are inadmissible here, as any +withdrawal of the blade, however slight, would permit evacuation of the +aqueous humour, and at once be followed by prolapse of the iris before +the knife. Hence we are compelled to make the requisite flap by one +steady push of a knife, which, too, must be of such a shape as in its +entrance constantly to fill up the wound it makes. Very various shapes +and sizes of knives have been proposed, the one called Beer's knife +being the sort of model or common parent from which all the others are +derived. It is triangular in shape, with a straight back, about 12-10ths +of an inch in length, and 4-10ths broad at the base of the blade, +tapering at a straight edge from its base to its point, and also +diminishing in thickness to the point. + +Considerable difference of opinion exists as to the relative merits of +an upper or lower section of the cornea. The general view at present +seems to be that an upper section is to be preferred; but in cases where +the surgeon is not ambidexterous, it is better that he should make the +section which lies easiest to his hand than attempt an upper section in +a less favourable position. + +The patient should be placed flat on his back, the lids should be gently +opened, the upper one by the surgeon, the lower one by his assistant, +who is to press the lid downwards against the malar bone without +exercising any pressure on the ball. The eye should be still further +steadied by the conjunctiva and subjacent cellular tissue on the inner +side being seized by a pair of catch-forceps, still with no downward +pressure on the ball. The point of the knife must then be introduced +about a line from the outer sclerotic margin of the transverse diameter +of the cornea (Fig. XIII.), the blade being held parallel with the +fibres of the iris, pushed steadily across the anterior chamber, and +protruded as nearly as possible at the corresponding spot at the inner +side of the cornea. The aqueous humour should not escape till the +section is completed. If it does, the iris is almost certainly projected +forwards and entangled in the blade of the knife, a most annoying +accident, and one which is not easily remedied. The books tell us of +various manoeuvres by pressure or otherwise, by which the iris may be +pushed back. Practically, however, if it has once occurred it is not +easily saved from being cut. If a small portion only is involved, it is +not of much consequence; if a large portion be in danger, it is +sometimes necessary to withdraw the knife before the section is +completed, and finish it with a probe-pointed, curved bistoury. + +If, however, the flap is safely finished, the lids should be gently +allowed to close for a few seconds. + +On opening them again the surgeon must decide whether the corneal flap +is sufficiently large to allow the lens to come out without force; if +not, he must enlarge it either by the narrow probe-pointed "secondary +knife" or by a pair of sharp scissors. Occasionally the lens, and even a +little vitreous humour, may escape at once on the section being +completed, but this is not to be desired. + +_b._ _Laceration of the Capsule of the Lens._--This is performed by +insinuating a sharp curved needle under the corneal flap, avoiding the +iris, and then tearing up the anterior capsule through the dilated +pupil, the chief point to be attended to being that the capsule be +lacerated in its entire length. + +_c._ _Removal of the Lens._--This must be done with the most extreme +caution and gentleness, lest the vitreous humour be also evacuated. The +surgeon's object is to tilt the lens so as to turn it slightly on its +transverse axis, and cause the edge nearest the section to rise out of +the capsule and appear at the wound. This is best done by gentle +pressure at the required spot by the back of the needle, or by a common +probe. When the lens begins to protrude the pressure must be very, +gentle, lest it be forced out suddenly and the vitreous follow it. + +Soft portions of the lens are apt to remain adherent to the wound in the +cornea. These must be removed by scoop or probe. + +_Varieties in the method of Flap Extraction._--Jacobsen of Königsberg in +every case gives chloroform. He always makes his flap in the boundary +line of the cornea and the sclerotic, through a vascular structure, and +he believes that union is on this account more rapid, and after +extraction removes that portion of the iris which appears to have been +most exposed to bruising during the exit of the lens. + +The operation of extraction may in many cases be either preceded or +followed by iridectomy, as proposed by Mooren, Von Graefe, and others. +The following operation seems to diminish the risks to a very great +extent:-- + + _Professor Von Graefe's Operation._--The lids are separated by a + speculum, and the eyeball is drawn down by forceps placed + immediately below the cornea. The point of a small knife, of which + the edge is directed upwards, is inserted at a point fully half a + line from the margin of the cornea near its upper part, so as to + enter the anterior chamber as peripherally as possible. The point + should not be directed at first towards the spot for + counterpuncture; nor till the knife has advanced fully three and a + half lines within the visible portion of the anterior chamber, + should the handle be lowered and the point directed so as to make + a symmetrical counterpuncture, which will give the external wound + a length of four and a half or five lines. As soon as the + resistance to the point is felt to be overcome, showing that the + counterpuncture is effected, the knife must at once be turned + forward, so that its back is directed almost to the centre of the + ideal sphere of the cornea, whether the conjunctiva is transfixed + or not, and the scleral border is divided by boldly pushing the + knife onwards and again drawing it backwards. This portion of the + operation is concluded by the formation of a conjunctival flap a + line and a half or two lines in length. A section thus made is + almost perpendicular to the cornea, a circumstance much + facilitating the passage of the lens, and the line of incision is + nearly straight, so that the wound does not gape. The iris should + be excised to the very end of the wound, and the capsule most + freely opened by a V-shaped laceration. Any lens, even the hardest, + may then be removed without the introduction of an instrument into + the eye, but Von Graefe's experience shows it to be advisable to + assist the evacuation by the hook in about one case in eight. In a + certain number of cases the lens will escape without difficulty + when the operator presses on the posterior lip of the wound, + especially when the back of the spoon is made to glide along the + sclera; should this not occur, Von Graefe uses a peculiar blunt + hook, or occasionally, though rarely, a spoon. A compressing + bandage is applied, and replaced at intervals.[88] + +We are recommended to perform it in two sets of cases:-- + +1. Those in which the eye is known to be unhealthy and liable to +inflammations, specially of iris, retina, or choroid. In cases where the +patient has already lost an eye, Von Graefe thinks iridectomy should +always precede extraction. In the above, then, it is a precautionary +measure, and, if convenient, should be performed three, four, or even +six weeks before the extraction. + +2. It is recommended to be performed at the same time as extraction in +all cases in which the operation has presented any special difficulties, +or has not gone smoothly, _e.g._ in cases where the lens has required +much force to expel it, either from the flap of cornea being too small, +or from adhesions between the lens and capsule; or, again, in cases in +which there is a tendency to prolapse of the iris, in which any of the +cortical substance has been necessarily left behind, or in which old +adhesions had existed between the iris and capsule, or between the +cornea and iris. + + +OPERATIONS FOR ARTIFICIAL PUPIL.--The cases are by no means unfrequent +in which it is necessary to remove or destroy a portion of the iris to +admit light to the retina. In cases of excessive prolapse of the iris +after extraction of the lens, where the iris has formed adhesions to the +wound, and still more frequently in cases where central opacities of the +cornea have fairly occluded the natural pupil, the only chance for +vision is to enlarge the old one, or make a new pupil by removal of the +iris. + +Very various operations have been proposed, and exceedingly numerous and +complicated instruments invented for this purpose. We can notice here +only one or two of the most approved procedures:-- + +1. _Incision_ is the simplest. + +This is practicable and effectual only in cases where the iris is so far +healthy as still to retain its contractile power, and so far free from +adhesions as to be able to make use of it. The best example of such a +case is that of a cataract, in which after extraction a prolapse of the +iris has occurred to such an extent as to obliterate the pupil, and +where, at the same time, the only adhesions are to the wound, none to +the cornea. + +_Operation._--A double-edged needle is introduced through the cornea +near its margin; on arriving at the place where the pupil ought to be, +one edge is drawn against the iris, and divides it transversely, if +possible, without injuring the lens; the fibres of the iris start back, +contract, so that a sufficiently large central pupil may be obtained. + +2. _Excision._--In the far more frequent cases in which there exist +adhesions between iris and cornea, or iris and anterior capsule, +incision is not sufficient, and it is necessary to excise a portion of +the iris. + +The simplest and safest operation is the following:-- + +The patient recumbent, and the lids held apart by a speculum, the +eyeball should be steadied by the forceps of an assistant. A broad +cutting needle should then be introduced at the lower or outer edge of +the corneal margin. This must be very gently withdrawn so as to retain +as much aqueous humour as possible. Into the wound thus made the surgeon +must introduce the blunt hook (known as Tyrrell's) at first with its +point forwards, then, on arriving opposite the edge of the pupil, which +it is intended to enlarge or replace, with its point turned backwards, +so as to hook over the edge of the iris and thus drag on it. Once the +hook has fairly got hold, it must again be rotated forwards, and +withdrawn in the same direction as it was put in. The iris thus pulled +out of the wound is to be cut off with a pair of fine scissors, so as to +remove a sufficient amount to make a new pupil of the required size. + +But in those cases in which the whole or greater part of the pupillary +margin is adherent, the blunt hook will not do, because there exists no +edge round which to hook it. One of two plans is generally chosen to +remedy this:-- + +(1.) A free incision made with a double-edged needle; through this a +pair of canula forceps is introduced, with which a portion of iris is +seized and dragged to the external wound; it can then either be cut off +or tied (see _Iridesis_); or, + +(2.) A previous attempt may be made to free a portion to form an edge to +catch hold of, either by incision or by _Corelysis_ (_q.v._) + + +IRIDESIS.--_Critchett's Operation of Ligature._[89]--Patient being put +under chloroform, the ball is fixed by the wire speculum, and also by a +fold of conjunctiva being seized by forceps. An opening is then made +with a broad needle through the margin of the cornea, _close_ to the +sclerotic, just large enough to admit the canula forceps, with which a +small portion of iris close to its ciliary attachment is seized and +drawn out; a piece of fine floss silk, previously tied in a small loop +round the canula forceps, is slipped down and carefully tightened round +the prolapsed portion. This speedily shrinks, and the loop may generally +be removed about the second day. The chief advantage claimed for this +method is the ease with which the size of the new pupil can be +regulated. It is also suitable in cases of conical cornea, where it is +wished to change the form of the pupil into a narrow slit. + +_N.B._--The ends of the ligature must be left sufficiently long to avoid +any risk of their being drawn out of sight into the substance of the +cornea, or even into the ball, by retraction of the fibres of the iris. + + +CORELYSIS.--_Freeing of the Pupil._--An operative procedure for +separating posterior adhesions of the iris to the lens. In it the +surgeon hopes to act, not on the iris, as in the operations for +artificial pupil, but only on the bands of false membrane which distort +the pupil. + +The operation is briefly as follows:--The eye being firmly held by a +wire speculum, and forceps pinching up the conjunctiva, a broad needle +is passed rapidly through the cornea at a point which may give easy +access to the adhesion to be torn through. This point is generally at +the opposite margin of the irregular pupil, so that the needle may pass +through the cornea in front of the one side of the iris, then through +the orifice of the pupil, so as to reach the back of the other side. The +needle is withdrawn gradually, so as to lose as little of the aqueous +humour as possible, and then the spatula hook, called after the inventor +of the operation, Mr. Streatfeild, is introduced. It is used first as a +spatula, that is, with its blunt, though polished edge, to separate the +adhesions, and if this is unsuccessful, as a hook (FIG. XIV.), so as to +catch and tear them. In cases which resist the instrument used in both +of these ways, Mr. Streatfeild has used very fine canula-scissors to cut +the adhesions.[90] Such a further complication of the operation +practically alters its character into an operation for artificial pupil, +_q.v._ + +[Illustration: FIG. XIV.[91]] + + +IRIDECTOMY.--In cases of acute glaucoma, irido-choroiditis, and all deep +inflammations of the eye in which the ocular tension is increased, also +in certain cases of flap extraction already alluded to, the operation of +iridectomy as originally proposed by Von Graefe will be found of use. + +_Operation._--The patient recumbent, and the eye absolutely fixed by +speculum and forceps, a linear incision, varying in length from +one-sixth to one-fourth of an inch, is made just at the margin of the +cornea. The point of election is the upper pole of the cornea. The lens +must not be wounded. The best instrument for making the section is an +ordinary linear extraction knife, bent at an angle to admit of its being +introduced from above. The iris will protrude through the wound, or, if +adherent, must be drawn out by forceps, and then is to be cut off with +scissors. The operation is rarely successful, unless a third, or at +least a fourth, of the iris be removed. + + +EXCISION OF A STAPHYLOMATOUS CORNEA.--There are certain cases in which +the whole or greater part of the cornea bulges forward in a great blue +projecting tumour. It is very ugly as it protrudes between the lids and +prevents their closure; besides this, from its exposure it frequently +inflames, even ulcerates, and has a most injurious effect on the other +eye. In the cases suitable for operation vision is completely gone, +without hope of its restoration by any operative procedure. + +The best thing for the patient is to have just enough of the staphyloma +removed to enable the remains of the eyeball to form a good stump for an +artificial eye. Various means have been suggested for doing this, +varying in extent and severity from a mere shaving off the apex of the +staphyloma to excision of the whole eyeball. + +By far the best method of operating is the one proposed and practised by +Mr. Critchett. + +[Illustration: FIG. XV.[92]] + +[Illustration: FIG. XVI.[93]] + +The object of it is to remove an elliptical portion of the front of the +staphyloma, or the whole staphyloma, when it is possible, and at the +same time to prevent as far as possible the escape of the vitreous. + +_Operation._--Three, four, or five small curved needles armed with +thread are passed through the staphyloma from above downwards, being +each entered a little above the line of the intended upper incision, and +brought out a little below the line of the intended lower one (Fig. XV.) + +To remove the included elliptical portion, Mr. Critchett pierces the +sclerotic with a Beer's knife, just in front of the tendinous insertion +of the external rectus. Through this incision a pair of probe-pointed +scissors is introduced, and the piece cut just within the points of the +needles. On the removal, the needles, which have retained the vitreous +by their pressure, are drawn through and the threads cautiously tied. + +Union by first intention very often occurs, and an excellent stump is +left with a narrow depressed transverse cicatrix[94] (Fig. XVI.) + + +EXTIRPATION OF THE EYEBALL.--1. _Of the Eyeball only._--A circular +incision should be made with curved scissors through the conjunctiva, a +little beyond the corneal margin, then, beginning with the external +rectus, muscle after muscle should be raised with the forceps, and +divided, after which the optic nerve is cut through with the scissors. A +slight preliminary extension outwards of the optic commissure will +facilitate the dissection, and must be secured with metallic sutures; +any vessels should be tied, and the orbit filled up with a light +compress of charpie secured with a bandage. + +2. _Of the contents of the Orbit._--This may be required for malignant +disease, but with a very poor prognosis. The optic commissure should be +freely divided, and then, by bold strokes of curved scissors, or curved +probe-pointed bistoury, the orbit may be fairly emptied by scooping out +its contents. Even the periosteum may require to be scraped off, and the +optic nerve divided as far back as possible. The hæmorrhage may be +pretty smart, but can generally be easily checked by compresses; if +necessary, these can be soaked in the solution of the perchloride of +iron. + +The author has done this operation many times, in cases extensive and of +old standing, for malignant disease, melanotic and encephaloid. All have +recovered, and in no instance has there been any trouble in stopping the +bleeding. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[81] _a._ Elliptical incision for entropium; _b._ wedge-shaped incision +for ectropium. + +[82] Fig. VIII. illustrates Streatfeild's operation for entropium.--_a._ +section of skin; _b._ section of levator palpebrae; _c._ section of +cartilage of lid; _d._ section of conjunctiva; _e._ wedge-shaped portion +excised. + +[83] _Ophthalmic Hospital Reports_, vol. i. p. 121. + +[84] Rough diagram of Bowman's operation, showing the grooved director +in the punctum, and the knife in the groove just before it slits up the +canaliculus. + +[85] Diagram of operations for convergent squint--A A, line of +sub-conjunctival incision; B B, line of Dieffenbach's operation; C, wire +speculum. + +[86] _The Radical Cure of Extreme Divergent Strabismus._ J. Vose +Solomon, F.R.C.S., 1864. + +[87] _Ophthalmic Hospital Reports_, vol. iv. part ii. p. 197. + +[88] _Biennial Retrospect_ for 1865-66. Syd. Soc. pp. 363-4. For a +thorough discussion of the merits of this operation, see papers by Von +Graefe in _Brit. Med. Jour._ for 1867, vol. i. pp. 379, 446, 499, 657, +765. + +[89] _Ophthalmic Hospital Reports_, vol. i. p. 224. + +[90] Streatfeild on Corelysis. _Ophthalmic Hospital Reports_, vol. ii. +p. 309. + +[91] _a_ iris; _b_ lens; _c_ cornea. The hook is seen applied to the +adhesion between lens and iris. + +[92] The staphyloma with the needles inserted, the lids held asunder by +a spring speculum. The elliptical dotted line shows the amount to be +removed; the vertical one, the position of the preliminary incision with +the Beer's knife. + +[93] Resulting stump after the stitches are inserted. + +[94] _Ophthalmic Hospital Reports_, vol. iv. part 1. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +OPERATIONS ON THE NOSE AND LIPS. + + +RHINOPLASTIC OPERATIONS.--The operations for the restoration or repair +of lost or mutilated noses are so various, and the minuteness of detail +necessary for full description of them so great, that a complete account +in a manual such as this is impossible; a brief notice of some of the +most important varieties of the operation is all that can be given. + +_Principles._--1. It is necessary in every case that a suitable edge be +prepared on which to fix the flap of skin, however obtained. To be +suitable, this edge, should be (_a_) made in healthy skin, not in old or +weak cicatrices; hence no trace of the original disease should be left; +(_b_) it should be made thoroughly raw, by the removal of an appreciable +amount of its edge; it should be pared, not merely scraped. + +2. It is useless to attempt to restore a nose unless the patient is in +good general health, well nourished, and perfectly free from all remains +of disease in the nose or its neighbourhood. The flaps which are to form +the new nose may be obtained either from (1.) the cheeks; (2.) the +forehead; (3.) a distant part either of the patient or of another +person. + +(1.) _From the Cheeks._--When the cheeks are healthy, and specially if +they are tolerably full and lax, the flaps from the cheeks produce much +the most satisfactory result. As performed by Mr. Syme, the operation +consists in the shaping of two equal flaps (A, A) from the skin of the +cheek at each side, having the attachment above. A site for each flap is +formed by the careful paring away of the whole thickness of the edge of +the cavity of the lost organ (see Fig. XVII.) + +[Illustration: FIG. XVII.[95]] + +The flaps are then raised from their attachments to the upper jaw-bone, +and approximated in the middle line by several points of metallic suture +and the outer edges stitched to the raw surface on each side at a proper +distance from the nasal orifice. If any septum remains of the old nose, +it may be made very useful as a fixed point, a straight needle being +thrust through one flap close to its outer lower edge, then through the +septum, and out at a corresponding point of the other flap. The edges of +the wound left in the cheek at each side can generally be, to a certain +extent, approximated by silver stitches (B, B) and the triangular +portion (C, C), which is necessarily left to heal by granulation, proves +an advantage, as by its depression it enhances the apparent height and +prominence of the new organ. The cavity should be very gently distended +with lint, and may be supported by the blades of a small pair of +forceps, applied so as to embrace the nose. + +(2.) _From the Forehead._--The Indian operation may be used as a last +resource, in cases where, from disease, the cheeks also have suffered, +and are not to be trusted to for flaps. + +_Operation._--1. It should be decided as to the shape and size of the +portion of skin necessary, by fitting on pieces of soft leather or +moulding wax. To allow for shrinking, the flap should be made at least +one-third larger than is at first apparently necessary. The exact +boundaries of the flap to be raised should then be marked out on the +forehead by lightly pencilling it with nitrate of silver, the mark from +which is not effaced by blood, as is sure to be the case with an ink +line. Various shapes have been proposed for the flap varying in length +of neck, in the shape of the angles, and especially in the arrangements +made for the formation of a columna. Some (as Liston) prefer afterwards +to provide for the columns separately, by a flap raised from the upper +lip in a subsequent operation. The flap is then to be raised from the +forehead, care being taken not to injure the periosteum. The incision is +to be carried lower down on the side (generally the left), to which the +flap is to be twisted. The flap is then to be brought round (Fig. +XVIII.) and carefully fitted on to the edges previously prepared for its +reception. The neck must be left as lax as possible, lest by tight +twisting the supply of blood be cut off, and the flaps thus deprived of +nourishment. Both silk and metallic sutures are recommended. Hamilton of +Dublin,[96] after a large experience of both, prefers the former. + +[Illustration: FIG. XVIII.[97]] + +There are various risks; sloughing of the whole flap at once, shrinking +of it after weeks or even months; certain inevitable drawbacks, as the +cicatrix on the forehead, the very various and ludicrous changes of +colour to which the new organ is subject,--these cannot be remedied by +further operation. Two points generally require a second use of the +knife a few weeks after:--(1.) The neck of the flap is sure to be +redundant and prominent, but can be pared. (2.) The columna almost +always requires improving, and, in Liston's method, to be made. He pared +the inner surface of the apex of the nose, and then raised a central +flap of the lip in the middle line, about a quarter of an inch broad, +and extending from the remains of the old septum to the free border, +raising it from the gum, and stitched the free end of it to the prepared +apex, bringing together the two divided portions of the lip by ordinary +harelip sutures. Tho columna, if redundant, could be shaved down, and it +was found that the mucous surface very quickly became like skin on +exposure. + +For other points with regard to the operation, reference may be made to +the works of Liston and Skey, and Hamilton's monograph, referred to +above. + +_Note._--The tongue and groove suture proposed by Professor Pancoast, +and recommended by Professor Gross, is said to be specially suitable for +such plastic operations. It is very complicated, as it requires one edge +to be bevelled to a wedge shape, the other being grooved to include the +wedge, thus opposing four raw surfaces, which are retained in contact by +being transfixed by fine silk sutures. + +(3.) There are certain cases in which neither cheeks nor forehead are +available for flaps, and yet the patients press very much for some +operation. If they have patience and determination, the Taliacotian or +Italian operation may be attempted. + +Without going into detail, the principle of it is as follows:--1. A +piece of skin of suitable size was marked out over the left biceps, and +defined by two longitudinal incisions, and raised from the subcutaneous +cellular tissue, thus being left attached by its two ends only; a piece +of linen was pulled below it. 2. After a few days the upper end was also +divided, and the flap thus contracted. In a few days more the sides of +the old nose were made raw, and the upper free surface of the flap also +made raw and stitched to them, the arm being fastened up by a most +elaborate series of bandages. 3. After a fortnight in this position, the +last attachment of the flap to the arm was severed, and the new nose +could then be modelled at pleasure. + +The literature of the subject is exceedingly curious, especially the +cases in which the new material was obtained from an accommodating +friend or servant. + + +OPERATIVE TREATMENT OF LUPUS.--We may here notice a mode of treatment +which has admirable results. The patient being put deeply under an +anæsthetic, the surgeon with a sharp spoon carefully pares away all the +diseased tissues, and then destroys the base either by nitric acid or a +strong solution of chloride of zinc. The author has done this in a great +number of cases with excellent effect. + + +NASAL POLYPI, _Removal of._--Of these there are different kinds. + +1. ORDINARY MUCOUS POLYPI.--These grow from the spongy bones, generally +the superior one, are non-malignant in their character, soft and +vascular, often fill up the whole of both nasal cavities, and frequently +hang down behind into the pharynx. The practical point to remember is +that, however large and numerous they may be, they _invariably_ have +their origin from a comparatively limited spot, the edge of the spongy +bone, and _always_ hang from a narrow neck. Hence the treatment is easy +and satisfactory, if the neck be attacked, and not the body of the +tumour. + +Slightly curved, narrow-bladed forceps should be passed along by the +side of the superior spongy bone, with their blades open, till the neck +of the polypus is seized. Holding it firmly, the forceps should then be +slowly twisted round till the neck is destroyed and the polypus +detached. This should be repeated till the patient can blow freely +through both nostrils. If attempts are made to seize the body of the +polypus, it will break down under the forceps, bleed, and give much +trouble. + +2. THE FIBROUS POLYPUS.--This form is fortunately much more rare than +the other. It is almost invariably single, is attached to the posterior +margin of the nares by a narrow but very strong root, is extremely firm +in consistence, may grow to a large size so as to obstruct both +nostrils, generally gives rise to severe and frequent hæmorrhages. The +hæmorrhage _during_ any attempt to remove it is generally of the most +severe character, but ceases _immediately_ on its complete detachment. + +We owe nearly all that we do know about the treatment of this form of +polypus to Mr. Syme. His method is--By the ordinary polypus forceps +described already, he seized the tumour through the nostril, and then +with the fore and middle fingers of the left hand introduced behind the +soft palate, he attacked the point of attachment, and by his nails, +aided by the forceps, detached it from its narrow base.[98] + +3. MALIGNANT POLYPI should not be meddled with unless it is absolutely +certain that the whole of the bone from which they grow can be removed +also. This is very rarely the case. (See _Excision of Superior +Maxilla_.) + + +OPERATIONS ON THE LIPS.--1. Epithelial cancers of the lower lip are very +frequent, and require removal. + +If the tumour or ulcer is small, and involves a considerable thickness +of the lip, it is most easily removed by a V-shaped incision (Fig. XIX. +A B A). Its shape permits the most accurate apposition of the cut +surfaces; and if the lips are full and the tumour small, very slight +trace of the operation will remain. + +[Illustration: FIG. XIX.[99]] + +Again, if the tumour be more extensive, involving a large portion of the +prolabium, and yet not extending deeply into the substance of the lip, +it may be very easily removed by a pair of curved scissors, applied in +the direction shown in the diagram (Fig. XX. A B). The skin must then be +stitched to the mucous membrane by numerous points of interrupted +suture. + +[Illustration: FIG. XX.[100]] + +But if the tumour be at once extensive and deep, mere removal is not +sufficient, but some provision must be made for supplying the blank left +by the operation. + +In cases where a third, or even a half, of the lower lip has thus been +removed, it may be found sufficient freely to dissect what is left of +the lip from the gums, and thus approximate the cut surfaces in the +middle line. + +This alone, however, would so much diminish the buccal orifice, and +twist its corners, as to cause great deformity. The addition of an +incision horizontally outwards, at one or both angles of the mouth, +will do away with such risk, and allow the surfaces to come together +without puckering; while by stitching the skin and mucous membrane +together in the course of these horizontal incisions, we can increase +the size of the buccal orifice almost _ad libitum_. + +Lastly, when the lower lip has been entirely removed, it is still +possible to supply its place in the following manner, which was devised +by Mr. Syme: The tumour being fairly isolated by a V-shaped incision +(Fig. XXI.) C A C including the whole thickness of the lip, each of the +incisions should be prolonged downwards and outwards, as shown by the +dotted lines A D, A D. The flaps thus marked out must be separated from +the bone, brought upwards, and approximated in the middle line. Possibly +it may be necessary still further to enlarge the buccal orifice by short +lateral incisions, C C. Whether these are required or not, silk +stitches are to be introduced to unite the skin and mucous membrane +along the lines A C. The gap left between D B D must be left to +granulate, but in most cases may be very much diminished in size by +additional sutures at its outer corners, near D. The granulating surface +E E very rapidly heals up, leaving a dimple on each side, which rather +improves the appearance, by adding to the prominence of the chin, B. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXI.[101]] + +[Illustration: FIG. XXII.[102]] + +THE OPERATIONS FOR HARELIP, though all conducted on the same general +principles, vary considerably in extent required according to the +position and size of the fissure or fissures to be remedied. + +1. _For Single Harelip._--Where the fissure extends only from the +prolabium up to the attachment of the lip to the gums: this is very +easily remedied, the chief risk being lest the surgeon should not remove +enough of the edges of the fissure. + +_Operation._--Bleeding being controlled by an assistant, the surgeon +fixes a pair of spring artery forceps into the mucous membrane and skin +at the salient angle at each side of the fissure. Taking one of these in +his left hand, he puts the edge to be pared on the stretch, and then +with a sharp narrow straight bistoury he transfixes the lip at the point +just beyond the upper angle of the fissure, and cuts outwards, being +careful to remove the whole thinner part of the lip, and to leave the +edge rather concave than convex. If left convex, or even quite straight, +there is a risk that, after union has taken place, an angle remain +showing the position of the cleft. The same is then to be done on the +other side. The bleeding is then to be controlled by twisting the larger +vessels, and if oozing still continues from the smaller ones, a pad of +lint should be placed in the wound, and a few minutes' delay given, as, +to facilitate immediate union, it is of the greatest importance that all +hæmorrhage should have ceased before the edges are brought together. + +When the bleeding has ceased, the edges should be approximated by two or +more points of interrupted metallic suture inserted very deeply through +the tissues, and taking a good hold of the edges of the wound. If the +edges do not fit accurately, one or two horse-hair sutures will help. +Some surgeons still prefer the old harelip needles secured by a +figure-of-eight suture. A silk suture inserted through the prolabium is +of great advantage, as it keeps the inner surface of the wound closed, +which without it is very apt to be kept open by the pressure of the +teeth or gums, and in infants by the movements of the tip of the tongue. + + Various methods have been devised to utilise, if possible, the + portion of the edge of the lip which is separated during the + operation of refreshing the edges, for the purpose of filling up + the sort of cleft or gap which is apt to be noticed at the edge of + the prolabium. The most ingenious and simplest of these is that + proposed by M. Nelaton, for use in cases where the fissure does not + extend so far up as the nose. It consists in leaving the two + portions which are pared off (Fig. XXIII.) the sides of the cleft + attached to each other as well as to the free edge of the lip, then + pulling them down, so as to bring their bleeding surfaces into + apposition, and make a diamond-shaped wound instead of a triangular + cleft (Fig. XXIV.) When brought together by sutures a projection is + left at the edge of the lip; this, in most cases, disappears; if it + does not, it can easily be pared down. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXIII.[103]] + +[Illustration: FIG. XXIV.[104]] + +2. When the fissure, though single, extends upwards into the nose, the +operation is more difficult, and the result frequently less +satisfactory. The first thing to be done is to separate the lips from +the gums, so as to make them more freely mobile. The whole edges of the +cleft require refreshing. + +3. _Double Harelip_, without bony deformity, and where the intervening +portion of the skin is vertical, does not project, and can be made +useful for the new lip. Such cases are not very common, but when they do +occur the question arises, How are they to be managed--in two separate +operations or at once? I believe, in every case, at once. The central +wedge-shaped portion is not large enough to extend downwards as far as +the prolabium, but still should not be removed altogether, as it may be +of great use, especially in bearing the columna nasi, and allowing its +full development. The edges should be pared in the same way, and to the +same extent as in single harelip, with the addition that the intervening +portion should have its edges completely removed, and be left in the +form of a wedge, with its apex downwards. The highest suture should be +passed through first one side, then the base of the wedge, and then the +other side; the second one through both, and the apex of the wedge; and +a third should unite the prolabium, not including the wedge. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXV.[105]] + +4. _Double Harelip_ combined with fissures of the hard palate, and +projection of a central bone. This is the analogue of the +inter-maxillary bone in the lower animals, and bears the two middle +incisor teeth, and projects very variously in different cases. In some +it projects horizontally forwards in the most hideous manner, in others +it lies at an angle more or less oblique; in very few does it maintain +its proper position; when projecting forwards, and as the teeth also +share in its projection, it entirely prevents approximation of the edges +of the fissures by operation, so it must first be dealt with in one of +two ways, either-- + +[Illustration: FIG. XXVI.[106]] + +(1.) It may be at once removed with bone-pliers, the piece of skin over +it being saved. This is the best that can be done in cases of old +standing after the first year or two, though attempts have been made to +break the neck of the projecting portion, and thus permit of its being +shoved back. + +(2.) By gradual pressure by a spring truss, strapping, or a bandage, it +may be forced back. This is possible only in cases where the deformity +has been comparatively slight, and the patient has been seen early. The +edges must then be pared and approximated as directed above. + +One or two points about the operation for harelip require a special +notice:-- + +1. _When to operate._--Great differences in opinion exist. Some say not +before two or three years, others within two or three days, or even +_hours_, after birth. + +Probably the safest time is not much earlier than the second month in +very strong children, the fifth in weakly ones, up to the commencement +of the first dentition; and when once dentition has commenced it is not +so safe to operate till it is over. + +Prior to dentition the operation is attended with rather more risk, but +again, if delayed, there is great risk that the teeth do not come in +properly. + +2. With regard to the most delicate part of the operation, _the +management of the prolabium_.--Some are satisfied, and I believe +rightly, with careful apposition by a silk suture after a _sufficient_ +amount of the edges has been removed; others have proposed various plans +to obviate any risk of an angle remaining. + +Malgaigne proposes to retain a small portion of the parings of the edge +to make small flap at each side; Lloyd a single one from the long half +of the lip, and brings it up under the opposite one, securing it with a +stitch. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[95] Operation for formation of a new nose from the cheeks; A A, flaps +approximated in middle line; B B, outer part of bed of flaps stitched +up; C C, triangle at each side left to granulate. + +[96] _The Restoration of a Lost Nose by Operation_, p. 57; an excellent +monograph on the subject. + +[97] Operation for formation of a new nose from the forehead:--_a_, +prominence of flap which is to be used as septum; _b_, left-hand corner +of flap, which is twisted and fastened at _c_; _d_, one of the tubes or +quills over which the nose is moulded.--(_Modified from Bernard and +Huette._) + +[98] Syme's _Observations in Clinical Surgery_, p. 132. + +[99] Diagram of V-shaped incision; A B A, dots showing points for +sutures. + +[100] Diagram of incision for scooping out a shallow tumour by scissors. + +[101] Diagram of incisions:--C A C, outline of incision for removal; C A +D, outline of flap on each side; B, prominence of chin; C C, dotted +lines, showing incisions to enlarge mouth, if required. + +[102] Diagram of flaps in position:--A A, corners of flaps brought up +and approximated by _silver_ sutures; C C, new lip got by lateral +incisions, skin and mucous membrane being united by _silk_ threads; E E, +gap left to granulate. + +[103] Fig. XXIII. shows the incision bounding the cleft. + +[104] Fig. XXIV. shows the diamond-shaped wound before the sutures are +applied. + +[105] Diagram of operation for double harelip:--_a_, stitch through both +sides and wedge-shaped portion, which also aids the septum; _b_, other +stitches approximating edges. + +[106] Diagram of double harelip, with projecting bone:--_a_, central +piece of lip, dotted lines showing incision; _b_, projecting bone +bearing teeth, which are generally small and stunted. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +OPERATIONS ON THE JAWS. + + +1. EXCISION OF THE UPPER JAW.--With regard to the morbid conditions for +which this operation is undertaken, it may be sufficient here to +observe, that in no case can the operation be called justifiable in +which the disease extends beyond the upper jaw-bone and the +corresponding palate-bone, for unless the morbid growth be entirely +removed, recurrence is inevitable, and no advantage is gained by the +operation. It is undertaken for the removal of tumours of the antrum and +of the alveolar margins, in all which cases the section for its removal +must be made through healthy bone, and wide of the disease, so as to +insure that the whole is removed. There are other cases in which the +whole or part of the upper jaw has been removed for the purpose of +giving access to disease behind, for example, to naso-pharyngeal polypi +with extensive attachments. + +In describing the operation for the excision of the entire upper jaw, we +have to consider--(1.) what incisions through the soft parts will expose +the tumour best, and with least deformity; (2.) what bony processes +require to be divided, and where. Very various incisions have been +recommended by various authors; some describing three, in various +directions, forming flaps of different sizes, while others, again, are +satisfied with a very small division of the upper lip into the nose, or +even attempt removal of the bone without any incision through the skin +at all. These discrepancies depend in great measure on different views +of what constitutes excision of the upper jaw, the more complicated ones +contemplating removal of the whole bone anatomically so called, +including the floor of the orbit, while the less complicated ones are +suitable for cases in which a much less extensive removal is required. + +To remove the whole bone, an incision (Fig. XXVII. A) of the skin must +extend from the angle of the mouth upwards and outwards in a slightly +curved direction with its convexity downwards, as far on the malar bone +as half an inch outside of the outer angle of the eye. The flaps must +then be raised in both directions, the inner one specially dissected off +the bones, so as to expose thoroughly the nasal cavity. It is of great +importance thoroughly to display the floor of the orbit, so that the +attachment of the orbital fascia may be accurately cut through, the +inferior oblique muscle divided at its origin, and the eye and the fat +of the orbit cautiously raised from its floor. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXVII.[107]] + +Three processes of bone then require attention and division. + +(1.) The articulation with the opposite bone in the hard palate. To +divide this, one incisor tooth at least must be drawn, the soft palate +divided by a knife to prevent laceration, and the thick alveolar portion +sawn through in a longitudinal direction from before backwards. + +(2.) The articulation with the malar bone at the upper angle of the +incision through the skin. This must be notched with a small saw in a +direction corresponding to the articulation, and then wrenched asunder +by a pair of strong bone-pliers. + +(3.) The nasal process of the upper jaw must now be divided by the +pliers, one limb of which is cautiously inserted into the orbit, the +other into the nose. If the disease extends high up in this process, it +may be necessary partially to separate the corresponding nasal bone, and +thus reach the suture between the nasal process and the frontal bone. +The pliers must now be inserted into the groove already made by the saw +on the hard palate, and the separation continued to the full extent +backwards. A comparatively slight force exerted on the tumour either by +the hand, or (when the tumour is small) by a pair of strong claw +forceps, will suffice to break down the posterior attachments of the +bone and remove it entire. The necessary laceration of the soft parts +behind is so far an advantage, as it lessens the risk of hæmorrhage from +the posterior palatine vessels. + +The hæmorrhage from this operation was at one time much dreaded, but is +rarely excessive; very few vessels require ligature, except those +divided in the early stages in making the skin flaps; the hollow left +should be stuffed with lint, which may be soaked in the perchloride of +iron should there be any oozing. + +The incisions recommended for this operation have been very various, and +a knowledge of some of them may occasionally be useful, on account of +specialities in the shape and size of the tumour. Liston "entered the +bistoury over the external angular process of the frontal bone, and +carried it down through the cheek to the corner of the mouth. Then the +knife is to be pushed through the integument to the nasal process of the +maxilla, the cartilage of the ala is detached from the bone, and lip cut +through in the mesial line; the flap thus formed is to be dissected up +and the bones divided."[108] Dieffenbach made an incision through the +upper lip and along the back or prominent part of the nose, up towards +the inner canthus, from whence he carried the knife along the lower +eyelid, at a right angle to the first incision as far as the malar bone. + +In cases where the tumour is of moderate size, Sir W. Fergusson +found[109] it sufficient to divide the upper lip by a single incision +exactly in the middle line, this incision to be continued into one or +both nostrils, if required. The ala of the nose is so easily raised, and +the tip so moveable as to give great facilities to the operator for +clearing the bone even to the floor of the orbit. + +In cases where the tumour is larger, or the bones more extensively +affected, Sir W. Fergusson preferred an extension of the foregoing +incision (Fig. XXVII. B) upwards along the edge of the nose almost to +the angle of the eye, and thence at a right angle along the lower +eyelid, as far as may be necessary, even to the zygoma. The advantages +claimed for such procedures are that the deformity is less and the +vessels are divided at their terminal extremities. + + +2. EXCISION OF THE LOWER JAW.--Removal of portions, greater or smaller, +of the lower jaw, for tumours, simple or malignant, are now operations +of very frequent occurrence, while in some few cases the whole bone has +been removed at both its articulations. + +The operative procedures vary much, according to the amount of bone +requiring removal, and also the position of the portion to be excised. + +(1.) _Of a portion only of one side of the body of the bone._--This is +perhaps the simplest form of operation, and is frequently required for +tumours, specially for epulis. + +_Incision._--If the parts are tolerably lax and the tumour small, a +single incision just at the lower edge of the bone, of a length rather +greater than the piece of bone to be removed, will suffice; this will +divide the facial artery, which must be tied or compressed,[110] while +the surgeon, dissecting on the tumour, separates the flaps in front, +cutting upwards into the mouth, and then detaches the mylohyoid below, +and clears the bone freely from mucous membrane. He then, with a narrow +saw, notches the bone beyond the tumour at each side, and, introducing +strong bone-pliers into the notches, is enabled to separate the required +portion. The wound is then stitched up, and a very rapid cure generally +results with very little deformity, as the cicatrix is in shadow. If +from the size of the tumour more room is needed, it can easily be got by +an additional incision from the angle of the mouth joining the former. + +To prevent deformity, which is apt to result from the centre of the chin +crossing the middle line, it is often a wise precaution to have a silver +plate prepared fitting the molar teeth of both jaws on the sound side, +and thus acting as a splint. Such a precaution may be required in any +operation in which the lower jaw is sawn through. + +_N.B._--There are certain cases in which the epulis is small and +confined to the alveolar margin, in which an attempt may be made to +retain the base of the jaw entire, and remove the tumour without any +incision of the skin. The mucous membrane on both sides being carefully +dissected from the affected part, the bone may be sawn as before, but +only through the alveolar portion, the groves of the saw converging as +they penetrate, then by a pair of strong curved bone-pliers, the +affected alveolar portion is to be scooped out without injuring the +base. This proceeding, which has been practised by Syme, Fergusson, +Pollock, the author in many cases, and others, leaves no deformity, but, +it must be owned, is much more liable to the risk of recurrence of the +disease, and for this reason is strongly condemned by Gross. + +_Note._--In this, as in all other operations on the jaws, the very first +thing to be done is to draw the teeth at the spots at which the saw is +to be applied. + +(2.) _Excision of a portion involving the Symphysis._--Free access is of +importance. The best incision is probably one which (Fig. XXVII. C) +commences at the angle of the mouth opposite the healthy portion of jaw, +extends down to the place at which the saw is to be applied and then +along the base of the jaw past the middle line to the other point of +section. The flap is to be thrown up and the bone cleared. The next +point to be noticed is, that when, in clearing the bone behind, the +muscles attached to the symphysis are divided, the tongue loses its +support, and unless watched may tend to fall backwards, embarrassing +respiration and even perhaps choking the patient. The tongue, being +confided to a special assistant, must be drawn well forwards. Various +plans have been devised for keeping it in position, as stitching it to +the point of the patient's nose; putting a ligature into its apex, and +fastening it to the cheek by a piece of strapping, and transfixing its +roots with a harelip needle, used to stitch up a central incision in the +chin. The tendency to retraction very soon ceases, new attachments are +formed by the muscles, and after the first five or six days there is +very little risk of the tongue giving rise to any untoward consequences +by its displacement. + +(3.) _Disarticulation of one, or both Joints._--When the portion of bone +implicated involves disarticulation for its complete removal, the +difficulty of the operation is much increased. The remarkably strong +attachments of the joint, especially the relation of the temporal muscle +to the coronoid process, and the close proximity of large arteries and +nerves, especially the internal maxillary artery and the lingual nerve, +render this disarticulation very difficult. + +The chief points to be attended to seem to be (1.) that the incision +through the skin should extend quite up to the level of the +articulation; (2.) that the bone should be sawn through at the other +side of the tumour, and freely cleared from all its attachments, before +any attempt be made at disarticulation, for by means of the tumour great +leverage can be attained, so as to put the muscles on the stretch, and +allow them to be safely divided; (3.) that the articulation should +always be entered from the front, not from behind, and the inner side of +the condyle should be very carefully cleaned, the surgeon cutting on the +bone so as to avoid, if possible, the internal maxillary artery; (4.) +free and early division of the attachment of the temporal muscle to the +coronoid process. + +Disarticulation of the entire bone has been very rarely performed.[111] +If necessary, it can be performed without any incision into the mouth, +by one semilunar sweep from one articulation to the other, passing along +the lower margin of each side of the body, and just below the symphysis +of the chin. + +_Disarticulation of the Ramus without opening into the cavity of the +Mouth._--That this operation is possible, though it may not be often +required, is shown by the following case by Mr. Syme. It was a tumour of +the ramus, extending only as far forwards as the wisdom-tooth:-- + +"An incision was made from the zygomatic arch down along the posterior +margin of the ramus, slightly curved with its convexity towards the +ear, to a little way beyond the base of the jaw. The parotid gland and +masseter muscle being dissected off the jaw, it was divided by +cutting-pliers immediately behind the wisdom-tooth, after being notched +with a saw. The ramus was then seized by a strong pair of tooth-forceps, +and notwithstanding strong posterior attachments, was drawn outwards, +its muscular connections divided and turned out entire. There was thus +no wound of the mucous membrane of the mouth, the masseter and pterygoid +muscles were not completely divided, and the facial artery was +intact."[112] + +Fergusson[113] holds that even the very largest tumours of the lower jaw +may be successfully removed without opening into the orifice of the +mouth at all by division of the lips. A large lunated incision below the +lower margin of the bone, with its ends extending upwards to within half +an inch of the lips, will give free access, and yet avoid both +hæmorrhage and deformity, as the labial artery and vein are not cut, and +there is no trouble in readjusting the lips. Some tumours of lower jaw +can be removed without any wound of skin. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[107] Diagram of operations on the jaws:--A, incision for removal of the +whole upper jaw; B, incision for removal of alveolar portion and antrum; +C, incision for removing the larger half of lower jaw; the opposite side +is the one supposed to be operated on, and the incision is crossing the +symphysis and turning up at a right angle. + +[108] _Operative Surgery_, p. 265. + +[109] _Lancet_, July 1, 1865. + +[110] Temporary compression of the facial can be easily managed, in +cases where it is of much importance to avoid loss of blood, by passing +a needle from the outside through the skin above the vessel, then under +the vessel, and out again through the skin below. A figure-of-eight +suture can then be thrown round both ends of the needle, and the artery +thus thoroughly compressed. + +[111] Syme, _Contributions to the Path. and Practice of Surgery_, p. 21; +Carnochan of New York, _Cases in Surgery_. + +[112] _Contributions to the Path. and Prac. of Surgery_, pp. 23, 24. + +[113] _Lancet_, July 1, 1865. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +OPERATIONS ON MOUTH AND THROAT. + + +SALIVARY FISTULA, _Operation for._--After a wound or abscess of the +cheek, in which the parotid duct is implicated, a salivary fistula is +very apt to remain. The saliva thus discharges in the cheek, giving rise +to considerable annoyance, as well as injury to the digestion. It is by +no means easy to cure this. Perhaps the best operation is the one of +which a rude diagram is given (Fig. XXVIII.). The duct (C) communicates +with the fistula (D). One end of a thread, either silken or metallic, +should be passed through the fistula, and then as far backwards as +convenient through the cheek into the mouth; the needle should then be +withdrawn, the thread being left in. The other end being threaded should +then be re-inserted at the fistula, and carried forwards in a similar +manner; the needle should be again unthreaded in the mouth and +withdrawn; the two ends should then be tied pretty tightly inside, and +allowed to make their way by ulceration into the cavity of the mouth. A +passage will thus be obtained for the saliva into the mouth, and every +possible precaution should be taken to enable the external wound to +close. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXVIII.[114]] + + +EXCISION OF THE TONGUE, for malignant disease of the organ, may be +either complete or partial. Complete excision affords a hope of +permanent and complete relief from the disease, but it is an operation +of extreme difficulty and danger. It may be performed in either of the +following methods. The first is the only one in which absolute +completeness of removal is insured. + +1. _Syme's method of excision._--The patient being seated on a chair, +chloroform was not administered, so that the blood might escape +forwards, and not pass into the pharynx. The operation is thus +described:[115]-- + +"Having extracted one of the front incisors, I cut through the middle of +the lip and continued the incision down to the os hyoides, then sawed +through the jaw in the same line, and insinuating my finger under the +tongue as a guide to the knife, divided the mucous lining of the mouth, +together with the attachment of the genio-hyoglossi. While the two +halves of the bone were held apart, I dissected backwards, and cut +through the hyoglossi, along with the mucous membrane covering them, so +as to allow the tongue to be pulled forward, and bring into view the +situation of the lingual arteries, which were cut and tied, first on one +side, and then on the other. The process might now have been at once +completed, had I not feared that the epiglottis might be implicated in +the disease, which extended beyond the reach of my finger, and thus +suffer injury from the knife if used without a guide. I therefore cut +away about two-thirds of the tongue, and then being able to reach the os +hyoides with my finger, retained it there while the remaining +attachments were divided by the knife in my other hand close to the +bone. Some small arterial branches having been tied, the edges of the +wound were brought together and retained by silver sutures, except at +the lowest part, where the ligatures were allowed to maintain a drain +for the discharge of fluids from the cavity." The patient was able to +swallow from a drinking-cup with a spout on the day following the +operation, and was able to travel upwards of 200 miles within four weeks +of the operation. + +2. _By the Écraseur._--Nunneley of Leeds has recorded cases in which he +made a small incision through the skin, and mylohyoid and geniohyoid +muscles, and through this passed a curved needle bearing the chain of +the écraseur completely round the base of the tongue. In one case the +chain was unsatisfactory, but strong whipcord was introduced as it was +withdrawn, and tied with all possible force. The organ eventually +sloughed away, with a cure which lasted at least for some months. + +Sir James Paget operates as follows:-- + +The patient is placed under the influence of chloroform, and the mouth +held widely open. The tongue is then drawn forwards, the mucous membrane +and soft parts of the floor of the mouth, including the attachment of +the genio-hyoglossi to the symphysis being divided close to the bone. +The steel wire of an écraseur is then passed round its root as low down +as possible, slowly tightened, and the tongue thus divided through its +whole thickness in a very few minutes. The bleeding is slight, being +almost entirely from the parts cut with the knife. Recovery has been +rapid in the recorded cases.[116] + +To Dr. George Buchanan of Glasgow the credit is due of the invention of +the operation of removal of the half of the tongue in the median line. +In at least one instance the cure after five years is still permanent. + +Partial excisions of the tongue are as unsatisfactory in their results +as they are unsound in principle, yet many cases present themselves, in +which, while the patient urges some operative measure for his relief, +the tumour is so limited as not to warrant the exceedingly dangerous +operation of complete excision. + +Portions may be removed in various ways:-- + +1. By the knife. If in the apex, by a V-shaped incision; if in the +lateral regions, by a bold free incision with a probe-pointed bistoury +round the tumour. + +2. By ligature, drawn as tightly as possible, and, if the portion +included be large, in successive portions. + +3. By the écraseur. + +Mr. Furneaux Jordan has removed the whole tongue with success by means +of two écraseurs worked at the same time.[117] + +4. By the galvano-caustic wire. + +5. The author has in nine cases removed the affected half of the tongue +by means of the thermo-cautery, first splitting it in the middle line +and then cutting through the base with a curved platinum knife at a low +red heat. In one only was there any trouble from hæmorrhage, and all +made good recoveries. + +Mr. Barwell has recorded (_Lancet_, 1879, vol. i.) an easy, safe, and +comparatively painless mode of removing the tongue by écraseurs. + +Mr. Walter Whitehead,[118] of Manchester, has had a very large +experience of an operation devised by himself, in which, after pulling +the tongue well forward by a string previously introduced near its apex, +and the mouth being held open by a gag, he detaches the organ from jaw +and fauces by successive short snips with scissors, and then in same +manner divides the muscles, tying or twisting the vessels as they bleed. +His success has been very great by this method, though others who have +tried it have sometimes found bleeding troublesome. + +It is comparatively seldom now necessary to split the jaw and perform +Syme's operation, and in all operations on the tongue the thermocautory +(Paquelin's) is of great use. + +Regnoli's method[119] may deserve a brief notice. A semilunar incision +along the base of the jaw, from one angle to the other, detaches the +muscles and soft structures, and is thrown down; the tongue is then +drawn through the opening, and can be freely dealt with either by knife +or ligature. After removal the flap is replaced. + + +FISSURES IN THE PALATE.--The operations requisite for the cure of +fissures in the soft and hard palates are so complicated in their +details, that a small treatise would be required thoroughly to describe +the various procedures. + +Different cases vary so much in the nature and amount of their +deformity, that at least five different sets of cases have been +described. It is sufficient here merely to describe the absolutely +essential principles of the operations for the cure of fissures of the +hard and soft palate respectively. + +In all operations on the palate, two conditions used to be considered +requisite for success:--1. That the patient should have arrived at years +of discretion, at twelve or fourteen years at least; that he be +possessed of considerable firmness, and be extremely anxious for a cure, +so as to give full and intelligent co-operation. 2. That for some days +or weeks prior to the operation the mouth and palate should have been +trained to open widely and to bear manipulation, without reflex action +being excited. Professor Billroth of Vienna,[120] and Mr. Thomas +Smith[121] of London, have had cases which prove the possibility of +performing this operation in childhood, under chloroform, with the +assistance, in the English cases, of a suitable gag, invented by Mr. +Smith. The effect of the operation on the voice of the child has been +very encouraging, as much more improvement takes place than in cases +where the operation is performed late in life. + +_Fissure in the soft palate only_ appears as a triangular cleft, the +apex of which is above, the base being a line between the points of the +bifid uvula, which are widely separated. To cure this it is required-- + +1. That the edges of the fissure should be brought together without +strain or tightness. In small fissures this can generally be done easily +enough; but where the fissure is extensive, some means must be used to +relieve tension. For this, Sir William Fergusson long ago proposed the +division of the palatal muscles, the levator, tensor, and +palato-pharyngeus muscle of each side. The incisions in the palate for +this purpose certainly aid apposition, but many surgeons entertain +doubts whether the division of the muscles has much to do with the good +result, and believe that the simple incisions in the mucous membrane, in +a proper direction, are all that is required (see Fig. XXIX.). + +[Illustration: FIG. XXIX.[122]] + +2. That the edges of the fissure be made raw, so as to afford surfaces +which will readily unite. Complicated instruments, such as knives of +various strange shapes, have been devised for this purpose; an ordinary +cataract knife, very sharp, and set on a long handle is perhaps the +best. It greatly facilitates the section if the parts are tense, so the +point of the uvula should be seized by an ordinary pair of spring +forceps, and drawn across the roof of the mouth, while the knife should +enter in the middle line, a little above the apex of the fissure, and +make the cut downwards as in harelip. + +3. That sutures should be inserted to keep the edges in apposition, yet +not so tightly as to cause ulceration. They may be either of metal, +silver being preferable, or of fine silk well waxed. The metallic +sutures are now generally preferred. Some dexterity is required in their +introduction, and various instruments have been devised; the best seems +to be a needle with a short curve fixed on a long handle, which should +be entered on the (patient's) left side of the fissure in front, and +brought out on the right side. + +If silk sutures be used, the chief difficulty, that of passing the +thread through the second side from behind forwards, can be avoided in +the following manner.[123] A curved needle is passed through one side of +the fissure, and then towards the middle line, till its point is seen +through the cleft. One of the ends of the thread is then seized by a +long pair of forceps, and drawn through the cleft; the needle is then +withdrawn, leaving the thread through the palate, and both ends are +brought outside at the angle of the mouth. Another needle is then passed +through a corresponding point at the opposite side of the palate, till +its point again appears at the cleft; this time a double loop of the +thread is also brought out through the cleft by the forceps into the +mouth. If then the single thread of the first ligature which is in the +cleft be passed through the loop of the second one also in the cleft, it +is easy, by withdrawing the loop through the palate, to finish the +stitch (see Fig. XXIX.). All the stitches should be passed and their +position approved before any one be tied, and it is most convenient to +secure them from above downwards. To prevent confusion, each pair of +threads after being inserted should be left very long, and brought up +to a coronet fixed on the brow, which is fitted with several pairs of +hooks numbered for easy reference. This will prevent twisting of the +threads or any mistake in tying. + + +FISSURE OF THE HARD PALATE.--This may vary in extent from a very slight +cleft in the middle line behind, up to a complete separation of the two +halves of the jaw, including even the alveolar process in front, and +sometimes complicated with harelip. + +To close such fissures by operation is difficult, as the breadth of the +cleft is so great as to prevent the apposition of the edges when +prepared, without such extreme tension as quite prevents any hope of +union. Through the researches of Avery, Warren, Langenbeck, and others, +a method has been discovered of closing such fissures by operation, +which, though certainly not easy, is, when properly performed, generally +successful. + +_Operation._--In addition to the usual paring of the edges of the cleft, +an incision is made on each side of the palate, extending "from the +canine tooth in front to the last molar behind,"[124] along the alveolar +ridge (Fig. XXX.). The whole flap between the cleft and this incision on +each side is then to be raised from the bone by a blunt rounded +instrument slightly curved. With this the whole mucous membrane and as +much of the periosteum as possible should be completely raised from the +bone, attachments for nourishment of the flap being left in front and +behind where the vessels enter. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXX.[125]] + +The flaps thus raised will be found to come together in the middle line, +sometimes even to overlap, and, when united by suture, form a new +palate at a lower level than the fissure, experience having shown that +in cases of fissure the arch of the palate is always much higher than +usual. The flaps do not slough, being well supplied with blood, unless +they have been injured in their separation. + +The edges must be carefully united by various points of metallic suture, +and the fissure of the soft palate closed at the same sitting, unless +the patient has lost much blood, or is very much exhausted with the +pain. The stitches may be left in for a week, or even ten days, unless +they are exciting much irritation. The patient must exercise great +self-control and caution in the character of his food and his manner of +eating for ten days or a fortnight after the operation. + + +EXCISION OF TONSILS.--To remove the whole tonsil is of course impossible +in the living body, the operation to which the name of excision is given +being only the shaving off of a redundant and projecting portion. When +properly performed it is a very safe, and in adults a very easy +operation, but in children it is sometimes rendered exceedingly +difficult by their struggles, combined with the movements of the tongue +and the insufficient access through the small mouth. Many instruments +have been devised for the purpose of at once transfixing and excising +the projecting portion; some of them are very ingenious and complicated. +By far the best and safest method of removing the redundant portion is +to seize it with a volsellum, and then cut it off by a single stroke of +a probe-pointed curved bistoury; cutting from above downwards, and being +careful to cut parallel with the great vessels. + +The ordinary volsellum is much improved for this purpose by the addition +of a third hook in each tonsil placed between the others, with a shorter +curve, and slightly shorter; this ensures the safe holding of the +fragment removed, and prevents the risk of its falling down the throat +of the patient. + +If both tonsils are enlarged they should both be operated on at the same +sitting, and the pain is so slight that even children frequently make +little objection to the second operation. Bleeding is rarely troublesome +if the portion be at once fairly removed, but if in the patient's +struggles the hook should slip before the cut is complete, the partially +detached portion will irritate the fauces, cause coughing and attempts +to vomit, and sometimes a troublesome hæmorrhage. + +The plentiful use of cold water will generally be sufficient to stop the +bleeding, though cases are on record in which the use of styptics, or +even the temporary closure of a bleeding point by pressure, has been +necessary. + +M. Guersant has operated on more than one thousand children, with only +three cases of any trouble from hæmorrhage, while four or five out of +fifteen adults required either the actual cautery or the sesqui-chloride +of iron.[126] + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[114] Rough diagram of operation for salivary fistula:--A, section of +cheek close to buccal orifice; B, section of zygoma, muscles, etc.; C, +the duct of the parotid; D, the fistulous opening of the cheek; E E, the +thread knotted inside the mouth; F, the palate. + +[115] _Lancet_, Feb. 4, 1865. + +[116] _Med. Times and Gazette_ for Feb. 10, 1866. + +[117] _Lancet_, April 20, 1872. + +[118] _Transactions International Medical Congress_, 1881, vol. ii. p. +460. + +[119] Gross's _Surgery_, vol. ii. p. 472. + +[120] Langenbeck, _Archiv_, ii. p. 657. + +[121] _Med. Chir. Trans._ for 1867-8. + +[122] Diagram of staphyloraphy, chiefly to illustrate the passing of the +threads:--_a_, the first thread; _b_, the second. The dotted line at +edge of fissure shows amount to be removed; the other dotted lines +showing size and position of the incision through the mucous membrane +above. + +[123] Holmes's _Surgery_, vol. ii. pp. 504-513. + +[124] _Edinburgh Medical Journal_ for Jan. 1865, Mr. Annandale's +instructive paper on "Cleft Palate." + +[125] Diagram of fissure of hard palate:--_a_, anterior palatine +foramina; _b_, posterior palatine foramina with groove for artery; _c_, +incisions requisite to free the soft structures. + +[126] Holmes's _Diseases of Children_, p. 555. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +OPERATIONS ON AIR PASSAGES. + + +OPERATIONS ON THE LARYNX AND TRACHEA.--The great air passage may be +opened at three different situations, and to the operations at these +different places the following names have been given:-- + +_Laryngotomy_, when the opening is made in the interval between the +cricoid and thyroid cartilages, through the crico-thyroid membrane. + +_Laryngo-tracheotomy_, when the cricoid cartilage and the upper ring of +the trachea are divided. + +_Tracheotomy_, when the trachea itself is opened by the division of two, +three, or more rings. + +Of these the last, _tracheotomy_, is by far the most frequent, +important, difficult, and dangerous, and requires a very detailed +description. Chassaignac[127] says "the only really rational operation +for the opening of the air passages by the surgeon is tracheotomy." + + +TRACHEOTOMY.--_Anatomy._--Between the cricoid cartilage and the level of +the upper border of the sternum, the middle line of the neck is occupied +by the upper portion of the trachea. Its depth from the surface varies, +gradually increasing as the trachea descends, and varying very much +according to the fatness, muscularity, and length of the neck. It is, +however, almost subcutaneous at the commencement below the cricoid, and +on the level of the sternum it is in most cases at least an inch from +the surface, in many much deeper. Again, its length varies, even in the +adult, from two and a half to three, or even four inches. This is +important, as affecting the simplicity of the operation, which, as a +rule, is easier the longer the neck is. + +The trachea has most important and complicated anatomical +relations--some constant, others irregular. + +1. The carotid arteries and jugular veins lie at either side, but, where +these are regular in their distribution, do not practically interfere in +a well-conducted operation. + +2. The thyroid gland lies in close relation to the trachea, one lobe +being at each side (Fig. XXXI. B B), and the isthmus of the thyroid +crosses the trachea just over the second and third cartilaginous rings. +In fat vascular necks, or where the thyroid is enlarged it may occupy a +much larger portion of the trachea. The position of the isthmus +practically divides the trachea into two portions in which it is +possible to perform tracheotomy. Both have their advocates, but the +balance of authority tends to support the operation below the thyroid. A +separate notice of each will be required immediately. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXXI.[128]] + +3. The _muscles_ in relation to the trachea are the sterno-hyoid and +sterno-thyroid of each side. The latter are the broadest, are in close +contact across the trachea by the inner edges below, but gradually +diverge as they ascend the neck. In thick-set, muscular necks, however, +they are in close contact for a considerable distance, and require to +be separated to give access to the trachea. + +The _arteries_ are in most cases unimportant; no named branch of any +size ought to be divided in the operation. However, occasionally very +free bleeding may result from the division of an abnormal _thyroidea +ima_ running up the trachea to the thyroid body from the innominate, or +even from the aorta itself. + +The _veins_ are very numerous and irregularly distributed. There is +generally a large transverse communicating branch between the superior +thyroid veins just above the isthmus. The isthmus itself has a large +venous plexus over it. Below the isthmus the veins converge into one +trunk (or sometimes two parallel ones) lying right in front of the +trachea. + +4. The last anatomical point which may give trouble in normal necks is +the thymus, which is present in children below the age of two, and +covers the lower end of the trachea just above the level of the sternum. +Where this is not only not diminished, but enlarged, as it sometimes is +in unhealthy children, it may give a very great deal of trouble, rolling +out at the wound and greatly embarrassing proceedings. + +Abnormalities are very various and sometimes very dangerous: vessels +crossing the trachea, as the innominate did in Macilwain's case,[129] or +where two brachiocephalic trunks are present, as recorded by +Chassaignac.[130] One of the most frequent dangers to be guarded against +is a possible dilatation of the aorta or aneurism of the arch. This may +very possibly, as happened in one case to the author, give rise to +suffocative paroxysms from its pressure on the recurrent laryngeal +nerves. Tracheotomy may be deemed necessary, and there is a great risk, +unless proper precautions be taken, of wounding the aorta, where it +passes upwards in the jugular fossa. In the author's case the vessel had +actually to be pushed downwards by the pulp of the forefinger while the +trachea was opened, the knife being guided on the back of the nail of +the same finger. + + +THE OPERATION.--In a work of this kind it would be utterly impossible to +go at all into the subject of what diseases, injuries, etc., warrant or +require the operation. It is enough to describe the various methods of +operating, their dangers and difficulties. + +1. _The operation above the isthmus of the thyroid._--A spot about a +quarter or half of an inch in vertical diameter between the cricoid +cartilage (Fig. XXXI.) and thyroid isthmus. + +_Advantages._--It is near the surface, the vessels are few and +comparatively small. It is most suitable in cases of aneurism. + +Professor Spence[131] gives his sanction to the high operation in adults +with thick short necks when the operation is performed for ulceration or +papilloma of larynx or for spasm from aneurism, the low operation being +still best in cases of croup or diphtheria. + +_Disadvantages._--The space is too small, requires very considerable +disturbance of the thyroid isthmus, or actual division of it. It is too +near the point where the disease is; so much so, that in most cases of +croup or diphtheria it would be perfectly useless. However, if required, +or if the operation lower down be contra-indicated, this may be +performed easily enough. A straight incision being made in the middle +line about one inch and a half in length, expose the upper ring by +careful dissection, if possible draw aside the veins, and depress the +thyroid isthmus, divide the rings thus exposed, and introduce the tube. + +_The operation below the isthmus._--This, though more difficult in its +performance, is a much more scientific and satisfactory operation. +Considerable coolness and a thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the +part are absolutely required. + +The patient being in the recumbent posture, the shoulders should be well +raised, and the head held back so as to extend the windpipe, and thus +bring it as near as possible to the surface. A pillow, or the arm of an +assistant, behind the neck will be of service. + +_N.B._--Be careful lest too great extension by an anxious assistant, +accompanied by closure of the mouth, should choke the patient (whose +breathing is of course already much embarrassed) before the operation be +begun. + +Chloroform may occasionally be given, and, if well borne, renders the +operation very much easier than it would otherwise be. An incision must +then be made exactly in the median line of the neck, from a little below +the cricoid cartilage, almost to the upper edge of the sternum; at first +it should be through skin only, then the veins will be seen, probably +turgid with dark blood; the larger ones should be drawn aside, if +necessary divided, the bleeding stopped by gentle pressure. The deep +fascia must then be cautiously divided, great care being taken to keep +exactly in the middle line, and the contiguous edges of sterno-thyroid +muscles separated from each other by the handle of the knife. A quantity +of loose connective tissue, containing numerous small veins, must now be +pushed aside, the thyroid isthmus pressed upwards, still with the handle +of the knife. The forefinger must then be used to distinguish the rings +of the trachea. If there is much convulsive movement of the larynx and +trachea, they should be fixed by the insertion of a small sharp hook +with a short curve, just below the cricoid cartilage, and this should be +confided to an assistant. The surgeon should then, with the forefinger +of his left hand, fix the trachea, and open it by a straight +sharp-pointed scalpel, boldly thrusting it through the rings with a jerk +or stab, the back of the knife being below, and divide two or three of +the rings from below upwards. Any attempt to enter the trachea slowly +with a blunt knife or trocar will probably be unsuccessful, as the +rings, especially in children, give way before the knife, which merely +approximates the sides of the trachea without opening it. + +_Question of Hæmorrhage._--It is often a question of some importance, +and one which sometimes it is not easy to settle, how far attempts +should be made completely to arrest the venous hæmorrhage before opening +the trachea. + +_On the one hand_, if not arrested, besides the risk of weakening the +patient, we have to dread the much more serious complication of the +admission of blood into the wound. And this is very serious in a patient +whose respiration has already been much impeded, whose lungs are +probably engorged, and who has certainly, by the mere existence of a +wound in his trachea, lost the power of coughing properly; it must never +be forgotten that a quantity of blood so trifling as to be at once +ejected by a single cough in the case of a healthy chest, may be a fatal +obstacle to respiration in one already weakened by disease. Thus any +well-marked arterial hæmorrhage from cut branches, or from the isthmus +of the thyroid, must certainly be arrested prior to opening the trachea. +Besides this, blood once having entered the bronchi is apt to extend +into their smaller ramifications and prove a cause of death, by acting +as a local irritation, and setting up intra-lobular suppurative +pneumonia. The author has found this to be the case both after +tracheotomy and still more frequently in suicide by cut throat. + +But, _on the other hand_, it is equally true that there is almost always +a considerable amount of oozing from small venous radicles divided +during the operation, which depends simply on the great venous +engorgement resulting from the obstruction to the respiration, so that +while to attempt to tie every point would be simply endless, we may be +almost certain that the oozing will cease whenever the trachea is +opened, and respiration fairly improved. Slight pressure on the wound is +generally sufficient to stop the bleeding till the venous engorgement +has disappeared. + +Of late years many tracheotomies have been done bloodlessly by use of +the thermo-cautery, for division of the soft parts, but the subsequent +sloughing of the wound is a great objection to this method. + +In cases of extreme urgency, all such minor considerations as +suppression of venous oozing must be ignored, and the trachea simply +opened as rapidly as possible. I had once to perform the operation after +respiration had entirely ceased, and no pulse could be felt at the +wrist, with no assistance except that of a female attendant. Merely +feeling that no large arterial branch was in the way, I cut straight +through all the tissues, opened the trachea, and commenced artificial +respiration. The patient eventually recovered. + +_Question of Tubes, etc._--Once the trachea is opened, the next question +is, How is the opening to be kept pervious? For the moment the handle of +the scalpel is to be inserted in the wound, so as to stretch it +transversely; this will probably suffice to allow of the escape of any +foreign body. But where, to admit air, the wound is to be _kept_ open, +how is this to be done? It used to be advised that an elliptical portion +of the wall of the trachea be removed; this, though succeeding well +enough for a time, was unscientific, as the wound always tended to +cicatrise, and ended of course in permanent narrowing of the canal of +the trachea. It may be necessary thus to excise a portion of the +trachea, in cases where it is very intolerant of the presence of a +tube. Such a case is recorded by Sir J. Fayrer of Calcutta.[132] Not +much better is the proposal to insert a silk ligature in each side of +the wound, and by pulling these apart thus mechanically to open the +wound. This also is evidently a merely temporary expedient. + +Various canulæ and tubes have been proposed. The ones recommended by the +older surgeons had all one great fault; they were much too small, and +were many of them straight, and thus liable to displacement. The +smallness of their bore was their greatest objection, and Mr. Liston +conferred a great benefit on surgery by his insisting upon the +introduction of tubes with a larger bore, and with a proper curve, so as +thoroughly to enter the trachea. The tube ought to be large enough to +admit all the air required by the lungs, without hurrying the +respiration in the least. + +There is a mistake made in the construction of many of the tubes even of +the present day; the outer opening is large and full, while for +convenience of insertion the tube tapers down to an inner opening, +admitting perhaps not one-half as much air as the outer one does. + +It must be remembered that for some days there is great risk of the tube +becoming occluded, by frothy blood or mucus, especially in cases of +croup, and in children. To prevent this a double canula will be found of +great service, providing only that it be remembered that the inner +canula, not the outer merely, is to be made large enough to breathe +through, and that the inner should project slightly beyond the outer +one. + +The inner one can thus be removed at intervals and cleansed, by the +nurse, without any risk of exciting spasm or dyspnoea by its absence +and reintroduction. + +_After-treatment._--The after-treatment of a case in which tracheotomy +has been performed demands great care and many precautions. For the +first day or two the constant presence of an experienced nurse or +student is always necessary to insure the patency of the tube. The +temperature of the room should be equable and high, and it seems of +importance that the air should be kept moist as well as warm by the use +of abundance of steam. + +A piece of thin gauze, or other light protective material, should be +placed over the mouth of the tube, to prevent the entrance of foreign +bodies. + +In cases where the operation has been performed for some temporary +inflammatory closure of the air passage, retention of the tube for a few +days may suffice. It may then be removed, but it must be remembered that +the wound will generally close with great rapidity, so that it is as +well to be quite sure of the patency of the natural passage before the +artificial one is allowed to close by the removal of the tube. + +In cases where from long-standing disease or severe accident the larynx +is rendered totally unfit for work, and the tube has to be worn during +the rest of the patient's life, care must be taken (1.) lest the tube do +not fit accurately, in which case it may ulcerate in various directions, +even into the great vessels;[133] (2.) lest the tube become worn, and +lest the part within the windpipe fall into the trachea and suffocate +the patient.[134] + + +LARYNGOTOMY.--As a temporary expedient in cases of great urgency, where +proper instruments and assistants are not at hand, laryngotomy is +occasionally useful, though from the want of space without encroaching +on the cartilages of the larynx, and from its close proximity to the +disease, laryngotomy is by no means a suitable or permanently successful +operation. + +In the adult, especially in males with long spare necks, the operation +itself is exceedingly easy to perform. The crico-thyroid space (Fig. +XXXI. A) is so distinctly shown by the prominence of the thyroid +cartilage, and is so superficial that it is quite easy to open it in the +middle line with a common penknife, there being merely the skin and the +crico-thyroid membrane to be cut through, with very rarely any vessel of +any size. The opening can then be kept patent by a quill or a small +piece of flat wood. This simple operation has in many cases, where a +foreign body has filled up the box of the larynx, succeeded in saving +life, and even in cases of disease I have known it useful in giving time +for the subsequent performance of tracheotomy. + +Easy as it appears and really is, cases are on record in which the +thyro-hyoid space has been opened instead of the crico-thyroid, such +operations being of course perfectly useless. + +The incision is best made transversely. + + +LARYNGO-TRACHEOTOMY.--This modification consists in opening the air +passage by the division of the cricoid cartilage vertically in the +middle line, along with one or two of the upper rings of the trachea. + +It seems to combine all the dangers with none of the advantages of the +other methods of operating. It is close to the disease, involves cutting +a cartilage of the larynx, and almost certain wounding of the isthmus of +the thyroid; and it is not easy to see what corresponding advantages it +has over tracheotomy in the usual position. + + +THYROTOMY is an operation by which the larynx is opened in the middle +line by a vertical incision, and its halves separated, while any morbid +growths are excised from the cords or ventricles. The merits and dangers +of this operation have been discussed at length by Mr. Durham[135] and +Dr. Morell Mackenzie.[136] + + +LARYNGECTOMY OR EXCISION OF THE LARYNX, first performed by Dr. Heron +Watson in 1866, has been lately frequently performed for carcinoma and +sarcoma. Each case presents its own difficulties, which vary according +to the amount and extent of the disease for which it is done. + +The trachea must be divided and tamponed by a Trendelenburg canula, +after which the larynx must be carefully dissected out. The immediate +mortality, _i.e._ in first ten days, is fifty per cent., and Dr. Gross +holds that life has not been prolonged by the operation.[137] + + +OESOPHAGOTOMY.--This operation is very rarely required, and has as yet +been performed only for the removal of foreign bodies impacted in the +oesophagus, and interfering with respiration and deglutition. To cut +upon the flaccid empty oesophagus in the living body would be an +extremely difficult and dangerous operation, from the manner in which it +lies concealed behind the larynx, and in close contact with the great +vessels. When it is distended by a foreign body, and specially if the +foreign body has well-marked angles, the operation is not nearly so +difficult. It has now been performed in forty-three cases at least, of +which eight or nine have proved fatal. Seven, along with another in +which he himself performed it with success, were recorded by Mr. Cock of +Guy's Hospital.[138] Three others were performed by Mr. Syme, with a +successful result. Of the seven cases collected by Mr. Cock only two +died, one of pneumonia, the other of gangrene of the pharynx. + +_Operation._--Unless there is a very decided projection of the foreign +body on the right, the left side of the neck should be chosen, as the +oesophagus normally lies rather on the left of the middle line. An +incision similar to that required for ligature of the carotid above the +omohyoid should be made over the inner edge of the sterno-mastoid +muscle; with it as a guide, the omohyoid may be sought and drawn +downwards and inwards, the sheath of the vessels exposed and drawn +outwards, the larynx slightly pushed across to the right, the thyroid +gland drawn out of the way by a blunt hook, the superior thyroid either +avoided or tied. The oesophagus is then exposed, and if the foreign +body is large, it is easily recognised; if the foreign body be small, a +large probang with a globular ivory head should then be passed from the +fauces down to the obstruction; this will distend the walls of the +oesophagus, and make it a much more easy and safe business to divide +them to the required extent. The wound in the oesophagus should be +longitudinal, and at first not larger than is required to admit the +finger, on which as a guide the forceps may be introduced to remove the +foreign body, or, if necessary, a probe-pointed bistoury still further +to dilate the wound. + +For some days or even weeks the patient must be fed through an elastic +catheter introduced through the nose and retained, or by an ordinary +stomach-tube through the mouth. In introducing the latter there is +always a risk of opening the wound. No special sutures for the wound in +the oesophagus are required, nor is it advisable too closely to sew up +the external wound. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[127] _Leçons sur la Trachéotomie_, p. 10. + +[128] Rough diagram of larynx and trachea:--A, crico-thyroid space, +_laryngotomy_; B B, dotted outline of thyroid isthmus and lobes, defines +the upper and lower positions for _tracheotomy_; C, thyroid--D, cricoid +cartilages; E, dotted outline of thymus gland in child of two years; F +F, outline of clavicles and jugular fossa. + +[129] _Surgical Observations_, p. 335. See also Harrison _On the +Arteries_, vol. i. p. 16. + +[130] _Leçons sur la Trachéotomie_, p. 9. + +[131] _Lectures on Surgery_, 3d ed., vol. ii. p. 900. + +[132] _Clinical Surgery in India_ (1866), p. 143. + +[133] Mr. John Wood, _Path. Soc. Trans._, vol. xi. p. 20. + +[134] South's _Chelius_, vol. ii. p. 400; and case recorded by Spence, +in _Ed. Med. Journal_, for August 1862. + +[135] _Med. Chir. Transactions of London_, 1872. + +[136] _British Med. Journal_ (Nos. 643, 644), 1873. + +[137] Gross's _Surgery_, 6th ed., vol. ii. p. 342. + +[138] _Guy's Hospital Reports_ for 1858. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +OPERATIONS ON THORAX. + + +EXCISION OF MAMMA.--When the whole breast is to be removed, two +incisions, inclosing an elliptical portion of skin along with the +nipple, must be made in the direction of the fibres of the pectoralis +muscle. The distance between the incisions at their broadest must depend +upon the nature of the disease for which the operation is performed, and +the extent to which the skin is involved; in every case the whole nipple +should be removed. The incisions should, if possible, be parallel with +the fibres of the pectoralis major, and extend across the full diameter +of the breast. During the operation the arm should be extended so as to +stretch both skin and muscle. The lower flap should be first raised and +dissected downwards, with care that the cuts are made in the +subcutaneous fat, and wide of the disease; the upper flap is then thrown +open, and the edge of the gland raised, so that the fibres of the +pectoralis are exposed below it. These should be cleanly dissected, so +as to insure removal of the whole gland. + +Any bleeding during the operation can easily be checked by the fingers +of an assistant, and if the arteries entering the gland from the axilla +be divided last, they can be at once secured. If there are many bleeding +points, the application of cold for a few hours before the wound is +finally closed is a wise precaution. + +The requisite stitches may be inserted while the patient is under +chloroform, but not tightened. The arm should then be brought down to +the side, and a folded towel laid over the wound after it is finally +closed. Great benefit results from the free use of drainage-tubes in +most cases; for this purpose a dependent opening in the lower flap is +often made. + +Surgeons now operate even when the axillary glands are diseased, and by +a very free dissection and removal, even in hopeless-looking cases, life +may be prolonged. To insure the removal of the lymphatic vessels as well +as the glands, it is best not to separate the breast at its axillary +margin, but keep it attached by the tail of lymphatics surrounded by +fat, which will lead up to the glands. Section of the great pectoral +muscle will aid the dissection. + + When the tumour is very large, and the skin has been much stretched + and undermined, more complicated incisions may be necessary; these + must be governed a good deal by the presence and positions of + adhesions or ulcerations of the skin. The best direction, when the + surgeon has his choice, that these incisions can take, is that of + radii from the nipple, bisecting the flaps made by the original + elliptical incision. + +_N.B._--In operating for malignant disease, the one paramount +consideration is that _all_ the disease be excised, however curious, +inconvenient, or awkward, even insufficient, the flaps may look. Partial +excisions are worse than useless. + + +PARACENTESIS THORACIS, for the relief of pleurisy, acute and chronic, +and empyema, is an operation of extreme simplicity. + +The proper selection of cases, the settling of the suitable position for +the tapping, and the choosing of the suitable time for it, are more +difficult, and not within the scope of the present work. On these +subjects much information may be obtained from the papers of Dr. +Bowditch of Boston, of Dr. Hughes and Mr. Cock,[139] and an exceedingly +interesting and valuable paper by Dr. Warburton Begbie.[140] + +_Where_ is it to be performed? Not _above_ the sixth rib, else the +opening is not sufficiently dependent; very rarely _below_ the eighth on +the right side, and the ninth on the left. The intercostal space +generally bulges outwards if fluid is present, and this bulging acts as +an aid to diagnosis. As the intercostal artery lies under the lower edge +of the upper rib in each space, the trocar should be entered not higher +than the middle of the space; and because the artery is largest near the +spine, and also the space is there deeply covered with muscle, the +tapping should never be _behind_ the angle of the rib. In most of the +manuals we are told to select a spot midway between the sternum and +spine for the puncture; but Bowditch, Cock, and Begbie, who have had +large experience, prefer, and I believe rightly, a position considerably +behind this, _an inch_ or two below the angle of the scapula, between +the seventh and eighth, or between the eighth and ninth ribs. + +The operation may be performed with a simple trocar and canula, round, +about an eighth of an inch in diameter, and at least two inches in +length. The point must be sharp, and it must be pushed in with +considerable quickness, so as to penetrate, not merely push forwards, +the pleura, which may be tough, and thicker than usual. Once the skin is +pierced, the instrument must be directed obliquely upwards, so as to +make the opening and position of the trocar dependent. When the trocar +is withdrawn the fluid may be allowed to flow so long as it keeps in a +full equable stream; whenever it becomes jerky and spasmodic, the canula +should be removed _before_ the sucking noise of air entering the chest +is heard. + +In more chronic cases, where the quantity of fluid is large, and +especially if it is thick and curdy, the exhausting syringe of Mr. +Bowditch is an improvement on the simple trocar and canula. + +It consists of a powerful syringe, which fits accurately to the trocar +with which the puncture is made. There is a stop-cock between the trocar +and syringe, and another at right angles to the syringe. The trocar +being introduced, it is held firmly in position by an assistant, by +means of a strong cross handle; the first stop-cock is then opened, and +the syringe worked slowly till it is filled with fluid through the +trocar, the other delivery stop-cock being closed. The first is then +closed, and the second opened; the syringe is then emptied through the +second into a basin. By a repetition of this process, the fluid can be +removed at pleasure, without any risk of the entrance of air. + + Dieulafoy's aspirateur, which the author has now used in a very + large number of cases, will be found the best method yet devised of + safely removing the fluid in cases of serous effusion. But in + severe cases of empyema the pus is sure to be reproduced in the + great majority, and then a free incision, with strict antiseptic + precautions, will be needed, and subsequent free drainage. + + The author has used with great benefit silver tubes, like long + narrow trachea-tubes, with broad shields, to insure free drain. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[139] Both in _Guy's Hospital Reports_, second series, vol. ii. + +[140] _Edinburgh Medical Journal_ for June 1866. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +OPERATIONS ON ABDOMEN. + + +PARACENTESIS ABDOMINIS.--To withdraw fluid from the abdominal cavity is +an exceedingly simple operation in itself, though certain precautions +are necessary to render it safe. + +_Trocar._--The usual instrument used to be a simple round canula with a +trocar, the point of which should be very sharp, and in the shape of a +three-sided pyramid. It should be about three inches in length, and a +quarter of an inch in diameter. It may for convenience have an +india-rubber tube fixed to its side or end, for the purpose of conveying +the fluid to the pail or basin, but any other additions or alterations +have not been improvements. Lately surgeons have been diminishing the +size of the tube so as to withdraw the fluid more slowly, and taking +many precautions to insure the wound being kept aseptic. + +_Where to tap._--In the linea alba, midway between the umbilicus and +pubes, or rather nearer the umbilicus. Here, there are no muscles nor +vessels, the opening is a dependent one, and the bladder is quite out of +the way of injury. + +_N.B._--It is a wise precaution, in every case where there is a +possibility of doubt as to the state of the bladder, to pass a catheter. +I have myself known at least one case in which a surgeon was asked to +tap an over-distended bladder, as a case of ascites. + +_The Operation._--As there is great risk of syncope coming on during the +operation, from the sudden relief to the pressure on the organs, a broad +flannel bandage should be applied to the belly, the ends of which are +split into three at each side, and crossed and interlaced behind. An +assistant should stand at each side to make gradual pressure by pulling +on the ends of the bandage, thus assisting the flow, and maintaining the +pressure. A hole should be cut in the bandage at the spot where the +puncture is to be made, and the trocar inserted by one firm push, +without any preliminary incision, unless the patient is inordinately +fat. As the trocar is withdrawn, the canula should be pushed still +further in. The surgeon should be ready at once to close the canula with +his thumb, if the flow begins to cease, lest air should be admitted. If +the flow ceases from any cause before all the fluid seems to be +evacuated, the trocar should _not_ be re-introduced, lest the intestines +be wounded, but a blunt-headed perforated instrument fitting the canula +should be inserted. + +When all the fluid that can be easily obtained is evacuated, the canula +may be withdrawn, and a pad of lint secured over the wound by strapping. + + +GASTROTOMY.--Cutting into the stomach for the extraction of a foreign +body has now been performed at least ten times, and all but one +recovered. A typical example is that by Dr. Bell of Davenport, who +removed a bar of lead one pound in weight and ten inches in length, by +an incision four inches in length from the umbilicus to the false ribs. +The opening into the stomach was as small as possible, and required no +sutures. + + +GASTROSTOMY has within the last few years been practised very +frequently. Gross has collected 79 cases, 57 of which were for carcinoma +of oesophagus, all of which died within a few weeks, except eight who +survived for periods varying from three to seven months. The results in +cases of cicatricial and syphilitic strictures are more +favourable.--Howse's method seems the best, consisting of two stages. + +1. A curved incision is made through the parietes parallel with, and a +finger-breadth below, the lower margin of chest wall on left side, the +peritoneum should be opened at the linea semilunaris, the stomach sought +for, and then attached to the abdominal wall by an outer ring of sutures +and to the edge of the wound by an inner ring. It should then be dressed +with carbolised lint and supported by a bandage. + +2. A small opening should be made four or five days after the first +stage and the patient should be fed through this opening. + +For full details, see Mr. Durham's paper in vol. i. of Holmes's Surgery, +edition of 1883, pp. 801-4. + + +GASTRECTOMY.--Excision of whole or part of the stomach is one of the +latest developments of operative daring, first done as a regular +operation by Pean in 1879, it has now been repeated sixteen times; four +cases have survived the operation for more than ten days. The chief +points to be attended to are prevention of death from shock and +hæmorrhage, and very careful stitching up of the wound. Considering the +difficulty of the diagnosis, the danger of the operation, and the almost +certain recurrence of the disease, the propriety of such operation seems +very doubtful. + + +OVARIOTOMY.--For the pathology of ovarian disease we must refer to Sir +Spencer Wells's work on the subject, and to the smaller Monograph on +Ovarian Pathology, by the late lamented Dr. Charles Ritchie, junior. + +Even the modifications in the method of operating which have been +devised are so various and numerous, that if collected from the medical +journals of the last ten years they would fill a large volume. Besides +this, the operation of ovariotomy is one attended by so many +complications, that individual cases vary from each other as much as do +individual cases of hernia and tracheotomy; and as the specialities of +each case require to be met by specialities of treatment, there is +hardly any operation in surgery which requires greater readiness of +invention, or more individual sagacity in the operator. + +To lay open the abdominal cavity from the sternum to the pubes, and +rapidly dissect out of this cavity an enormous tumour with a narrow +neck, the operator's only embarrassment being the peristaltic movements +of the bowels, and his only care being to tie the neck of the tumour +firmly with strong string, sew up the wound, and trust to nature, was an +operation very easy to perform, and requiring free cutting rather than +dexterity, and rashness more than true surgical insight. + +Such were the ovariotomies prior to 1857. + +An ovariotomy in 1883 is a very different business, varying in certain +important particulars. + +(1.) Instead of the incision extending from sternum to pubes, it is now +made as short as possible. + +(2.) Instead of being removed entire, the cyst is now emptied with the +greatest possible care (prior to its removal), and none of the contents +allowed to enter the peritoneal cavity. + +(3.) The pedicle is brought to the surface, and in every case where it +is possible is secured outside the wound. + +Besides these three important and cardinal points, there are other minor +matters almost equally essential; these are--(1.) The proper management +of the adhesions and the thorough prevention of all hæmorrhage from +them; (2.) the stitching up of the external wound, including the +peritoneum; (3.) the treatment of the patient during the first few days +of convalescence. + +_Operation_ in a typical case, after the method of Sir Spencer Wells and +Dr. Thomas Keith.--The patient having had her bowels gently opened on +the previous day, and being as far as possible in her usual state of +health, should be warmly clad in flannel, both in body and limb, and +laid on an operating table of convenient height, in or near the room she +is to occupy. No carrying from ward to operating theatre and back again +is admissible. It will be found both cleanly and convenient to have a +large india-rubber cloth over the whole abdomen, cut out in the centre +so as to expose so much of the tumour as is necessary, but gummed on or +otherwise secured to the sides of the abdomen, and thus protecting the +clothes, and hanging down over the edge of the table; this will prevent +all wetting of the clothes and unnecessary exposure of the patient's +person, and can be easily removed after the operation. Chloroform being +administered, the bladder is evacuated by means of a catheter, and the +patient's head and shoulders are elevated on pillows. An incision is +then made in the linea alba, between the umbilicus and pubes, for about +four inches in length at first, so as to be large enough to admit the +hand, through all the tissues down to and through the peritoneum. Care +is necessary in dividing the peritoneum, on the one hand, not to divide +too much, in which case the cyst-wall will be penetrated, and the +contents effused into the peritoneal cavity; or, on the other hand, too +little, in which case the peritoneum may be mistaken for the cyst, and +separated from the transversalis fascia under the idea that adhesions +exist. Once the peritoneal cavity is opened, the incision through the +peritoneum must be extended to the full length of the external wound by +a probe-pointed bistoury. + +The operator's hand must now be passed into the abdomen, and the tumour +isolated from its connections as far as possible. When no adhesions +exist it is extremely easy to pass the hand quite round the tumour, +ascertain its relations to the uterus and Fallopian tubes, and the +length and thickness of its pedicle. The presence of adhesions adds very +seriously to the danger and duration of the operation. We will suppose +at present that none exist in this typical case, and that the pedicle is +found of a satisfactory size and shape. The surgeon now protrudes the +anterior portion of the cyst-wall through the wound, and pierces it with +a large trocar,[141] to which is attached an india-rubber tube, by means +of which the effused fluid can be easily got rid of in any direction. +During the escape of the fluid from the cyst a special assistant keeps +up the tension by careful pressure on the abdomen. In cases where the +cyst is multilocular, and thus only a portion of the contents of the +tumour is at first evaluated, the operator should, by partially +withdrawing the trocar, without removing it entirely from the cyst, +endeavour to pierce and evacuate the other cysts, still through the +original opening in the first one. + +While doing this, great care must be taken lest he pierce the external +wall of the tumour, and let any of the contents escape into the +abdominal cavity; to guard against this, the punctures should be made +by the right hand, while the left, re-inserted into the abdomen, +supports the cyst-wall. + +The tumour having been as far as possible emptied of its fluid contents, +must now be dragged out of the wound, care being still taken lest any of +its fluid contents escape into the peritoneal cavity. In favourable +cases the pedicle is now brought easily into view. This may vary very +much in length and thickness. It is sometimes entirely absent, the +tumour being sessile on the broad ligament of the uterus; sometimes it +is thick and strong, sometimes long and slender. The manner in which it +is to be managed depends on its length and thickness. Varieties in +treatment will be noticed immediately. We will suppose that it is four +inches in length and one or two fingers in breadth. This is quite a +suitable case for the use of the clamp, the principle involved in the +use of which is, that the pedicle should be brought quite out of the +abdomen through the wound and secured on the surface. The best form +seems to be one made like a carpenter's callipers, with long but +removable handles, and a very powerful fixing-screw. + +The blades of this clamp being protected by pads of lint should be made +to embrace the pedicle close to the cyst, in a direction at right angles +to the abdominal wound, and lying across it, the handles should then be +removed, and pads of lint placed below the clamp to protect the skin. +The cyst may now be cut away at some little distance above the clamp, +enough being left to prevent all danger of its slipping. Further to +avoid this danger, the pedicle may be transfixed by one or two needles +above the clamp. + +The wound is now to be sewed up by several points of interrupted suture, +some inserted very deeply through all the tissues, including even the +peritoneum, others in the intervals of the first, including little more +than the skin. They may be either of iron, silver, platinum, +telegraph-wire (Mr. Clover's copper, coated with gutta-percha), or silk. +It seems of very little consequence which is used. Sir Spencer Wells, +after many trials, uses silk, as being removed with least pain to the +patient, and really causing no more suppuration than the metallic ones +do, if only removed early enough, viz., about the second or third day, +by which time the union of the wound should be firm. + +The after-treatment should be very simple. Except under special +circumstances, stimulants are rarely necessary, and indeed, to avoid +vomiting, as little as possible should be given by the mouth during the +first twenty-four hours. The patient should be allowed to suck a little +ice to allay thirst, and opiate and nutritive enemata will be found +quite sufficient to keep up the strength in ordinary cases. The urine +should be drawn off by the catheter every six hours. The room should be +kept quiet, and the temperature equable, so long as there is no +interference with a plentiful supply of fresh air. + +Some of the specialities and abnormalities involving special risks may +now be briefly noticed:-- + +1. _Adhesions._--These vary much in amount, in position, in +organisation, and danger. + +_a._ _In amount._--In certain cases no adhesions exist, while in others, +omentum, intestines, tumour, uterus, and abdominal wall may be all +matted together in one common mass. + +_b._ _In organisation._--Occasionally they are so soft and friable as to +break down under the finger with ease, and so slightly organised as not +to bleed at all in the process, while again they may be so firm and +close as to require a careful and prolonged dissection, and so vascular +as to require many points of ligature to be applied to large active +vessels. + +_c._ There are special _dangers_ connected with the presence of these +adhesions, and varying much in different cases. Thus adhesions to the +intestines can generally be separated with comparative ease, and seem, +as a rule, to require the application of fewer ligatures than those +which unite the tumour to the abdominal wall. Adhesions to the wall are +sometimes so firm as to be quite inseparable, and thus to necessitate +some of the cyst-wall being left adherent. In Sir Spencer Wells's cases, +adhesions to the liver and gall-bladder occasionally occurred, requiring +careful dissection to separate them, and yet the patients all survived, +while pelvic adhesions, especially to the bladder and uterus, on more +than one occasion prevented the completion of the operation. + +Vascular adhesions to the wall which require many ligatures certainly +add to the dangers of the case, while adhesions to the anterior wall of +the abdomen render the operation, especially its first stages, much more +difficult, preventing the cyst from being recognised. + +2. _The condition of the pedicle_ is of great importance. If it is too +short, it prevents the use of the clamp, as if applied it is apt either +to pull the uterus up, or, pulling the clamp down, to make undue +traction on the wound, and rupture any adhesions. This is especially the +case where much flatus is generated, or where the patient is naturally +stout. + +_Treatment._--Where the pedicle is just long enough to allow the clamp +to be applied, and yet too short to leave room for any distension of the +abdomen without undue tension, the best plan is to transfix it with a +stout double thread just below the clamp, tie it in two halves, and +bring the threads out past the clamp, so that, if tension does occur, +the clamp may be removed, the part beyond it cut off, and the rest +allowed to slip back into the pelvis, the ligatures being kept out at +the mouth of the wound. + +Or again, it is sometimes possible, after applying one clamp firmly as +near the tumour as possible, to apply another above it when the greater +part of the tumour has been cut away; when the second is firmly fixed +it may then be safe to remove the first, and thus an artificially +elongated pedicle is obtained. + +When still shorter, two plans remain for selection--(1.) to transfix the +pedicle in one or more points, then, securing it in two, three, or more +portions, cut it off above the ligatures and return it, leaving the +ligatures at the lower end of the wound. This gives a free drain for +pus, but theoretically the sloughing pedicle might be expected to set up +peritonitis; (2.) to transfix and tie the pedicle with one or more loops +of stout string, cut the ends off short, and return the whole affair, +closing the external wound at once. Theoretically there are grave +objections to this plan, but it has proved very successful, especially +in the hands of Dr. Tyler Smith. + +Another ingenious modification, sometimes useful in a short narrow +pedicle, is to tie it as close to the cyst as possible, bring the +ligature out at the wound, and then with a strong harelip needle +transfix the pedicle, along with both sides of the wound, just below the +ligature. + +When the pedicle is excessively broad and stout, it should be transfixed +by strong needles and double threads in various places, and thus tied in +several portions. Absence of the pedicle greatly adds to the danger in +any given case. Various plans have been tried, as cutting the attachment +through slowly by the écraseur, ligature of each vessel separately, so +many as twelve being sometimes required, and cauterising the stump. The +latter, as used by Mr. Baker Brown, has met with a large measure of +success, and is much used now.[142] + +Dr. Keith for a time operated with antiseptic precautions, but has now +(1883) entirely given up the use of the spray, which he believes has +especial dangers in abdominal surgery. + + +OPERATION FOR STRANGULATED INGUINAL HERNIA.--The great rule to be +remembered with regard to this, as well as all other operations for +hernia, is, that the earlier it is performed the better chance the +patient has. Once a fair trial has been given to the taxis, aided by +proper position of the patient, the warm bath, and specially chloroform, +the operation should be performed. + +The patient should be placed on his back with his shoulders elevated, +and the knee of the affected side slightly bent. The groin should then +be shaved, and the shape and size of the tumour, with the position of +the inguinal canal, carefully studied. The surgeon should then lift up a +fold of skin and cellular tissue, in a direction at right angles to the +long axis of the tumour, and holding one side of this raised fold in his +own left hand, commit the other to an assistant. He then transfixes this +fold with a sharp straight bistoury, with its back towards the sac, and +cuts outwards, thus at once making an incision along the axis of the +hernia without any risk of wounding the sac or bowel. Any vessel that +bleeds may now be tied. This incision will be found sufficiently large +for most cases; if not, however, it can easily be prolonged either +upwards or downwards. The surgeon must now devote his attention to +exposing the neck of the sac, and in so doing, defining the external +inguinal ring. The safest method of doing so is carefully to pinch up, +with dissecting forceps, layer after layer of connective tissue, +dividing each separately by the knife held with its flat side, not its +edge, on the sac, and then by means of the finger or forceps raising +each layer in succession and dividing it to the full extent of the +external incision. It is not always an easy matter to recognise the +sac, especially as the number of layers above it, which are described in +the anatomical text-books, are often not at all distinct. + +The thickness of the connective tissue of the part varies immensely; +sometimes six layers or even more can be separately dissected, while, +again, one only may be found before the sac is exposed. + +If small and recent, the sac may be recognised by its bluish colour, and +by the fact that it is possible to pinch up a portion of it between the +finger and thumb, and thus to rub its opposed surfaces against each +other. + +If large and of old standing, it is sometimes so thin as not to be +recognisable, or again so enormously thickened, and so adherent, as to +be defined with great difficulty. + +If it is small, _i.e._ when the whole tumour is under the size of an +egg, it ought to be thoroughly isolated, and its boundaries everywhere +defined. If large, and specially if adherent, the neck alone should be +cleared. + +The sac thus being reached, the external abdominal ring should be +clearly defined, and the finger passed into it so as if possible to +determine the presence or absence of any constriction in it. If it feels +tight, the internal pillar of the ring should then be cautiously divided +on the finger by a probe-pointed narrow bistoury, in a direction +parallel to the linea alba. + +At this stage the question comes to be considered as to whether the sac +should or should not be opened. Much has been said and written on both +sides. + +Not to open the sac avoids the risk of peritonitis, and of injury to the +bowel; but, on the other hand, exposes the patient to the danger of the +hernia being returned unreduced; for in many cases the stricture is to +be found in the sac itself, and adhesions very rapidly form between +coils of intestine in the sac and the inner wall. Again, not to open the +sac prevents us from discovering the condition in which the bowl is; it +may possibly be gangrenous, in which case such a return _en masse_ would +be almost necessarily fatal. + +A general rule or two may be given here:-- + +1. The sac should be opened in every case where there is any reason for +doubt about the condition of the bowel, where there has been +long-continued vomiting, or much tenderness on pressure. + +2. Even in cases in which there is every reason to believe the bowel is +perfectly sound, the sac should be opened, unless the whole contents can +be easily and completely reduced out of the sac into the belly, as in +cases where this cannot be done there probably exist either a stricture +in the neck of the sac itself, or adhesions of the bowel to the sac. We +should endeavour to avoid opening the sac in cases of old scrotal hernia +of large size, where the symptoms have not been urgent, especially in +large unhealthy hospitals, as the risk of peritonitis is so great. +Antiseptic precautions seem considerably to diminish the risk of opening +the sac. + +If the sac then is not to be opened, the rest of the operation is very +simple. Endeavour to reduce the bowel out of the sac, and then return +the sac itself, unless the hernia is of old standing, and adhesions +prevent its reduction. A few silver stitches to close the wound and a +carefully adjusted pad are now all that is requisite. + +If the sac is to be opened, how can it be done with least danger to the +bowel? + +If the hernia is small, and it is possible to define it all, the sac +should be opened at its lower end, as _there_ a small quantity of serous +fluid which intervenes between the sac and the bowel will be found. +Where this is present, there is no danger of wounding the bowel, as the +sac can be easily pinched up; but this is by no means invariably the +case, so great care should always be taken. A small portion of the wall +being thus pinched up should be divided in the same manner as the +layers of cellular tissue were divided in exposing the sac. A few drops +of serum will then escape, and the glistening surface of the bowel be +exposed; the finger should then be introduced at the opening, and the +incision enlarged by a probe-pointed bistoury. If the hernia is small +the sac should be slit up to its full extent; if large, only a +sufficient portion of the neck should be opened. As soon as the opening +in the sac is large enough to admit the point of the operator's +forefinger, it should be inserted so as to protect the intestines, and +the remainder of the sac slit up on it as a guide. + +The sac thus opened, the next step is to divide the constriction, +wherever it be. It is most likely to be found at the neck of the sac, +just where it protrudes through the internal ring in an oblique hernia, +or through the tendons of the transversalis and internal oblique, where +the hernia is direct. Now, this constriction might be divided in any +direction were it not for the risk of wounding the epigastric artery, +and also of injuring the spermatic cord, which is in close relation to +the neck of the sac of an oblique hernia. + +Wound of the epigastric artery is the chief danger, for in _all_ cases +it is close to the neck of the sac. Were its position in relation to the +neck of the sac constant, it might be easily avoided by an incision in +the opposite direction; but as this relation varies according to the +nature of the hernia, an element of danger is introduced. Thus, in +oblique inguinal ruptures, where the sac passes out through the internal +ring (Fig. XXXII. IR), the artery will always be found to the inside of +the neck of the sac; while in direct herniæ, where the bowel has made +its escape through the triangle of Hesselbach (Fig. XXXII. +), and +passed through the conjoint tendon straight to the external ring, the +epigastric artery will be found on the outside of the neck of the sac. +In recent herniæ the differential diagnosis is comparatively easy, but +in those of old standing and large size, in which the obliquity of the +canal has been much diminished, it is almost impossible to tell of what +kind the hernia originally was, and consequently to determine in which +direction it is safe to incise the neck of the sac. + +Such being the case, the best rule is to incise the neck of the sac +directly upwards, _i.e._ in a line parallel with the linea alba, and +also to cut it very cautiously bit by bit, in every case, if possible, +with the finger inserted as a guide to the position of a vessel and a +protection to the gut. + +The spermatic vessels lie sometimes behind, sometimes on either side of +the sac, and in very old herniæ may be separated from each other so as +really to surround the sac. The cut directly upwards is also the safest +for them. + +All constrictions being overcome, it is not sufficient merely to push +back the gut into the belly. Its condition must be carefully examined, +and it must be decided whether the constriction has caused gangrene or +not. To examine this properly, it is generally best to pull down an inch +or two more of the gut, so as thoroughly to bring into view the +constricted portion, as _it_ is most likely to be fatally nipped. + +It is not always easy to decide as to the condition of the bowel. +Certain points must be observed:-- + +(1.) _Colour._--There may be very great alteration in the colour of the +bowel from congestion, and yet no gangrene. It may be dark red, claret, +purple, or even have a brownish tint, and yet recover; where it is +black, or a deep brown, the prognosis is unfavourable. + +(2.) _Glistening._--So long as the proper glistening appearance of the +bowel remains, there is hope for it, even when the colour is bad; if it +has lost it, and especially if, instead of being tense and shining, it +is dull and flaccid and in wrinkles, the bowel is almost certainly +gangrenous. + +(3.) _Thickness._--If much thickened, and especially if rough on the +surface, the bowel has probably been forming adhesions to the sac, or to +contiguous coils, and the prognosis is less favourable. + +(4.) _Smell._--The peculiar gangrenous odour on opening the sac is very +characteristic. In cases where ulceration and perforation have occurred, +the odour is fæcal. + +1. If, then, the bowel is tolerably healthy-looking, though discoloured, +it should be returned gradually, not _en masse_, into the abdomen, the +wound sewed up, and a pad of lint put on, with a bandage. + +2. If there are adhesions of bowel to sac or to a neighbouring coil, or +of omentum to sac, the stricture should be freely divided, the +protruding coils of intestine should be emptied of their contents, but +no rash attempt made to force their return. Especially is this rule to +be observed with protruded, swollen, or adherent omentum, for +considerable risks attend any attempt at excision of the protruded +portion--risks of hæmorrhage, peritonitis, and ulceration of the +contiguous bowel. + +If the bowel be returned, or even the continuity of the canal restored +by the cutting of the stricture, though the bowel be not returned, no +great risks accrue from the retention of a piece of omentum in the sac, +in a position which it may possibly have already occupied for years. + +3. If the bowel is absolutely gangrenous, even in a very small portion +of its length, no reduction should be attempted, but the gangrenous +portion should be kept outside, with the hope that adhesive inflammation +may be set up, so as to glue the bowel to the abdominal wall, prevent +fæcal extravasation, and form a temporary artificial anus. If the +gangrenous portion be very full of fæces or flatus, incisions may be +made into it. This should be avoided in cases where the patient is +already much prostrated, as I have seen cases in which the opening of +the bowel seemed to inflict a fatal shock. + +Enterectomy or excision of the gangrenous portion has recently been +recommended and performed by some surgeons. The very high authority of +the late Professor Spence is against such procedure.[143] + +Cases of gangrene of even large portions of bowel are by no means +necessarily fatal. They may recover with an artificial anus, the remedy +of which by surgical means we must notice in its proper place. + + +OPERATION FOR STRANGULATED FEMORAL HERNIA.--While the general principles +guiding treatment and ruling the conduct of the operation are the same +as in inguinal, there are some differences in points of detail which +render a brief separate description necessary. + + A single word on the anatomy. Tracing a femoral rupture from within + outwards, we find that its first stage is to push its way through + the weak point of the arch formed by Poupart's ligament, that is, + the spot called the crural arch, bounded on its outer side by the + sheath of fascia which surrounds the femoral vein; above by + Poupart's ligament; on its inner side by the curved fibres of + Poupart's ligament, which, curving backwards, are inserted into the + ilio-pectineal line, have a sharp falciform edge, and have been + dignified by the special name of Gimbernat's ligament (Fig. XXXII. + G); and below by the os pubis itself. This arch or ring thus + bounded is, in the normal state of parts, filled by a layer of + fibrous texture, a little fat, and occasionally a small gland. + These parts are pushed forwards in the descent of the hernia, and + in a small recent one may be said to form a sort of inner covering; + in a larger and older one they are split by the hernia, and, while + forming a constriction round its neck, leave the fundus of the sac, + so far as they are concerned, quite uncovered. + + A femoral hernia may stop there, satisfied with merely coming + through the ring, and, if sudden and recent in a healthy, well-knit + subject, such a rupture is exceedingly dangerous, the constriction + being very severe, and the consequent gangrene of the bowel very + rapid if unrelieved. In most cases, however, it makes its way still + further out, and the next covering it gains is from the cribriform + fascia. This is the layer of fibres, pierced (as its name implies) + with orifices for the passage of veins and lymphatics, which + stretches between the two curved edges of the saphenous opening. It + varies much in strength; when the rupture has been slow and + gradual, it will certainly add a covering of greater or less + thickness, but where the hernia is large and old we must not expect + to find many traces of the cribriform fascia, at least over the + fundus of the tumour. + + The ordinary superficial fascia of the part, with its fat, nerves, + veins, and lymphatics, and the thin skin of the groin, are the only + remaining coverings. It is very remarkable how exceedingly thin all + the so-called coats become in large femoral herniæ of long + standing, especially in thin old people. + +_Operation._--Various incisions are recommended. The one which gives +freest access and exposes the sac best, is shaped like a T, the +horizontal limb of which is oblique, the direction of the obliquity +varying on the two sides. The horizontal incision should be made just +over Poupart's ligament, and parallel to it, the centre of the incision +corresponding to the neck of the sac, and its length varying according +to the size of the tumour and the depth of the parts; the other should +extend downwards from the centre of the former, as far as is necessary +to display the whole sac. The first should be made by pinching up and +transfixing the skin, the second by ordinary incision, to the same depth +as the first. The small flaps thus made must now be thrown back; any +vessels that have been divided are to be tied. Now, with great care and +caution the surgeon is to pinch up and divide any layers of condensed +cellular tissue which may still cover the sac, till it is thoroughly +exposed to its full extent, and remove any glands which may intervene. + +The neck of the sac being exposed, it may be possible in some very +exceptional cases to give the patient the benefit of the minor +operation, which consists in leaving the sac unopened. In such a case +(to be described immediately), the surgeon passes his finger along the +neck of the sac as far as possible into the ring, and then with a +probe-pointed bistoury very cautiously nicks the upper edge of +Gimbernat's ligament, in one or more places, being careful to feel for +any pulsation before dividing a single fibre. He may then be able to +empty the sac of its contents, and return the bowel and omentum, still +retaining the sac outside. + +On the other hand, where it is determined to open the sac, the pinching +up of the sac must be managed with great care, to avoid injury of the +bowel. There is generally a little fluid to be found at the fundus, +which will protect the bowel. In one case in which Liston operated, he +tells us, "there was no possibility of pinching up the sac, either with +the fingers or forceps; it contained no fluid, and was impacted most +firmly with bowel; very luckily the membrane was thin; and, observing a +pelleton of fat underneath, I scratched very cautiously with the point +of the knife in the unsupported hand, until a trifling puncture was +made, sufficient to admit the blunt point of a narrow bistoury."[144] If +the sac contains bowel and omentum, it is safer to open it over the +omentum than over the bowel. When a small opening is made, an escape of +the contained fluid takes place, and then the sac should be slit up as +far as its neck by a probe-pointed bistoury, guided by the finger, +introduced to protect the bowel, whenever the opening is sufficiently +large. The forefinger must now be cautiously insinuated into the neck of +the sac, the nail being directed to the bowel, the pulp to the +crescentic margin of Gimbernat's ligament, and any constriction very +cautiously divided. The bowel should then be drawn down a little, the +constricted point carefully examined, and then returned or not, +according to its condition. + +Two points require a brief separate notice:-- + +1. In what direction is the crural arch to be divided? Not outwards +certainly, on account of the vein, nor downwards, as the bone prevents +that direction. Is it to be upwards or inwards? Not upwards, for such +an incision would endanger the spermatic cord or round ligament, besides +greatly weakening the abdominal wall by the division, partial or +complete, of Poupart's ligament. Inwards then it must be; and little +more need be said about it, were it not for the occasional existence of +an abnormal course and distribution of the obturator artery. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXXII.[145]] + +The usual origin of this vessel is from the internal iliac, in which +case (Fig. XXXII. N O) it never comes near the sac at all. In certain +cases (1 in 3-1/2) it rises from the epigastric, and in a very few (1 in +72) from the external iliac. If rising from either of the two last, it +most commonly passes downwards at the outer side of the hernia, in which +case (Fig. XXXII. S O) no harm can possibly result; but in a few rare +cases, perhaps 1 in every 60 of those operated on, the vessel winds +round the hernia (Fig. XXXII. O), crossing at its inner side, and thus +may be (and has actually been) divided by a rash incision. With due +care, however, and by cutting a very little at a time, even this danger +may be avoided. + +2. Under what circumstances is it possible or justifiable to reduce a +femoral hernia, without previously opening the sac? Only in certain very +select cases, where the hernia is recent, the constricting parts lax, +the general symptoms very mild, and where there is reason to believe the +bowel has completely escaped injury by compression or the taxis. There +are both difficulties and dangers in this so-called minor operation:--1. +_Difficulties_, For it is not easy to divide the constriction without +the assistance of the finger in the sac, and it is not easy to reduce +the contents with the sac unopened, except through a much freer opening +than is necessary when the bowel has been fairly exposed. 2. _Dangers_, +Of reducing sac and viscera, together with the strangulation still kept +up by tightness in the neck of the sac; or of supposing the sac is +emptied while a knuckle of bowel still remains in it, and is +strangulated; or, lastly, of reducing the intestine which has already +become gangrenous. It is very remarkable how very soon gangrene may come +on, in a case of a small recent femoral hernia, in which the fibrous +tissues constricting the neck of the sac are tense and undilatable. A +protrusion for eight hours has been sufficient to destroy the life of a +knuckle of bowel. + + A note here on a certain condition very frequent in femoral herniæ, + which may occasionally give a good deal of trouble. Symptoms of + strangulation have been well marked, yet when the sac is opened + nothing is to be seen except a mass of omentum, perhaps tolerably + healthy-looking. To reduce this _en masse_ would be very unsafe; + it is necessary carefully to unravel it, and disengage the knuckle + of bowel which is almost certainly included in it, and which has + given rise to the symptoms of strangulation. + + +OPERATION FOR STRANGULATED UMBILICAL HERNIA.--The operation is +practically the same, whether the hernia is a true umbilical one, or one +which with more strict accuracy might be called ventral. True umbilical +hernia is a disease of infancy and childhood, being almost always +congenital, and the viscera protrude through the umbilical aperture. +This rarely requires operation, as it may generally be returned with +ease, and even cured by a proper bandage and compress. Ventral hernia, +commonly called _umbilical_, is generally a protrusion of viscera +through a new preternatural aperture in the fibrous tissues close to the +navel, may often attain a large size, is liable to strangulation, and is +not easily palliated or cured. + +In either case the operation requires a very brief description. If the +hernia is small, under the size of a hen's egg, a crucial incision +through the thin skin which covers it will thoroughly expose the sac +when the flaps are dissected back. The forefinger should then be +inserted in the round opening, and the edges cautiously incised in +several directions, each incision however being very small. + +If the rupture is large, a single linear, or a T-shaped incision, +exposing the base of the tumour, will be sufficient to allow the +requisite dilatation of the opening to be made. It is not at all +necessary in every case to open the sac of the peritoneum. If required, +it must be done with great caution, as the sac is generally very thin. +In cases where the hernia is chiefly omental, the sac should be opened, +lest a knuckle of bowel be inclosed and strangulated in the omentum. + + +OBTURATOR HERNIA is an extremely rare lesion, and a large proportion of +the recorded cases were discovered only after death. When diagnosed +during life and strangulated, some have been reduced by taxis, and only +a very few cases have been operated on, some with success. It is not +likely that a diagnosis could be made, except in very emaciated +patients, in whom pain at the obturator foramen was a prominent symptom, +and in whom it could be ascertained positively that the crural ring was +empty. An incision over the tumour, sufficient to allow the pectineus +muscle to be exposed and divided, is necessary. The hernia may then be +reduced without opening the sac, if recent; if of long standing, the sac +must be opened. One case is recorded by Dr. Lorinzer, in which, after +strangulation for eleven days, he opened the sac and found the bowel +gangrenous. The patient had a fæcal fistula; but survived the operation +for eleven months. Nuttel, Obrè, and Bransby Cooper have each diagnosed +and treated such cases.[146] + +Other forms of hernia are so rare, and the treatment of each case must +necessarily vary so much in its circumstances, as not to require or +admit of any detailed account of the operations requisite for their +relief. + + +OPERATIONS FOR THE RADICAL CURE OF HERNIA.--The inconveniences and +discomfort caused by even the best-adjusted trusses or bandages, the +unsatisfactory support they afford, and the risk of their slipping and +allowing the hernia to escape, have given rise to many attempts to cure +hernia by operation. + +Even to enumerate these would be quite beyond the limits of the present +volume; suffice it to classify a few of the most important of them +according to the principle involved in each, and then give a very brief +account of the method of operating which seems to be at once the most +scientific, least dangerous, and most permanently useful. + +The question at issue is briefly this. We have, in a hernia, the +following condition:--The walls of a great cavity are at one or more +points specially weak, the contained viscera have protruded, either by +extension and stretching of a natural opening, or by the formation of a +new breach in the walls, and, in protruding, they have brought with them +as a covering a serous membrane, extremely extensible, highly sensitive +to injury, and, when injured, certain to resent it by severe, spreading, +and dangerous inflammation. + +Do we desire to remedy this protrusion, we may act-- + +1. On the intestines themselves; but for all surgical purposes, they are +out of our reach. We cannot do more than, by diminishing their contents, +diminish their volume, and by position and rest reduce to the utmost +their tendency to protrude. This includes the medical and prophylactic +treatment of hernia, or rather of the tendency to hernia. + +2. We may try what can be done with the _sac_ which the intestines have +pushed down before them. Can it be obliterated? If it can, perhaps the +intestines may be retained in their cavity. Very many plans of dealing +with the sac have been tried. + +To cause obliteration of its cavity many methods have been proposed:--by +ligature of it along with the spermatic cord, involving loss of the +testicle, either by gradual separation, by sloughing, or by immediate +removal;--by cutting into it, and then stitching it up;--by constricting +it with wire, as in the _punctum aureum_; by pinching sac and coverings +up, by passing needles under them as they emerge from the external ring, +as Bonnet of Lyons did; by constricting sac alone with a double wire, by +subcutaneous puncture, as Dr. Morton of Glasgow has done;--by severe +pressure from the outside with a strong tight truss and a pad of wood, +as proposed by Richter; by setons of threads or candlewicks, as proposed +by Schuh of Vienna;--by injection of tincture of iodine or cantharides, +as by Velpeau and Pancoast;--by the introduction into the sac of thin +bladders of goldbeaters' skin, which were then filled with air, and were +intended to excite inflammation, as in the radical cure of hydrocele; or +by the still more severe method of Langenbeck, consisting in exposing +the sac by a free incision at the superficial ring, separating it from +the cord, and passing a ligature round the sac alone, leaving the +ligatured portion in the scrotum either to become obliterated or to +slough out. Schmucker of Berlin varied this, by cutting away the +constricted portion below the ligature. + +The objections to these methods are various: the more gentle are +uncertain and inefficient; of the more severe, some involve mutilation, +by the loss or removal of the testicle; others, as those of Langenbeck +and Schmucker, are very dangerous and fatal, by the inflammation +spreading to the peritoneal cavity (20 to 30 per cent. died); while all +of these methods afford at best only temporary relief. And this is only +what might have been expected, for the sac was only a _result_ of the +protrusion, not a _cause_; and so long as the weakness and insufficiency +of the parietes of the abdomen remain, so long will the extensible +loosely-attached peritoneum continue to furnish new sacs for visceral +protrusions. + +3. We have now only the canal left to act upon; and the operations on +the canal may be divided into two great classes:-- + +(_a._) Those in which the operator attempts to plug up the dilated +canal. (_b._) Those in which he tries to constrict it, by reuniting its +separated sides. + +(_a._) Attempts to plug the canal have, in most cases, been made by +invagination of the skin of the scrotum and its fascia. These have been +very numerous and various in their adaptation of mechanical appliances, +but have all been designed with the same object. Dzondi of Halle, and +Jameson of Baltimore, incised lancet-shaped flaps of skin, and +endeavoured to fix them by displacement over the ring. Gerdy invaginated +a portion of scrotum and fascia into the enlarged canal, by the +forefinger pushed it up, and secured it in its place by a thread passed +from the point of his finger first through the invaginated skin, then +through the abdominal walls, endeavouring to include the walls of the +inguinal canal, causing the point of the needle to project some lines +above the inguinal ring; the same process being effected with the other +end of the thread on the other side of the finger, and the two ends +which have been brought out near each other on the abdominal wall, being +tied tightly over a cylinder of plaster. The ensheathed sac was then +painted with caustic ammonia to excite inflammation, and a pad put on +over all. + +Signoroni modified this by fixing the invaginated skin by a piece of +female catheter, retained in its place by transfixion by three harelip +needles, tied by twisted sutures. + +Wützer of Bonn, again, modified this, by substituting a complicated +instrument, consisting of a stout plug in the inguinal canal, held in +position by needles which are passed through the anterior wall of the +canal in the groin. Compression between plug and compress, with the +intention of causing adhesion between skin, fascia, and sac, is then +managed by means of a screw. The plug is retained for about seven days. + +Modifications of this method have been tried by Wells, Rothmund, and +Redfern Davies, all aiming in the direction of simplicity; but by far +the most simple and efficacious method on the Wützer principle yet +devised is that of Professor Syme, which he described in the pages of +the _Edinburgh Medical Journal_ for May 1861, in which the invagination +of integument is both simply and securely managed by strong threads, as +in Gerdy's method, while a piece of bougie or gutta-percha, to which +the threads are fixed, replaces Wützer's expensive and complicated +apparatus. Sir J. Fayrer of Calcutta has had a very large experience of +Wützer's method, and also of a plan of his own. Out of 102 cases by the +latter method, 77 were cured, 9 relieved, 14 failed, and 2 died.[147] + +Mr. Pritchard of Bristol has proposed an additional step in operations +on the invagination principle, consisting in the stripping of a thin +slip of skin from the orifice of the cutaneous canal, and then putting a +pin through the parts to get them to unite, and thus close the aperture +completely. + +Now, what results follow these operations? At first they are almost +invariably successful, but the complaint is that, in most cases, the +rupture recurs. The principle is to plug up the passage by the +mechanical presence of the invaginated skin, the plug being retained in +position by adhesive inflammation between it and the edges of the +dilated ring. But the ring is left dilated, or, indeed, generally its +dilatation is increased; and as, on continued pressure from within, the +new adhesions give way, or, as often happens, a new protrusion takes +place in the circular _cul-de-sac_ necessarily left all round the apex +of the invagination, the still lax ring and canal offer no resistance to +the protrusion. + +(_b._) The principle of constriction of the canal by reuniting its +separated sides. This is the principle of the various methods introduced +by Mr. Wood of King's College, and described by him in his most able and +exhaustive work.[148] + +He applies sutures through the sides of the dilated inguinal or crural +canals, or umbilical openings, in such a manner as to insure their +complete closure. + +1. _For inguinal hernia._--To stitch together the two sides of the canal +with safety requires attention to several points--(1.) That it be done +nearly, if not entirely, subcutaneously. (2.) That the protruding bowel +should be kept out of the way, and not be transfixed by the needle. (3.) +That the spermatic cord should be protected from injurious pressure. + +These different indications are attained by Mr. Wood by a very ingenious +mode of operating, which I can describe here only briefly, and for a +full description of which I must refer to Mr. Wood's own monograph +already alluded to. + +For his first twenty cases Mr. Wood used strong hempen thread for the +stitches; of late, however, he has proved the greater advantage of +strong wire. + +When a large old hernia in an adult is the subject of operation, it is +thus performed by Mr. Wood:--The pubes being shaved, and the patient put +thoroughly under the influence of chloroform, the rupture is reduced, +and the operator's forefinger forced up the canal so as to push every +morsel of bowel fairly into the abdomen. An assistant then commands the +internal ring by pressure, to prevent return of the rupture. + +An incision is made in the scrotum over the fundus of the sac, large +enough to admit a forefinger and the large needle used in the operation; +the edges of the skin are to be separated from the fascia below for +about one inch all round. The forefinger is then to be passed in at the +aperture and pushed upwards, invaginating the detached fascia before it, +and it must be made to enter the inguinal canal far enough to define the +lower border of the internal oblique muscle stretched over it. A large +curved needle (unarmed) is then passed on the finger as a guide, through +the internal oblique tendon, the internal portion of the ring, and the +skin of the abdomen; it is then threaded and withdrawn. Again, the +needle (now with a thread) is guided by the finger and pushed through +Poupart's ligament and the external pillar of the ring as before; while +by a little manipulation its point is made to protrude through the same +opening in the skin as before, a loop of thread is now left there, and +the needle, still threaded, is again withdrawn. The next stitch, still +guided on the finger, takes up the tendinous layer of the triangular +aponeurosis covering the outer border of the rectus tendon close to the +pubic spine; the point of the needle is then turned obliquely, so as to +protrude through the original puncture in the skin a third time, the +needle is then freed from the thread and withdrawn, thus leaving two +ends and one intermediate loop of thread all at the one opening. These +are so arranged that when they are tightened they draw together the +sides of the canal; they are then secured over a compress of lint. The +compress is removed and the stitches loosened, at dates varying from the +third to the seventh day. + +Mr. Wood now uses wire instead of thread. It has the advantage of +greater firmness, excites less suppuration, and may be left much longer +_in situ_, in consequence of which there is less risk of suppuration or +pyæmia, and more chance of a good consolidation of the parts. + + In congenital herniæ, and small ruptures in children and young + boys, Mr. Wood uses rectangular pins in the following manner:--The + scrotum being invaginated (without any incision through the skin) + as far as possible up the canal, a rectangular pin, with a + slightly-curved spear-pointed head, is passed through the skin of + the groin to the operator's forefinger; guided by it, it is brought + safely down the canal, and brought out through the skin of the + scrotum just over the fundus of the hernial sac. A second pin is + passed from the lower opening (still guided by the finger) in an + upward direction, transfixing in its course the posterior surface + of the outer pillar of the superficial ring, its point being + brought out through, or at least close to, the first puncture made + by the first pin. The pins are then locked in each other's + loops--the punctures and skin protected by lint or adhesive + plaster,--and the whole is retained by lint and a spica bandage. + The pins should generally be withdrawn about the tenth day. + +The author has now in many cases stitched with catgut the edges of the +ring after the ordinary operation for hernia with the best effect. + +2. _For Femoral Rupture._--Cases suitable for operation are very +infrequent; but should such a one be met with, Mr. Wood proposes the +following operation on the same plan as the preceding. The hernia being +fully reduced and the parts relaxed by position, an incision about an +inch long should be made over the fundus of the tumour, and its edges +raised so as to admit the finger fairly into the crural opening. The +vein is then to be pushed inwards, and the needle passed through the +pubic portion of the fascia lata of the thigh, and then through +Poupart's ligament, appearing on the skin of the abdomen, a wire is then +passed through the eye of the needle and hooked down, appearing through +the wound, it is then withdrawn, and the needle again passed through the +pubic portion of the fascia lata, but about three-quarters of an inch to +the inside of the first puncture, then through Poupart's ligament again, +and protruded through the same orifice in the skin; the other end of the +wire is then hooked down as before, leaving a loop above, at the needle +orifice, and two ends at the wound in the skin below. Both loops and +ends must be managed as before. + + The author after operating for the relief of strangulation in a + case of very large femoral hernia in a girl aged 23, stitched up + the neck of the sac, and also stitched it to Gimbernat's ligament. + The result for some months was admirable, though the hernia had + been a very difficult one to replace from its size, and had been + long in the habit of coming down. Eventually protrusion occurred to + a very slight extent, but a truss keeps it completely up. + +3. _For Umbilical Rupture._--The principle involved in Mr. Wood's +operation for umbilical rupture is precisely the same as for inguinal +and crural. It consists in stitching the two edges of the tendinous +aperture by wire; the needle is passed on a sort of small scoop or +broad grooved director, which at once invaginates the skin and protects +the bowel. Two stitches are thus inserted on each side. For the +ingenious method by which they are introduced subcutaneously, I must +refer to the detailed description in Mr. Wood's monograph. The wires are +thus twisted and tightened over a pad of lint or wood, drawing together +the edges of the opening in the tendon. + + +OPERATIONS FOR ARTIFICIAL ANUS.--In children the condition known as +imperforate anus may sometimes be remedied by exploratory operations in +the perineum, guided by the protrusion caused by the distended +intestine. There are other cases, however, in which the rectum, as well +as the anus, seems to be deficient, and in which, from the want of +protrusion, there is no warrant for attempting an operation there; in +these the only chance of life that remains is in an attempt to open the +bowel higher up. + +In adults, again, absolute closure of the rectum and anus, and complete +obstruction, may be the result of malignant disease, or even, very +rarely, of simple organic stricture. + +In such cases, where the patient is tolerably strong and yet evidently +doomed from the complete obstruction, an attempt at the formation of an +artificial anus is warrantable, and in many cases afford great relief, +and prolongs life for months. + +Without going into all the various positions proposed for such +operations, I select the two most warrantable, which have borne the test +of experience. These are--1. Colotomy in the left loin. This is +applicable in the case of adults with rectal obstruction. 2. Colotomy in +the left groin applicable in cases of imperforate anus and deficiency of +rectum in infants. + +1. _Colotomy in the left loin_, generally known by the name of +_Amussat's operation_.--The patient is laid upon his face, a pillow +placed under the abdomen, rendering the left flank prominent. A +transverse incision should then be made at a level about two +finger-breadths above the crest of the ilium, extending from the outer +edge of the erector spinæ muscle forward for four or five inches, +according to the fatness of the patient; the muscles must then be +carefully divided till the transversalis fascia is exposed. It is then +to be pinched up and divided, as in the operation for strangulated +hernia. The muscular wall of the colon uncovered by peritoneum is then +in most cases very easily recognised from its immense distension. The +bowel should then be hooked up by a curved needle, two or three points +at least secured to the margins of the wounds by stitches, and then the +bowel should be opened by a longitudinal incision of at least an inch in +length. When the distension has been great, there is generally a rush of +fluid fæces, which must be provided for, special care being taken lest +any get into the cavity of the peritoneum. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXXIII.[149]] + +2. _Colotomy in the left groin_, for absence of anus and deficiency of +rectum in newly born infants.--The dissections of Curling, Gosselin, and +others have shown that in infants the operation of lumbar colotomy is +very difficult, and its results uncertain, while it is comparatively +easy to open the colon in the left groin. Huguier, again, has shown that +in certain cases the colon is not to be found in the left groin, but is +accessible in the right groin. This abnormality seems, as shown by +Curling, to occur not oftener than once in every ten cases. + +_Operation._--An oblique incision from an inch and a half to two inches +in length should be made in the left iliac region above Poupart's +ligament, extending a little above the anterior-superior spinous process +of the ilium. The fibres of the abdominal muscles should be divided on a +director passed beneath them, and the peritoneum should next be +cautiously opened to a sufficient extent. The colon will most likely +protrude, but if small intestine appear the colon must be sought for +higher up. A curved needle armed with a silk ligature should be passed +lengthways through the coats of the upper part of the colon, and another +inserted in the same way below, and the bowel, being drawn forwards, +should then be opened by a longitudinal incision. The colon must +afterwards be attached to the skin forming the margin of the wound by +four sutures at the points of entry and exit of the needles. + + +OPERATION FOR THE REMOVAL OF AN ARTIFICIAL ANUS, in cases where the +bowel is patent below.--After the operation for hernia in a case where +the bowel is gangrenous, the only hope of the patient's recovery +consists in the formation of adhesions between the bowel and the +external wound, and the presence, for a time at least, of an artificial +anus. If adhesions do form, and the patient recovers, it becomes a +matter of great importance for his future comfort that the canal of the +intestine should be re-established, and the fistulous opening allowed to +close. This, however, is by no means easy, as even when the portion of +intestine destroyed has been very small, a septum or valve remains which +directs the contents of the bowel outwards, and so long as it exists is +an effectual obstacle to any of the fæcal contents passing into the +distal portion of the bowel. This septum or éperon is formed by the +mesenteric side of the two ends of the bowel. To destroy this without +causing peritonitis is the aim of the surgeon, and it is not an easy +matter to accomplish. To cut it away would at once open the peritoneal +cavity, so the mode of treatment now adopted in the rare cases where it +is necessary is that recommended by Dupuytren. The principle of it is to +destroy the éperon by pressure so gradual as to cause adhesive +inflammation between the two surfaces, and thus seal up the cavity of +the peritoneum, before the continuance of the same pressure shall have +caused sloughing of the septum. This is managed by the gradual +approximation by a screw of the blades of a pair of forceps, to which +Dupuytren gave the name Enterotome. The process, which extends over days +and weeks, must be carefully watched lest the inflammation go too far. + +Plastic operations are occasionally required to close the opening after +the passage is restored. For a good example of such an operation see +_Edin. Med. Journal_ for August 1873, in which Mr. John Duncan describes +a case. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[141] _Description of Sir Spencer Wells's Trocar._--"It consists of a +hollow cylinder six inches long, and half an inch in diameter, within +which another cylinder fitting it tightly plays. The inner one is cut +off at its extremity, somewhat in the form of a pen, and is sharp. The +sharp end is kept retracted within the outer cylinder by a spiral spring +in the handle at the other end, but can be protruded by pressing on this +handle when required for use. When thus protruded it is plunged into the +cyst up to its middle; the pressure on the handle is taken off, and the +cutting edge is retracted within its sheath. The fluid rushes into the +tube, and escapes by an aperture in the side, to which an india-rubber +tube is attached, the end of which drops into a bucket under the table. +The instrument is furnished at its middle with two semicircular bars, +carrying each four or five long curved teeth like a vulsellum. These +teeth lie in contact with the outer surface of the cylinder, but can be +raised from it by pressing two handles. When the cyst begins to be +flaccid by the escape of the fluid, these side vulsellums are raised, +and the adjoining part of the cyst is drawn up under the teeth, where it +is firmly caught and compressed against the side of the tube." + +[142] For further details on the operations described above, reference +may be made to Sir Spencer Wells's work on ovarian disease, and to the +very valuable papers contributed by Dr. Thomas Keith to the _Edinburgh +Medical Journal_. To the latter especially the author is indebted for +much oral instruction, and for the opportunity of seeing his careful and +dexterous mode of operating. + +[143] _Lect. on Surgery_, 3d ed., vol. ii. p. 998. + +[144] _Operative Surgery_, p. 462. + +[145] Rough diagram of abnormal course of obturator and its relation to +the neck of a hernia. Parts seen from the inside: H, femoral hernia; A, +femoral artery; V, femoral vein; E, epigastric artery; O, obturator from +epigastric (dangerous); S O, obturator from epigastric (safe); N O, +normal course of obturator; I R, internal inguinal ring; Sp C, spermatic +chord and its vessels; G, Gimbernat's ligament; +, in triangle of +Hesselbach. + +[146] Holmes's _Surgery_, 3d ed., 1883, vol. ii. p. 837. + +[147] _Clinical and Pathological Observations in India_, pp. 44, 325. + +[148] Wood _On Rupture_, 1863. + +[149] Diagram of an artificial anus, showing small sutures which unite +the edges of the gut and the skin, and the large ones stitching up the +wound beyond. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +OPERATIONS ON PELVIS. + + +LITHOTOMY.--However interesting and even instructive it might be, any +history of the various operations for the removal of calculi from the +bladder would be quite out of place in a manual such as this. It will be +sufficient here to describe the operations recommended and practised in +the present day. + +There are three different situations in which the bladder may be entered +for the purpose of removing a calculus:-- + +1. The perineum, where access is gained through the urethra, prostate, +and neck of the bladder. + +2. Above the pubes, where the portion of bladder not covered by +peritoneum is opened from above. + +3. From the rectum. + + +1. LITHOTOMY THROUGH THE PERINEUM, by far the most frequent position for +the operation.--Very various methods for its performance have been +devised, differing in the nature and shape of the instruments employed, +the direction and size of the incisions, the nature of the wound; but +all resemble each other in certain very cardinal and important +particulars. Thus all agree that it is absolutely necessary to enter the +bladder at _one_ spot--the neck of the bladder; and that to do this +safely the urethra must be opened, and some instrument previously +introduced by the urethra is to be used as a guide for the knife. But an +instrument in the urethra and bladder is surrounded for at least an inch +of its course by the prostate; and thus the knife, gorget, or finger, +which, guided by the instrument in the urethra, is intended to cut or +dilate the entrance to the bladder for the purpose of allowing the +calculus to be removed, cannot do this without also cutting or dilating +this prostate gland. Experience has proved that much of the success of +the operation depends upon the position and amount of incision made in +this prostate gland. But it might be asked, Why can we not enter the +bladder by one side, avoiding altogether its neck and this prostate +gland? For this, among other reasons, that the bladder normally +contains, and so long as the patient lives must contain, a certain +quantity of a very irritating fluid. It is surrounded by the loose +areolar tissue of the pelvis, into which, if any of this fluid escapes, +abcesses will form and death probably ensue; this result will almost +certainly follow any opening made into the bladder except at one spot. +This spot is the neck of the bladder. Why does urinary infiltration not +occur there? Because the fascia of the pelvis (which when entire can +resist infiltration) is prolonged forwards at the neck of the bladder, +over the prostate (Fig. XXXIV. PF), for which it forms a very strong +funnel-like sheath. So long as this sheath is not cut where it covers +the sides of the prostate, urinary infiltration of the pelvis is +impossible, the urine being carried forwards and fairly out of the +pelvis in this urine-tight funnel. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXXIV.[150]] + +But it may now be said, If this be the case, we are very much limited in +the size of the incision we may make into the bladder. We cannot remove +a large stone, for the prostate ought not to be larger than a good-sized +chestnut, and any cut we might make through a chestnut without cutting +out of its side must be very small. Very true; but fortunately the +sheath of the prostate, unlike the rind of the chestnut, is very freely +dilatable, and will allow the passage of a very considerable stone. + +Again, an inquirer might ask, If it is so dilatable, why should we run +the risk of cutting the prostate at all? Why should we not introduce +instruments gradually increasing in size into the membranous portion of +the urethra, and thus dilate prostate and neck of bladder? For this +reason, that the urethral canal passing through the prostate is itself +lined immediately outside of the mucous membrane by a firm membranous +sheath (Fig. XXXIV. RR), which resists dilatation to the utmost. +Experience tells us that any attempts to dilate or even forcibly to tear +this ring of fibrous texture are both ineffectual and dangerous, while a +clean cut into it and through it into the substance of the prostate is +at once effectual and comparatively safe. + +In a word, we can describe the relation of the prostate to the operation +of lithotomy somewhat in this manner:--Its fibrous sheath surrounding +the urethra must be cut freely. The gland substance may be cut and +freely dilated by the finger. Its fibrous envelope must, as far as +possible, be preserved intact, but this interferes the less with the +operation, as it is comparatively freely dilatable. + +The firm lining of the urethra, which must be cut, is specially strong +at its base, forming a tough resisting band just at the aperture of the +bladder, which, unfortunately, is often so high up in the pelvis in +tall patients, or in cases in which the prostate is much enlarged, as to +be almost out of reach of the finger, and so far up the staff as perhaps +to escape division. You will be warned of such an occurrence by the +urine in the bladder failing to make its appearance; and if any attempt +be made to dilate the opening and introduce the forceps without further +incision of the base of the prostate, the result will very likely be +fatal, generally from pyæmic symptoms depending on a suppurative +inflammation of the prostatic plexus of veins (Fig. XXXIV.). In fact, +upon a recognition of this fact is founded the aphorism, "that cases in +which the forceps have been introduced before the bladder fairly begins +to empty its contents are generally fatal." + +[Illustration: FIG. XXXV.[151]] + +We have thus traced the necessary guiding principles as to our incisions +from the bladder outwards through the prostatic portion of the urethra. +We have next to discover what sort of an opening is necessary in the +membranous portion of the urethra consistent with the fulfilment of the +same conditions, namely, freedom of escape for the urine, and room +enough to remove the stone. Both of these are gained at once by a free +incision of the membranous portion, dividing especially those anterior +fibres of the great sphincter muscle of the pelvis, the levator ani, +which embrace the membranous portion, under the special names of +compressor (Fig. XXV.) and levator urethræ (Guthrie's and Wilson's +muscles). + +The principles which guide the position and size of the preliminary +incisions which enable the urethra to be opened are very simple:--(1.) +The wound in the perineum should be large enough to give free access to +the urethra, and easy egress to the stone; (2.) It should be conical, +with its base outwards, so as to favour escape of urine and prevent +infiltration; (3.) It should not wound any important organ or vessel; +that is, it must avoid the rectum, the corpus spongiosum, especially the +bulb, if possible, the artery of the bulb, and in every case should +leave the pudic artery intact. + +So far for broad general principles, which must guide all methods of +successful lithotomy. + + +THE LATERAL OPERATION.--_Operation of Cheselden._--(1.) _Instruments +required._--A staff with a broad substantial handle, and a longer curve +than the ordinary catheter requires, furnished with a very deep and wide +groove, which occupies the space midway between its convexity and its +left side. The one used should invariably be large enough to dilate +fully the urethra. + +A knife, with its blade three or four inches in length, but sharp only +for an inch and a half from its point, its back straight up to within a +sixth of an inch of its point, and there deflected at an angle to the +point, which again curves to the edge. The angle from the back to the +point permits the knife to run more freely along the groove in the +staff. + +A probe-pointed straight knife with a narrow blade may occasionally be +useful in enlarging the incision in the prostate, when this is required +by the size of the stone. + +Forceps of various sizes and shapes, some with the blades curved at an +angle to reach stones lying behind an enlarged prostate, all with broad +blades as thin as is consistent with perfect inflexibility, the blades +hollowed and roughened in the inside, but without the projecting teeth +sometimes recommended, which are dangerous from being apt to break the +stone. + +A scoop to remove fragments or small stones, sometimes useful with the +aid of the forefinger in lifting out a large one. + +A flexible tube of at least half an inch calibre, and about six inches +long, rounded off and fenestrated above, fitted at its outer end with a +ring and two eyelet-holes for the tapes, with which it is tied into the +bladder. + +Prior to the operation the patient's health should be attended to, the +stomach and bowels regulated, and any disorder of the kidneys or bladder +as far as possible alleviated. If his health has been good and habits +active, three or four days' confinement to his room on low diet, with a +full purge the evening before the operation, is all the preparatory +treatment that is necessary. + +It is of the utmost importance for the safety of the operation and the +patient's comfort after it, that the rectum be completely unloaded +before the operation, and the bowels so far emptied as to permit three +or four days after the operation to elapse without any movement of the +bowels being necessary. If there is any doubt as to the effect of the +laxative, a large stimulant enema should be administered on the morning +of the operation. + +_Position._--Much depends on the proper tying up of the patient. He +should be placed with his breech projecting over the edge of a narrow +table, with head slightly raised on a pillow, but the shoulders low. The +hands are then to be secured each to its corresponding foot, by a strong +bandage passing round wrist and instep, or by suitable leather anklets, +the knees should be wide apart, and on exactly the same level, so that +the pelvis may be quite straight. An assistant should be placed to take +charge of each leg. + +The staff is next introduced and the stone felt; if there is little +water in the bladder a few ounces may be injected, but this is rarely +necessary, for the patient should be ordered to retain as much water as +possible, and when he cannot retain it, injection of water may do harm, +and will probably not be retained, but at once come away along the +groove in the staff. The staff is then committed to a special assistant, +who must be thoroughly up to his duty, and attend to the staff alone. + +Some surgeons direct the assistant to make the convexity of the staff +bulge in the perineum, to enable the groove to be struck more easily. It +will be, however, safer both for the rectum and the bulb, if the staff +be hooked firmly up against the symphysis pubis, as advised by Liston. +The same assistant can also keep the scrotum up out of the way. + +If the perineum has not been previously shaved, this is now done. + +The operator sits down on a low stool in front of the patient's +breech, his instruments being ready to his hand, and then steadying +the skin of the perineum with the fingers of his left hand, enters +the point of the knife in the raphe of the perineum, midway between +the anus and scrotum (one inch in front of anus--_Cheselden_, +_Crichton_; one and a quarter--_Gross_, _Skey_, and _Brodie_; one +and three-quarters--_Fergusson_; one inch behind the scrotum--_Liston_), +and carries the incision obliquely downwards and outwards, in a line +midway between the anus and tuberosity of the ischium. The length of the +incision must vary with the size of the perineum, and the supposed size +of the stone, but there is less risk in its being too large, so long as +the rectum is safe, than in its being too small. Its depth should be +greatest at its upper angle, where it has to divide the parts to the +depth of the transverse muscle of the perineum, and least at its lower +angle, where a deep incision is not required, and would be almost sure +to wound the rectum. + +The forefinger of the left hand is now to be deeply inserted into the +wound, and any remaining fibres of the levator ani in front are to be +divided, the edge of the knife being directed from above downwards. The +left forefinger being still used to push its way through the cellular +tissue, the groove in the staff is now felt in the membranous portion of +the urethra covered by the deep fascia of the perineum. Now comes the +deeper part of the incision. Guided by the finger-nail of the left hand, +the surgeon introduces the point of the knife into the groove of the +staff. He then takes hold of the staff for a moment to feel that it is +held up properly against the pubis, and in the middle line, and also +that the knife is fairly in the groove. Giving the staff back again to +the assistant, and keeping the rectum well out of the way by the left +hand, he now steadily directs the knife along the groove of the staff +till the bladder is fairly entered, and the ring at the base of the +prostate completely divided. When this is the case a gush of urine takes +place, following the withdrawal of the knife. + +When making the deep incision, and in the groove of the staff, the blade +of the knife should lie neither vertical nor horizontal, but midway +between the two, so as to make the section of the left lobe of the +prostate in its longest diameter, that is, in a direction downwards and +backwards (Fig. XXXIV. L). + +The knife is now withdrawn, and the left forefinger inserted. In most +cases it will be long enough to reach the bladder and touch the stone, +and may then be freely used by gradual pressure to dilate the wound; +this may be done very freely when necessary for a large stone, if only +the ring of fibrous tissue surrounding the urethra be first cut and the +bladder fairly entered. Whenever the stone is felt by the finger, the +assistant may withdraw the staff. + +When the operator has thus felt the stone and sufficiently dilated the +wound, the next step is to introduce the forceps; this should be done +under the guidance of the finger, and with the blades closed. When the +stone is felt the blades should be opened very widely, slightly +withdrawn, and then pushed in again, the lower one, if possible, being +insinuated under the stone. The blades must be made fairly to grasp and +contain the stone in their hollow, for if they only nibble at the end of +an oval stone, extraction is impossible. Extraction should then be +performed slowly, with alternate wrigglings of the forceps from side to +side, so as gradually to dilate, not to tear, the prostate, and the +operator must remember to pull in the axis of the pelvis, not against +the os pubis or the promontory of the sacrum. + +If there is much resistance, it may possibly be caused by the stone +having been caught in its longer axis, and this may be remedied by +careful manipulation by means of the finger and forceps. If the stone is +still too large to be extracted without greater force than is +warrantable, there are still various expedients (see _infra_, pp. 265, +270). + +In most cases, however, the stone is removed rapidly enough by the +single incision. The finger, or a sound, must then be introduced to feel +if any more stones are present. The closed forceps make a very effectual +instrument for this purpose. Much information may be gained from the +appearance of the first stone, the presence or absence of facets. Its +smoothness or roughness enables us to form a pretty certain opinion; yet +the bladder should always be carefully searched; and if the stone has +been friable or broken in extraction, should be washed out by a current +of water. Where the calculi are very numerous, or where many fragments +have separated, the scoop will be found useful, both for detecting and +removing them. All the stones being extracted, there is in most cases +little or no bleeding (see _infra_, Hæmorrhage). The tube already +described may now be inserted and tied into the bladder. It may be +retained for forty-eight or seventy-two hours, according to +circumstances. Care must be taken lest it be closed up by coagula during +the first hour or two after the operation. In children the tube is not +necessary, and from their restlessness might possibly do harm, but in +adults (though neglected by some surgeons) experience shows it is a +valuable adjunct in the after-treatment. + +Having thus traced the course of an ordinary uncomplicated case of +lithotomy by the lateral operation, a brief notice is suitable of some +of the obstacles and difficulties, some of the dangers and bad results +which may be met with, and the best methods of overcoming them. + +1. _Large size of the stone_, as an obstacle to extraction. When, either +from the enormous size of the stone, generally to be made out before the +operation, or from some congenital or acquired deformity of the pelvis, +it is obvious beforehand that the calculus cannot pass through the bony +pelvis entire, a choice of two courses remains, either-- + +(1.) The high or supra-pubic operation (_q.v. infra_); or (2.) Crushing +of the calculus in the bladder, and removal piecemeal. Instruments of +great strength have been devised for this latter operation. The risk to +the bladder is very great, and fragments are apt to be left behind; +these are sure to form nuclei of new calculi. + +2. _Peculiarities in the position or relations of the stone_ in the +bladder:-- + +(1.) It may lie in a sort of pouch behind the prostate, and thus be out +of the reach of the forceps. This may be remedied by the use of curved +forceps, or, better still, by the finger in the rectum to tilt up the +stone into the bladder. + +(2.) It may lie above the pubis in the anterior wall of the bladder. +Pressure on the hypogastrium, or the use of a strong probe as a hook, +will generally suffice to dislodge it. + +(3.) The stone may be encysted. This is extremely rare, and, as +Fergusson says, we hear more of these from bunglers who have operated +only several times, than from those who have had large experience. + +3. _An enlarged prostate_ is at once a source of difficulty and of some +danger. + +The distance of the bladder from the surface may be so very much +increased by enlargement of the prostate as to render even the longest +forefinger too short to reach the stone or even the bladder. This +renders the introduction of the forceps more difficult and uncertain, +the dilatation more prolonged, and the extraction more dangerous. If +very large, the groove of the staff may not reach the bladder, and thus +the deep incision may fail of cutting the ring at the base of the gland, +and the urine may thus not escape, and all the dangers of laceration of +the ring may result. Such cases may be well managed by the insertion of +a straight deeply grooved staff into the insufficient incision, and +fairly into the bladder, and on this, pushing a cutting gorget through +the uncut portion of the gland. This insures a sufficient yet not +dangerous incision, which we cannot so safely perform with the knife, as +the parts are so far beyond the reach of the guiding forefinger. + +Under the head of risks after lithotomy we may class the following:-- + +1. Sinking, or shock. In the very aged or very young, or after a very +prolonged or painful operation, shock may now and then kill the patient +within a few hours. Since the days of chloroform this result is +extremely rare. + +2. Hæmorrhage seems to be a very infrequent risk. The transverse +perineal artery, which is always cut in the operation, is small, and +rarely bleeds much. If the bulb is wounded, as no doubt frequently +occurs, the flow from it can easily be checked. The pudic is so well +protected from any ordinary incision as to be practically safe; and if +wounded by some frightfully extensive incision, it can be compressed +against the tuberosity of the ischium. + +There is an abnormal distribution of the dorsal artery of the penis, in +which, rising higher up than it ought, and coursing along the neck of +the bladder, and the lateral lobe of the prostate, it may be divided. +This may give trouble, and even result in fatal hæmorrhage. Fortunately +it is rare. The author has met with one case in a boy of eleven, in whom +a very severe hæmorrhage was not to be explained. The patient recovered +without another bad symptom. + +Again, a general oozing may often appear a few hours after the +operation, when the patient is warm in bed, apparently from the +substance of the prostate. If raising the breech and the application of +cold fail to arrest it, it may be necessary to plug the wound. This is +done by stuffing it with long strips of lint round the tube. Great care +must be then taken lest the tube become occluded. + +3. Infiltration of urine may occur as a result of a too free incision of +the vesical fascia (in adults), and still more frequently of a too small +external wound. + +Here it should be noticed that in children it is fortunately of very +little consequence to preserve the integrity of the prostatic sheath of +vesical fascia. In them the prostate is so exceedingly small and +undeveloped, that even the forefinger could not be introduced into the +bladder without a complete section of the prostate. Probably from the +blander nature of their urine, and the greater vitality of their +tissues, this is of less consequence, as it is rarely found that any bad +effects result from this section. + +Among other risks we find peritonitis, inflammation of neck of bladder, +inflammation of prostatic plexus of veins, resulting in pyæmia, +suppression of urine, and other kidney complications. For the symptoms +and treatment of these there is no place in a mere manual of surgical +operations. + +_Wound of rectum and recto-vesical fistula._--Such wounds were not +uncommon, and in many cases unavoidable, before the days of chloroform, +from the struggles of the patient; now they are comparatively rare, and +should be still rarer. They probably occur in more cases than the +surgeon is aware of, and heal up without his knowledge; we may arrive at +this conclusion from the fact that small wounds are found in +_post-mortem_ examinations of cases in which no such complication has +been thought of. + +They occasionally heal without giving any trouble, but, at other times, +as the external wound contracts, a communication forms between rectum +and the urethra, in which the contents are apt to be interchanged in a +most disagreeable manner, flatus passing per urethram, and urine per +rectum. + +When it is evidently not going to heal spontaneously, the septum between +the external orifice of the wound and the communication with the gut +should be laid open, as in the operation for fistula _in ano_. + + There are certain modifications and varieties in the method of + operating for stone through the perineum, which deserve at least a + brief notice:-- + + 1. _The bilateral operation._--Though he was not the inventor, + Dupuytren's name is justly associated with this operation. The + principle of it is to divide both sides of the prostate equally, so + as to give more room for extraction of a large stone, without the + necessity of much laceration, or the risk of cutting through the + prostatic sheath of fascia. + + _The operation._--A semilunar incision is made transversely across + the perineum, extending from a point midway between the right tuber + ischii and the anus, upwards, crossing the raphe nearly an inch + above the anus, and then curving downwards to a corresponding point + on the opposite side. The skin, superficial fascia, and a few of + the anterior fibres of the external sphincter, are thus divided, + and the groove of the staff sought by the forefinger. The + membranous portion of the urethra is then laid open in the middle + line, and the beak of a double lithotome caché securely lodged in + the groove. It is then pushed into the bladder with its concavity + upwards, and when fairly in it is turned round, its blades + protruded to the required extent, and withdrawn with its concavity + downwards, thus dividing both lobes of the prostate in a direction + downwards and outwards (Fig. XXIV. D D). The operation is finished + in the usual manner. Though it is a comparatively easy operation, + and theoretically may be proved to have many advantages, experience + has shown that the results are not so favourable as those of the + ordinary lateral operation. + + 2. _Buchanan's medio-lateral operation_ on a rectangular + staff.--The staff is bent at a right angle three inches from the + end, and deeply grooved on its left side. This is introduced into + the urethra so that the angle projects the membranous portion of + the urethra close to the apex of the prostate and the terminal + straight portion enters the bladder parallel to the rectum. The + angle projects in the perineum, so that the operator with his left + forefinger in the rectum is enabled, by a stab with a long straight + bistoury (held horizontally and with the cutting edge to the left + side), at once to enter the groove, and, by following the groove, + the bladder. Whenever the escape of urine shows that the bladder is + fairly reached, the knife is withdrawn so as to make a lateral + section of the prostate, and then, with the finger still in the + rectum, to make an incision in the ischio-rectal fossa, of + sufficient size to allow the stone to be easily withdrawn. + + The inventor claims for this method that it is easier, that there + is less risk of hæmorrhage, wound of the rectum, and infiltration + of urine. + + 3. _Allarton's operation of median lithotomy_ suits admirably for + stones known to be small, but is quite unsuitable for large ones. + Probably in most cases it should be superseded by lithotrity. + + _Operation._--A large curved staff with a central groove is to be + held firmly hooked up against the symphysis pubis, and then + steadied by the left forefinger in the rectum. The operator pierces + the raphe of the perineum with a long straight bistoury about half + an inch above the verge of the anus, enters the groove of the + staff, and cuts inwards, almost, but not quite, into the bladder. + In withdrawing the knife the wound in the urethra is enlarged + upwards towards the scrotum. A ball-pointed probe is then passed on + the staff into the bladder, the staff is withdrawn, and the finger, + guided by the probe, is used to dilate the neck of the bladder, to + an extent sufficient for the removal of the stone by a small pair + of forceps. + + In this operation the prostate is hardly incised at all. The + results are not better than those of the lateral operation. + +2. LITHOTOMY ABOVE THE PUBES, _or the High Operation_.--In cases where, +from the known size of the stone, or from the deformity of the bones of +the pelvis, it is impossible that the stone can be extracted entire in +the usual manner; in cases where the prostate is very much enlarged, or +where there is any real or supposed likelihood of inflammation of the +neck of the bladder, the supra-pubic operation _may_ be warrantable. Its +performance is easy, it does not involve any wound of the peritoneum if +properly performed, and there is no risk of hæmorrhage. There are +certainly great risks attending it of peritonitis and urinary +infiltration. + +In more than one case this operation has been attended by wound of +peritoneum and subsequent escape of intestines through the wound, even +when dressed antiseptically and performed under spray. + +_Operation._--The patient lies on his back, with his head and shoulders +slightly raised, so as to relax the abdominal muscles, and his legs +hanging down over the edge of the table. If his bladder can bear it, it +should be fully distended, either by voluntary retention of the urine, +or by injection with tepid water. A vertical incision is then made in +the middle line, separating the recti muscles from below upwards, care +being taken to push the peritoneum well out of the way, which is easily +done by the finger in the loose cellular tissue of the part. The +anterior wall of the bladder is then exposed, uncovered by peritoneum; +it must be opened with great care, also in the middle line, while the +wound in the parietes is held aside by retractors. The wall of the +bladder should be transfixed by a curved needle, and thus held in +position before it is opened. The stone is then removed by a pair of +straight forceps, generally with great ease. Attempts used to be made to +leave a catheter or canula in the bladder wound to prevent infiltration. +Probably the safest method now will be to close the bladder wound at +once by metallic stitches, and stitching the abdominal wound carefully +with deeply entered wires, to leave the patient on his back. When +compared with the lateral operations the statistics of the supra-pubic +operation are discouraging, the mortality being one in three and a half +to one in four. But in cases where the stone is known to be very large +and of firm consistence, the risks are probably less from this method +than from lateral lithotomy, followed by efforts to crush the stone +through the wound prior to its removal. + +The late Mr. George Bell, a most successful lithotomist, proposed to +perform this operation in two stages. In a case of greatly enlarged +prostate, where the bladder had been punctured above the pubes by a +country surgeon for retention of urine, he dilated the track of the +canula by means of sponge-tents gradually increased in size, and then +succeeded in extracting through the dilated opening several large +calculi. The case recovered, and may encourage similar attempts. + +3. OPERATIONS THROUGH THE RECTUM.--(_a._) _Sanson's Recto-vesical +Operation._--The principle of this operation consisted in laying the two +canals, the rectum and the urethra, into one. A large staff, grooved on +its convexity, being inserted into the urethra, the operator, with the +forefinger of his left hand in the rectum as a guide to the knife, +pierces the anterior wall of the rectum, reaches the groove of the staff +just in front of the prostate, and cutting outwards divides the rectum, +the anterior fibres of levator ani, and the sphincter, as well as the +skin of the perineum in the middle line. Entering the knife again into +the groove of the staff, it is to be pushed right onwards into the +bladder, dividing the prostate, and avoiding if possible the seminal +vesicles and ducts; the stone is then very easily removed. + +Though this operation was supposed to lessen the risk of pelvic +infiltration it is _not_ found to do so, and it adds the additional +inconvenience of almost inevitable rectal fistula, through which the +urine escapes. It is certainly a very easy operation, but the mortality +is found to be greater than in the ordinary lateral operation. + +(_b._) _Lithotomy through the rectum above the prostate._--The presence +of a small portion of bladder beyond the prostate in close relation to +the rectum renders it possible, in cases where the prostate is not +enlarged, to enter the bladder and remove a stone of moderate size, +without interfering with the peritoneum, prostate, or neck of the +bladder. + +This ingenious but difficult operation was performed for the first time +by Drs. Sims and Bauer in 1859. + +I quote the brief notice of the operation by Dr. Sims from the _Lancet_ +of 1864 (vol. i. p. 111):-- + +"The patient was placed on the left side, and my speculum was introduced +into the rectum, exposing the anterior wall of the rectum, just as it +would the vagina in the female. A sound was passed into the bladder. The +doctor entered the blade of a bistoury in the triangular space bounded +by the prostate, the vesiculæ seminales, and the peritoneal +reduplication. He passed the finger through this opening, felt the +stone, and removed it with the forceps without the least trouble. The +operation was done as quickly and as easily as it would have been in a +female through the vaginal septum. After the removal of the stone, Dr. +Bauer kindly asked me to close the wound with silver sutures, which I +did, introducing some five or six wires, with the same facility as in +the vagina. There was no leakage of urine. The patient recovered without +the least trouble of any sort. The wires were removed on the eighth day, +and on the ninth day the patient rode in a carriage with Dr. Bauer a +distance of four or five miles, to call on, and report himself to, our +distinguished countryman, Dr. Mott." + +The chief risks in this operation seem to be the chance of wounding the +peritoneal _cul-de-sac_, as the amount of free space between it and the +prostate seems to vary much in individuals and in races. Dr. Marion Sims +mentioned to me in conversation that he believed this operation +impossible in the negro race, from the greater projection downwards of +the peritoneal reduplication. An enlarged prostate would be an +insuperable objection. The use of silver wire, to close up the wound at +once, diminishes very much any risk of recto-vesical fistula. + + +LITHOTRITY OR LITHOTRIPSY.--There exist cases of stone in the bladder, +which, under certain conditions, may be relieved without lithotomy, by +an operation which crushes the stone into fragments small enough to be +discharged through the urethra. + +To enter with any fulness into the history, literature, and varieties of +this operation, and the instruments required, would in itself require a +large volume. Suffice it here to describe the case suitable for the +operation, the essentials required in the instrument, and the method of +performance. + +1. _For a case to be suitable_ the _stone_ should not be too large, and +especially not too hard, also there should not be too many of them. + +The _urethra_ should be capacious enough to let the instrument pass +easily and painlessly. + +The _bladder_ should be large enough to contain four ounces of water at +least, should not be much inflamed, and, on the other hand, should not +be paralysed. Paralysis or want of tone in the bladder prevents the +thorough evacuation of its contents, and still more the expulsion of the +fragments of stone. + +2. _A good instrument_ should, as far as possible, combine strength with +lightness. The curved portion of the fixed blade should be fenestrated +to allow escape of the fragments and thorough closure of the +instrument. + +The movable blade must be so arranged as to combine perfect ease of +movement up and down in seeking for the stone, with a powerful, slow, +and gradual approximation in crushing it. This can be managed by an +ingenious arrangement, which leaves the movable blade under the control +only of the operator's thumb till the stone is found, and yet, by +touching a spring, gives him the advantage either of a fine screw or of +a rack and pinion movement for crushing the stone. + +3. _Operation._--The patient being prepared by a free evacuation of the +bowels, and the urethra having been previously fairly dilated, he is +asked to retain his urine as long as possible, or, if he cannot do so, a +few ounces of tepid water may be injected per urethram. + +He is then laid on a sofa or table, the breech being well raised by +pillows, the shoulders low, the thighs and knees bent up and separated. +The instrument, well warmed and oiled, is then introduced with the +blades closed. When fairly into the bladder the search for the stone +begins. + +There are differences of opinion regarding the best method of fishing +for the stone; great patience and gentleness, with a thorough previous +acquaintance with bladder manipulation, are required, whichever method +be chosen. + +The two chief methods may be described as the English and the French, +the latter, Civiale's, being now used by Sir Henry Thompson, and other +English operators. Briefly, the two are:-- + +(1.) _Heurteloup's and Sir B. C. Brodie's._--In this, after the +instrument is fairly entered, its handle is elevated, thus depressing +the curved extremity, the forceps are then opened, and, by being kept as +low as possible in the bladder, it is hoped that the calculus will fall +into the opened blades by its own weight. In this method the fundus is +the scene of crushing, and there is a risk of injuring the sensitive +neck of the bladder, especially at the moment of opening the blades. + +(2.) _Civiale's--Thompson's._--In this the pelvis is to be so elevated +that the centre of the bladder and space beneath it give plenty of room +for seizing the stone, and all contact with the wall of the bladder is +(as far as possible) avoided. + +The instrument is introduced closed, and carried fairly away in to the +posterior part of the bladder before it is opened at all. It probably +grazes the stone in passing, and, if so, is directed to the side of the +bladder in which the stone is _not_ lying. Then when nearly touching the +posterior wall, the movable blade is withdrawn, the instrument inclined +towards the stone lying unmoved in the most dependent part, and there +seizes it generally with ease. + +If not felt, the blades are again to be opened, turned a little to the +other side of the bladder, and then closed. Sir H. Thompson lays the +greatest stress on the importance of always having the blades fairly +opened before shifting their position, for if moved when closed, the +very opening of the movable blade is certain to drive the stone out of +the way and prevent its seizure. + +Certain rules are useful:--Move the axis of the instrument as little as +possible; it should be kept in the centre of the bladder, so far in, +that the movements of the male blade are quite free from the neck of the +bladder and prostate, and the blades only should be moved in the bladder +on the centre of the shaft as an axis. There should be no jerking once +the stone is caught, and the crushing should be done as far as possible +in the very centre of the bladder, the blades not touching any of the +walls. + +After the stone is seized, do not crush till, by a turn of the blades +from side to side, you discover that none of the mucous membrane of the +bladder is caught in the instrument. + +The lithotrite is not meant to extract stones, but to crush them, hence +never attempt to withdraw it unless the blades are in absolute +apposition. + +Never attempt too much at one time. Sir H. Thompson holds that five +minutes is the longest time that should be given, perhaps in most cases +three minutes being long enough. + +While many surgeons will still agree with the above advice, Dr. Bigelow +of Boston has lately been highly commending a method which he has called +Litholapaxy, in which, at one sitting under chloroform, the stone is +crushed and aspirated, or sucked out of the bladder at once.[152] + + Since the above was written the operation of Litholapaxy has made + great strides in the favour of surgeons, and many stones that would + have been removed by lithotomy are now broken down by powerful + instruments at a single sitting, and removed piecemeal by the + suction apparatus. + + S. W. Gross has collected 312 cases, of which 17 died or 5.45 per + cent., but of 180 done by experienced surgeons, Thompson, Bigelow, + Van Buren, Weir, and Stevenson only five died, or 3.33 per cent., + while of 1470 cases of lithotrity, as formerly practised, 159, or + 10.81, per cent. died.[153] + + +OPERATIONS FOR STRICTURE OF URETHRA.--Under this head many manipulations +and operations might be described; the very instruments devised being +exceedingly numerous and complicated. Enough here to detail a few of the +more simple and practical procedures under the different heads of--1. +_Dilatation_ gradual and forced. 2. _Internal Division._ 3. _External +Division._ + +1. DILATATION.--Under this head we have-- + +_a._ _Vital dilatation._--The passing of a succession of bougies, +gradually increasing in diameter, at intervals of three or four days, +for the purpose of exciting an amount of interstitial absorption in the +new material constituting the stricture, sufficient to remove it. +Passing a bougie, though certainly often very difficult, perhaps should +hardly come into the category of surgical operations, yet to preserve a +certain completeness in the account of stricture, a very brief +description may be here inserted. + +The recumbent posture is in most cases to be preferred. The patient +should lie flat on his back, with the knees slightly bent and separated, +and the head and shoulders slightly raised on a pillow. The operator +standing on the patient's left side, raises the penis in his left hand, +and with the right introduces the instrument, previously warmed and +oiled, into the meatus. He then pushes it very gently onwards, at the +same time stretching the penis with the left hand, just so far as to +efface any wrinkles in the mucous membrane, till the point reaches the +bulbous portion. The axis of the instrument, which at first for +convenience was over the left groin, has now gradually been approaching +the middle line. When this is reached, the instrument should be raised +from the abdomen, and the handle cautiously carried in the arc of a +circle first upwards and then downwards, till, when the instrument is +fairly into the bladder, the handle is depressed between the patient's +thighs. While this is being done the operator's left hand should be +withdrawn from the penis, and the points of the fingers applied to the +perineum. + +In cases of difficulty certain points may be remembered:-- + +(1.) That the point of the instrument may in the first inch or two be +occasionally entangled in a lacuna in the roof, especially when a small +instrument is used; hence the beak should be at first maintained against +the inferior wall of the canal.[154] + +(2.) That the handle should not be depressed too soon; if it is, there +is a risk of a false passage being made through the upper wall. + +(3.) The opposite error may force the point out of the urethra between +the membranous portion and the rectum, and onwards into the substance of +the prostate gland. + +And certain cautions may be given:-- + +(1.) In every exploration of an unknown urethra the surgeon should +commence with an instrument of medium size, certainly not less than No. +7 or 8. + +(2.) In cases of difficulty occurring in the urethra behind the scrotum, +invariably use the forefinger of the left hand in the rectum as a guide. + +(3.) Expression of pain on the part of the patient is no indication that +a false passage is being made, nor its absence that the instrument is in +the passage, for it is a remark of Mr. Syme, that passing an instrument +through a stricture is generally more painful than making a false +passage through the walls of the urethra. + + An instrument may be passed, while the patient is erect, with the + following precautions:--The patient should stand with his back + against a wall, his arms supported on the back of a chair on each + side, heels eight or ten inches apart, and four or five inches from + the wall; his clothes thoroughly down, not merely opened. The + bougie should then be held nearly horizontal, with its concavity + over the left groin of the patient, the penis being raised in the + surgeon's left hand. Introduced thus for four or five inches, the + handle is gradually raised into the middle line of the abdomen, and + to the perpendicular; it is then to be lightly depressed, and, as + the point enters the bladder, brought down towards the operator + until it sinks beneath the horizontal line. + +_b._ _Mechanical dilatation_ is of two kinds, both very rarely +used:--(1.) When an instrument cannot be passed, it consists of passing +down day after day the point of an instrument (sometimes armed with +caustic, sometimes not), and pressing it against the stricture till it +is overcome.[155] (2.) When an instrument is introduced through an +intractable stricture, and is left there either for some hours, or for +some days, to excite what is called "suppuration" of the stricture.[156] + +_c._ _Forced dilatation._--Under this head we might describe at great +length mechanical contrivances to force or rupture a stricture. A word +or two on a few of the most important:-- + +(1.) Conical bougies of steel or silver. + +(2.) Mr. Wakley's method, on which many others have been founded. He +passed a small bougie or wire into the bladder, over which were slipped +straight tubes of varying size, with perfect certainty that they could +not leave the urethra. + +(3.) Mr. Holt's method.[157]--The principle of it is to rupture the +stricture at once, so that a No. 12 catheter can immediately be passed +into the bladder. + +He attains this object by means of an instrument composed of two grooved +blades, united about one inch from their apex, into a conical sound, +which at its apex is about the size of a No. 2 bougie. This is passed +into the bladder, and the grooved blades are separated to any extent +that is desired by passing down between them a straight rod equal in +size of a No. 8, 10, or 12, bougie. To guide this properly it is made +hollow, and it is passed down over a central wire which lies between the +grooved blades of the instrument and is welded to the apex. A great +improvement is effected on Mr. Holt's later instruments by this wire +being made hollow, and fitted with a stilette, for by this means we can +with certainty ascertain whether or not the instrument has been passed +into the bladder. This instrument, which is an improvement upon one +invented by Perrève nearly forty years ago, has been used on very many +occasions by Mr. Holt and others with success. The risk to life, if the +case be properly managed, is trifling, but, like every other means of +treating stricture, it has the objection that the stricture is liable to +recur, unless bougies be passed at intervals for months and years. + +Sir Henry Thompson has introduced and described another very ingenious +instrument for the same purpose, constructed on somewhat similar +principles. His account of it, to which I must refer, will be found in +Holmes's _System of Surgery_, 1st ed. vol. iv. p. 399. + +2. INTERNAL DIVISION OF STRICTURE is a mode of treatment which by many +surgeons is highly disapproved, yet of late years it has been more used +than formerly, especially in resilient strictures. It may be done in two +ways:-- + +(1.) _From before backwards._--This method, to be at all admissible, +requires a guide to be previously passed; a lancet-shaped blade may then +be slipped down a groove in this guide till the stricture is divided. +This is least objectionable in cases of stricture close to the meatus. + +(2.) _From behind forwards._--To make the incision thus, it is of course +necessary that the stricture should be so far dilatable as to admit an +instrument the point of which is large enough to contain the blade by +which the stricture is to be divided. This will be found to be at least +equal in size to a No. 3 or No. 4 catheter. In many instruments it is +much larger. + +_Civiale's_ instrument for internal incision of the urethra from behind +forwards has the very high recommendation of Sir H. Thompson.[158] It +consists of a sound with a bulbous extremity (as large as a No. 5 +bougie) which contains a small blade, which can be made to project for +such a distance as the operator wishes. It is passed through the +stricture with the blade concealed, till the bulb is carried about +one-third of an inch or more beyond the stricture; the blade is then +projected, and the incision made by drawing it slowly but firmly +outwards towards the meatus, with the blade towards the floor of the +urethra, till the stricture is divided in its whole extent. Sir H. +Thompson recommends this to be used in cases _where it is not that the +stricture is of very small calibre, but that it is undilatable_, that +prevents the cure. Many modifications of above have been devised by +Lund, Teevan, and other surgeons, on similar principles. + +3. MR. SYME'S OPERATION OF EXTERNAL DIVISION.--Mr. Syme held that no +stricture through which the water can escape should be called +_impermeable_, for by patience and care the surgeon should always be +able to pass a slender director through the stricture on which it may be +divided with ease and certainty. The old operation of "perineal section" +for so-called impermeable stricture is very different, being difficult, +dangerous, and uncertain in its results. + +_Operation._--A director is passed into the stricture. Mr. Syme's +directors are of different sizes, the smallest being in diameter less +than an ordinary surgical probe. They are made of steel, are grooved on +the convexity, and have this peculiarity, that while the lower half is +small, the upper is of full size (No. 8 or 10), the difference in +calibre occurring quite abruptly. The presence of this "shoulder" on the +staff enables the operator to ascertain exactly the position of the +stricture, and also to tell when it is fully divided without the +necessity of withdrawing the instrument. + +This being fairly in the stricture, the patient is put in the position +for lithotomy, an assistant holds the staff in his right hand, drawing +up the scrotum with his left. + +The surgeon then makes an incision in the middle line over the +stricture for the necessary distance, from above downwards, till he +exposes the urethra, and feels exactly the shoulder of the staff. Care +must be taken not to go past the urethra at either side. When he +distinctly feels the outline of the staff, he takes it in his left hand, +and a short sharp-pointed bistoury in his right. It should be held +firmly in the palm of the hand, with the back of the blade resting on +the forefinger, the pulp of which guides the point to the groove, and +guards it when making the incision; the knife is to be placed on the +groove beyond (_on the bladder side_) of the stricture, and brought +forwards, slowly cutting through _the whole_ stricture; till the +shoulder of the staff is reached. It requires strength and precision to +divide thoroughly the indurated stricture, which is apt to elude the +knife. + +The shoulder of the staff can now be passed through the stricture if the +operation is complete; if not, the incision must be extended, always in +the middle line, and guided by the groove. When thoroughly divided, the +staff is now to be withdrawn, and a full-sized catheter with a double +curve passed into the bladder. This should _not_ be furnished with a +stop-cock or plug, lest the bladder should by inadvertence be allowed to +be too full, and extravasation into the cellular tissue of the urethra +take place along the side of the instrument. + +The catheter should be tied in, and left for two, sometimes for three +days, when it can generally be removed with safety, and a bougie should +be passed at intervals of three or four, till the wound is healed. To +prevent recurrence of the stricture, it is a wise precaution to pass an +instrument at intervals for many months after the cure is apparently +complete. + +In certain cases, where the stricture is far back and the urinary +symptoms severe, Mr. Syme found advantage from the introduction of a +shorter double-curved catheter (only about nine inches long) through +the wound into the bladder, where it should be left for three days. +This seems to diminish the risk of rigors, and other symptoms of fever, +which are apt to occur when the urine is allowed for the first time to +pass over the wound. + +_Perineal Section_ is an operation both dangerous and difficult; as Sir +Astley Cooper used to say, "the surgeon who performs it requires to have +a long summer's day before him." + +No director or guide can be passed. A full-sized catheter must be passed +as far as possible _up_ to the stricture, and held firmly in the middle +line. The patient must be tied up in lithotomy position on a table in +the very best light that can be obtained. The perineum being shaved, an +incision must be made in the middle line from over the point of the +catheter to the verge of the anus, if the stricture extends far back. + +The urethra should then be opened over the catheter, the edges of the +mucous membrane held to each side by silk threads passed through them; +and the surgeon must endeavour to pass a fine probe into the opening of +the stricture; if this can be done, it is comparatively easy to slit the +stricture up. If not, the surgeon must simply seek for the remains of +the urethra by slow, cautious dissection in the middle line. If +successful, a catheter must be secured in the bladder in the usual way. + +A stricture near the orifice, or, as it is not uncommon, involving +merely the meatus, can be treated with great ease in the above manner by +division on a grooved probe. When quite close to the orifice, with a +well-defined hardness, as of a ring round the urethra, it may be divided +subcutaneously by a tenotomy knife or other narrow-bladed instrument. It +is not necessary to keep a catheter in the bladder in cases where the +stricture has been in front of the scrotum. + + +PUNCTURE OF THE BLADDER.--A patient and dexterous use of the catheter +prevents this operation from being often required; still, circumstances +may arise in which it is found impossible to enter the bladder _per vias +naturales_. In such a case the bladder may be punctured from the outside +by a curved trocar and canula, in either of two situations. + +1. _From above the pubis._--This operation is a very simple one, and +when the bladder is distended need not imply a wound of the peritoneum. + +_Operation._--A preliminary incision, varying in length according to the +amount of fat, should be made above the pubis exactly in the middle +line; the edges of the recti should be separated, the peritoneum pushed +out of the way and upwards by the finger, and a curved trocar plunged +into the distended bladder obliquely backwards. The canula should be +retained for a day or two, and then a flexible catheter with a shield +inserted instead. Such instruments have been worn for years. The +aspirateur pneumatique of Dr. Dieulafoy will be found an exceedingly +useful instrument for puncture of bladder and removal of urine. The +author has now used it very frequently with the best results. Its +advantage is that the urine is removed through an aperture so small as +to allow of the withdrawal and reintroduction of the canula as often as +is necessary. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXXVI.[159]] + +2. _From the Rectum._--Except in cases of enlargement of the prostate, +it is at once easier and safer to puncture the bladder from the rectum. +The well-known triangular space uncovered by peritoneum, with its apex +in front close to the prostate, and bounded on either side by the vasa +deferentia and vesiculæ seminales, can be easily reached by a curved +trocar. This should be guided by one, or, still better, by two fingers, +into the rectum, with its concavity upwards, and the point should be +pushed upwards by depression of the handle, whenever it is fairly behind +the prostate. The trocar may then be withdrawn, and the canula retained +for at least forty-eight hours by a suitable bandage. Mr. Cock, of Guy's +Hospital, had a special canula for the purpose, which expands at its +extremity after its introduction, and thus is not apt to slip.[160] Some +surgeons insist that the surgeon should be able to ascertain the +existence of fluctuation between the finger in the rectum, and the other +hand above the pubes. This is exceedingly difficult to elicit when the +bladder is very much distended, and from the constrained position of the +finger in the bowel. + + +PHYMOSIS.--Elongation of the prepuce, with contraction of its orifice, +in most cases congenital, sometimes so extreme as to cause difficulty in +micturition, and frequently preventing the uncovering of the glans. + +_Operation._--In all well-marked cases, the following is required:--The +elongated prepuce should be pulled forwards by a pair of catch-forceps, +and a circle of skin and mucous membrane removed by a single stroke of a +bistoury, or by sharp scissors. Care should be taken lest the glans be +included in the incision, as has happened in _at least_ one instance. +The skin will then be found to retract very freely beyond the glans, but +the mucous membrane is found still to cover the glans, and its orifice +is still constricted. It must then be slit up (Fig. XXXVII. _b b_) on +the dorsum of the glans, with probe-pointed scissors, as far as the +corona, and the glans will then be thoroughly exposed. The edges of +mucous membrane and skin should then be stitched to each other by at +least five or six fine silk sutures, any bleeding points having been +first carefully secured. The angles will in time round off, and a +wonderfully seemly prepuce be obtained. This operation may be done as a +method of cure for obstinate enuresis in cases in which the prepuce is +very long and redundant, even when it is not too tight. The author has +done this in more than twenty cases with excellent results. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXXVII.[161]] + + _Varieties._--When the prepuce is narrowed at its orifice without + being redundant in length, a milder operation will prove + sufficient. The principle is the same as in the former, but the + amount of incision is less, and nothing is removed. Two methods are + possible:-- + + 1. _By scissors._--The blunt point of a pair of scissors is + introduced through the preputial orifice, the other blade being + outside, and the skin and mucous membrane are divided for about + half an inch; the skin being then retracted, the mucous membrane is + still further divided by one or two additional snips, and then the + edges of skin and mucous membrane are stitched together by one or + two points of suture. + + 2. _By knife._--A director being introduced within the prepuce, a + narrow-bladed knife is guided along it, and pushed through the + prepuce from within, and then made to divide skin and mucous + membrane from within outwards. Stitches as before. + + _N.B._--Be careful lest the director pass into the meatus + urinarius, and the glans be split up. + + Again, some surgeons prefer two lateral incisions instead of one + dorsal one. In this case skin and mucous membrane should be divided + by scissors for about a quarter of an inch, and then a single + stitch inserted in the angle of junction. This has been further + modified by Cullerier, who proposed the division of the tight + mucous membrane only, in three or four points. He used a pair of + scissors with one sharp and one probe-pointed blade, the sharp one + thrust in between skin and mucous membrane, the blunt one between + the mucous membrane and the glans. + + +AMPUTATION OF THE PENIS.--This exceedingly simple operation is performed +by a single stroke of an amputating knife, drawn along from heel to +point, while the penis is stretched in the operator's left hand. As +there is more risk of redundancy than of deficiency of the skin, no +attempt is made to save it. Numerous vessels in the corpora cavernosa +require ligature. Amputation of the penis may be done bloodlessly by the +thermo-cautery even close to its root. Transfix the root of corpora +cavernosa by a needle; above this pass two or three turns of an elastic +ligature; then slowly divide at a low red heat the skin and corpora +cavernosa below the needles; split the urethra after dividing its mucous +membrane with a knife. The author has done this several times with ease +and rapid healing. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXXVIII.[162]] + +The chief risk is stricture of the orifice of the urethra. To prevent +this, several modifications of the operation have been introduced. + +1. _Ricord's method._[163]--After the amputation the surgeon seizes with +forceps the mucous membrane of the urethra, and with a pair of scissors +makes four slits in it, so as to form four equal flaps, and with a silk +ligature stitches each of these to the skin. Contraction of the +cicatrix will thus tend to open rather than close the urethral orifice. + +2. _Teale's method._[164]--He slits up, by a bistoury on a director, the +urethra and skin over it for about two-thirds of an inch, and then +stitches the one to the other, thus making it a long oval dependent +orifice (Fig. XXXVIII.). + +3. _Miller's proposed method._[165]--"A narrow-bladed knife is first +used to transfix the penis between the spongy and cavernous bodies close +to the root; the knife having been carried forwards for an inch and a +half, its edge is turned perpendicularly downwards, and the urethra and +skin flap are divided, the cavernous bodies and dorsal integument being +then cut perpendicularly upwards where the knife was originally entered +for transfixion. A button-hole is afterwards made in the lower flap, +though which the corpus spongiosum and urethra protrude, while the flap +itself is turned upwards, and attached dorsally and laterally, so as to +cover in the exposed cavernous structure." + + +HYDROCELE.--The very simple operation necessary for hydrocele is thus +performed:--The surgeon supports the tumour in his left hand so as to +project it forwards, and make the scrotum as tense as possible in front. +Having carefully ascertained the exact position of the testicle, which +can generally be easily enough done by a finger accustomed to +discriminate the difference between a soft solid, and a bag tensely +filled with fluid, aided by the peculiar sensation of the testicle when +squeezed, the surgeon enters a trocar and canula about an eighth of an +inch in diameter into the distended cavity of the tunica vaginalis, near +the fundus of the swelling. When it is evident the instrument is fairly +entered, and not till then, the trocar is withdrawn, and the fluid +allowed completely to drain off. When it ceases to flow the surgeon +places his forefinger over the end of the canula to prevent the entrance +of air, till he fits into its orifice a suitable syringe containing two +drachms of the tincture of iodine, made according to the Edinburgh +Pharmacopoeia: the tincture of the British Pharmacopoeia is not +sufficiently strong. Having injected this cautiously into the cavity, +the canula is withdrawn, and the surgeon, seizing the now flaccid +scrotum in his right hand, gives it a thorough shake, so as to spread +the iodine over as much as possible of the inner wall. When properly +performed this very simple procedure very rarely fails to produce a +radical cure; though less thorough operations, such as mere evacuation +of the fluid, less stimulating injections, unguents introduced on +probes, and the like, often fail of success, and thus give encouragement +to absurdities, such as wire-setons, or to more severe operations, such +as laying open the sac. + + +HÆMATOCELE.--When the contents of the sac of the tunica vaginalis are +found to be grumous instead of simply serous, or when, as often happens, +only pure blood escapes when the fluid is nearly evacuated, it is found +that simple evacuation and injection are very rarely sufficient to +effect a cure. + +After they have been fairly tried, the sac of the hæmatocele should be +laid open in its full extent; any large vessels which bleed should be +tied, and the cavity then stuffed with lint. When the lint can be +removed, which will be after two or three days, the edges of the wound +should be brought closely together, and the cavity will then rapidly +heal up from the bottom, and be obliterated by secondary union of +granulations. + +In cases where the walls of the cavity are enormously thickened, or +even, as sometimes happens, almost bony in consistence, an elliptical +portion may be removed with advantage. + + +EXCISION OF TESTICLE.--This operation is rarely required except for +tumours of the testicle. Hence the size of the incision necessary must +vary much with the size of the tumour; and the amount of skin to be +removed (if any) on the amount of adhesions it has formed to the tumour. + +One or two points must be attended to in every case of extirpation of a +testicle:-- + +1. The incision should commence over the cord just outside of the +external ring, and be continued fairly over the tumour to its base. + +2. As to removal of skin, some surgeons advise that none should be taken +away, others that a considerable quantity can be spared. There is +certainly less risk of secondary hæmorrhage if a portion be removed, +than when a flaccid empty bag is left. The author invariably removes a +very large quantity of skin if the tumour is large, as there is much +more rapid healing, and the resulting scrotum is much more comfortable +for the patient. + +3. The cord should be exposed at the beginning of the operation, raised +from its bed and given to an assistant, who should compress it gently, +not from any fear of its escape into the abdomen, but to prevent +hæmorrhage. If the tumour has been very large and heavy, the cord will +have been much stretched, and if divided too high up, may really give +trouble by its elasticity, unless the above precaution is taken. The +cord then having been divided close to the tumour, the latter is +removed, care being taken not to include the sound testicle in the +removal. All the vessels are then to be tied or twisted, and the +spermatic artery is to be secured alone, not, as used to be the case, +included in a common ligature with the other constituents of the cord. +Secondary hæmorrhage is very apt to occur from small scrotal branches +which may have escaped notice during the operation. + + +OPERATIONS ON THE ANUS AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD.--FISTULA IN ANO.--While +much might be written on the pathology of fistula, and a good deal even +on its diagnosis, a very few words will suffice to describe the simple +and effectual operation for its relief. + +Dismissing at once all so-called palliatives, drugs, unguents, pressure, +and injections, as mere waste of time, and holding that the only method +of cure consists in laying the fistula fairly open, the question narrows +itself into this: What is the best method of laying it open? Prior to +the discovery by Ribes of the great principle that the internal orifice +of the sinus is always within an inch or an inch and a half of the +orifice of the anus, the operations for fistula were most unnecessarily +severe; the gut used to be divided as far up as the sinuses extended; +and large portions of the anus used to be excised bodily along with the +sinuses. It is now a much simpler and more satisfactory operation. + +_Operation._--A common silver probe bent to the required shape is passed +into the external opening, or, if there are more than one, into the +largest and oldest one. The forefinger of the left hand being introduced +into the rectum, the probe is passed through the internal orifice, and +its point brought out by the anus. The portion of tissue raised by the +probe can then be easily divided with the certainty that the fistula is +laid fully open. Anal fistulæ have been divided by the elastic ligature, +but it seems slower in action and more painful, with no counterbalancing +advantages. + + The author has for last few years operated almost exclusively by a + long knife which is continued into a steel probe. The probe is + passed up the fistula, then into the bowel, and is hooked out at + the anus, and in being simply pushed on the knife cuts the + fistula--tuto, cito, et jucunde, the patient rarely knowing that + more has been done than an exploration. + + In cases where, from the hardness and density of the parts it is + impossible to pass the probe and bring it out at the anus, a strong + probe-pointed bistoury may be passed in by the external orifice + till its probe-point can be felt by the finger in the bowel at the + internal opening. Supported by the finger it can then be made to + cut outwards till the whole septum is divided. + + +FISSURE OF THE ANUS, ULCER OF THE ANUS, resemble each other alike in the +exceeding annoyance which they give to the sufferer, and in the +simplicity of the treatment needed. + +_Operation._--Once the presence of either is determined by the finger in +the anus, a sharp-pointed curved bistoury should be introduced, +transfixing the base of the fissure or ulcer, and then guided on the +finger, completely dividing it, so as to change the ragged ulceration +into a simple wound which will rapidly heal. + + +PROLAPSUS ANI, _Operation for_.--Complete prolapsus in which the whole +gut is involved, as seen in the very young and the very aged, is suited +for palliative rather than radical treatment. + +Cases of prolapsus of the mucous membrane only, as is not uncommon in +connection with or as a result of hæmorrhoids in adults, give +opportunity for operative interference. + +We may act on either the skin or mucous membrane, or both at once. + +1. _The skin_ is often found loose, and arranged in radiating folds +round the anus. In such cases, as recommended first by Dupuytren, some +of these projecting folds may be removed. Again it may be prolapsed in a +great loose ring or circular fold round the margin, forming an +exaggerated external pile; in such a case the loose fold may be fairly +excised with curved scissors, as recommended by Hey of Leeds. + +The first of these methods is apt to be insufficient, the second again +has the risk of removing too much. + +2. If the protrusion is chiefly mucous membrane exposed in folds, or a +ring, which is generally outside, one of two methods of treatment may be +tried:-- + +_a._ By ligature, as recommended by Mr. Copeland. Raising a longitudinal +fold of the mucous membrane, he passed a ligature round it as if it were +a pile. There is less chance of the ligature slipping if a double thread +be used and its base thus transfixed. Three, four, or even more folds +may be thus treated. + +_b._ When the mucous membrane has been so long exposed as to have lost +many of its characters, and to resemble leather in its toughness, +excision will be found less painful and much more rapid than ligature. + +A longitudinal fold at each side of the anus should be pinched up and +excised by a pair of probe-pointed curved scissors. There is always a +certain amount of risk of hæmorrhage following such an operation. The +risk is lessened and the result improved by stitching up the wound in +the mucous membrane before the protruded portion of bowel is returned. + + +POLYPI OF THE RECTUM.--Pedunculated growths varying in consistence, +shape, and size, but resembling each other in having a distinct stalk, +and in frequently being protruded at stool. + +_Operation._--Invariably by ligature, which may be single round the +stalk, if the tumour be globular and with a distinct narrow stalk, or by +transfixion, if (as sometimes happens) the tumour be of uniform +thickness throughout, like a worm. + + +HÆMORRHOIDS OR PILES.--In the treatment of piles it is the differential +diagnosis that is troublesome and occasionally difficult; the operative +interference required is generally very simple, if the nature of the +case be rightly determined. + +_External piles._--_Operation._--The apex of the soft flabby excrescence +should be seized by a pair of catch-forceps, and it should be cut off +close to its base with a knife, or, what is better, a pair of curved +scissors. Any little vessel which jets may then be secured. If, instead +of numerous individual tumours, a ring of skin round the anus be +involved, the whole of it should be shaved off, but not very close to +its base, lest too great contraction of the anal orifice should ensue. + + If the surgeon, after excising a pile or piles, will take the + trouble to stitch up the wound with catgut, he will find the cure + much more rapid and less painful than when this is omitted. + +_Internal piles._--Incision is extremely dangerous, from the vascularity +of the parts, and their being so inaccessible from their position within +the sphincter ani. Hence ligature is safer and equally effectual. The +patient should be directed to sit over hot water, and strain till the +whole of his piles are fairly protruded. The surgeon should then +transfix the base of each separately with a curved needle bearing a +strong double thread. The needle being cut off, the threads should be +very firmly tied, each isolating its own half of the pile. The tying +should be exceedingly tight, so as to cause instant and complete +strangulation and death of the tumours. All the piles should be tied at +the same sitting. If the piles are very small they may be secured +without transfixion in a single noose after being seized by a hook or +forceps. There is greater risk of the noose slipping than when the base +has been transfixed. + +The strangulated masses must then be returned into the bowel, and the +patient kept in bed or on a sofa till the ligatures separate, which is +generally not till the fourth or fifth day. A certain amount of urinary +irritation, showing itself sometimes in strangury, sometimes in complete +retention, occasionally follows this operation. + +Mr. Smith of King's College, and many other surgeons, treat internal +piles by means of an ivory clamp to hold them tight, while they are +burned off by the actual cautery or the thermo-cautery at a low red +heat. They claim that pyæmia more rarely follows this mode. + + There are certain cases in which the lower inch or two of the + rectum are found red and congested, and in which every stool is + followed by the loss of a certain quantity of florid arterial + blood, and yet no distinct hæmorrhoidal tumour is to be seen. In + such cases the ligature is not applicable, and relief is obtained + by the application of pure nitric acid, or other potential caustics + to the bleeding surface, as recommended by Houston, Lee, Smith, + Ashton, and others. These cases are comparatively rare, and + whenever they can be applied, the ligature is much simpler, safer, + and more certain. + +_Venous piles._--When a sudden effusion of blood has occurred into one +of the varicose veins or sinuses of a congested anus, an oval or rounded +tumour is felt, very tense, shining, and painful. To slit it freely up +with an abscess lancet, and evert the clot inside, at once relieves all +the symptoms. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[150] Diagram of section of prostate seen from the inside:--PF, pelvic +fascia or prostatic sheath; RR, ring which must be cut; L, position of +incision in the lateral operation; DD, position of incisions in the +bilateral operation. + +[151] Diagram of muscles of membranous portion of urethra seen from the +inside:--SS, section of os pubis; U, urethra; G, Guthrie's muscle, +compressor urethræ; W, Wilson's muscle, levator urethræ. + +[152] _Boston Medical and Surgical Journal_, May 29, 1879. + +[153] Gross, _Surgery_, 6th ed. vol. ii. p. 736. + +[154] Holmes's _Surgery_, vol. iv. p. 392. + +[155] See Miller's _Practice of Surgery_, p. 212. + +[156] Solly's _Surgical Experiences_, pp. 537, 538, etc. + +[157] _The Immediate Treatment of Stricture._ By Bernard Holt, F.R.C.S. +London. Third Edition, 1868. + +[158] Holmes's _System of Surgery_, 1st ed. vol. iv. p. 403. + +[159] Diagram of puncture of the bladder:--B, bladder; SP, symphysis +pubis; SC, scrotum; _b_, bulb; _pr_, peritoneum; P, prostate; R, rectum; +S, sacrum and coccyx. + +[160] _Med. Chir. Trans._, vol. XXXV. + +[161] Diagram of operation for phymosis:--_a_, glans penis; _b b_, +mucous membrane exposed by retraction of the skin, and slit up; _c d_, +sutures introduced and ready to be tied, uniting the skin and mucous +membrane. + +[162] To illustrate Teale's operation:--_c_, section of penis _b_, +thread inserted uniting mucous membrane and skin; _a_, thread tied. + +[163] _Med. Times and Gazette_, vol. xix. p. 354. + +[164] Miller's _System of Surgery_, p. 1255. + +[165] Miller's _System of Surgery_, p. 1256. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +TENOTOMY. + + +For convenience' sake I group under this one head certain operations +used for the relief of distortion, in which muscles or tendons are +divided subcutaneously. Since the discovery of the principle by Delpech, +and the application of it by Stromeyer, Dieffenbach, Little, and +countless successors, it has been used for very many cases for which it +is totally inapplicable, _e.g._ for the division of the muscles of the +back in spinal curvature. Still there remain several deformities for the +relief of which subcutaneous tenotomy is a most important remedy; chief +among these are Wry Neck and Club-foot. + + +OPERATION FOR WRY NECK.--_Subcutaneous section of the +sterno-mastoid._--In what cases of wry neck is this operation suitable? +In those only in which the muscles are the starting-point of the +mischief. These are sometimes congenital, more frequently they commence +in childhood. In cases where the distortion depends on disease of the +cervical vertebræ, or is secondary to curvature of the spine, division +of the muscle is worse than useless. + +_Operation._--A tenotomy knife, which should be sharp-pointed, narrow in +the blade, with a blunt back, should be introduced through the skin a +little to one side of the sternal portion of the affected muscle, passed +along with its flat edge between the skin and the tendon, till it has +fairly crossed the tendon; the blade should then be turned so that by a +gradual sawing motion the edge may be made to divide the tendon about an +inch above the sternum. A distinct snap will then be felt or heard, and +the position of the head will be at once much improved. Exercise, warm +bathing, and rubbing, will generally suffice to complete the cure, +without it being necessary to call in the aid of the instrument-maker +with his expensive apparatus.[166] + + +OPERATIONS FOR CLUB-FOOT.--The following are the tendons which _may_ +require division in the cure of club-foot, and the operations for their +division. + +1. _The tendo Achillis._--There are very few cases of true club-foot +which can be successfully treated without division of the tendo +Achillis. While in talipes equinis it is generally the only disturbing +agent, in talipes varus and valgus it invariably increases and maintains +the deformity, which the tibiales or peronei seem to originate. + +_Operation._--The foot being held at about a right angle with the leg, +the operator should pinch up the skin over the tendon, introduce the +knife flatwise, a little to one side of the tendon, till its point is +nearly projecting at the other, then turn the edge on the tendon and cut +inwards with a sawing motion till the tendon gives way with a distinct +snap, and the foot can be completely flexed with ease. + + Dr. Little[167] recommends that the tendon should be divided from + before backwards. There is more risk by this method of wounding the + skin, and thus losing the subcutaneous character of the operation. + + Professor Pancoast[168] divides the inferior portion of the soleus + muscle instead of the tendo Achillis. + +2. _Tibialis posticus._--Next in frequency and importance to that of the +tendo Achillis, division of this tendon is much more difficult to +perform. It may be performed either above or below the ankle. + +(_a._) _Above the ankle._--The blade of a tenotomy knife should be +entered perpendicularly at the posterior margin of the tibia, half an +inch or an inch above the internal malleolus, so as to pass between the +bone and the tendon of the tibialis posticus, the blade directed towards +the latter; the assistant should now evert the foot, the operator +pressing the blade against the tendon.[169] + +(_b._) _Below the ankle, close to the attachment to the scaphoid._ This +is the better position of the two when the position of the tendon can be +made out, which is not always the case, especially in cases of old +standing. + +Raising the skin just over the astragalo-scaphoid joint, the knife +should be entered with its blade downwards, and across the tendon, and +should be made to cut on the bone, while an assistant everts the foot +till the tendon gives way with a distinct snap. + +3. _Tibialis anticus_ may in like manner be divided either just above +the ankle, or at its insertion. When it requires division it can +generally be made so prominent as to render its division comparatively +easy. + +4. _Peronei._--These do not often require division, cases of talipes +valgus being usually paralytic in character. If necessary they can be +cut as they cross the fibula. + +5. _The plantar fascia_, may require division; when this is the case, it +is so prominent as to render the operation very easy, if conducted on +the principles mentioned above. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[166] Syme's _Pathology and Practice of Surgery_, p. 220. + +[167] Holmes's _Surgery_, vol. iii. p. 573. + +[168] Cross's _Surgery_, vol. ii. p. 273, 3d ed. + +[169] Miller's _System of Surgery_, p. 1339; Holmes's _Surgery_, vol. +iii. p. 571. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +OPERATIONS ON NERVES. + + +NERVE-STRETCHING.--Surgical literature in last ten years is full of +cases in which nerves have been stretched for all manner of diseases +with varying success: an example of the operative procedure may +suffice:-- + +1. Stretching of the great sciatic either for sciatica, sclerosis, or +locomotor ataxia. + +_Operation._--A line drawn from the centre of the space between the +tuberosity of the ischium or the great trochanter to a corresponding +point between the condyles of the femur will give the direction. A free +incision in this line three or four inches in length--the nerve lies +just below the the femoral aponeurosis, beneath the edge of gluteal +fold, requiring no muscular fibres to be divided. It must be raised from +its bed and boldly stretched or elongated into a loop. Symington's +experiments have shown that in the average adult 130 lb. are required to +break the nerve. + +2. The facial has been stretched for spasm. The trunk is easily reached +by an incision extending from near the external auditory meatus to the +angle of the jaw, which enables the parotid to be pushed forward and the +edge of the sterno-mastoid pulled backwards. + + +NEUROTOMY AND NEURECTOMY.--Chiefly performed for neuralgia of the fifth +nerve. + +_a._ This is a very easy operation if directed at the terminal branches +only of the nerve, where they make their exit from the frontal, +supraorbital, and mental foramina. The author has done it in very +numerous cases, and with great relief, if care be taken to destroy the +nerve in the foramen to some extent--a sharp-pointed thermo-cautery does +this easily and safely. + +_b._ The more severe and radical operation of cutting out a portion of +the trunk of the fifth nerve just after it has left the skull, and +destroying Meckel's ganglion, has been done pretty frequently, chiefly +by American surgeons--in various ways. + +1. _Carnochan's Operation._--Exposing the whole front wall of antrum, +its cavity is opened into from the front by a large trephine. The lower +wall of the infra-orbital canal is cut away by a chisel, the posterior +wall of the antrum by a smaller trephine, the nerve thus isolated is +traced up to and past Meckel's ganglion, which is removed close to the +foramen rotundum by cutting the nerve by curved blunt-pointed scissors. + +2. _Pancoast's Operation._--Expose the coronoid process by a free +incision, divide it at its root and throw it up, then expose and tie +internal maxillary artery, after which the upper portion of the external +pterygoid is to be detached from the sphenoid, thus exposing the nerve +leaving foramen ovale; the second portion is deeper and not so easily +got at. + +3. The spinal accessory occasionally may be divided before it enters the +sterno-mastoid in cases of spasmodic wry neck, with great advantage. +This operation is an easy one; the sterno-mastoid edge being once fairly +exposed, the nerve is easily seen, and a piece should be cut out at +least half an inch in length. + + +NERVE SUTURE is occasionally practised with great advantage in cases +where nerves have been divided either by accident or in operation. +Catgut seems to be the best medium, and cases are on record in which, +even after months of separation and subsequent paralysis, improvement +has followed an operation for refreshing and joining the divided ends. + + + + +ADDENDUM TO CHAPTER IX. + + +DR. SOLIS COHEN has recently (in a paper read before the Philadelphia +College of Physicians, April 4, 1883) collected the notes of sixty-five +cases of excision of the entire larynx. Fifty-six of these were done for +cancer, and the remainder for sarcomata, papillomata, etc. Of the +fifty-six done for cancer, forty are reported as having died, either +shortly after the operation from shock or pneumonia, or a few months +later from recurrence of the disease. In two instances the disease had +recurred, but death had not been reported when the paper was read. +Fourteen remain in which neither death nor recurrence had been reported. +Dr. Cohen's conclusion is that laryngectomy does not tend to the +prolongation of life, and thinks that the greatest good to the greater +number appears better secured by dependence on the palliative operation +of tracheotomy. + + + + +INDEX. + + +Abdomen, operations on, 222. + +Abernethy on ligature of external iliac, 8. + +Adams on anatomy of common iliac, 4. + on hip deformity, 133. + +Ægineta, Paulus, on excision of joints, 108. + +Allarton on median lithotomy, 269. + +Amputation and excision contrasted, 113. + +Amputation at ankle-joint (Syme's), 78. + of anterior portion of foot (Hey's), 73. + of arm, 62. + at elbow-joint, 61. + through femur, condyles of, 92. + of fingers, 51-54. + of fore-arm, 58. + at hip-joint, 102. + at knee-joint, 92. + of penis, 286. + at shoulder-joint, 63. + at tarsus (Chopart's), 75. + at thigh, 94. + double primary of thigh, 106. + of toes, 69. + at wrist-joint, 56. + +Amussat's operation, 252. + +Anchylosis of elbow, excision for, 122. + +Ankle-joint, excision of, 137. + +Annandale on staphyloraphy, 203. + +Anus, artificial, operation for, 252. + artificial, removal of, 254. + +Arendt, ligature of external iliac, 12. + +Astragalus, excision of, 145. + +Auchincloss on ligature of subclavian, 36. + +Avery, hard palate, fissures of, 203. + + +Barwell on excision of ankle-joint, 139. + on excision of tongue, 199. + +Baudens on amputation at elbow-joint, 61. + on amputation of anterior portion of foot, 75. + on amputation at knee-joint, 92. + +Bauer on recto-vesical lithotomy, 272. + +Begbie, Dr. Warburton, on paracentesis thoracis, 220. + +Bell, Benjamin, on amputation, 49. + on amputation of ankle, 86. + on amputation of thigh, 96. + +Bell, Sir Charles, on ligature of femoral, 22. + +Bell, George, on supra-pubic lithotomy, 271. + +Bell, John, on ligature of gluteal, 14. + +Bey, Gaetani, on amputation above the shoulder-joint, 70. + +Bigelow, Dr., on litholapaxy, 276. + +Billroth, Dr., on fissure of palate, 200. + +Bladder, puncture of, 284. + +Bonnet on radical cure of hernia, 245. + +Botal on amputation, 47. + +Bowditch on paracentesis thoracis, 221. + +Bowman's operation, lachrymal canal, 153. + +Brachial, ligature of, 242. + +Brodie, Sir B. C., on lithotomy, 262. + on lithotrity, 274. + +Bromfield, amputation of leg, 86. + +Brown, Baker, ovariotomy, 231. + +Bryant, on excision of joints, 112. + +Buchanan, Dr. A., on lithotomy, 269. + +Buchanan, Dr. G., on excision of tongue, 198. + +Buchanan, Dr. M., on excision of ankle, 140. + +Buck's operation for anchylosis, 136. + +Butcher, ligature of subclavian, 35. + excision of joints, 110. + excision of wrist-joint, 128. + excision of knee-joint, 135. + excision of metacarpals. 142. + + +Campbell, Professor, on ligature of gluteal, 15. + +Carden's amputation at condyles of femur, 50, 94. + +Carmichael on ligature of gluteal, 14. + +Carnochan on neurectomy, 300. + +Carotid, ligature of common, 28. + ligature of external, 32. + +Cataract operations, 160. + +Celsus on amputation, 48. + on excision of joints, 108. + +Chamberlaine, on ligature of axillary, 40. + +Chassaignac on tracheotomy, 206. + +Cheiloplastics, Syme on, 178. + +Cheselden on amputation, 49. + on lithotomy, 260. + +Chopart's amputation, 75. + +Civiale on lithotrity, 275. + +Club-foot, operations for, 297. + +Cock on oesophagotomy, 216. + paracentesis thoracis, 220. + on puncture of bladder, 285. + +Colles on ligature of brachial, 44. + +Cooper, Sir Astley, on ligature of aorta and iliacs, 3, 10. + on perineal section. 276. + +Cornea, puncture of, 159. + staphylomatous, excision of a, 168. + +Corelysis, 170. + +Crampton, Sir Philip, on excision, 119. + +Crichton on lithotomy, 262. + +Critchett's operation of iridesis, 169. + operation for staphyloma, 172. + +Croft, Mr., on hip disease, 132. + +Culbertson on excision of hip, 132. + +Cullerier on phymosis, 287. + +Curling on operation for artificial anus, 253. + +Cusack on treatment of brachial aneurism, 43. + + +Davies, Redfern, on radical cure of hernia, 244. + +Davy's (Mr. Richard), lever, 105. + +Desault on ligature of axillary, 40. + +Dieffenbach on excision of upper jaw, 191. + +Dieulafoy's aspirateur, 284. + +Dionis' amputation of leg, 87. + +Dubrueil, amputation at wrist, 57. + +Duncan, Mr. J., on artificial anus, 254. + +Dupuytren on ligature of iliac, 11. + on ligature of subclavian, 36. + amputation at elbow-joint, 62. + removal of artificial anus, 254. + on bilateral lithotomy, 268. + +Durand, case of hæmorrhage from iliac, 12. + +Durham on thyrotomy, 215. + +Dzondi on radical cure of hernia, 246. + + +Elbow-Joint, amputation at, 62. + +Ellis on anatomy of iliac arteries, 6. + +Ectropium, 152. + +Entropium, 151. + +Erichsen on excision of hip, 130. + +Esmarch on excision of joints, 110. + +Excision and amputation contrasted, 112. + +Excision of ankle-joint, 138. + of astragalus, 145. + of elbow-joint, 118. + of hip-joint, 128. + of jaw, upper, 188. + of jaw, lower, 191. + of knee-joint, 133. + of mamma, 216. + of scapula, 139. + of shoulder-joint, 115. + of testicle, 290. + of tongue, 197. + of tonsils, 203. + of wrist-joint, 125. + +Eye, operations on, 151. + +Eyeball, extirpation of the, 173. + +Eyelid, tumours on the, 152. + + +Fayrer, Sir J., on tracheotomy, 212. + on radical cure of hernia, 248. + +Femoral, ligature of, 18. + superficial, ligature of, in Scarpa's space, 19. + in Hunter's canal, 21. + +Femur, amputation through condyles of, 92. + +Fergusson, Sir W., on ligature of subclavian, 38. + on amputation at shoulder-joint, 70. + on excision of joints, 110. + on excision of upper jaw, 191. + on excision of lower jaw, 195. + on fissures of palate, 201. + on lithotomy, 262. + +Filkin on excision of joints, 110. + +Fingers, amputation of, 51. + +Fissures in the palate, soft, 200. + in the palate, hard, 202. + of anus, 292. + +Fistula, salivary, operations for, 192. + in ano, operation for, 291. + +Fore-arm, amputation through the, 58. + ligature of vessels in, 44. + +Forster, Mr. Cooper, on gastrotomy, 224. + +Furner, ligature of both subclavians, 38. + + +Gastrectomy, 224. + +Gastrostomy, 223. + +Gastrotomy, 223. + +Gersdorf, Hans de, on amputation, 48. + +Gerdy on radical cure of hernia, 246. + +Gilbert, amputation above the shoulder-joint, 68. + +Gillespie on excision of wrist-joint, 128. + +Gluteal, ligature of, 12. + +Gosselin on colotomy, 253. + +Graefe on strabismus, 158. + on cataract operations, 166. + or iridectomy, 171. + +Green on ligature of subclavian, 38. + +Greenhow on excision of os calcis, 144. + +Greenslade on Bowman's operation, 156. + +Gritti's amputation, 93 + +Gross on amputation at elbow-joint, 61. + on amputation, 81-87. + on excision of hip, 132. + on lithotomy, 262. + on rhinoplastic operation, 178. + on excision of lower jaw, 192. + +Guérin, Jules, on amputation of toes, 76. + on operation for strabismus, 158. + +Guersant on excision of tonsils, 205. + +Guillemeau on amputation at knee-joint, 91. + +Gurlt's statistics, 118, 124. + + +Hæmorrhoids, operations for, 294. + +Hæmatocele, operation for, 289. + +Hamilton on rhinoplastic operations, 177. + +Hancock on excision of hip, 130. + on excision of ankle, 138. + on excision of os calcis, 144. + +Harelip, operations for, 183. + +Harrison on anatomy of iliac, 6. + on brachial aneurism, 44. + +Hart, Mr. Ernest, on flexion of limbs, 24. + +Heath's case of aneurism of innominate, 28. + +Heine on excision of hip, 130. + +Hernia, strangulated inguinal, 232. + strangulated femoral, 237. + strangulated umbilical, 242. + strangulated obturator, 243. + radical cure of, 244. + +Heurtloup on lithotrity, 274. + +Hey on amputation, 48, 73. + +Heyfelder on excisions, 110, 130. + +Hildanus, Fabricius, on amputation, 47, 91. + +Hip-joint, amputation at the, 102. + excision of, 128. + +Hippocrates on excision of joints, 108. + +Hodgson, statistics of aneurism, 12. + ligature of axillary, 40. + +Hodge on excisions 112, 132. + +Hoin on amputation at knee-joint, 92. + +Holmes on excision of hip, 130, 132, 144. + +Holt's operation for stricture, 279. + +Howse, Mr., on gastrotomy, 224. + +Hughes, Dr. on paracentesis thoracis, 220. + +Huguier on colotomy, 253. + +Hunter on ligature of femoral, 21. + +Hutchinson's statistics, 20. + +Hydrocele, operation for, 288. + + +Iliac, ligature of common, 3. + ligature of external, 7. + +Iliac, ligature of internal, 6. + +Innominate, ligature of the, 26. + +Iridectomy, 171. + +Iridesis, 169. + + +Jacobson on cataract operations, 166. + +Jäger on excision of hip, 130. + +James, Mr., on ligature of aorta, 3. + +Jameson on radical cure of hernia, 246. + +Jaw, excision of upper, 188. + excision of lower, 191. + +Johnston, Dr., on amputation at ankle-joint, 84. + +Joints, excision of, 108. + +Jones on excision of joints, 110, 134, 136. + +Jordan, Mr. F., on amputation, 106; + on excision of tongue, 199. + + +Keith, Dr. Thomas, on ovariotomy, 224-227. + +Kirby, Mr., on ligature of iliac, 12. + +Knife, Beer's description of, 164. + +Knee, amputation below and above, 90, 91. + amputation at, 91. + joint, excision of, 132. + + +Lachrymal organs, operations on the, 153. + +Lane, Mr., on amputation at knee-joint, 91. + +Langenbeck on excision of joints, 110, 140. + on fissure in hard palate, 203. + on radical cure of hernia, 245. + +Larrey on amputation at shoulder, 64. + on excision of joints, 109. + +Larynx, operations on the, 206. + +Laryngectomy, 216. + Dr. Solis Cohen on, 302. + +Laryngotomy, 214. + +Laryngo-tracheotomy, 215. + +Layraud, Dr., case of hæmorrhage from iliac, 12. + +Lee, Mr. Henry, amputation of leg, 88. + +Ligature of the aorta, 2. + of the axillary, 38, 39, 40. + of the brachial, 42. + of the carotid, common, 29, 30. + of the carotid, external, 32. + of the femoral, 18, 21. + of the gluteal, 12. + of the iliac, 3. + of the iliac, external, 7. + of the iliac, internal, 6. + of the innominate, 26. + of the lingual, 32. + of the popliteal, 22. + of the subclavian, 33-37. + of the vessels in fore-arm, 45. + +Lips, operations on the, 180. + +Lisfranc on amputation, 52, 74. + +Lister, Professor, on Syme's amputation, 87. + on excision of wrist, 125. + +Liston, Mr., on ligature of subclavian, 36, 37. + on rhinoplastic operations, 177. + on excision of upper jaw, 186. + tracheotomy, 213. + on femoral hernia, 240. + on lithotomy, 262. + +Litholapaxy, Dr. Bigelow on, 276. + +Lithotomy, 255. + +Lithotrity, 278. + +Little on club-foot, 297. + +Lloyd on harelip, 187. + +Lorinzer on obturator hernia, 244. + +Louis on amputation, 48. + +Lower extremity, amputations of, 68. + +Lupus, operative treatment of, 179. + + +Macilwain on tracheotomy, 208. + +Mackenzie, Dr. Morell, on thyrotomy, 215. + +Mackenzie, Dr. R., on modification of Syme's amputation, 83. + on excision of joints, 110, 134. + +Malgaigne on Chopart's amputation, 77. + on harelip, 187. + +Mamma, excision of, 218. + +Manec on ligature of axillary, 40. + +Maunder on excision of the elbow-joint, 122. + +Maclennan, Dr. G., on amputation above the shoulder-joint, 69. + +Metacarpals, amputation of, 54. + excision of, 141. + +Metatarsals, amputation of, 72. + +Miller on amputation of penis, 288. + +Monteiro, Dr., on ligature of aorta, 3. + +Mooren on cataract operations, 166. + +Moreaus, the, on excision of joints, 109, 114, 120, 132, 134. + +Morel, tourniquet invented by, 47. + +Morton, Dr., on radical cure of hernia, 245. + +Murray, Dr., on ligature of aorta, 3. + +Mussey, case of amputation, 70. + +Mynors on amputation, 48. + + +Nasal polypi, removal of, 179. + +Needle operation for cataract, 160. + +Nelaton on harelip, 184. + +Nerve-stretching, 299. + +Nerve suture, 300. + +Neurectomy, 299. + +Neurotomy, 299. + +Norris's statistics, 12, 20, 31. + +Nunneley on excision of tongue, 198. + + +Oesophagotomy, 216. + +Ollier on excision of joints, 110. + +Os calcis, excision of, 143. + +Ovariotomy, 224. + + +Paget on excision of tongue, 198. + +Palate, fissures in soft, 200. + fissures in hard, 202. + +Pancoast, Professor, on rhinoplastic operations, 178. + on radical cure of hernia, 245. + on neurectomy, 300. + on club-foot, 297. + +Paracentesis thoracis, 219. + abdominis, 222. + +Paré, Ambrose, on amputation, 47. + on amputation at elbow-joint, 60. + +Park on excision of joints, 110. + +Peixotto, Dr., on ligature of innominate, 27. + +Penis, amputation of, 287. + +Perineal section, operation of, 273. + +Percy on excision of joints, 109. + +Phymosis, operation for, 285. + +Pirogoff's modification of Syme's amputation, 80, 84. + +Pollock on excision of lower jaw, 193. + +Polypi, nasal, removal of, 179. + anal, removal of, 293. + +Popliteal, ligature of, 22. + +Porta's statistics, 20. + +Porter, Professor, on ligature of innominate, 27. + on ligature of common carotid, 28. + statistics of amputation, 122. + +Post on ligature of iliac, 10. + +Pritchard, Mr., radical cure of hernia, 248. + +Prolapsus ani, 292. + +Pterygium, operation for, 156. + +Puncture of bladder, 284. + +Pupil, operations for artificial, 168. + +Purmannus on amputation, 48. + + +Quain on anatomy of iliac, 4. + on anatomy of brachial, 43. + + +Regnoli on excision of tongue, 199. + +Rhinoplastic operations, 175. + +Richter on radical cure of hernia, 245. + +Ricord on amputation of penis, 287. + +Rigaud on amputation above the shoulder-joint, 67. + +Ritchie, Dr. Charles, on ovariotomy, 224. + +Rodgers, Dr., on ligature of subclavian, 36. + +Rothmund on radical cure of hernia, 247. + +Roux on ligature of subclavian, 38. + on ligature of axillary, 40, + on Chopart's amputation, 77, 78. + + +Sabatier on excision of joints, 109. + +Salivary fistula, operation for, 196. + +Sanson on recto-vesical lithotomy, 271. + +Scalp, tumours of the, removal of 149. + +Scapula, excision of (Syme), 140. + +Schuh on radical cure of hernia, 245. + +Schmucker on radical cure of hernia, 246. + +Scultetus on amputation, 46. + +Sedillot's operation for ligature of carotid, 30. + on excision of hip, 132. + +Shoulder-joint, amputation at the, 66. + excision of, 115. + +Signoroni on radical cure of hernia, 247. + +Sims, Dr. M., on lithotomy, 272. + +Smith, Dr. Nathan, on amputation at knee-joint, 91. + +Smith, Thomas, on staphyloraphy, 200. + +Smith, Dr. Tyler, on ovariotomy, 231. + +Smyth on subclavian aneurism, 27. + +Skey on ligature of subclavian, 38. + on amputation, 74, 91. + on excision of wrist, 127. + on rhinoplastic operation, 178. + on lithotomy, 262. + +Solis Cohen, Dr., on laryngectomy, 302. + +Solomon on strabismus, 158. + +South on ligature of aorta, 3. + +Spence, Professor, on amputation, 50, 66, 89, 100. + on excision of shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints, 118, 124, 128, 136. + +Sperino on puncture of cornea, 159. + +Stanley on excision of shoulder, 117. + +Steven, Professor, on ligature of internal iliac, 15. + +Strabismus, convergent, 156. + divergent, 157. + +Streatfeild on entropium, 151. + on corelysis, 170. + +Stricture, operation for, 276. + +Stokes's amputation, 94. + +Stromeyer on excision of joints, 110. + +Subclavian, ligature of right, 34. + ligature of left, 35. + +Surgeon-General, United States, statistical report by, 82. + +Syme, Mr., on amputation at ankle-joint, 78. + on amputation through condyles of femur, 92. + on amputation at hip-joint, 106. + on amputation above the shoulder-joint, 73. + on modified circular amputation, 101. + on axillary aneurism, operation for, 41. + on cheiloplastic operation, 181. + Chopart's amputation introduced by, 77. + on excision of lower jaw, 191. + on excision of joints, 111-120. + on excision of scapula, 140. + on excision of tongue, 197. + on ligature of femoral, 20. + on ligature of gluteal, 14, 15. + on radical cure of hernia, 247. + on Hey's operation, 73. + on oesophagotomy, 216. + on removal of polypi, 180. + on rhinoplastic operation, 175. + on stricture, 278-282. + + +Tait on ligature of iliac, 10, 12. + +Taliacotian operation, 178. + +Tarso-metatarsal joint, amputation at, 72. + +Tarsus, amputation through the, 75. + +Teale on amputation, 50. + on amputation of fore-arm, 59. + on amputation of arm, 63. + on amputation of leg, 89. + on amputation of thigh, 98. + on amputation of penis, 288. + +Teale, T. P., on cataract, 163. + +Tenotomy, 296. + +Testicle, excision of, 290. + +Textor on amputation at elbow-joint, 60. + +Thigh, amputations of, 96. + +Thompson on lithotrity, 275. + on stricture, 277. + +Thorax, operations on the, 218. + +Thyrotomy, 215. + +Toes, amputations of, 68. + +Tongue, excision of, 197. + +Tonsils, excision of, 203. + +Tracheotomy, 206-214. + +Trephining and trepanning, 147. + +Trichiasis, 151. + +Tripier's amputation, 78. + +Trocar of Sir S. Wells described, 227. + +Tumours of scalp, removal of, 149. + of eyelids, removal of, 152. + +Tyrrell on treatment of brachial aneurism, 43. + + +Upper extremity, amputation of, 50. + +Urethra, stricture of, 276. + + +Velpeau on ligature of iliac, 12. + on ligature of subclavian, 38. + on amputation at elbow-joint, 60. + on amputation at knee-joint, 91. + on radical cure of hernia, 245. + +Vermale on amputation of thigh, 102. + +Verneuil on Chopart's amputation, 78. + +Vessels of fore-arm, ligature of, 44. + + +Wakley on stricture, 279. + +Warren on fissure of hard palate, 203. + +Watson, Dr. P. H., on excision, 135. + on excision of elbow-joint, 123. + on laryngectomy, 216. + +Wells, Sir Spencer, on ovariotomy, 224-229. + trocar, 227. + hernia, radical cure of, 247. + +White on amputation of leg, 86. + on excision of joints, 110. + +Whitehead, Mr. W., on excision of tongue, 199. + +Willet on oesophagotomy, 216. + +Wood's statistics, 30. + on joints, 134. + on radical cure of hernia, 248-251. + +Wry neck, operation for, 296. + +Wrist-joint, amputation at, 55. + excision of, 124. + +Wützer on radical cure of hernia, 247. + +Wyeth, Dr., statistics, 36, 38. + + +Young, James, tourniquet introduced by, 47. + + +Zehender's statistics, 30. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A MANUAL OF THE OPERATIONS OF +SURGERY*** + + +******* This file should be named 24564-8.txt or 24564-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/5/6/24564 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: A Manual of the Operations of Surgery</p> +<p> For the Use of Senior Students, House Surgeons, and Junior Practitioners</p> +<p>Author: Joseph Bell</p> +<p>Release Date: February 11, 2008 [eBook #24564]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A MANUAL OF THE OPERATIONS OF SURGERY***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Michael Ciesielski, Pilar Somoza Fernández,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<div class="note"> +<p class="noind">Transcriber's note:<br /> +<br /> +Spelling mistakes have been left in the text to +match the original, except for obvious typographical errors, +marked <ins class="correction" title="text reads 'llike this'">like this</ins>.</p> +</div> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h1>A MANUAL</h1> +<h5 class="gap">OF THE</h5> +<h1 class="gap">OPERATIONS OF SURGERY</h1> +<h5 class="gap">FOR THE USE OF</h5> +<h3 class="gap">SENIOR STUDENTS, HOUSE SURGEONS, AND<br/> +JUNIOR PRACTITIONERS.</h3> + + +<h4 class="gap">ILLUSTRATED.</h4> + + +<h2 class="biggap">BY JOSEPH BELL, F.R.C.S. <span class="smcap">Edin.</span></h2> + +<h5>LECTURER ON CLINICAL SURGERY, SURGEON TO THE ROYAL INFIRMARY AND TO<br/> +THE EYE INFIRMARY, AND LATE DEMONSTRATOR OF ANATOMY<br/> +IN THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH.</h5> + +<h4 class="biggap"><i>FIFTH EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED.</i></h4> + + +<h3 class="biggap">EDINBURGH: MACLACHLAN & STEWART,</h3> +<h5>BOOKSELLERS TO THE UNIVERSITY.</h5> +<h3>LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & CO.</h3> + +<h3 class="gap">1883.</h3> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<p class="center noind">TO THE MEMORY OF</p> +<h3>JAMES SYME, ESQ., F.R.C.S. AND F.R.S.E.</h3> +<p class="center noind">SURGEON TO THE QUEEN IN SCOTLAND</p> + +<p class="center noind">PROFESSOR OF CLINICAL SURGERY<br/> +IN THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH<br/> +ETC. ETC.</p> + +<p class="center noind">THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED<br/> +BY HIS OLD HOUSE-SURGEON AND ASSISTANT</p> + +<p class="sign">THE AUTHOR.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<h2>PREFACE TO FIFTH EDITION.</h2> + + +<p class="blockind">To retain the small size of the work and to keep it up to date have been +the Author's aim in the Fifth Edition.</p> + + +<div class="blockind">20 <span class="smcap">Melville Street, Edinburgh</span>, +<p><i>August 1883.</i></p></div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<h2>PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.</h2> + + +<p>Having been asked, year after year, by the members of my Class for +Operative Surgery, to recommend to them some Manual of Surgical +Operations which might at once guide them in their choice of operations, +and give minute details as to the mode of performance, I have been +gradually led to undertake the production of this little work.</p> + +<p>My aim has been to describe as simply as possible those operations which +are most likely to prove useful, and especially those which, from their +nature, admit of being practised on the dead body.</p> + +<p>In accordance with this plan, neither historical completeness of detail, +nor much variety in the methods of performing any given operation, is to +be expected. Hence, also, many omissions which would be unpardonable in +the briefest system of Surgery are unavoidable. For example, excision of +tumours and operations for necrosis are hardly mentioned, because for +these no special instructions can well be given; for, while general +principles may guide us to <i>what</i> should be done, the special +circumstances of each case must dictate <i>how</i> it is to be done.</p> + +<p>In such a work as this, to attempt originality would be undesirable and +intrusive; a judicious selection, a faithful compilation, are all that +can be expected.</p> + +<p>That the selection of operations may sometimes show "Northern +Proclivities" is possible; and this is perhaps not unnatural to a +scholar and teacher in the Edinburgh School.</p> + +<p>An earnest endeavour has been used to make the references correct and +copious: for any mistakes or omissions the author would crave +indulgence.</p> + +<p>The four plates which precede the letterpress were drawn on wood (from +original photographs) by Mr. D.W. Williamson, Melbourne Place, and the +lines of incision for the various operations were added by the author.</p> + +<p>The rough woodcuts scattered through the work were drawn on wood by the +author, and for their roughness he, not his engraver, is responsible. He +also hopes that the references in the letterpress will be accepted as +sufficient acknowledgment of the true ownership, in those few instances +in which the idea of the diagram has been borrowed.</p> + +<p>It has been thought unnecessary to introduce woodcuts of surgical +instruments, as the illustrated catalogues lately published by Weiss, +Maw, and others, are sufficiently accurate.</p> + +<p>In excuse of the frequent baldness and brevity of the style, the author +must point to the size and price of the work. Its composition would have +been easier had its dimensions been greater.</p> + +<p>Though intended chiefly to guide the studies, on the dead subject, of +students and junior practitioners, the author ventures to hope that the +Manual may be useful to those who, in the public services, in the +colonies, or in lonely country districts, find themselves constrained to +attempt the performance of operations which, in the towns, usually fall +to the lot of a few Hospital Surgeons.</p> + + +<p class="sign">JOSEPH BELL.</p> + +<div class="blockquot">5 <span class="smcap">Castle Terrace, Edinburgh</span>, +<p><i>July 1866.</i></p></div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 30%" /> + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + + +<table cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" width="80%" summary="chapters"> +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="bfont">CHAPTER I.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="mfont">LIGATURE OF ARTERIES.</div></td></tr> + + +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="tdr mfont">PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Ligature of Arteries—General Maxims—Ligature of +Aorta—Iliacs—Gluteal—Femoral—Popliteal—Innominate—Carotids— +Lingual—Subclavian—Brachial, etc.,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_1">1</a>-<a href="#Page_45">45</a></td> +</tr> + + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="bfont">CHAPTER II.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="mfont">AMPUTATIONS.</div></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +Eras of Amputation—Flap and Circular compared—Special Amputation of +Arm and Leg,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_46">46</a>-<a href="#Page_107">107</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="bfont">CHAPTER III.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="mfont">EXCISION OF JOINTS.</div></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +Brief Historical Sketch—Comparison of Excisions with +Amputations—Special Excisions of the six larger Joints—Excisions of +smaller Joints and Bones,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_108">108</a>-<a href="#Page_146">146</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="bfont">CHAPTER IV.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="mfont">OPERATIONS ON CRANIUM AND SCALP.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"> +Trephining—Excision of Wens,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_147">147</a>-<a href="#Page_150">150</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="bfont">CHAPTER V.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="mfont">OPERATIONS ON THE EYE AND ITS APPENDAGES.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl">Entropium and Ectropium—Trichiasis—Tarsal Tumours—On Lachrymal +Organs—Mr. Bowman's Operation—Pterygium—Strabismus, convergent and +divergent—Paracentesis of the Anterior Chamber—Operations for Cataract +by Displacement, Solution, and Extraction—Various methods of +Extraction—Operations for Artificial +Pupil—Iridesis—Corelysis—Iridectomy—Excision of Staphyloma—Excision +of Eyeball,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_151">151</a>-<a href="#Page_174">174</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="bfont">CHAPTER VI.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="mfont">OPERATIONS ON THE NOSE AND LIPS.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl">Rhinoplastic Operations from Cheek, Forehead, and elsewhere—Removal of +Nasal Polypi—Excision of Cancers of Lips—Cheiloplastic +Operations—Operations for Harelip,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_175">175</a>-<a href="#Page_187">187</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="bfont">CHAPTER VII.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="mfont">OPERATIONS ON THE JAWS.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl">Excision of Upper Jaw—Of Lower Jaw,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_188">188</a>-<a href="#Page_195">195</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="bfont">CHAPTER VIII.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="mfont">OPERATIONS ON MOUTH AND THROAT.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl">For Salivary Fistula—Excision of Tongue, complete and partial—Fissures +of the Palate, soft and hard—Excision of Tonsils,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_196">196</a>-<a href="#Page_205">205</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="bfont">CHAPTER IX.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="mfont">OPERATIONS ON AIR PASSAGES.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl">Larynx and +Trachea—Tracheotomy—Tubes—Laryngotomy—Œsophagotomy—[see +Addendum, p. <a href="#Page_302">302</a>],</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_206">206</a>-<a href="#Page_217">217</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="bfont">CHAPTER X.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="mfont">OPERATIONS ON THORAX.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl">Excision of Mamma—Paracentesis Thoracis,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_218">218</a>-<a href="#Page_221">221</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="bfont">CHAPTER XI.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="mfont">OPERATIONS ON ABDOMEN.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl">Paracentesis Abdominis—Gastrotomy—Ovariotomy—Operation for +Strangulated Hernia—Inguinal—Femoral—Umbilical—Operations for the +Radical Cure of Hernia,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_222">222</a>-<a href="#Page_255">255</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="bfont">CHAPTER XII.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="mfont">OPERATIONS ON PELVIS.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl">Lithotomy—Varieties—Lithotrity—Operations for Stricture—Puncture of +the Bladder—Phymosis—Amputation of +Penis—Hydrocele—Hæmatocele—Castration—Operation for +Fistula—Fissure—Polypi of Rectum—Piles,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_256">256</a>-<a href="#Page_295">295</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="bfont">CHAPTER XIII.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="mfont">TENOTOMY.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl">On Tenotomy for Wry Neck and Club Foot,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_296">296</a>-<a href="#Page_298">298</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="bfont">CHAPTER XIV.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"><div class="mfont">OPERATIONS ON NERVES.</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl">Nerve-stretching—Nerve-cutting—Nerve suture,</td><td class="tdr"><span class="tog"><a href="#Page_299">299</a>-<a href="#Page_301">301</a></span></td></tr> + + +<tr><td class="tdl"><div class="gap"><span class="smcap">Addendum</span> to Chapter IX.,</div></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_302">302</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Index</span>,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_305">303</a>-<a href="#Page_311">311</a></td></tr> +</table> + + + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> + +<div class="tdiv"> +<p><span class="tablenum smcap">page</span><span class="smcap"> </span></p> + +<ol> +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_50">50</a></span>Amputations of Fingers,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_50">50</a></span>Diagram of Finger showing Articulations,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_57">57</a></span>Dubrueil's Amputation at Wrist (front view),</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_57">57</a></span> " " (dorsal view),</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_69">69</a></span>Amputations of Toes,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_126">126</a></span>Excision of Wrist-joint—Lister's,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_151">151</a></span>Operations for Ectropium and Entropium,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_151">151</a></span>Operation for Trichiasis—Streatfeild's,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_155">155</a></span>Operation for Epiphora—Bowman's,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_156">156</a></span>Greenslade's Instrument for above,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_157">157</a></span>Operations for Squint,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_162">162</a></span>Linear Extraction of Cataract,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_162">162</a></span>Flap Extraction of Cataract,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_171">171</a></span>Operation of Corelysis—Streatfeild's,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_172">172</a></span>Operation for Staphyloma—Critchett's,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_172">172</a></span>Result of above,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_176">176</a></span>Rhinoplastic Operation from Cheek,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_177">177</a></span> " " Forehead,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_181">181</a></span>Operation on Lip, V-shaped incision,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_181">181</a></span>Operation on Lip, by scissors,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_182">182</a></span>Operation for a new Lip, incisions,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_182">182</a></span>Operation for New Lip sewed up,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_184">184</a></span>Diagram of Partial Fissure (Harelip),</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_184">184</a></span>Nelaton's Operation for ditto,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_185">185</a></span>Operation for Double Harelip,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_186">186</a></span>Diagram of Double Harelip,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_189">189</a></span>Excision of Upper and Lower Jaws,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_196">196</a></span>Operation for Salivary Fistula,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_201">201</a></span>Operation for Fissure in Soft Palate,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_203">203</a></span>Operation for Fissure in Hard Palate,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_207">207</a></span>Diagram illustrating Operations on Air Passages,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_241">241</a></span>Diagram illustrating Operations for Hernia,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_253">253</a></span>Diagram of an Artificial Anus,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_257">257</a></span>Diagram of Section of Prostate,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_259">259</a></span>Diagram of Membranous portion of Urethra,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_284">284</a></span>Diagram illustrating Puncture of Bladder,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_286">286</a></span>Diagram of Operation for Phymosis,</li> + +<li><span class="tablenum"><a href="#Page_287">287</a></span>Diagram of Amputation of Penis,</li> +</ol> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 436px;"> +<a name="plate_i"><img src="images/f003.jpg" width="436" height="600" alt="Plate I" title="Plate I" /></a> +</div> + + +<h3>PLATE I.</h3> + +<table class="tdiv" summary="plate1"> +<tr><td class="tdn">1.</td> +<td class="tdl">Ligature of Aorta—Sir A. Cooper's incision.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">2.</td> +<td class="tdl">Ligature of Aorta—South and Murray's incision.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">3.</td> +<td class="tdl">Ligature of Common Iliac.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">4.</td> +<td class="tdl">Ligature of External Iliac—Sir A. Cooper's.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">5.</td> +<td class="tdl">Ligature of Femoral in Scarpa's triangle.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">6.</td> +<td class="tdl">Ligature of Femoral below Sartorius.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">7.</td> +<td class="tdl">Ligature of Innominate.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">8.</td> +<td class="tdl">Ligature of third part of Left Subclavian.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">9.</td> +<td class="tdl">Ligature of Axillary in its first part.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">10.</td> +<td class="tdl">Ligature of Axillary in its third part.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">11.</td> +<td class="tdl">Ligature of Brachial.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">12.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation of Arm by double flaps.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">13.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at Shoulder-joint (1st method), showing portion of skin +left uncut till the conclusion of the disarticulation.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">14.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at Ankle-joint by internal flap—Mackenzie's.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn"><span class="tog">15-16.</span></td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation of Leg just above the Ankle-joint.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">17-18.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation below Knee—modified circular.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">19.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation through Condyles of Femur—Syme, and Pl. III. 5.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">20.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at lower third of Thigh—Syme, and Pl. III. 6.</td></tr> +</table> + +<div><br/></div> + +<table class="tdiv" summary="plate"> +<tr><td class="tdn">A.</td> +<td class="tdl">Excision of Head of Humerus.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">B.</td> +<td class="tdl">Excision of Knee-joint; semilunar incision.</td></tr> +</table> + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<a name="plate_ii"><img src="images/f002.jpg" width="300" height="600" alt="Plate II" title="Plate II" /></a> +</div> + + +<h3>PLATE II.</h3> + +<table class="tdiv" summary="Plate II"> +<tr><td class="tdn">1.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at lower third of Fore-arm—Teale's.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">2-2.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at Shoulder-joint by large postero-external flap—2d +method.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">3-3.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at Shoulder-joint by triangular flap from deltoid—3d +method.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">4-5.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation through Tarsus—Chopart's.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">6-7.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at Knee-joint.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">8.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation by Single Flap—Carden's, and Pl. IV. 16.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">9-10.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation of Thigh—Teale's.</td></tr> +</table> + +<div><br/></div> + +<table class="tdiv" summary="Plate II-B"> +<tr><td class="tdn">A.</td> +<td class="tdl">Excision of Hip-joint.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">B-B.</td> +<td class="tdl">Excision of Ankle-joint—Hancock's incisions.</td></tr> +</table> + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 271px;"> +<a name="plate_iii"><img src="images/f001.jpg" width="271" height="600" alt="Plate III" title="Plate III" /></a> +</div> + + +<h3>PLATE III.</h3> + +<table class="tdiv" summary="Plate III"> +<tr><td class="tdn">1.</td> +<td class="tdl">Ligature of Popliteal.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">2.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at Elbow-joint—posterior flap.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">3.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at Shoulder-joint—posterior incision of first method, and +Pl. I. 13.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">4.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at Ankle-joint—Mackenzie's, and Pl. I. 14.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">5.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation through Condyles of Femur—Syme, and Pl. I. 19.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">6.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at lower third of Thigh—Syme, and Pl. I. 20.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">7.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at Knee—posterior incision.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">8.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation of Thigh—Spence's, and at Pl. IV. 18.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">9.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at Hip-joint, and Pl. IV. 20.</td></tr> +</table> + +<div><br/></div> + +<table class="tdiv" summary="Plate III-B"> +<tr><td class="tdn">A.</td> +<td class="tdl">Excision of Shoulder-joint—deltoid flap.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">B.</td> +<td class="tdl">Excision of Shoulder-joint by posterior incision.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">C.</td> +<td class="tdl">Excision of Elbow-joint—H-shaped incision.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">D.</td> +<td class="tdl">Excision of Elbow-joint—linear incision.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">E.</td> +<td class="tdl">Excision of Hip-joint—Gross's.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">F.</td> +<td class="tdl">Excision of Os Calcis.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">G.</td> +<td class="tdl">Excision of Scapula.</td></tr> +</table> + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 441px;"> +<a name="plate_iv"><img src="images/f000.jpg" width="441" height="550" alt="Plate IV" title="Plate IV" /></a> +</div> + + +<h3>PLATE IV.</h3> + +<table class="tdiv" summary="Plate IV"> +<tr><td class="tdn">1.</td> +<td class="tdl">Ligature of Carotid.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">2.</td> +<td class="tdl">Ligature of Subclavian (3d stage)—Skey's incision.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">3.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at Wrist-joint—dorsal incision.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">4.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at Wrist-joint—palmar incision.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">5.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at Fore-arm—dorsal incision.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">6.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at Fore-arm—palmar incision.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">7.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at Elbow-joint—Anterior flap, and Pl. III. 3.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">8.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at Arm—Teale's method.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">9.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at Shoulder-joint—1st method, and Pl. III. 3.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">10-11.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation of Metatarsus—Hey's.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">12-13.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at Ankle—Syme's.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">14-15.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation of Leg—posterior flap—Lee's.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">16.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at Knee-joint—Carden's, and Pl. II. 8.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">17.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation of Thigh—B. Bell's.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">18.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation of Thigh—Spence's, and Pl. III. 8.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">19.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation of Thigh in middle third.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">20-20.</td> +<td class="tdl">Amputation at Hip-joint, and Pl. III. 9.</td></tr> +</table> + +<div><br/></div> + +<table class="tdiv" summary="Plate IV-B"> +<tr><td class="tdn">A.</td> +<td class="tdl">Excision of Wrist—radial incision.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdn">B.</td> +<td class="tdl">Excision of Wrist—ulnar incision.</td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="noind"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">{1}</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>LIGATURE OF ARTERIES.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Ligature of Arteries.</span>—In a work of this nature there is no room for any +discussion of the principles which should guide us in the selection of +cases, or of the pathology of aneurism, or the local effects of the +ligature on the vessels. One or two fundamental axioms may be given in a +few words:—</p> + +<p>1. In selecting the spot for the application of the ligature, avoid as +far as possible bifurcations, or the neighbourhood of large collateral +branches.</p> + +<p>2. A free incision should be made through the skin and subjacent +textures, till the sheath of the artery is reached and fairly exposed.</p> + +<p>3. The sheath must be opened and the artery cleaned with a sharp knife +till the white external coat is clearly seen. The portion cleaned +should, however, be as small as possible, consistent with thorough +exposure, so that the ligature may be passed round the vessel without +force.</p> + +<p>4. As the artery should never be raised from its bed, it is generally +advisable to pass the needle only so far as just to permit the eye to be +seen past the vessel. The ligature should then be seized by a pair of +forceps and gently pulled through, the needle being cautiously +withdrawn. When catgut is used, it is better to pass the unarmed needle +till the eye is visible, then thread and withdraw it, thus pulling the +catgut through.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">{2}</a></span></p> + +<p>5. As a rule, the needle should be passed from the side of the vessel at +which the chief dangers exist. This will generally be in the side at +which the vein is.</p> + +<p>6. The ligature should be single, and consist of strong well-waxed silk, +and should always be drawn as tight as possible, so as to divide the +internal and middle coats of the vessel. In cases where the wound is to +be treated with antiseptic precautions and an attempt at immediate union +made, the ligature may be of strong catgut properly prepared, and both +ends of it may be cut off.</p> + +<p>7. Before the ligature is tightened, it is well to feel that pressure +between the ligature and the finger arrests the pulsation of the tumour.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ligature of the Aorta.</span>—It has been found necessary in a few rare cases +to place a ligature on the abdominal aorta; no case has as yet survived +the operation beyond a very few days, but they have in their progress +sufficiently proved that the circulation can be carried on, and gangrene +does not necessarily result even after such a decided interference with +vascular supply.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—The ligature may be applied in one of two ways, the choice +being influenced by the nature of the disease for which it is done.</p> + +<p>1. A straight incision (<a href="#plate_i">Plate I</a>. fig. 1) in the linea alba, just +avoiding the umbilicus by a curve, and dividing the peritoneum, allows +the intestines to be pushed aside, and the aorta exposed still covered +by the peritoneum, as it lies in front of the lumbar vertebræ. The +peritoneum must again be divided very cautiously at the point selected, +and the aortic plexus of nerves carefully dissected off, in order that +they may not be interfered with by the ligature. The ligature should +then be passed round, tied, cut short, and the wound accurately sewed +up.</p> + +<p>2. Without wounding the peritoneum.</p> + +<p>A curved incision (<a href="#plate_i">Plate I</a>. fig. 2), with its convexity<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">{3}</a></span> backwards, from +the projecting end of the tenth rib to a point a little in front of the +anterior superior spinous process of the ilium. At first through the +skin and fascia only, this incision must be continued through the +muscles of the abdominal wall, one by one, till the transversalis fascia +is exposed, which must then be scraped through very cautiously, so as +not to injure the peritoneum, which is to be detached from the fascia +covering the psoas and iliacus muscles, and must be held inwards and out +of the way by bent copper spatulæ. The common iliac will then be felt +pulsating, and on it the finger may easily be guided up until the aorta +is reached.</p> + +<p>The really difficult part of the operation now begins: to isolate the +vessel from the spine behind, the inferior cava on the right side, and +the plexus of nerves in the cellular tissue all round. The cleaning of +the vessel must be done in great measure by the finger-nail, and much +dexterity will be required to pass the ligature without unnecessarily +raising the vessel from its bed, especially as the vessel itself may +very possibly be diseased, and the aneurism of the iliac trunk for which +the operation is required will displace and confuse the parts, and may +have set up adhesive inflammation.</p> + +<p><i>Results.</i>—Operation has been performed at least ten times. By the +first method by Sir Astley Cooper and Mr. James; by the second by Drs. +Murray and Monteiro, M'Guire, Heron Watson, and Stokes, and Mr. South, +and Czerny of Heidelberg. All the cases proved fatal; Dr. Monteiro's +survived for ten days, and eventually perished from hæmorrhage; the rest +all died at shorter intervals.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ligature of Common Iliac.</span>—<i>Anatomical Note.</i>—This short thick trunk +varies slightly in its relations on the two sides of the body. As the +aorta bifurcates on the left side of the body of the fourth lumbar +vertebra,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">{4}</a></span> the common iliac of the right side would have a longer course +to pursue than that on the left, if both ended at corresponding points. +However, this is not always the case, as has been pointed out by Mr. +Adams of Dublin, as the right common iliac often bifurcates sooner than +the left does. With this slight difference, the position of the two +vessels is precisely similar, each extending along the brim of the +pelvis from the bifurcation of the aorta towards the sacro-iliac +synchondrosis for about two inches. Sometimes the division takes place a +little higher, even at the junction of the last lumbar vertebra and the +sacrum. This variation depends chiefly on the length of the artery, +which, as Quain has shown, varies from one inch and a half to more than +three inches.</p> + +<p>The anterior surface of both arteries is covered by the peritoneum, and +each is crossed by the ureter just as it bifurcates into its branches.</p> + +<p>The artery of the right side is in close contact behind with its +corresponding vein, which at its upper part projects to the outside, and +below to the inner side. The artery of the left side is less involved +with its vein, which lies below it, and to the inside. The right is in +contact with a coil of ileum, the left with the colon. The inferior +mesenteric artery crosses the left one, while to the outside of both, +and behind them, lie the sympathetic and obdurator nerves.</p> + +<p>There are no named branches from the common iliac.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—The chief difficulties to be encountered are—1. The close +proximity of the peritoneum, and specially the risk there is that it has +become adherent to the sac of the aneurism; 2. The depth of the parts, +and tendency of the intestines to roll into the wound; 3. Specially on +the right side, the proximity of the great veins. With these exceptions +the passing of the ligature is not so difficult as in some situations, +the lax cellular tissue in which the vessel lies generally yielding much +more easily than the tough sheath which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">{5}</a></span> elsewhere, as in the femoral, +requires accurate dissection.</p> + +<p><i>Incision.</i>—(<a href="#plate_i">Plate I.</a> fig. 3.)—From a point about half an inch above +the centre of Poupart's ligament, a crescentic incision should be made, +at first extending upwards and outwards, so as to pass about one inch +inside of the anterior superior spine of the ilium, and then prolonged +upwards and inwards, as far as may be rendered necessary by the size of +the aneurism or the depth of parts. It must extend through skin and +superficial fascia, exposing the tendon of the external oblique, which +must then be slit up to the full extent visible. The spermatic cord may +then be easily exposed under the edge of the internal oblique, and the +forefinger of the left hand inserted on the cord, and thus beneath the +internal oblique and transversalis muscles, the peritoneum being quite +safe below.</p> + +<p>On the finger these muscles may be safely divided to the full extent of +the external incision. The deep circumflex iliac artery if possible +should not be divided, but may bleed smartly and require a ligature.</p> + +<p>The peritoneum must then be very cautiously raised from the tumour, and +supported, along with the intestines, by copper spatulæ. The surgeon +will rarely succeed in obtaining anything like a satisfactory view of +the vessel, but can expose it for the ligature by the aid of his +finger-nail. An ordinary aneurism-needle will generally suffice for the +conveyance of the ligature.</p> + +<p>The difficulties may occasionally be much increased by special +circumstances, such as great stoutness of the patient, and consequent +thickness of the abdominal wall; or large size of the aneurism, which +may cause alterations in the relation of parts and adhesion of the +peritoneum. The ureter generally gives no trouble, as in pressing back +the peritoneum it is adherent to it, and is removed along with it +towards the middle line.</p> + +<p><i>Results.</i>—Are not by any means satisfactory.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">{6}</a></span></p> + +<p>Out of twenty-two cases in which the common iliac has been tied for +aneurism, eight recovered and fourteen died; while out of thirteen cases +where it required ligature for hæmorrhage after amputation, rupture of +aneurism, etc., only one recovered.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ligature of Internal Iliac.</span>—Little need be added to the account just +given of the operation for ligature of the common iliac, as precisely +the same incisions are required. The operator having reached the +bifurcation of the vessel, must, instead of tracing it upwards, +endeavour to trace it downwards, and the same time inwards, into the +basin of the pelvis. To do this his finger must cross the external iliac +artery, which will pulsate under the joint of the ungual phalanx, while +the pulp of the finger is touching the internal iliac,—the external +iliac vein, which occupies the angle formed by the bifurcation of the +artery, lying between these two points. The ligature should be applied +within three-quarters of an inch from the bifurcation.</p> + +<p><i>Anatomical Note.</i>—This short thick trunk extends backwards and inwards +(Ellis); downwards and backwards (Harrison), in front of the sacro-iliac +synchondrosis, as far as the upper extremity of the great sacro-sciatic +notch, a distance varying in the adult from one and a half to two inches +in length. It forms a curve with its concavity forwards, and at its +termination divides into, rather than gives off, its two or three +principal branches. Its corresponding vein is in close contact behind, +as also the lumbo-sacral nerve, the obdurator nerve to its outer side. +The peritoneum covers it anteriorly, and it is crossed just at its +commencement by the ureter. On the left side it is covered anteriorly by +the rectum. Of its anatomical relations, that of the external iliac vein +is perhaps the most important, as it is apt to interfere with the +passing of the needle.</p> + +<p><i>Results.</i>—This vessel has been tied for aneurism of one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">{7}</a></span> or other of +its branches, or for wound, about seventeen times.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> Of these seven +recovered; in ten the operation proved fatal, in most of them from +secondary hæmorrhage. In one case the hæmorrhage occurred within twelve +hours after the operation. The circulation of the parts supplied after +the ligature is carried on mainly by the lumbar and lateral sacral +branches, which become much developed even before the operation, in +cases of aneurism.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ligature of External Iliac.</span>—<i>Anatomical Note.</i>—This artery extends +from the bifurcation of the common iliac to the centre of Poupart's +ligament, where it leaves the abdomen, passing under the ligament, and +becomes the common femoral. Its upper extremity is thus not always +constant, varying in position from the sacro-lumbar fibro-cartilage to +the upper end of the sacro-iliac synchondrosis, or even a little lower +down. Thus, though the position of the lower end is at a fixed point, +the artery varies in length. In an adult male of moderate stature it is +from three and a half to four inches in length. On the surface of the +abdomen the position of this vessel would be indicated by a line drawn +from about an inch on either side of the umbilicus to the middle of the +space between the symphysis pubis and the crest of the ilium. Its +relations to neighbouring parts are as follows:—The peritoneum lies <i>in +front</i> of it, separated from it only by a subperitoneal layer of loose +fascia, in which the artery and vein lie, which varies much in +consistence and amount, and which occasionally gives a good deal of +trouble in the operation of ligature. Near its origin it is sometimes +crossed by the ureter, and near its termination the genito-crural nerve +lies on it. The spermatic vessels cross it, and occasionally a quantity +of subperitoneal fat marks its course. <i>Externally.</i>—The fascia-iliaca +and some fibres of the psoas<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">{8}</a></span> muscle separate it from the anterior +crural nerve, which lies outside of the vessel, and at a somewhat deeper +level, hidden amid the fibres of psoas and iliacus. <i>Internally.</i>—The +external iliac vein lies on the same plane, and to the inner side of the +artery, at Poupart's ligament, on both sides of the body. As we trace it +upwards we find that on the left side it lies internal to the artery in +its whole course, while on the right side it becomes posterior to the +artery as it approaches the bifurcation of the common iliac. Lastly, +just before the vessel reaches Poupart, the circumflex iliac vein +crosses it from within outwards.</p> + +<p><i>Branches.</i>—The two large branches to the wall of the abdomen, the +epigastric and the circumflex iliac, rise a few lines above Poupart's +ligament. Their position is unfortunately apt to vary upwards, to the +extent of an inch and a half or even two inches, and they are important, +as, besides being liable to be cut during the operation, their position +very materially modifies the prognosis, as, if too high up, they +interfere with the proper formation of the coagulum.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—Various plans of incision through the skin have been +recommended by various operators, the chief difference being with regard +to the part of the artery aimed at; the plan known as that of Mr. +Abernethy, with various modifications, being intended to expose the +artery pretty high up, and enable the surgeon to reach it from above; +while the method going by the name of Sir Astley Cooper's exposes the +lower part of the artery, and enables the surgeon to reach it from +below. Though the latter is in some respects easier, the former method +is generally to be preferred, being further from the seat of disease, +and especially more out of the way of the epigastric and circumflex +arteries.</p> + +<p>The higher operation (<span class="smcap">Abernethy's</span> modified).—An incision must be made +through the skin about four inches in length, but longer in proportion +to the amount of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">{9}</a></span> subcutaneous fat, and the depth of the pelvis, +extending from a point one inch to the inside of the anterior superior +spine of the ilium, to a point half an inch above the middle line of +Poupart's ligament. It must be slightly curved, with its convexity +looking outwards and downwards.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> + +<p>The subcutaneous cellular tissue and the tendon of the external oblique +may then be divided freely in the same line. Then at some one point or +other (generally easiest below), the internal oblique and transversalis +muscles must be cautiously scraped through with the aid of the forceps, +till the transversalis fascia is reached; they may then be freely +divided by a probe-pointed bistoury (guarded by the finger pushed up +below the muscles) to the required extent. The muscles being held aside +by flat copper spatulæ, the fascia transversalis must be carefully +scratched through near the crest of the ilium, and thus the operator +will be enabled to push the peritoneum inwards, and by the forefinger +will easily recognise the pulsation of the artery lying on the soft brim +of the pelvis.</p> + +<p>A branch of the circumflex iliac artery will very likely be cut in +dissecting through the muscles, and must be secured, as also any +branches of the epigastric which may be divided in the incisions through +the abdominal wall (<i>ut supra</i>, p. <a href="#Page_5">5</a>).</p> + +<p>The operator should then, by pressing the peritoneum and its contents +gently inwards, endeavour to see the vessel; if, from the depth of the +pelvis, this cannot be done, the sense of touch will be in most cases +sufficient to enable him to isolate the artery by the point of his +finger-nail, or by the blunt aneurism-needle, from the vein. The +ligature should be passed from the inner side to avoid including the +vein, and thus there will be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">{10}</a></span> less chance of wounding the peritoneum +from the convexity of the needle being applied to it. If possible, the +genito-crural nerve should not be included in the ligature, but probably +such an accident would do no great harm.</p> + +<p>It is of much more consequence to avoid injuring the peritoneum. This is +sometimes very difficult, from the adhesions which are set up between +the peritoneum, the artery, and especially the aneurism, as the result +of pressure and inflammation. The accident of wounding the peritoneum +has happened to Keate, Tait, Post, and others, and in some cases with +perfect impunity. However, the peritoneum should be displaced as little +as possible from its cellular connections, as such displacement +increases the risk of diffuse inflammation of that membrane; and the +vessel itself should be raised and disturbed as little as possible, lest +destruction of the vasa vasorum cause ulceration of the weak coats and +secondary hæmorrhage.</p> + +<p>The operation from below (<a href="#plate_i">Plate I.</a> fig. 4), <span class="smcap">Sir Astley Cooper's</span>, is thus +described by Mr. Hodgson:<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a>—"A semilunar incision is made through the +integuments in the direction of the fibres of the aponeurosis of the +external oblique muscle. One extremity of the incision will be situated +near the spine of the ilium; the other will terminate a little above the +inner margin of the abdominal ring. The aponeurosis of the external +oblique muscles will be exposed, and is to be divided throughout the +extent, and in the direction of the external wound. The flap which is +thus formed being raised, the spermatic cord will be seen passing under +the margin of the internal oblique and transverse muscles. The opening +in the fascia which lines the transverse muscle through which the +spermatic cord passes, is situated in the mid space between the anterior +superior spine of the ilium and the symphysis pubis. The epigastric +artery runs precisely along the inner margin of this opening, beneath +which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">{11}</a></span> the external iliac artery is situated. If the finger therefore be +passed under the spermatic cord through this opening in the fascia, it +will come in immediate contact with the artery which lies on the outside +of the external iliac vein. The artery and vein are connected by dense +cellular tissue, which must be separated to allow of the ligature being +passed round the former."</p> + +<p>In comparing the two methods of operating, we find that while the latter +is in some respects easier, and the vessel in it lies more superficial, +it has certain disadvantages which more than counterbalance its +advantages. Thus, first, the epigastric artery is very likely to be +wounded. It may be said, Well, if so, the ends can be tied; but this +tying is sometimes very difficult; and, as shown in Dupuytren's case of +this accident, involves considerable interference with the peritoneum, +and a possibly fatal peritonitis. Besides this, by cutting the +epigastric you destroy an important agent which would have carried on +the anastomosing circulation, and thus greatly increase the risk of +gangrene. By this method, also, the artery is exposed too near to the +seat of disease; and if found to be enlarged and involved in the +aneurism, considerable difficulty may be experienced in reaching the +upper part of the vessel. Again, ligature of the lower third or half of +the vessel, which this method implies, is dangerous from the occasional +high origin of the circumflex or epigastric, or both, rendering the +formation of a clot much more difficult, and secondary hæmorrhage much +more likely.</p> + +<p>The circumflex iliac vein must also be remembered, as it crosses the +artery from within outwards in the lower end of it, just before it goes +under Poupart's ligament.</p> + +<p>However, the method may occasionally vary with the individual case. In +every case of ligature of the great vessels of the abdomen, the bowels +should be carefully evacuated before the operation, and the bladder +emptied. A properly managed position, with the shoulders raised<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">{12}</a></span> and the +knees semiflexed, will greatly facilitate the gaining access to the +vessel.</p> + +<p>In sewing up the wounds in the abdominal walls, advantage will be gained +by putting in a certain number of stitches so deeply as to include the +whole thickness of the muscles, and in the intervals between these deep +ones to insert others less deeply, so as accurately to approximate the +edges of the skin. This will both facilitate union and also render the +occurrence of hernia less probable. This latter accident did occur in a +case, otherwise successful, in which Mr. Kirby tied the external iliac.</p> + +<p>Both external iliacs have been tied in the same patient with success, on +at least two occasions, once by Arendt, with an interval of only eight +days between the operations; and a second time by Tait, at an interval +of rather more than eleven months.</p> + +<p>This operation is in the great majority of cases performed for femoral +aneurism, and naturally secondary hæmorrhage is a too frequent result. +Wounds of these great vessels generally result in so rapid death from +hæmorrhage as to give no time for surgical interference. One case, +however, is recorded,<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> in which the external iliac was cut in a lad of +seventeen by an accidental stab, and in which Drs. Layraud and Durand, +who were almost instantly on the spot, succeeded in stopping the +bleeding by compresses, till Velpeau arrived, who tied the vessel above +with perfect success.</p> + +<p>Of the first twenty-two cases collected by Hodgson, fifteen recovered—a +mortality of 31.81 per cent.; and of 153 in Norris's collection, +including Cutter's cases, forty-seven died—a mortality of only 32.5 per +cent.,—a very satisfactory result, considering the size of the vessel +and the importance of its relations.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ligature of Gluteal.</span>—This vessel, though one of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">{13}</a></span> the branches of the +internal iliac, approaches the surface so nearly as to be occasionally +wounded. It is also, though very rarely, the subject of spontaneous +aneurism. The principle of treatment and the operation to be selected in +any given case, depends upon its origin, whether traumatic or +spontaneous. For if traumatic, the wound must almost necessarily be +accessible from the outside; the neighbouring part of the artery is +probably healthy, and hence the case can be treated by the old +operation, slitting up the tumour, and tying the vessel above and below +the wound. When the aneurism is spontaneous, there is no guide to tell +us where the aneurism may have first originated; it may be that it is +high up in the pelvis, and that the visible tumour is only its expansion +in the direction of least resistance, or the coats of the vessel may be +extensively diseased. The only chance is ligature of the internal iliac.</p> + +<p>1. The old operation, or ligature of the gluteal artery in the hip.</p> + +<p><i>Anatomical Note.</i>—The gluteal is the largest branch of the internal +iliac, and leaves the pelvis by the great sacro-sciatic notch just at +the upper edge of the pyriformis muscle. After a very short course, it +divides into superficial and deep branches opposite the posterior margin +of the glutens minimus, between it and the pyriformis muscles.</p> + +<p>Very precise rules have been given to enable the operator to hit on the +exact spot where the artery leaves the pelvis. These, though perhaps +interesting anatomically, are quite useless in a surgical point of view, +for the only reasons which could possibly induce a surgeon to cut down +upon the gluteal in the living body, are the existence either of a wound +of the vessel or an aneurism. In the first the flow of blood, in the +second the tumour, would give sufficient guidance.</p> + +<p>In cases of traumatic aneurism the operation should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">{14}</a></span> be something like +the following:—A free incision should be made into the tumour, dividing +it in its long direction; the contents should be rapidly scooped out, +and a finger placed on the bleeding point, just at the upper corner of +the sciatic notch. This will at once stop the hæmorrhage till the vessel +can be secured. This sounds easy enough, and has been done several times +with success. Thus, John Bell, by an incision two feet long, as he tells +us in his hyperbolical language, was enabled to tie the vessel in the +case of the leech-gatherer who had punctured the artery by a pair of +long scissors. Carmichael of Dublin used a smaller incision, removed one +or two pounds of clots, and tied the vessel, in a case of wound by a +penknife.<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></p> + +<p>Now, though both of these cases were eventually successful, both +patients lost during the operation a very large quantity of blood; John +Bell's especially could not be removed from the operating-table for a +considerable time after the operation. The period at which the great +loss of blood took place was the interval after the incision was made, +and before the artery was exposed to view, <i>i.e.</i> the interval in which +the surgeon was busy dislodging the clots from the cellular membrane, +the sac of the false aneurism. The procedure devised by Mr. Syme to +obviate this difficulty, and which was put in practice by him in several +very trying cases, is best given in his own terse description of an +operation in a case of traumatic gluteal aneurism:—</p> + +<p>"The patient having been rendered unconscious, and placed on his right +side, I thrust a bistoury into the tumour, over the situation of the +gluteal artery, and introduced my finger so as to prevent the blood from +flowing, except by occasional gushes, which showed what would have been +the effect of neglecting this precaution, while I searched for the +vessel. Finding it impossible to accomplish the object in this way, I +enlarged the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">{15}</a></span> wound by degrees sufficiently for the introduction of my +fingers in succession, until the whole hand was admitted into the +cavity, of which the orifice was still so small as to embrace the wrist +with a tightness that prevented any continuous hæmorrhage. Being now +able to explore the state of matters satisfactorily, I found that there +was a large mass of dense fibrinous coagulum firmly impacted into the +sciatic notch; and, not without using considerable force, succeeded in +disengaging the whole of this obstacle to reaching the artery, which +would have proved very serious if it had been allowed to exist after the +sac was laid open. The compact mass, which was afterwards found to be +not less than a pound in weight, having been thus detached, so that it +moved freely in the fluid contents of the sac, and the gentleman who +assisted me being prepared for the next step of the process, I ran my +knife rapidly through the whole extent of the tumour, turned out all +that was within it, and had the bleeding orifice instantly under +subjection by the pressure of a finger. Nothing then remained but to +pass a double thread under the vessel, and tie it on both sides of the +aperture."</p> + +<p>The bleeding in this case was thus rendered comparatively trifling, and +the patient made a speedy and complete recovery. He returned home within +six weeks after the operation.<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></p> + +<p>2. In one case, at least, the gluteal artery has been tied with success +(for traumatic aneurism) just where it leaves the pelvis, without the +tumour being opened. This was in the practice of Professor Campbell of +Montreal. The operation was a very difficult one, and while possible +only in cases seen very early, and where the tumour is very small, does +not appear to have any advantage over the old method.</p> + +<p>Cases of spontaneous aneurism of the gluteal artery should be treated by +ligature of the internal iliac.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">{16}</a></span> Steven's and Syme's cases of ligature +of the internal iliac were of this nature.</p> + +<p>Manuals of operative surgery occasionally devote pages to the +description of special operations for the ligature of such arteries as +the sciatic, epigastric, circumflex ilii, and pudic. They do not require +ligature, except in cases of wound either of the vessels themselves or +their branches; and, according to the modern principles of surgery in +such cases, the ligature should be applied to the bleeding point, rather +than to the vessel at a distance above it.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ligature of Femoral</span>.—Under this head we practically mean cases of +ligature of the superficial femoral, for the common femoral, or (as +called by some anatomists) the femoral, before the profunda is given +off, very rarely requires to be tied. If it is wounded, of course the +bleeding point must be sought, and the artery tied above and below it, +but if an aneurism on the superficial femoral renders ligature of that +trunk impossible, experience teaches that ligature of the external iliac +gives better results than ligature of the common femoral. Erichsen +asserts that out of twelve cases in which the common femoral has been +tied, only three have succeeded, the others dying from secondary +hæmorrhage. The experience of the Dublin surgeons, Porter, Smyly, and +Macnamara, has been more satisfactory, as in eight cases of this +operation six were successful.<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> A ninth case was unsuccessful. Reasons +to explain the danger are not far to seek, for the numerous small +muscular branches, along with the superficial epigastric, circumflex, +and pudic trunks, reduce the chances of a good coagulum in the common +femoral to a minimum, even without taking into consideration the +shortness of the trunk before the great profunda femoris is given off. +For the common femoral artery is only from one to two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">{17}</a></span> inches in length, +and if there are some rare cases in which it is a little later in its +bifurcation, there are others in which it divides nearer to Poupart's +ligament.</p> + +<p>The superficial femoral is the name given to the main trunk between the +origin of the profunda, and the point at which, passing through the +tendon of the adductor magnus, it receives the name of popliteal. During +this long course it gives off no branch large enough or regular enough +to receive a name, except one, the anastomotica magna, which rises in +Hunter's canal, close to the end of the vessel, so in that respect it is +peculiarly suitable for the application of a ligature. Again, in the +upper part of its course, it is superficial, being covered only by skin +and fascia. A short notice of its most important anatomical relations is +necessary.</p> + +<p>For the first two inches or two inches and a half of its separate +existence, the superficial femoral lies in Scarpa's triangle, covered, +as we said, only by skin and fascia. This triangle is formed by the +sartorius and adductor longus muscles which meet at its apex, and by +Poupart's ligament, which defines its base. The artery lies almost +exactly in the centre of the space, and at the apex is covered by the +sartorius muscle. The spot where it goes under the sartorius is the one +selected for the application of the ligature. The femoral vein lies to +the inner side of the femoral artery in this triangle, but their mutual +relations vary with the portion of the limb; for, on the level of +Poupart's ligament, the artery and vein lie side by side on the same +plane, but in different compartments of their sheath; as the artery +dives below the sartorius, the vein is still on the inside, but on a +plane slightly posterior; while, by the time they reach Hunter's canal, +the vein has got completely behind the artery. The separate compartments +of the sheath in which the vessels lie are much less marked as the +vessels go down the limb, the septum between the artery and the vein +being in most cases very ill marked, even<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">{18}</a></span> at the level where the +ligature is applied. The anterior crural nerve, which on the level of +Poupart's ligament lay outside of the artery and on a plane somewhat +posterior, has divided into numerous branches before it reaches the +point of ligature. One of its branches requires to be mentioned, and may +sometimes be noticed and avoided during the operation, namely the +internal saphenous nerve, which, first lying external to the artery, +crosses it in front, reaching its inner side just before it enters +Hunter's canal, where it leaves the vessel accompanying the anastomotica +magna branch.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Operation of Ligature of the Femoral—Scarpa's Space</span>.—The patient being +placed on his back, and being brought very thoroughly under chloroform, +the knee of the affected limb should be bent at an angle of about 120°, +and supported on a pillow. Having previously ascertained the angle of +junction of the sartorius and adductor, the surgeon should make an +incision (<a href="#plate_i">Plate I.</a> fig. 5) just over the pulsations of the vessel, in +the middle line of the space, having its lower end quite over the +sartorius muscle, and its upper one, at a distance from two and a half +to three and a half inches, varying according to the amount of fat and +muscle. The saphena vein can generally be recognised, and is almost +always safe out of the way of this incision at its inner side.</p> + +<p>The first incision should divide the skin, superficial fascia, and fat, +quite down to the fascia lata. The edges of the wound being held apart, +the fascia should be carefully divided, and the sartorius exposed; its +fibres can generally be easily enough recognised by their oblique +direction; once recognised, the fascia should be dissected from it till +its inner edge be gained, the corner of which should then be turned so +that it may be held outwards by an assistant with a blunt hook. The +sheath of the vessels is now exposed, and after having thoroughly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">{19}</a></span> +satisfied himself of the position of the artery by the pulsation, the +surgeon should carefully raise a portion of the sheath with the +dissecting forceps, and open it freely enough to allow the coats of the +artery to be distinctly seen. If the parts are deep, as in a fat or +muscular patient, great advantage will be gained by seizing one edge of +the sheath by a pair of spring forceps, and committing it to the care of +an assistant, while the operator holds the other in his dissecting +forceps; there is thus no fear of losing the orifice of the sheath, +which without this precaution may easily happen, from the parts being +confused with blood, or the position altered by movements of the +patient. Now comes the stage of the operation on which, more than on +anything else, success or failure depends. A <i>small</i> portion of the +vessel must be cleaned for the reception of the ligature, and it must be +<i>thoroughly</i> cleaned, so that the needle may be passed round it without +bruising of the coats, or rupture of an unnecessary number of the vasa +vasorum by rough attempts to force a passage for it. Hence all +compromises, such as blunted instruments, silver knives, and the like, +are dangerous, for in trying to avoid the Scylla of wounding the artery, +they fall into the Charybdis, on the one hand, of isolating too much of +the vessel and causing gangrene from want of vascular supply, or, on the +other, expose the vein to the danger of injury by the aneurism-needle in +their attempts to force it round an uncleaned vessel.</p> + +<p>The needle should in most cases be passed from the inner side, care +being taken to avoid including the vein which is on the inner side and +behind the vessel; the internal saphenous nerve, if seen, should be +avoided. The needle must not be passed quite round the vessel raising it +up, still less must the vessel be held up on the needle, as used to be +done, as if the surgeon was surprised at his own success, but the needle +should be passed just far enough to expose the end of the ligature,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">{20}</a></span> +which must be seized by forceps and cautiously drawn through. It must +then be tied very firmly and secured with a reef knot.</p> + +<p>The edges of the wound must be brought into accurate apposition, and +secured by one or two stitches. If antiseptics are used, drainage should +be provided for.</p> + +<p>From the very fact that ligature of the superficial femoral is a +remarkably successful operation in causing consolidation of the aneurism +and a rapid cure, there is also a corresponding danger that the limb be +not sufficiently supplied with blood at first. The limb may very +possibly become cold, and remain so for some hours at least after the +operation. To avoid this as far as possible, it should be wrapped in +cotton wadding, and very great care should be taken that it be not +over-stimulated by hot applications, friction, or the like, any of which +measures might very likely excite reaction, which would result in +gangrene.</p> + +<p>Complete rest of the limb and of the whole body must be enjoined; the +food must be nourishing and in moderate quantity. The chief danger is +from gangrene of the limb, which is especially apt to result when the +vein is wounded, or even too much handled during the operation.</p> + +<p>When properly performed, and in suitable cases, the operation is very +successful. Mr. Syme tied this artery for aneurism thirty-seven times, +and of these every one recovered. The statistics of Norris and Porta, +who collected all the cases in which ligature of the femoral had been +employed for <i>any</i> cause, show a mortality of somewhat less than one in +four. Rabe's table up to 1869 with the additional cases collected by Mr. +Barwell to 1880 gives 297 cases with 53 deaths.<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> Mr. Hutchinson's +table, again, of fifty cases collected from the records of Metropolitan +Hospitals, shows the very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">{21}</a></span> startling result of sixteen deaths out of the +fifty cases, or a mortality, in round numbers, of one-third.</p> + +<p>Certain anomalies have been observed in the distribution of the femoral +vessels, of some importance as affecting the possibility of applying, +and the result of, ligature; such as—1. A high division of the branches +which afterwards become posterior tibial and peroneal. 2. A double +superficial femoral, both branches of which may unite and form the +popliteal, as in Sir Charles Bell's well-known case. 3. Absence of the +artery altogether, as in Manec's case, where the popliteal was a +continuation of an immensely enlarged sciatic.</p> + +<p>In such a case the absence of pulsation in front, and the presence of +increased pulsation behind the limb, ought to prevent any fruitless +attempt at search.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ligature of the Superficial Femoral below the Sartorius Muscle</span>.—This +operation, though once common in France, and though the one recommended +by Hunter himself, is now comparatively little used in this country; and +rightly so; for while it has no advantage over the upper position, it is +at once nearer the seat of disease, and the vessel is more deeply buried +under muscles, and has a more distinct fibrous sheath, which requires +division.</p> + +<p>It is, however, by no means a difficult operation, and is thus +performed:—</p> + +<p>The limb being laid as before on the outside, and slightly bent, the +skin shaved and the pulsation of the artery detected, an incision (<a href="#plate_i">Plate +I.</a> fig. 6) must be made from the lower edge of the sartorius muscle just +as it crosses the vessel, along the course of the vessel, avoiding if +possible the internal saphena vein.</p> + +<p>The sartorius when exposed must be drawn inwards. The fibrous canal +filling the interspace between the abductor magnus and vastus internus +is then recognised, and must be fairly opened; the artery is now seen +lying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">{22}</a></span> in it, and over the vein which is posterior to it, but projects +slightly on its outer side; the internal saphenous nerve is lying on the +artery. The needle is best passed from without inwards so as to avoid +the vein. The anastomotica magna is sometimes a large trunk, and has +been mistaken for the femoral in this situation, and tied instead of it.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ligature of the Popliteal</span>.—This operation is now hardly ever performed +for aneurism, ligature of the superficial femoral having quite +superseded it, and it is very rarely required for wounds, from the +manner in which the vessel is protected by its position.</p> + +<p>Before the invention of the Hunterian principle of ligature at a +distance, the old operation for popliteal aneurism consisted in cutting +into the space, clearing out the contents of the aneurismal sac, and +tying both ends of the vessel; from the depth of parts and the close +connection of the popliteal vein, this operation was very rarely +successful, and is now quite given up. If the vessel is wounded the +bleeding point is the object to be aimed at, and is generally sufficient +guide.</p> + +<p>In cases of hæmorrhage for suppuration of an aneurismal sac, it might +possibly be advisable, and there are certain cases of rupture of the +artery, without the existence of an external wound, in which attempts +have been made to save the limb by tying the vessel.<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> From the +complexity of the parts, the numerous tendons, veins, and nerves crowded +together in a narrow hollow, and chiefly from the great depth at which +the artery lies, any attempt at ligature is very difficult. It is least +so at the lower angle of the space, where, between the heads of the +gastrocnemius, the vessel comes more to the surface, but is still +overlapped by muscle.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—The patient lying on his face, a straight<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">{23}</a></span> incision (<a href="#plate_iii">Plate +III.</a> fig. 1), at least four inches in length, should be made over the +artery, and thus nearer the inner than the outer hamstring; a strong +fibrous aponeurosis will require division after the skin and superficial +fascia are cut through, the limb is then to be flexed, and the tendons +drawn aside with strong retractors; fat and lymphatic glands must next +be dissected through, and then the vein and artery, lying on a sort of +sheath of condensed cellular tissue, are seen, the vein lying above the +artery and obscuring it. The vein must be drawn to the outside, and the +thread passed round the artery, which lies close to the bone, on the +ligamentum posticum of Winslowe.</p> + +<p>It is a very difficult subject to decide what operations should be +described in a work of this character, on the vessels of the leg and +foot. A very large number of distinct methods of operations on the +various parts of the three chief arteries of the leg have been described +by surgeons and anatomists, but specially by the latter.</p> + +<p>The fact is, however, that these complicated procedures are rarely +required, for aneurisms of the arteries of the leg and foot are almost +unknown, while in cases of wound of the vessel, or rupture resulting in +traumatic aneurism, the proper treatment is not to tie the vessel higher +up, but by dilating the wound and clearing out the clots, if required, +to secure the bleeding point, and tie the vessel above and below.</p> + +<p>Again, a wound of the sole of the foot often gives rise to very severe +and persistent hæmorrhage, while the fasciæ and complicated tendons +render ligature of the vessel at the spot very difficult; yet ligature +of either the anterior or posterior tibial would probably be +insufficient; and to tie both these vessels, with possibly the peroneal +and interosseous as well, would be a much more severe and dangerous +procedure than ligature of the superficial femoral; while probably +careful plugging of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">{24}</a></span> the wound, combined with flexion of the knee, will +be found to stop the hæmorrhage sooner than either of the more +formidable methods.</p> + +<p>A competent knowledge of the anatomy of the part, and of the ordinary +methods of checking hæmorrhage, such as ligatures, graduated compresses, +and styptics, aided by position, specially flexion of the knee after Mr. +Ernest Hart's method, will suffice to enable the surgeon to check any +hæmorrhage of the foot or leg, without it being necessary to burden the +memory with the three positions in which to tie the peroneal, or the +various methods, more or less bloody and tedious, by which the posterior +tibial in its upper third may be secured.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p><span class="smcap">Note</span>.—While, as a matter of surgical principle to guide our +practice on the living, I still hold very strongly the opinions +here expressed against special operations for ligature of the +arteries of the leg, and allow the sentences to stand as in the +first edition of this work, I insert in a note a brief description +of the more important ones, in deference to the advice of friends +and the urgent request of pupils, as these operations are used by +Examining Boards as tests of the operative dexterity of +candidates:—</p> + +<p>1. <span class="smcap">Anterior Tibial Artery in lower half of Leg</span>.—<i>Anatomical +Note.</i>—This vessel is related on its tibial side to the tibialis +anticus, and on its fibular, to the extensor longus digitorum +above, and the extensor pollicis below. The anterior tibial nerve +lies first on its outer side, then crosses the artery, and +eventually reaches its inner side near the foot. <i>Operation.</i>—An +incision, at least three inches long, parallel with the outer edge +of the tibia, and about three-quarters of an inch from it, exposes +the deep fascia. This being divided, the outer edge of the tibialis +anticus must be found, and will be the guide to the artery, which, +surrounded by its venæ comites, lies very deeply between the +muscles.</p> + +<p>2. <span class="smcap">Posterior Tibial</span>.—<i>A.</i> In middle third of leg. Here the artery +is separated from the inner border of the tibia, by the flexor +longus digitorum, and is covered by the soleus. <i>Operation.</i>—An +incision at least four inches long, along the inner margin of the +tibia, exposes the edge of the gastroenemius; then divide the +tendinous attachment, then expose the soleus,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">{25}</a></span> and divide its +attachment also; the deep fascia will then be seen; slit it up, and +the vessel will be found about an inch internal to the edge of the +bone. The nerve is there just crossing it.</p> + +<p>Guthrie's, or the direct operation, has the very high authority of +the late Professor Spence in its favour. An incision through skin +and fascia in the middle of the back of the leg allows the two +heads of the gastrocnemius to be separated to the same extent. The +soleus is then to be scraped through in same direction, and its +deep aponeurotic surface carefully slit up. The artery and vein are +then easily seen.</p> + +<p>B. In lower third of leg.—This is an easier and more scientific +operation, as it does not involve the division of great tendons. An +incision midway between the internal malleolus and the tendo +Achillis, parallel with both, will expose the very deep and strong +fascia in which the tendons lie. The artery, with its venæ comites, +occupies a central position, having the tendons of the tibialis +posticus and flexor communis in front between it and the internal +malleolus, and the posterior tibial nerve behind it, while the +flexor longus pollicis lies still nearer the tendo Achillis.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Table</span> illustrating anastomotic circulation after ligature of +arteries of lower limb.</p> + +<p>1. <span class="smcap">Aorta</span>.—Epigastric and mammary of both sides. Hæmorrhoidal and +spermatic, with branches of pudic both deep and superficial.</p> + +<p>2. <span class="smcap">Common Iliac</span>.—Internal iliac and branches, with those of the +other side, along with the following:—</p> + +<p>3. <span class="smcap">External Iliac</span>.—Internal mammary and deep epigastric.</p> + +<p>Iliolumbar and lumbar branches of aorta, with deep circumflex ilii.</p> + +<p>Pudic from internal iliac, with superficial pudic of common +femoral.</p> + +<p>Gluteal, sciatic, and obturator, with the circumflex and +perforating branches or deep femoral.</p> + +<p>4. <span class="smcap">Femoral</span>.—External circumflex, with external articular of +popliteal.</p> + +<p>Perforating, with branches of gluteal and sciatic.</p> + +<p>Profunda branches with anastomotica and articular branches.</p> + +<p>Obturator and internal circumflex with anastomotica and superior +internal articular.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Note</span>.—The importance of the articular branches of the popliteal +explain the danger of gangrene after a sudden rupture or increase +in size of a popliteal aneurism. </p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">{26}</a></span></p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ligature of the Innominate</span>.—The performance of this extremely +dangerous, in fact almost hopeless operation, is by no means so +difficult as might be expected.</p> + +<p>The patient lying down with the shoulders raised and head thrown well +back, the sternal attachment of the right sterno-mastoid must be very +freely exposed. This may be done by an incision (<a href="#plate_i">Plate I.</a> fig. 7) along +its anterior edge from the upper edge of the sternum, as far as may be +necessary; another about the same length along the upper edge of the +clavicle, will meet the former at an acute angle, and will include a +triangular flap of skin, which must be carefully dissected up. The +sternal, and probably a portion of the clavicular attachment of the +right sterno-mastoid, must then be cautiously divided. This being done, +the sterno-hyoid and sterno-thyroid muscles require division immediately +above their sternal attachments.</p> + +<p>A dense process of cervical fascia (just becoming thoracic) now covers +the vessel, binding it on the right side to the right innominate vein, +and on the left maintaining the relation of the innominate artery to the +trachea. The inferior thyroid veins lie on this fascia, and must be +drawn aside, not cut. The fascia is then to be scraped through very +cautiously, exposing the root of the right carotid, which, being traced +downwards, will lead to the innominate. The following parts lie in close +relation to the vessel at the point of ligature, and must be +avoided:—1. The left innominate vein crosses the artery in front from +left to right, and must be drawn down. 2. The right innominate vein and +right pneumogastric are in close contact with the artery on the right +side; to avoid them the aneurism-needle must be entered on the outside +(right of the vessel). 3. The apex of the right pleura and the trachea +are in close contact behind, requiring the point of the needle to be +kept close to the artery in bringing the thread round.</p> + +<p>It might have been expected that the sudden arrest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">{27}</a></span> of so large a +proportion of the vascular supply of the body, so very near the heart, +would cause serious, or even fatal symptoms; this, however, is not the +case, no serious inconvenience of this sort being experienced; yet +hitherto every case has proved fatal, either from secondary hæmorrhage +or inflammation of lungs and pleura.</p> + +<p>In fifteen well-authenticated, and in three more doubtful cases, the +ligature has been applied; all of these died at periods varying from +twelve hours (as in Hutin's case), to forty-two days as in Thomson's, +and sixty-seven days (Graefe's).<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a></p> + +<p>A successful case of ligature of the innominate along with the right +carotid and (after secondary hæmorrhage) the right vertebral, in a +mulatto aged thirty-two, for a subclavian aneurism, has been put on +record by Dr. Smyth of New Orleans, in the <i>American Journal of Medical +Science</i> for July 1866.</p> + +<p>And here we may also note that Mr. Heath has lately treated a case of +innominate aneurism by simultaneous ligature of the third part of the +subclavian and the carotid. Both ligatures separated on the eighteenth +day, and the tumour was much smaller some months afterwards.<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a></p> + +<p>Mr. R. Barwell has reported several most interesting cases in which +simultaneous ligature of carotid and subclavian have proved of marked +benefit in aortic as well as in innominate aneurisms.<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a></p> + +<p>In four cases the operation was attempted, but the operators had to +desist before the application of the ligature, in consequence of the +diseased state of the arterial coats. Of these, three died, and one +(Professor Porter's of Dublin) case recovered, the patient leaving the +hospital with the aneurism nearly consolidated.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">{28}</a></span></p> + +<p>Dr. Peixotto of Portugal applied a precautionary ligature to the +innominate in a case where secondary hæmorrhage occurred from the +carotid. The ligature was not tightened beyond what was necessary merely +to cause flattening of the vessel. The patient made a good recovery.</p> + +<p>Professor George Porter of Dublin records an interesting case of +subclavian aneurism, in which, after failing to close the axillary +artery by acupressure, he applied L'Estrange's compressor to the +innominate itself for three days, with temporary benefit. The patient +eventually died of hæmorrhage.<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a></p> + +<p>For a very full and interesting account of ligatures of vessels in root +of neck we may refer to vol. iii. of the 1883 edition of <i>Holmes' +Surgery</i>, pp. 119-122.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ligature of Common Carotid</span>.—Though the anatomical relations of the +right and left carotid are different at their origin, they so precisely +resemble each other in the whole of that part of their course which is +at all amenable to surgical treatment, that one description will suffice +for both, and the necessary anatomy will be brought out quite +sufficiently in the description of each operation.</p> + +<p>From its giving off no collateral branches, the common carotid artery +may be tied at any part of its course.</p> + +<p>It has been tied successfully at the distance of only three-quarters, +or, in one case by Porter, hardly to be imitated, one-eighth of an inch +from the innominate, and up to an equal distance from its bifurcation. +In choosing the part of the vessel for operation, the operator must be +guided by the position of the aneurism, if on the vessel itself, but if +the aneurism be distant, as in scalp or orbit, he need have regard to +position simply as facilitating the operation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">{29}</a></span></p> + +<p>The easiest position in which to apply the ligature is just above the +omohyoid muscle, the vessel being there superficial.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ligature above Omohyoid</span>.—Using the anterior border of the +sterno-mastoid as a guide, but leaving it gradually above to a little +nearer the mesial line, an incision (<a href="#plate_iv">Plate IV.</a> fig. 1), varying in +length according to the depth of fat and cellular tissue in the neck, +but with its central point opposite the upper border of the cricoid +cartilage, must be made through skin, platysma, and superficial fascia. +While making the incision the head should be held back, and the face +slightly turned to the opposite side; the parts being now relaxed by +position, the edges of the wound must be held apart by blunt hooks or +copper spatulæ, and the deep fascia carefully divided over the vessel, +which will be recognised by the pulsation. It may be noted here that +even in thin subjects the sterno-mastoid edge <i>invariably</i> overlaps the +vessel, though in many anatomical diagrams it would appear to be in part +subcutaneous.</p> + +<p>The descendens noni may possibly be seen, but this is by no means +invariably the case, crossing the sheath of the vessel very gradually +from without inwards in its progress down the neck. It must be carefully +displaced outwards.</p> + +<p>The sheath of the vessel is then to be cautiously opened to the extent +of about half an inch. The internal jugular vein, possibly much +distended, may overlap the artery on its outer side, and will require to +be pressed, emptied, and held out of the way. A small portion of the +artery being thoroughly separated from the sheath, the aneurism-needle +must be passed from without inwards to avoid the vein, and keep as close +to the artery as possible to avoid the vagus.</p> + +<p>The tendon of the omohyoid muscle, or, in muscular subjects, a portion +of its anterior fleshy belly, may be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">{30}</a></span> seen crossing the vessel from +above downwards and outwards at the lower angle of the wound.</p> + +<p>An enlarged lymphatic gland has occasionally given much trouble, by +being mistaken for the vessel and cleaned, while the ligature has even +been placed on a carefully isolated fasciculus of muscular fibres.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ligature of Carotid below the Omohyoid</span>.—An incision in precisely the +same direction as the former, but at a slightly lower level, is +required, but the dissection is rather more difficult. The edge of the +sterno-mastoid when exposed must be drawn outwards; the sterno-hyoid and +thyroid inwards; the omohyoid upwards; the sheath opened, and the +descendens noni or its branches drawn to the tracheal side. The jugular +vein and vagus are both at the outer side, and must be avoided, while +the inferior thyroid artery and sympathetic nerve both lie behind the +vessel, and may be included in the ligature if care be not taken.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p><span class="smcap">Varieties</span>.—<i>Sedillot's Operation.</i>—To secure the artery still +lower in the neck: An incision two and a half inches long, from the +inner end of the clavicle obliquely upwards and outwards in the +interval between the sternal and clavicular attachments of the +sterno-mastoid; this divides the superficial textures; the two +portions of muscle must then be drawn apart. The internal jugular +vein lies in the interval, and must be drawn to the outside before +the artery can be seen at all, and it is this that makes this +operation very difficult and dangerous, especially on the left +side, where the vein is close to the artery, and probably even +crossing it from left to right. The thoracic duct is behind.</p> + +<p><i>Malgaigne's modification of the above</i> is an improvement: to +expose the external attachment of the muscle, to cut it through and +turn it to the outside, as in the operation for ligature of the +innominate, then to divide or pull inwards sterno-hyoid and +sterno-thyroid, thus exposing the sheath. The needle must be passed +from without inwards. </p></div> + +<p><i>Results.</i>—Pilz has collected 600 cases, of which 43.16 per cent. died. +The united tables of Norris and Wood give 188 cases, with a mortality of +sixty, or nearly one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">{31}</a></span> in three. These tables include cases in which the +vessel was tied for wounds, and as a preparatory step in the operation +of removal of tumours of the jaw, etc. Later statistics give a very much +lessened mortality, due chiefly to the use of animal ligatures.</p> + +<p>Of thirty-one cases in which it was tied for pulsating tumours of the +orbit, only two died from the operation.<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> Rivington's statistics to a +later date give forty-six cases on forty-four patients with six deaths.</p> + +<p>Both carotids have been tied in the same patient twenty-five times, at +intervals of less than a year; and it is a very remarkable fact that +only five of these fifty ligatures proved fatal,—two in which both were +tied on the same day, and three in which the operation was performed to +arrest hæmorrhage from malignant disease of the face and jaws—from +gunshot wound,—and from syphilitic ulceration.</p> + +<p>The external carotid, and also most of its principal branches, have been +tied for aneurisms, wounds, goitres, enlargement of the tongue, vascular +tumours on occiput and other lesions; also as a first stage in the +operation of extirpation of the upper jaw, for the purpose of preventing +hæmorrhage. However, such operations are rare, and will probably become +rarer still, and it is hardly necessary to describe the operations on +each <i>seriatim</i>.</p> + +<p>Aneurism of the external carotid or branches are rare; if idiopathic, +ligature of the common carotid will be found at once easier, not more +dangerous, and more effectual than ligature of the branch; if traumatic, +the aneurism itself should be attacked, and the bleeding point secured +by a double ligature. Wounds are common enough, but if accessible at +all, the injured vessel should be tied at the bleeding point; if +inaccessible (and under this head we may include wounds of the internal +carotid), the common carotid must be tied.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">{32}</a></span></p> + +<p>No one would think of trying the superior thyroids for goitre, unless +they were so manifestly enlarged, tortuous, and pulsating, as to render +the operation so simple (from their superficial position) as to require +no special directions; besides this, the cases in which it has been +already done have given very little encouragement to repeat it.</p> + +<p>As cases may occur in which any diminution of the cerebral supply is +contra-indicated, and thus the more difficult ligature of the external +carotid may be preferred to the more simple operation on the common +trunk, and as the lingual may require ligature near its root, in +consequence of obstinate hæmorrhage from the tongue, short directions +are given for the performance of both these operations.</p> + + +<p class="gap">1. <span class="smcap">Ligature of External Carotid</span>.—Head in same position as for the +common carotid. A straight incision parallel with the anterior edge of +sterno-mastoid, but about half an inch in front of it, must begin almost +at angle of jaw, and extend downwards nearly to the level of the thyroid +cartilage. Cautiously divide skin, platysma, and fascia; the lower end +of the parotid must be pulled upwards, and the veins, which are +numerous, cautiously separated. The anterior border of the +sterno-mastoid must be pulled backwards, and the digastric and +stylo-hyoid forwards and inwards. The superior laryngeal nerve which +lies behind the vessel must be avoided.</p> + + +<p class="gap">2. <span class="smcap">Ligature of Lingual</span>.—To secure this vessel either before it becomes +concealed by the hyo-glossus, or after it is under the muscle, a curved +incision is necessary, following the line of the hyoid bone, and +especially of its greater cornu, but a line or two above its upper +border. After the skin and platysma are divided, the posterior belly of +the digastric must be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">{33}</a></span> recognised, which again will guide to the +posterior edge of the hyo-glossus. The edge of the sub-maxillary gland +may very probably require to be raised out of the way. The artery can +then be secured, either before it dips under the hyo-glossus muscle, or +after it has done so, by the division of a few of its fibres on a +director. Care is needed to avoid injury of the hypo-glossal nerve, +which lies above the muscle.</p> + +<p>The internal carotid artery occasionally, but very rarely, is the +subject of aneurism. It may, like any other artery, be wounded, +especially from the fauces. The treatment of either of these lesions is +ligature of the common carotid itself, in preference to ligature of the +internal carotid. Guthrie's operation for securing the bleeding internal +carotid at the injured spot, by dividing and turning up the ramus of the +lower jaw, has never been performed in the living body, and is so +difficult, dangerous, and unnecessary, as not to merit description.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ligature of Subclavian</span>.—<i>Note.</i>—In consequence of the difference in +the origin, and variety in the anatomical relations of the right and +left subclavian arteries, in so far at least as their first stage is +concerned, it is necessary to give a very brief separate account of +each.</p> + +<p><i>Right Subclavian.</i>—The innominate artery divides into the right +subclavian and right carotid exactly behind the sterno-clavicular +articulation. The right subclavian extends from this point in an arched +form across the neck, between the scalene muscles, over the apex of the +pleura, till, passing under cover of the clavicle, it changes its name +to axillary at the lower end of the first rib. For convenience of +description, the artery is divided into three parts, which have very +various anatomical relations, and differ from each other much in their +amenability to surgical treatment by ligature. The anterior scalenus +muscle defines the three parts, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">{34}</a></span> first extending to the inner border +of the muscle, the second being concealed by the muscle, and the third +reaching from its outer border to the lower border of the first rib.</p> + +<p><i>Branches of the Subclavian.</i>—While the deep relations of pleura, +veins, and nerves can be noticed under the head of each operation in +detail, one anatomical point must never be forgotten as influencing very +much the success of all surgical interference with the subclavian +arteries—<i>i.e.</i> the branches given off. To give any chance of success +in the application of a ligature to such a large vessel, so near the +heart, a large portion of artery free from branches is required, that +the clot may be long, firm, and undisturbed. The first part of the +subclavian gives off the vertebral, thyroid axis, and internal mammary; +the second, the superior intercostal; while the third part has in most +cases no branch whatever. In these anatomical differences we find the +reason for the almost invariable fatality resulting on any interference +with the first and second parts, and the comparative safety of ligature +of the third part, without requiring to account for the difference on +other grounds, such as depth of part, importance of nervous relations, +or nearer proximity to the heart.</p> + +<p>The second and third parts of both arteries are so similar to each +other, that a separate account is not required for the two sides.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ligature of Right Subclavian</span>.—<i>First Part.</i>—<i>Operation.</i>—An incision +just at upper edge of sternum and right clavicle, extending from inner +edge of <i>left</i> sterno-mastoid transversely to outer border of right +sterno-mastoid through skin, platysma, and exposing sterno-mastoid, to +be joined at an angle by a second incision, which, two, three, or even +four inches long, must extend along inner border of right +sterno-mastoid. Flap to be raised upwards and outwards. The sternal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">{35}</a></span> +attachment of the sterno-mastoid must then be cautiously divided, as +also part or the whole of its clavicular attachment, according as room +is required. The sterno-hyoid and thyroid muscles will then require +similar division. The internal jugular will then be seen very +prominent,<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> and will require to be drawn inwards or outwards, +according to circumstances. The carotid and right subclavian arteries +will then be felt lying close together crossed by the pneumogastric and +recurrent nerves, the latter turning behind the subclavian. The nerves +must be drawn inwards; the cardiac filaments of the sympathetic will +then be observed, and drawn outwards. The subclavian vein lies below, +concealed by the clavicle, and will probably not be seen during the +operation. The needle should be passed round the artery from below +upwards, care being taken not to injure the pleura, which lies beneath +and behind the artery.</p> + +<p><i>Results.</i>—Twelve cases, all of which died; ten of hæmorrhage, one of +pleurisy and pericarditis, and one from pyæmia. Attempted in one case by +Mr. Butcher, but the artery was too much diseased to bear a ligature. +The patient died on the fourth day.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ligature of Left Subclavian</span>.—<i>First Part.</i>—This operation, which has +been described by some as impossible, has, I believe, been only once +performed on the living body. <i>Operation.</i>—Incisions as for the +preceding operation, except being on the opposite side. After the skin, +platysma, and muscles have been divided, as already described, the deep +cervical fascia requires division close to the inner edge of the +scalenus anticus. The artery lies excessively deep, and great difficulty +is experienced in avoiding injury to the pleura and the thoracic duct.</p> + +<p><i>Results.</i>—Once performed by Dr. Rodgers of New York; death from +hæmorrhage on fifteenth day.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">{36}</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Anatomical Note.</i>—The course of the left subclavian in its first stage +is much straighter, as its origin is much deeper, than on the right +side. The pneumogastric, phrenic, and cardiac nerves lie parallel to its +course; the œsophagus and thoracic duct lie behind it, and to its +inner side.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ligature of Subclavian</span>.—<i>Second Part.</i>—This very rare operation hardly +requires a separate description, as the incisions necessary for ligature +of the artery in its third part will, with very slight modifications, be +sufficient for the purpose.</p> + +<p>It has, however, special elements of danger in it, involved in the +unavoidable division, of part at least, or probably the whole, of the +scalenus anticus. The phrenic nerve, from its position on that muscle, +requires special care to avoid dividing it, and in most cases the +internal jugular vein is also in the way. The branches of the thyroid +axis, which cross the neck, are quite in the line of the incision. The +lowest cord of the brachial plexus lies immediately behind the artery, +between it and the middle scalenus. The pleura lies just below it. The +subclavian vein is generally quite safe, running in front of the +scalenus anticus, and at a lower level.</p> + +<p>The presence of the superior intercostal branch adds greatly to the +danger of ligature of the vessel in this position, from its interfering +with a proper clot.</p> + +<p><i>Results.</i>—Dupuytren<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> performed it successfully for a traumatic +axillary aneurism. Auchincloss<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> did it for a large true aneurism, but +the patient died sixty-eight and a half hours after the operation. +Liston cut through the outer portion of the scalenus with success for an +idiopathic aneurism. Thirteen have been collected by Wyeth with four +recoveries and nine deaths.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">{37}</a></span></p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ligature of Subclavian</span>.—<i>Third Part.</i>—For this comparatively common +operation, various methods of procedure have been suggested and +employed.</p> + +<p>In the dead body, where the axilla is free from swelling, and in thin +patients, the artery in this third stage is tolerably superficial, and +can be secured with ease. But in very muscular men, with short necks and +well curved clavicles, and specially when the axilla is filled up with +an aneurism, and the shoulder cannot be depressed, the operation becomes +very difficult.</p> + +<p><i>Operation of Ramsden, Liston, and Syme.</i>—<i>Position.</i>—The patient +lying on his back with his shoulders supported by pillows, and his head +lying back, and drawn to the opposite side; the shoulder of the affected +side must be depressed as much as possible.</p> + +<p><i>Incisions.</i>—(<a href="#plate_i">Plate I.</a> fig. 8.)—One through skin, superficial fascia, +and platysma, along the upper edge of the clavicle, for at least three +inches from the anterior edge of the trapezius to the posterior border +of the sterno-mastoid, and in muscular subjects freely overlapping the +edges of both muscles. Another two inches in length along posterior +border of sterno-mastoid meets the first at an angle. On reflecting the +chief flap thus made upwards and backwards, the external jugular will be +seen, and, if possible, must be drawn to a side; if not, it must be +divided, and both ends tied. The lower edge of the posterior belly of +the omohyoid must then be sought; this leads at once to the posterior or +outer margin of the scalenus anticus. The connection of the deep fascia +to that muscle must then be very carefully scraped through, and by +tracing the muscle to its insertion to the first rib, the artery is at +once reached, lying behind the insertion. The pulsation of the vessel +between the forefinger and the first rib will prove a great assistance; +yet care is required, lest one of the branches of the brachial plexus be +secured instead of the artery. The lowest cord lies very close to the +vessel. The subclavian vein is not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">{38}</a></span> likely to give much trouble, from +its being on a lower level, and (unless very much dilated) nearly +concealed by the clavicle. The suprascapular artery is also hidden, but +the transverse cervical crosses the very line of incision, and may give +trouble, being occasionally much enlarged, so much so as even for a time +to have been mistaken for the subclavian itself. If possible, both these +branches should be saved, as being important means of carrying on the +anastomosis for the future support of the limb.</p> + +<p>An absorbent gland is occasionally in the way, and has even been +mistaken for the vessel and carefully cleaned. Such may be removed +without scruple.</p> + +<p>Care must be taken not to injure the pleura, which lies immediately +behind and below the vessel at the seat of ligature. Various +instrumental devices have been invented for passing the ligature. The +simplest seems still to be best, a common aneurism-needle with a +considerable curve.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p><i>Other methods of operating.</i>—A single curved incision above the +clavicle, with its concavity upwards, of about three or four inches +long, with its inner end rather higher than the outer (Green, +Fergusson).</p> + +<p>A linear transverse incision in the same situation (Velpeau).</p> + +<p>A single linear incision perpendicular to the clavicle (Roux).</p> + +<p>An arched incision (<a href="#plate_iv">Plate IV.</a> fig. 2) with its convexity outwards, +and its base on the posterior edge of the sterno-mastoid, from +three inches above the clavicle to the clavicular attachment of the +muscle (Skey). </p></div> + +<p><i>Results.</i>—Dr. Wyeth's Tables in 1877 give 251 cases with 134 or 53 per +cent. of deaths.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>The late Mr. Furner of Brighton reported a most interesting case, +in which he tied both subclavian arteries at an interval of two +years in the same patient, for axillary aneurisms, with success. </p></div> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ligature of Axillary.</span>—<i>Anatomical Note.</i>—This vessel, the next stage +in the continuation of the subclavian<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">{39}</a></span> downwards, may be defined +surgically as extending from the clavicle to the lower border of the +teres major. From the depth of the vessel at its upper part, the +numerous nerves, and the close proximity of the vein, the surgeon has +carefully to study the anatomical relations. It, like the subclavian, is +commonly divided into three stages, and, also like the subclavian, these +stages are defined by the relations of the artery to a muscle, the +pectoralis minor. Surgically we may draw a very close parallel between +the two vessels, for we find that in the axillary, as in the subclavian, +the first stage is very deep, and very rarely amenable to ligature; the +second, still deeper and more rarely attempted, as in both the operation +involves division of a deep muscle; while the third stage in each is the +one most frequently chosen by the surgeon.</p> + +<p><i>First Stage.</i>—Between the lower edge of the first rib and upper border +of the pectoralis minor the vessel is deeply seated, contained in that +process of deep fascia called the costo-coracoid membrane, and covered +above by skin, platysma, and the clavicular portion of the pectoralis +major. It lies on the first intercostal muscle and the upper digitation +of the serratus magnus, while the cords of the brachial plexus are on +its acromial side, and the axillary vein in close contact with it on its +thoracic side, and frequently overlapping the artery.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—The great desideratum is free access. An incision (<a href="#plate_i">Plate +I.</a> fig. 9), semilunar in shape, with its convexity downwards, must +extend from half an inch outside of the sterno-clavicular articulation +to very near the coracoid process, stopping just before it arrives at +the edge of the deltoid, in order to avoid injury of the cephalic vein. +It must include skin, fascia, and platysma, and the flap must be thrown +upwards. The clavicular portion of the pectoralis major must then be +divided right across its fibres, which will retract. The arm must then +be brought close to the side to relax the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">{40}</a></span> pectoralis minor, which must +be drawn aside. The artery will then be felt pulsating, but hidden by +the costo-coracoid membrane, which acts as its sheath. This must be +carefully scratched through, the nerves pulled outwards, the vein +avoided and pulled downwards and inwards, and the thread passed round +from within outwards. (Manec, Hodgson, and, with slight modification in +the incision through the skin, Chamberlaine.)</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>Ligature has been performed in this position by separating the +pectoralis and deltoid muscles, without dividing the muscular +fibres (Roux, Desault).</p> + +<p>To attempt to gain access between the clavicular and sternal +portions of pectoralis major, as has been proposed by some, is +almost impracticable in the living body, from the position of the +vein, to which, rather than to the artery, this incision leads. </p></div> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ligature of Axillary</span>, <i>in its second stage</i>, is not an advisable +operation, when it is merely intended to throw a ligature round the +artery for an aneurism lower down.</p> + +<p>It has been performed at least twice by Delpech, but it is a rude +procedure; in his cases, after the muscle was cut, a dive with the +finger was made to collect the whole mass of vessels and nerves, and +bring them to the surface near the collar-bone; in this position it is +said the artery was easily isolated and tied.</p> + +<p>In Mr. Syme's operation of cutting into large axillary aneurisms, and +tying both ends of the vessel, the pectoralis minor may, indeed +generally has, to be divided, and must take its chance without any +special notice or precaution, in the sweeping, free incisions required.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ligature of Axillary</span> <i>in its third stage</i>.—This is an operation very +much more common, more easy of accomplishment, and safer in its results +than either of the preceding; the artery in this stage being more +superficial, in fact almost subcutaneous.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—The arm being extended and supinated, an incision (<a href="#plate_i">Plate +I.</a> fig. 10) two and a half or three<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">{41}</a></span> inches long, must be made in the +base of the axilla over the artery, involving at first skin and +superficial fascia only; the deep fascia is then exposed and must be +carefully scraped through, avoiding injury of the basilic vein, if (as +sometimes occurs) it has not yet dipped through the fascia. The vessel +can now be felt; the median nerve which lies over the artery, or +slightly to its outer side, must be drawn outwards, and the axillary +vein, which lies at the thoracic side, but often overlaps the vessel, +must be carefully drawn inwards. The ligature must then be passed from +within outwards.</p> + +<p>When the patient is very fat or muscular, the coraco-brachialis muscle +may be required as a guide to the vessel; but in general its superficial +position renders any guide quite unnecessary, even in the dead body.</p> + +<p><i>Anatomical Note.</i>—While in each stage the axillary artery gives off +branches, those arising from the third stage are by far the most +important, especially the subscapular, which leaves it at the edge of +the muscle of the same name. To avoid these the ligature should be +applied as low down on the vessel as possible, and, in point of fact, +the operation called ligature of the third stage of the axillary is, +anatomically speaking, really ligature of the brachial high up, and +where there is room at all, there will be the less chance of secondary +hæmorrhage, the greater the distance is between the ligature and the +great subscapular branch.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. Syme's Operation for Axillary Aneurism.</i>—Description of the +operation in his own words:—</p> + +<p>"Chloroform being administered, I made an incision along the outer edge +of the sterno-mastoid muscle, through the platysma myoides and fascia of +the neck, so as to allow a finger to be pushed down to the situation +where the subclavian artery issues from under the scalenus anticus and +lies upon the first rib. I then opened the tumour, when a tremendous +gush of blood showed that the artery was not effectually compressed;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">{42}</a></span> +but while I plugged the aperture with my hand, Mr. Lister, who assisted +me, by a slight movement of his finger, which had been thrust deeply +under the upper edge of the tumour, and through the clots contained in +it, at length succeeded in getting command of the vessel. I then laid +the cavity freely open, and with both hands scooped out nearly seven +pounds of coagulated blood, as was ascertained by measurement. The +axillary artery appeared to have been torn across, and as the lower +orifice still bled freely, I tied it in the first instance. I next cut +through the lessor pectoral muscle close up to the clavicle, and holding +the upper end of the vessel between my finger and thumb, passed an +aneurism-needle, so as to apply a ligature about half an inch above the +orifice."<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a></p> + +<p>In a similar operation lately performed by the author for traumatic +aneurism, the result of a stab, very little blood was lost, though no +incision was made above the clavicle. The patient made a good +recovery.<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a></p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ligature of Brachial.</span>—To arrest hæmorrhage from a wound of the artery +itself, no special directions are required, except to enlarge the wound, +and secure the vessel above and below the bleeding point. There are, +however, rare cases in which for bleeding in the palm (after all other +means have failed), or for aneurism lower down the arm, a ligature may +be necessary.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—The biceps muscle, at its inner edge, is the best guide to +the position of the incision, or if it be obscured by fat or œdema, a +line extending from the axilla, just over the head of the humerus to the +middle of the bend of the elbow will define its course. An incision +(<a href="#plate_i">Plate I.</a>, fig. 11) three inches in length, about the middle of the arm +(when you have the choice of position), through skin and superficial +fascia, will expose the deep<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">{43}</a></span> fascia, and probably the basilic vein. +Drawing the latter aside, cautiously divide the deep fascia. The artery +is then exposed, but in close relation to various nerves; of these the +ones most likely to come in the way are—1. The median, which lies in +front of, but a little to the outside of the artery, though in some rare +cases it lies behind it; 2. The internal cutaneous; 3. The ulnar, both +of which ought to be rather to the inside of the artery. Two brachial +veins accompany and wind round the vessel, occasionally interlacing. +Pulsation will, in the living body, usually suffice to distinguish the +artery from the other textures, and the ligature may be passed from +whichever side is most convenient.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p><i>Note.</i>—The relation of the median nerve to the vessel varies +according to the part of the arm—thus, as low as the insertion of +the coraco-brachialis it is to the outer side, as has been +described, it then crosses the vessel obliquely, and two inches +above the elbow it is on the inner side of the artery. Again, the +operator must never forget the possibility of there being a high +division of the artery. This occurs, Mr. Quain has shown, perhaps +once in every ten or eleven cases, and may necessitate ligature of +both trunks. </p></div> + +<p>In those cases (once much more frequent than at present) where an +aneurism has formed after a wound of the brachial at the bend of the arm +in venesection, the aneurism may be either circumscribed or diffuse.</p> + +<p>If circumscribed, it is advised by some surgeons, specially by the late +Professor Colles of Dublin, that the brachial should be tied immediately +above the tumour. In most cases of circumscribed, and in all such cases +of diffuse aneurism, the preferable operation is boldly to lay open the +tumour, turn out all the clots, seek for the wound in the artery, and +tie the vessel above and below. A tourniquet above, or, better still, a +trustworthy assistant, prevents all fear of hæmorrhage, and such a +radical operation exposes the limb to far less chance of gangrene than +do any attempts at removing or lessening the tumour by pressure (as +recommended by Cusack, Tyrrell,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">{44}</a></span> Harrison), and is much more certain +than a mere ligature above.<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a></p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ligature of Vessels in Fore-arm</span>.—Here, as also we found is the case in +the leg, it is almost useless to go on giving exact directions as to the +method of throwing a ligature round the vessels in all possible +situations.</p> + +<p>For below the elbow spontaneous aneurism is almost unknown, and even +traumatic aneurisms are extremely rare. It is therefore for hæmorrhage +only that the vessels are likely to require ligature, and it is a rule +in surgery that to enlarge the wound and to apply a ligature above and +below the bleeding point is better practice than to apply a ligature at +a distance.</p> + +<p>In the case of wounds of the palmar arch, it is extremely difficult, and +very apt to injure the future usefulness of the hand, thus to seek for +the bleeding point under the palmar fascia, and for <i>these</i>, ligatures +of radial and ulnar have occasionally been practised. However, as even +this has proved ineffectual, and the interosseous has proved sufficient +to continue the bleeding, ligature of the brachial at once is preferable +to ligature of so many branches in the fore-arm.</p> + +<p>The use of graduated compresses, carefully applied, combined with +flexion of the elbow over a bandage, will generally prove sufficient to +check such hæmorrhage from the palm, without having recourse to either +of the above more severe measures.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p><i>Note.</i>—As in the lower limb at page 24, and for the same reasons, +I here insert a brief account of the methods of tying the ulnar and +radial arteries.</p> + +<p>1. <span class="smcap">Ligature of Ulnar</span>.—Only admissible in the lower half of its +course. <i>Operation.</i>—Use the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris as +a guide, and make an incision along its radial edge, at least two +inches in length; expose the deep fascia of the arm and then +cautiously divide it; then bending the hand, the flexor carpi +ulnaris is relaxed, and the artery is found lying pretty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">{45}</a></span> deeply +between it and the flexor sublimis digitorum. The ulnar nerve lies +at its ulnar side, and the venæ comites accompany the artery. In a +tolerably muscular arm, the incision will have to be about an inch +inside of the ulnar border of the limb.</p> + +<p>2. <span class="smcap">Radial</span>.—This artery lies more superficial than the preceding, +and may be tied at any part of its course.</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Operation in upper part of fore-arm. Here the artery lies in +the interval between the supinator longus and the pronator radii +teres. In a muscular arm, the edge of the former muscle is the best +guide; in a fat one, the incision may be made in a line extending +from the centre of the bend of the arm to the inner edge of the +styloid process of the radius. The deep fascia must be exposed and +opened, and the muscles relaxed and held aside. The radial nerve +lies on the radial side of the vessel.</p> + +<p><i>B.</i> Operation in lower half of arm. Here the vessel is more +superficial, lying in the groove between the flexor carpi radialis +and supinator longus. An incision two inches in length, and +parallel with these tendons, easily exposes the artery. The nerve +is still on its radial side.</p> + +<p><i>C.</i> Operation at first metacarpal. The artery may be tied easily +enough in the triangular space bounded by the extensors of the +thumb, on the dorsum of the proximal end of the first metacarpal +bone. Skey<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> recommends a transverse,—Stephen Smith<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> and +others, a longitudinal incision. The author had lately to secure +the radial in its lower third, the superficialis volæ, and the +radial again in the triangular space, in a case where division of +the artery by a transverse cut had caused a large aneurism to form +close above the annular ligament.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Table</span> illustrating anastomotic circulation after ligature of +arteries of neck and upper limb.</p> + +<p>1. Common carotid.</p> + +<p>(<i>a</i>) Across middle line: thyroids, linguals, facials, occipitals; +also terminal branches of external carotids; also internal carotids +by circle of Willis.</p> + +<p>(<i>b</i>) Of same side: occipital with vertebral; superior thyroid with +inferior thyroid, etc.</p> + +<p>2. Subclavian, 3d part.</p> + +<p>Suprascapular with dorsal branches of subscapular; posterior +scapular with costal and muscular branches of subscapular. Thoracic +anastomosis between internal mammary and intercostals, with +branches of axillary.</p> + +<p>3. Axillary and brachial. Anastomosis varies with the position of +the ligature, but is very free between the various muscular +branches of these vessels. </p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">{46}</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>AMPUTATIONS.</h3> + + +<p>In ordinary surgical language the name Amputation is applied to all +cases of removal of limbs, or portions of limbs, by the knife, though in +strict accuracy it should be restricted to those cases in which a limb +is removed <i>in the continuity of a bone</i>, its removal <i>at a joint</i> being +called a Disarticulation.</p> + +<p>The briefest outline of a history of amputation would fill a work much +larger than the present. I may be allowed in a few sentences to attempt +to show the principle on which such a sketch should be written, in +describing the three great eras of progress in improvement of the +methods of amputating.<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a></p> + +<p>I. Prior to the invention, or at least prior to the general +introduction, of the ligature and the tourniquet, the great barrier to +all improvement in operating was the impossibility of checking +hæmorrhage during an operation, and after its conclusion. Many surgeons +would not amputate at all, others only through gangrenous parts; others +more bold, only at the confines of parts in which gangrene had been +artificially induced by tight ligatures.</p> + +<p>With the exception of Celsus, who in one place recommends a flap to be +dissected up, and the bone thus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">{47}</a></span> divided at a higher level, all were in +too great a hurry to get the operation completed to think of flaps. Cut +through all the parts at the same level with a red-hot knife, if you +will, like Fabricius Hildanus; by a single blow with a chisel and +mallet, like Scultetus; or by a crushing guillotine, like Purmannus: or +by two butchers' chopping-knives fixed in heavy blocks of wood, one +fixed, the other falling in a grove, like Botal; and then try to check +the bleeding by tying a pig's bladder over the face of the stump, like +Hans de Gersdorf; or tying it up in the inside of a hen newly killed; or +by plunging it at once into boiling pitch.</p> + +<p>We are the less surprised to read of Celsus's description of a flap +operation, when we remember that it is almost certain that Celsus <i>was</i> +acquainted with the ligature as a means of checking hæmorrhage.<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a></p> + +<p>II. A new era was ushered in when, about 1560, Ambrose Paré invented, or +re-introduced, the ligature as a means of arresting hæmorrhage, but not +for more than a century after this did the full benefit of his discovery +begin to be felt, when the tourniquet was introduced by Morel at +Besançon in 1674, and James Young of Plymouth in 1678, and improved by +Petit in 1708-10.</p> + +<p><i>Now</i> surgeons had time to look about them during an amputation, and to +try to get a good covering for the bone, so that the stump might heal +more rapidly and bear pressure better. Great improvements were rapidly +made, and any history of these improvements would need to trace two +great parallel lines, one the circular method, the other the flap +operation.</p> + +<p>1. The old method in which the limb was lopped off by one sweep, all the +tissues being divided at the same level, might be called the true +circular. This, however, was soon improved<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">{48}</a></span>—</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> By Cheselden and Petit, who invented the double circular incision, +in which first the skin and fat were cut and retracted, and then the +muscle and bone were divided as high as exposed.</p> + +<p><i>B.</i> By Louis, who improved this by making the first incision include +the muscles also, the bone alone being divided at the higher level.</p> + +<p><i>C.</i> By Mynors of Birmingham, who dissected the skin back like the +sleeve of a coat, and thus gained more covering.</p> + +<p><i>D.</i> Then comes the great improvement of Alanson, who first cut through +skin and fat, and allowing them to retract, next exposed the bone still +further up by cutting the muscles obliquely so as to leave the cut end +of the bone in the apex of a conical cavity.</p> + +<p><i>E.</i> An easier mode, fulfilling the same indications, is found in the +triple incision of Benjamin Bell of Edinburgh, who in 1792 taught that +first the skin and fat should be divided and retracted, next the +muscles, and lastly the bone.</p> + +<p><i>F.</i> A slight improvement on <i>E</i>, made by Hey of Leeds, who advised that +the posterior muscles of the limb should be divided at a lower level +than the anterior, to compensate for their greater range of contraction.</p> + +<p>2. In the progress of the flap operation fewer stages can be defined. +Made by cutting from within outwards, after transfixion of the limb, the +flaps varied in shape, size, position, and numbers, from the single +posterior one of Verduyn of Amsterdam, to the two equal lateral ones of +Vermale, and the equal anterior and posterior ones of the Edinburgh +school.</p> + +<p>Then came the battle of the schools: flap or circular.</p> + +<p><i>Flap.</i>—Speedy, easy, and less painful; apt to retract, and that +unequally.</p> + +<p><i>Circular.</i>—Leaving a smaller wound, but more slow in performance, and +apt to leave a central adherent cicatrix.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">{49}</a></span></p> + +<p>3. The last era in amputation began after the introduction of +anæsthetics. Now speed in amputation is no object, and the surgeon has +full time to shape and carve his flaps into the curves most suited for +accurate apposition, and suitable relation of the cicatrix to the bone. +It has also been brought clearly out that different methods of operating +are suitable for different positions, and also that even in the same +operation it is possible to unite the advantages of both the flap and +the circular method.</p> + +<p>In the modified circular, which is best suited for amputation below the +knee, in the long anterior flaps of Teale, Spence, and Carden, we have +illustrations of the manner in which the advantages of both the flap and +circular methods have been secured, without the disadvantages of either. +The long anterior flap, not like Teale's to fold upon itself, but like +Spence's and Carden's to hang over and shield the end of the bones, and +the face of a transversely-cut short posterior flap, seems to be now the +typical method for successful amputations. There may be exceptions, as +when the anterior skin is more injured than the posterior, or where an +anterior flap would demand too great sacrifice of length of limb, but as +a rule it will be found the best method for the patient.</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/050a.jpg" width="150" height="225" alt="Fig. I." title="Fig. I. " /> +<span class="caption smcap">Fig. i.</span> +</div> + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation of the Upper Extremity</span>.—The extreme importance of the human +hand, its tactile sensibility, its grasping power, and the irreparable +loss sustained by its removal, render the greatest caution necessary, +lest we should remove a single digit or portion of one that might be +saved. In cases of severe smashing injuries involving the fingers, it is +the surgeon's bounden duty not recklessly to amputate the limb with neat +flaps at the wrist-joint, but carefully to endeavour to save even a +single finger from the wreck, though at the risk of a longer +convalescence, or even of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">{50}</a></span> a profuse suppuration. While a toe or two, or +a small longitudinal segment of the foot, may be comparatively useless, +and a good artificial foot, with an ankle-joint stump, certainly +preferable, a single finger, provided its motions are tolerably intact, +will prove much more valuable to its possessor than the most ingeniously +contrived artificial hand.</p> + +<p>However, while in cases of extensive smash we endeavour to save anything +we can, the case is very much altered when it is only one or two fingers +that are injured. Here we find another principle brought into play, and +our conservative surgery must be limited by the following consideration. +In endeavouring to save a portion of the injured finger or fingers, will +the saved portion interfere with the important movements of the +uninjured ones? These two principles—1. Generally to save as much as we +can; 2. Not to save anything which may be detrimental or in the +way,—will guide us in describing the amputations of the upper +extremity.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/050b.jpg" width="100" height="385" alt="Fig. II." title="Fig. II." /> +<span class="caption smcap">Fig. ii.</span> +</div> + +<p><i>Amputation of a distal phalanx.</i>—This small operation is not very +often required. In cases of whitlow in which the distal phalanx alone +has necrosed, removal of the necrosed bone by forceps is generally all +that is necessary. In cases of injury, however, in which nail and distal +phalanx are both reduced to pulp, it will hasten recovery much to remove +the extremity. There is no choice as to flap, the nail preventing an +anterior one, so a flap long enough to fold over must be cut from the +pulp of the finger in either of two ways (Fig. <span class="smcap">i</span>. 1):—1. Holding the +fragment to be removed in the left hand, and bending the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">{51}</a></span> joint, the +surgeon makes a transverse cut across the back of the finger, right into +and through the joint, cutting a long palmar flap from within outwards +as he withdraws the knife.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p><i>Note.</i>—Some difficulty is often felt in making the dorsal +incision so as exactly and at once to hit the joint; the most +common mistake being, that the transverse incision is made too +high, and the knife, instead of striking the joint, only saws +fruitlessly at the neck of the bone above. To avoid this, the +surgeon should take as a guide to the joint, not the well-marked +and tempting-looking <i>dorsal</i> fold in the skin, but the <i>palmar</i> +one, which exactly corresponds with the joint between the proximal +and middle phalanges, and is only about a line above the distal +articulation.—(Fig. <span class="smcap">ii</span>.) </p></div> + +<p>2. Making the long flap by transfixion, it may be held back by an +assistant, and the joint cut into.</p> + +<p><i>Amputation through the second phalanx.</i>—If the distal phalanx be so +much crushed that a flap cannot be obtained, two short semilunar lateral +flaps may be dissected (Fig. <span class="smcap">i</span>. 2) from the sides of the second phalanx, +which may then be divided by the bone-pliers at the spot required.</p> + +<p>In cases of injury which do not admit of either of the preceding +operations, it is quite possible to amputate either at the first joint, +or even through the proximal phalanx. Patients are sometimes anxious for +such operations in preference to amputation of the whole finger. The +surgeon should, however, never amputate through a finger higher up than +the distal end of the second phalanx, unless absolutely compelled by the +patient, for the resulting stump, being no longer commanded by the +tendons, will prove merely an incumbrance, and may possibly require a +secondary operation at no distant date for its removal.</p> + +<p>This rule is applicable in cases in which a single finger is injured, +and two or three complete ones are left; in cases where all the fingers +have been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">{52}</a></span> mutilated every morsel should be left, and may be of use.</p> + +<p><i>Amputation of a whole finger.</i>—(Fig. <span class="smcap">i</span>. 3)—This is an operation of +great importance, from its frequency.</p> + +<p>If the third or fourth digits require amputation, it should be performed +as follows:—The vessels of the arm being commanded, an assistant holds +the hand, separating the fingers at each side of the one to be removed. +The surgeon holding the finger to be removed, enters the point of a long +straight bistoury exactly (some authorities say half an inch) above the +metacarpo-phalangeal joint, and cuts from the prominence of the knuckle +right into the angle of the web, then, turning inwards there, cuts +obliquely into the palm to a point nearly opposite the one at which he +set out.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p><i>Note.</i>—While most authorities agree with the direction in the +text regarding the palmar termination of the incision, I believe, +in most cases, it is not necessary to go so far, and that the +incisions may fitly meet in the palm at a point midway between a +point opposite to the knuckle, and the centre of the well-marked +"sulcus of flexion." </p></div> + +<p>He then repeats this incision on the other side, makes tense the +ligaments, first at one side and then at the other, by drawing the +finger to the opposite side, and cuts them. The tendons being cut, the +finger is detached. The vessels being tied, one point of suture is put +in on the dorsal aspect, and the fingers on each side tied together at +their extremities, with a pad of lint between them.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p><i>Modification.</i>—Lisfranc's method is too long in its minute +description to give in detail. The principle is to make a semilunar +flap at one side (the one opposite the operator's right hand), by +cutting from without inwards, then to open the joint from this cut, +and, still keeping the edge of the knife close to the head of the +phalanx, cutting the other flap from within outwards. This can be +very rapidly done, but the last flap is apt to be irregular<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">{53}</a></span> and +deficient, especially in those common cases, in which, after +whitlow or the like, the tissues are hard and brawny, and the skin +does not play freely. </p></div> + +<p>It is quite unnecessary to remove the head of the metacarpal, either for +the sake of appearance, or to render healing more rapid, and its removal +weakens the arch of the hand; where the cartilage is eroded by disease, +the cartilage-covered portion can be scooped off by a gouge or removed +entire by pliers, without interfering with the broad end to which the +transverse ligament of the palm is attached. If required either for +injury or disease, the metacarpal head may be easily removed by a single +straight incision from the knuckle upwards, as far as the point at which +it may be deemed necessary to saw it through, or better still, divide it +with the bone-pliers. This incision should be made as a first step in +the first incision for amputation of the finger, and the finger should +not be disarticulated, but kept on, to aid by its leverage in separating +the metacarpal head.</p> + +<p><i>Amputation of the index or little fingers.</i>—This operation differs +from the preceding only in this, that care must be taken to make a good +large flap on the free side of each; making the incision, which begins +at the knuckle (Fig. <span class="smcap">i</span>. 4), enclose a well-rounded flap, and not +allowing it to enter the palm till it reaches the level of the web +between the fingers. The metacarpal heads may here be cut obliquely with +the bone-pliers, to prevent undue projection.</p> + +<p><i>Amputation of one or more metacarpals.</i>—These operations may be +rendered necessary by disease or injury. If the latter demands their +performance, no rules can be given for incisions or flaps, they must +just be obtained where and how they can best be got. If for disease, a +single dorsal incision (Fig. <span class="smcap">i</span>. 5) over the bone will allow it to be +dissected out of the hand.</p> + +<p><i>N.B.</i>—In no case, except that of the thumb, should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">{54}</a></span> any attempt be +made to save a finger while its metacarpal is removed. (See <i>Excisions +of Bones</i>.)</p> + +<p><i>Amputation of first and fifth metacarpals.</i>—Various special operations +have been devised for speedy and elegant removal of these bones. Their +disadvantages, etc., are fully detailed under <i>Amputations of the Foot</i>.</p> + +<p>The vascularity and consequent vitality of the tissues of the hand and +arm sometimes afford very encouraging and satisfactory results in +conservative operations.</p> + +<p>The following is an instance of what may be accomplished in a young +healthy subject.</p> + +<p>A. A., æt. 18, ploughman, was harnessing a vicious horse, when it caught +his right hand between its teeth, and gave a severe bite. On admission, +I found the middle and ring fingers completely separated at the +metacarpal joints, but each hanging on by a portion of skin, the middle +by the skin on its radial side, the ring by that on its ulnar. The back +and the palm were both stripped of skin up to the middle of the third +and fourth metacarpal bones, which were exposed, but not fractured. As +it was important for him to maintain the transverse arch of the hand +intact, I determined to make an attempt to save the metacarpals, and +finding that the skin on the radial side of the middle, and ulnar side +of the ring fingers, was still warm, and apparently alive, I carefully +dissected as long a flap as possible from each, and then folded them +down, one at the front, the other at the back of the hand. The flaps +survived, and the result was admirable, the patient being able in a very +few weeks to guide the plough. The sensation in his new palm and back of +the hand is very peculiar, they being still the fingers, so far as +nervous supply is concerned.</p> + +<p>In amputations involving the metacarpals for injury, it is always +important to avoid entering the carpo-metacarpal joint, hence if it can +be done it is best to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">{55}</a></span> saw through the bones at the required level, +rather than disarticulate. This rule should be observed even in those +cases in which the thumb alone can be saved, for notwithstanding the +isolation of the joint between the first metacarpal and the trapezium, +it is very important for the future use of this one digit that the +motions both of the wrist and carpal joints should be preserved entire.</p> + +<p>No exact rules can be given for the performance of these operations, as +the size and positions of the flaps must be determined by the nature of +the accident and the amount of skin left uninjured.</p> + +<p>In the rare condition where the greater part of the metacarpus is +destroyed, and yet carpal joints are uninjured, a most useful artificial +band, preserving the movements of the wrist, may be fitted on; and as +much as possible should be saved, but in cases of injury, where the +carpus is opened and the hand irreparably destroyed, the question +arises, Where ought amputation to be performed? To this we answer that +there appears no conceivable advantage to be gained by leaving all or +any of the carpal bones. If successful, it would result only in the +retention of a flapping joint, unless from there being no tendons to act +upon it, except the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris attached to the +pisiform, and there are several risks it would run in the inflammation +of all the carpal joints, and the almost certain spread of this +inflammation to the bursa underneath the flexor tendons, beyond the +annular ligament, and up the arm among the muscles.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation at the Wrist-Joint.</span>—This is an operation by no means +frequent, and it has the advantages of preserving a long stump, and +retaining the full movements of pronation and supination, in cases where +the radio-ulnar joint is sound and uninjured,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">{56}</a></span> but in practice it is +often found that fibrous adhesions limit to a great extent the motions +of the two bones on each other, specially in those cases where the +radio-ulnar joint has been diseased or injured.</p> + +<p>Another advantage is the extreme ease with which disarticulation may be +performed on emergency, no saw being required, and the ordinary bistoury +of the pocket-case being quite sufficient for cutting the flaps.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—By double flap. An incision (<a href="#plate_iv">Plate IV.</a> fig. 3) on the +dorsal surface, extending in a semilunar direction from one styloid +process to the other, will define a flap of skin only, which must be +raised; the joint must then be opened by a transverse incision, and a +long semilunar flap of skin and fascia should be shaped (<a href="#plate_iv">Plate IV.</a> fig. +4) from the palm. Disarticulation is facilitated by the surgeon forcibly +bending the wrist when he makes the transverse cut, and it will be found +easier to shape the palmar flap from the outside by dissection, than to +do it by transfixion after disarticulation, on account of the prominence +of the pisiform on the inner side of the palm.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 200px;"> +<img src="images/057a.jpg" width="200" height="96" alt="Fig. III." title="Fig. III." /> +<span class="caption smcap">Fig. iii. +<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a></span> +</div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/057b.jpg" width="250" height="291" alt="Fig. IV." title="Fig. IV." /> +<span class="caption smcap">Fig. iv. +<a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>In the thin wasted wrists of the aged, or in any case where the +skin is very lax, this amputation may be very easily performed by +the circular method. While an assistant draws up the skin as much +as possible, the surgeon makes an accurate circular incision +through the skin, about an inch below the styloid processes, just +grazing the thenar and hypothenar eminences. Another circular sweep +just above the pisiform and unciform bones divides all the soft +textures, after which the joint may be opened, and, if necessary, +the styloid processes cut away with saw or pliers.</p> + +<p>Amputation by a long single flap, either dorsal or palmar, may be +rendered necessary by accident. The palmar one of the two is +preferable; indeed, rather than trust for a covering to the thin +skin of the back of the hand, with its numerous tendons, it is +better to amputate an inch or two higher up through the fore arm.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">{57}</a></span></p> + +<p>The following amputation by external flap has been described (so +far as I can discover, for the first time) by Dr. Dubrueil, in his +work on operative Surgery:<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a>—"Commencing just below the level of +the articulation, while the hand is pronated, the surgeon makes a +convex incision, beginning at the junction of the outer and middle +thirds of the arm behind, reaching at its summit the middle of the +dorsal surface of the first metacarpal, and terminating in front +just below the palmar surface of the joint, again at the junction +of the outer and middle thirds of the breadth of the arm. This flap +being raised, the wrist is disarticulated, beginning at the radial +side. A circular incision finishes the cutting of the skin." (Figs. +<span class="smcap">iii.</span> and <span class="smcap">iv.</span>) </p></div> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation through the Fore-arm.</span>—The method of operating must, in the +fore-arm, depend a good deal upon the part of the arm where you require +to amputate, the muscularity of the limb, and the condition of the skin +and subcutaneous cellular tissue.</p> + +<p>It must be remembered that a section of the fore-arm involves two bones, +not, like the tibia and fibula, on a constant permanent relation in +position to each other, but which rotate one upon another to an amount +which varies with the part of the limb divided, and which rotation is a +very important element in the future usefulness of the stump; again, +that two sets of muscles occupy, one the back, the other the front of +the limb, that these two are unequal in size, and that the outer sides +or rather edges of each bone are subcutaneous; again, that these sets of +muscles are comparatively fleshy in the upper<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">{58}</a></span> two-thirds of the limb, +and almost entirely tendinous in the lower third.</p> + +<p>Remembering these points, we find that certain things require our +attention, and certain difficulties are present in amputation of the +fore-arm, from which amputation of the arm, with its single bone and +copious muscular covering on all sides, is completely free.</p> + +<p>Thus our flaps in the fore-arm must be antero-posterior; lateral flaps +are an impossibility. Great care is requisite to cut them at all equal, +from the inequality of the muscles on the two sides. In the lower third +we cannot obtain available muscular flaps. Lastly, care must be taken +lest, from the ever-varying relations of the two bones to each other in +the varying positions of the limb, the surgeon mistake their position +and pass his knife between them.</p> + +<p>The next question that arises is, Where are we to operate? In cases +where we have a choice, is there here, as in the leg, any "point of +election"? <i>No.</i> As a rule in the fore-arm, the surgeon should endeavour +to save as much as possible; especially when nearing the middle of the +fore-arm, he should try to save the insertion of the pronator teres, so +important in its function of pronating the radius.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation in Lower Third of the Fore-arm.</span>—By two flaps. These +antero-posterior flaps must consist of skin only, as the tendons are +only in the way, and thus should be made by dissection from without.<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> +Making the dorsal one first, the surgeon should enter his knife at the +palmar edge of the bone that is further from him, and cut a semilunar +flap of skin only, finishing the incision quite on the palmar edge of +the inner bone. The two ends of this incision must then be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">{59}</a></span> united by a +similar semilunar flap of skin on the palmar side. The two flaps having +been dissected back, he then clears the bones by a circular incision +through tendons and muscles, not forgetting to pass the knife between +the bones, and retracting all the soft parts, saws through the bones, at +least half or probably three-quarters of an inch higher up. It is +generally easiest to saw through both bones at once.</p> + +<p><i>Long Dorsal Flap.</i>—Where it is possible from laxity of the soft parts +and the wrist not being much destroyed, to get a long flap from the back +of the arm after Mr. Teale's method, a very good stump will result. This +rule is, "In tracing the long flap a longitudinal line is drawn over the +radius, so as to leave the radial vessels for the short flap (<a href="#plate_ii">Plate II.</a> +fig. 1). At a distance equal to half the circumference of the limb, +another line parallel to the former is drawn along the ulna. These are +then joined at their lower ends, across the dorsal aspect of the wrist +or fore-arm, by a transverse line equal in length to half the +circumference of the fore-arm. The short flap is marked by a transverse +line on the palmar aspect, uniting the long ones at their upper fourth.</p> + +<p>"The operator, in forming the long flap, makes the two longitudinal +incisions merely through the integuments, but the transverse one is +carried directly down to the bones. In dissecting the long flap from +below upwards, the tissues of which it is composed must be separated +close to the periosteum and interosseous membrane. The short flap is +made by a transverse incision through all the structures down to the +bones, care being taken to separate the parts upwards close to the +periosteum and membrane." The stump must be placed in the prone +position, "to allow the long dorsal flap to be the superior when the +patient is recumbent, and thus fall over the ends of the bones."<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a></p> + +<p>The principal objection to the long dorsal rectangular<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">{60}</a></span> flap (which +makes an excellent covering) is, that unless it can be obtained from +over the wrist-joint it requires the bones to be sawn so very high up. +This may be avoided, to some extent, by making it shorter and rounded +off, as in Carden's Amputation, <i>q.v.</i></p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation in Upper Two-Thirds</span>.—Where the fore-arm is very fat or +fleshy, this amputation can be very easily performed by two equal +antero-posterior flaps made by transfixion. In most cases, however, from +the comparative leanness of the dorsal aspect of the limb, the following +method will have the best result. The surgeon must, as in the former +case, shape a rounded dorsal flap by dissection from without (<a href="#plate_iv">Plate IV.</a> +fig. 5), embracing the whole breadth of the limb down to the palmar edge +of both bones. Then at once he transfixes the two points of this dorsal +flap, and cuts out an equal one from the anterior aspect of the limb +(<a href="#plate_iv">Plate IV.</a> fig. 6). Dissecting up the dorsal flap he clears the bones at +least half an inch above as before, and applies the saw.</p> + +<p><i>N.B.</i>—This operation should be performed even in cases where only an +inch of radius can be retained, as the attachment of the biceps makes a +very small stump of fore-arm wonderfully useful.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation at Elbow-Joint</span>.—In cases where it is found impossible to +save any portion of the fore-arm, disarticulation at the elbow-joint may +be easily performed. This operation was proposed and performed so long +ago as the days of Ambrose Paré,<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> was much approved by Dupuytren, +Baudens, and Velpeau, had fallen into disuse for a time, but is now +again recommended by some excellent surgeons, especially by Gross<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> +and Ashhurst,<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> both of Philadelphia.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">{61}</a></span></p> + +<p>It is tolerably easy to perform, and does not involve any sawing of +bones, but the flaps are apt to be cut too short, unless care be taken, +from the manner in which the trochlea projects downwards beyond the line +of the condyles, so that if the base of an ordinary-shaped flap be made +on a level with the condyles, it will prove insufficient to cover the +bone. It may be performed either by the circular method (Velpeau), oval +(Baudens), or by a long anterior and short posterior flap (Textor and +Dupuytren). Probably the best method is by a long anterior flap when it +can be obtained, thus:—The arm being placed in a slightly flexed +position, the surgeon transfixes in front of the joint, in a line +extending from the level of the external condyle to a point one inch +below the internal condyle (<a href="#plate_iv">Plate IV.</a> fig. 7); the tissue should be held +well forward at the moment of transfixion. The flap should be at least +two and a half inches deep at its apex, which must be rounded off. The +two ends of this flap may then be united behind by a semilunar incision +(<a href="#plate_iii">Plate III.</a> fig. 2), which will separate the radial attachments. The +ulna must then be cleared, and the triceps divided at its insertion.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p><i>Modifications.</i>—Dupuytren used to saw through the ulna, leaving +the olecranon attached. Velpeau opposed this, but it is again +recommended by Gross, who leaves the olecranon, and at the same +time improves the shape of the stump by sawing off the "inner +trochlea" on a level with the general surface. </p></div> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation of the Arm</span>.—This amputation is best performed by double +flap, and is the typical instance which exhibits all the advantages of +two equal flaps made by transfixion, without any of the disadvantages of +that method. These advantages are, easiness of performance, rapidity, +excellent covering for the bone, with as little sacrifice of tissue as +is possible, while the fact that the cicatrix is opposite the end of the +bone<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">{62}</a></span> is hardly a disadvantage in the arm (as it certainly is in the +leg), as no weight has to be borne on it. When they can be obtained, +anterior and posterior flaps are generally considered most satisfactory, +but Mr. Spence prefers lateral ones, lest the line of union should be +interfered with by the deltoid raising the bone. If the right arm has to +be amputated, the operator standing at the inner side raises the +anterior muscles with his left hand, and enters the knife just in front +of the brachial vessels (<a href="#plate_i">Plate I.</a> fig. 12); keeping as close as possible +to the bone, he brings out the knife at a point exactly opposite, then +with a brisk sawing motion, cuts a semicircular flap, taking care to +bring out the knife more suddenly just at the end, in order to cut +through the skin as perpendicularly to the arm as possible. The knife is +again entered at the same point, carried behind the bone, and brought +out at the same angle, and an exactly corresponding flap cut from the +other side of the limb, the flaps are then retracted, the bone cleared +by circular incision and sawn through as high up as it is exposed. In +primary cases, where the muscles are firm and developed, the flaps +should be cut a little concave.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p><i>Modifications and Varieties.</i>—Teale's method may of course be +used here as elsewhere. The internal line of incision (<a href="#plate_iv">Plate IV.</a> +fig. 8) should be made just in front of the brachial vessels. This +method requires the amputation to be performed higher up than would +otherwise be necessary (from the length of the anterior flap), and +this disadvantage is not counterbalanced by any special advantage +in the posterior retraction of the cicatrix.</p> + +<p>In feeble flabby arms, the true circular operation is very easily +performed, and with good results. A circular sweep of the knife is +made through the skin alone, which is drawn up by an assistant, +while the surgeon separates it from the fascia; another circular +cut through fascia and muscles exposes the bone, which must then be +cleared and cut through at a still higher level.</p></div> + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation at the Shoulder-Joint</span>.—This operation,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">{63}</a></span> like that at +the hip joint, can, from the nature of the joint to be covered, and +the abundant soft parts in the normal state of the tissues, be +performed on the dead in very various ways, by single, double, or +triple flaps, by transfixion or dissection, rapidly or slowly. +Hence manuals of operative surgery might collect at least twenty +different methods, most of which have some recommendation, and all +of which are practicable enough.</p> + +<p>When, however, we reflect that in the living body, in cases where +amputation at the shoulder-joint is required at all, the severity +of the accident, or the urgency of the disease, will, in general, +leave no room for selection, we shall see how utterly valueless is +any knowledge of mere methods of operating, and of how much greater +importance it is that we should be simply thoroughly familiar with +the anatomy of the joint.</p> + +<p>For example, an accident which necessitates amputation so high up +has, in all probability, opened into the joint and destroyed the +soft parts on at least one aspect; in such a case the flaps must be +cut from the uninjured soft parts only. If an aneurism has rendered +amputation through it and through the joint a last resource, the +flap must be gained chiefly at least from the outside; a malignant +tumour of the humerus will almost certainly prevent any +transfixion, and require flaps to be made by dissection, wherever +the skin is least likely to be involved. Again, some of the most +vaunted and most rapid operations almost require for their success +the integrity of the humerus, which has to make itself useful as a +lever in disarticulation, while in most cases of accident we are +amputating for compound injury of the humerus, almost certainly +implying fracture with comminution.</p> + +<p>From its proximity to the trunk, hæmorrhage is one of the chief +dangers to be apprehended during this operation, especially from +the axillary artery. As far as possible to obviate this danger, +most plans of operating<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">{64}</a></span> are based on the principle that the +vessels and nerves should be the last tissues to be cut; in some +they are not divided till after disarticulation.</p> + +<p>While a good assistant, to make pressure on the subclavian above +the clavicle, is a most advisable precaution, too much must not be +trusted to this pressure above, as the struggles of the patient and +the spasmodic movements of the limb, which are so apt to occur +under the stimulus of the knife, are apt to render futile the best +efforts at compression.</p> + +<p>The operator should trust rather to making the incisions in such a +manner that the great vessel be not divided till the hand of an +assistant, or in default of a suitable one, his own left hand, is +able to follow the knife and grasp the flap.</p> + +<p>The bleeding from the circumflex, subscapular, and posterior +scapular arteries can easily be arrested by a dossil of lint till +the great vessel is tied, and they can be secured.</p> + +<p>In cases where proper assistants cannot be had, temporary closure +of the axillary vessel could easily be made by carrying a strong +silver wire or silk ligature completely round the vessel by a +curved needle before the incisions are commenced, and by tying this +firmly over a pad of lint.</p> + +<p>Pressure on the artery above the clavicle is best made by the thumb +of a strong assistant, who endeavours to compress it against the +first rib; where the parts are deep and muscular, the padded handle +of the tourniquet, or of a large door-key, will do as the agent of +pressure.</p> + +<p>A brief notice of three of the best methods of operating will be +quite sufficient to show what should be aimed at in shoulder-joint +amputations:—</p> + +<p><b>1.</b> In cases where the surgeon can choose his flaps, the following +method will be found the most satisfactory, as resulting in the +smallest possible wound, in having<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">{65}</a></span> less risk of hæmorrhage during +the operation than any other method, and in providing excellent +flaps.</p> + +<p>It is Larrey's method slightly modified.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—With a moderate-sized amputating knife an incision of +about two inches in length, extending through all the tissues down +to the bone, should be made from the edge of the acromion process +to a point about one inch below the top of the humerus; from this +latter point a curved incision, enclosing a semilunar flap, should +be made on each side of the limb to the anterior and posterior +folds of the axilla respectively (<a href="#plate_iv">Plate IV.</a> fig. 9, and <a href="#plate_iii">Plate III.</a> +fig. 3). These flaps should then be dissected back, including the +muscles and exposing the joint. When thoroughly exposed, the joint +must then be opened from above, and the bone separated. One small +portion of skin lying above the artery, vein, and nerves still +remains to be divided (<a href="#plate_i">Plate I.</a> fig. 13). This may be done by an +oblique cut from within outwards, in such a direction as to form +part of the anterior or internal incision, and with the precaution +of having an assistant to command the vessels before they are +divided. The resulting wound is almost perfectly ovoid, the flaps +come together with great ease in a straight vertical line, which +admits of easy and thorough drainage. Union is generally rapid. +Larrey's success by this method was very remarkable: ninety out of +a hundred cases in military practice were saved, notwithstanding +the well-known risks of such operations.</p> + +<p><b>2.</b> As good as the former, and nearly as universally applicable, is +the method devised by Professor Spence, and practised by him in +nearly every case:—"With a broad strong bistoury I cut down upon +the inner aspect of the head of the humerus, immediately external +to the coracoid process, and carry the incision down through the +clavicular fibres of the deltoid and pectoralis major muscles till +I reach the humeral attachment of the latter muscle, which I +divide. I then with a gentle curve<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">{66}</a></span> carry my incision across and +fairly through the lower fibres of the deltoid towards, but not +through, the posterior border of the axilla. Unless the textures be +much torn, I next mark out the line of the lower part of the inner +section by carrying an incision through the <i>skin and fat only</i>, +from the point where my straight incision terminated, across the +inside of the arm to meet the incision at the outer part. This +insures accuracy in the line of union, but is not essential. If the +fibres of the deltoid have been thoroughly divided in the line of +incision, the flap so marked out, along with the posterior +circumflex trunk, which enters its deep surface, can be easily +separated from the bone and joint, and drawn upwards and backwards +so as to expose the head and tuberosities, by the point of the +finger without further use of the knife. The tendinous insertions +of the capsular muscles, the long head of the biceps, and the +capsule, are next divided by cutting directly upon the tuberosities +and head of the bone; and the broad subscapular tendon especially, +being very fully exposed by the incision, can be much more easily +and completely divided than in the double-flap method. By keeping +the large posterior flap out of the way by a broad copper spatula +or the fingers of an assistant, and taking care to keep the edge of +the knife close to the bone, the trunk of the posterior circumflex +is protected. In regard to the axillary vessels, they can either be +compressed by an assistant before completing the division of the +soft parts on the axillary aspect, or to avoid all risk, the +axillary artery may be exposed, tied, and divided between two +ligatures so as to allow it to retract before dividing the other +textures."<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>Another, but not so good method of making an external flap, is the +following:—(<i>a.</i>) For the right arm.—The patient lying well over +on his left side, the surgeon stands to the inside of the arm to be +removed. Seizing the deltoid in the left, with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">{67}</a></span> the right he passes +an amputating knife, seven or eight inches in length, from a point +a little nearer the clavicle than the middle space between the +acromion and coracoid processes; then, transfixing the base of the +deltoid, and just grazing the posterior surface of the humerus, +thrusts the knife downwards and backwards till it protrudes at the +posterior margin of the axilla. When doing this, it is important +that the arm be held outwards and backwards, and even upwards, as +far as possible to relax the deltoid; without this it will be +impossible to make the flap of the full size. The flap must then be +cut of as full length as can be obtained, four or five inches at +least. An assistant then holds it upwards, while the surgeon, or +(if the arm is very muscular) another assistant, brings the arm +forwards well across the patient's chest, thus exposing the +posterior aspect of the joint. This may have very possibly been +already opened during the transfixion; the attachments of muscles +must now be divided, the knife passed behind the head of the bone, +which is dislocated forwards, and a suitable flap of the tissues in +front cut from within outwards. The assistant is to follow the +knife with his finger and compress the vessels.</p> + +<p>(<i>b.</i>) If the left shoulder is to be amputated, the patient lying +on his right side, the surgeon stands behind him, and raising the +elbow of the limb to be removed from the side, and pulling it +slightly backwards, enters the knife at the posterior fold of the +axilla (<a href="#plate_ii">Plate II.</a> fig. 2), and passing the posterior aspect of the +head of the humerus, endeavours to protrude it as near the acromion +as possible; the flaps must be cut and the rest of the operation +performed in the manner we have just described for the other arm. </p></div> + +<p><b>3.</b> Where the destruction of tissue has been chiefly below the joint, a +very good flap may be obtained from above, composed chiefly of the +deltoid muscle, and the skin over it. This may be made by transfixion at +its base, but is better obtained by dissection from without.</p> + +<p>The surgeon cuts (<a href="#plate_ii">Plate II.</a> figs. 3, 3) in a semilunar direction (with +the convexity downwards) from one side of the deltoid to the other, +viz., from the root of the acromion to near the coracoid process; he +then raises the large flap upwards and throws it back, opens the joint, +disarticulates, passes the knife behind the head of the bone, and cuts +out without attempting to save any flaps below, in a transverse +direction. By this means<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">{68}</a></span> the artery is still almost the last structure +to be divided, and can be secured by a ready assistant. In cases where +much injury has been done to the floor of the axilla and wall of chest, +the deltoid flap must be made large in proportion, and triangular rather +than semilunar in shape.</p> + +<p><i>N.B.</i>—The statistics of amputation at the shoulder-joint bring out +some interesting facts: 1. That the primary amputations here are far +more successful than secondary ones. Guthrie records nineteen cases of +the former out of which only one died, while out of a similar number in +which the amputation was secondary, fifteen died. In the Crimea, British +surgeons had thirty-nine cases, with thirteen deaths; of thirty-three +primary, nine died; and of six secondary, four were fatal.</p> + +<p>S.W. Gross's<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> statistics confirm this: of one hundred and +seventy-eight primary, forty-six died—25.8 per cent.; ninety-five +secondary, sixty-one died—64.2 per cent.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputations above the Shoulder-Joint</span>.—Under this head we may group the +comparatively rare cases in which, from accident or disease, the removal +of portions of the scapula and clavicle, or even the entire bones, is +rendered necessary. That it is quite possible to survive such injuries +has been frequently shown in cases of accident when the scapula along +with the arm has been torn off, and yet the patient recovered.</p> + +<p>Encouraged by such cases, Gaetani Bey of Cairo removed the whole of +scapula and part of the clavicle in a case where he had amputated at the +shoulder for smash. The patient recovered. Heron Watson has had a +similar case. Dr. George M'Lellan amputated arm and scapula in a youth +of seventeen for an enormous encephaloid tumour. Fifty-one such cases +are now on record.</p> + +<p>Syme amputated with success the arm along with the scapula and outer +half of clavicle, in a case in which he had previously excised the head +of the humerus for a tumour.<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">{69}</a></span></p> + +<p>Gilbert, Mussey, Rigaud, Fergusson, and others have performed similar +operations, secondary to amputation at the shoulder-joint, for cases of +caries and malignant tumour. It is impossible to give any exact +directions for the incisions which must be planned for individual cases, +with two chief aims, to avoid hæmorrhage as far as possible, and to +leave abundance of skin. In operations on the scapula, it should be +freely exposed by large enough incisions. (See <a href="#Page_140"><i>Excisions</i></a>.)</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputations of Lower Extremity</span>.—Commencing with the most distal, and +gradually working our way upwards, we find that partial amputations of +the toes are extremely rare. Only in the case of the great toe is such +an operation <i>ever</i> admissible, for the other toes are so short, and the +stumps left by amputation are at once so useless from their shortness, +and so detrimental from the manner in which they project upwards and rub +against the shoe, that any injury requiring partial amputation of a +lesser toe is treated by its complete removal.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 193px;"> +<img src="images/069.jpg" width="193" height="300" alt="Fig. V." title="Fig. V." /> +<span class="caption smcap">Fig. v.</span> +</div> + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation of Distal Phalanx of Great Toe</span>.—This is comparatively rarely +required now. It used to be thought necessary for the cure of those not +uncommon cases of exostosis of the distal phalanx, but it is now found +that most of these can be cured by simply clipping off the exostosis. +When necessary, however, and when the choice of flaps is possible, the +best plan is by a long flap from the plantar surface (Fig. <span class="smcap">v</span>. 4), as in +the similar operation on the thumb; laying the edge of the knife over +the dorsal aspect of the joint, cutting through it, and turning the edge +of the knife round close to the bone, so as to cut out a large flap from +the ball of the toe.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">{70}</a></span></p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation of a Single Lesser Toe</span>—<i>second</i>, <i>third</i>, <i>or fourth</i>.—This +operation is on exactly the same principle as that described for the +corresponding finger; but it must be remembered that the +metatarso-phalangeal joint is more deeply situated in the soft parts +than is the metacarpo-phalangeal; and thus the commencement of the +elliptical incision which is to surround the base of the toe must be +proportionally higher up (Fig. <span class="smcap">v</span>. 1). On the other hand, as it is very +important to avoid as much as possible any cicatrix in the sole of the +foot, the plantar end of the incision need not be carried to a point +exactly opposite the one from which it set out, but it will be +sufficient if it reaches the groove between the toe and sole. A little +more care may thus be required in dissecting out the head of the first +phalanx, but this is quite repaid by the cicatrix in the sole being +avoided. Early division of flexor tendons renders disarticulation easy.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation of the First and Fifth Toes</span>.—The incisions are conducted on +the same principle as in the other operations, the operator being +careful to preserve as much as possible (Fig. <span class="smcap">v</span>. 2) of the hard useful +pad of the inner and outer sides respectively.</p> + +<p>Most surgeons are now agreed that in these toes it is best not to remove +the head of the metatarsal bone with the toe. Cutting off the large +cartilaginous head obliquely with a pair of bone-pliers may prevent an +awkward unseemly projection, but it does diminish the strength of the +transverse arch of the foot.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation of one or more Toes with their Metatarsals</span>.—It is not +necessary to give very particular details regarding such operations, as +the surgeon must be guided in the individual cases by the specialties of +accident or disease.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">{71}</a></span></p> + +<p>One or two guiding principles are important:—</p> + +<p>1. Having made up your mind at what point you are to cut the metatarsal, +if the amputation be a partial one, or as to the exact position of the +joint, if you intend to disarticulate, commence your dorsal incision +(Fig. <span class="smcap">v</span>. 3) at a point fully half an inch higher up than the selected +spot, as free access is of the very last importance.</p> + +<p>2. Whenever it is possible, cut the bone through its continuity rather +than disarticulate. Specially is this important in the case of the +metatarsal bone of the great toe, that the insertion of the tendon of +the peroneus longus may be saved. If, however, the terminal branch of +the <i>dorsalis pedis</i> artery be wounded, it may be necessary to +disarticulate the first metatarsal to secure it rather than trust to +compression to stop the bleeding.</p> + +<p>3. In cutting through the first and fifth metatarsals, remember to apply +the bone-pliers obliquely, not transversely, so as to avoid unseemly +projection.</p> + +<p>4. As far as possible avoid cutting into the sole at all.</p> + +<p>The plantar cicatrix is almost a fatal objection to a plan of removing +the first and fifth toes and their metatarsals which has much otherwise +in rapidity and elegance to recommend it. In the great toe, for example, +it is performed as follows:—Seizing the soft parts of the inner edge of +the foot in his left hand, the surgeon draws them <i>inwards</i>, transfixes +just at the tarso-metatarsal joint, and, keeping as close as possible to +the inner edge of the metatarsal bone, cuts the flap as long as to the +middle of the first phalanx; then the soft parts of the foot being drawn +as far <i>outwards</i> as possible by an assistant, the surgeon enters his +knife between the first and second toes, and succeeds in entering his +former incision so as to separate the metatarsal bone without removing +any skin. All that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">{72}</a></span> remains is to open the tarso-metatarsal joint. It is +a very neat-looking operation, leaves a very good covering for the +parts, and is performed with extreme rapidity. This last is not so much +required in these days of anæsthetics, and the cicatrix in the sole is a +very formidable objection to it.</p> + +<p>The simplest and shortest rule that can be given for the amputation of a +toe, with the part or whole of its metatarsal, is to make one dorsal +incision, commencing about a quarter of an inch above the spot at which +you intend to divide the bone or to disarticulate, extending downwards +in a straight line to the metatarso-phalangeal articulation, and then +bifurcating so as to surround the base of the toe at the normal fold of +the skin. The soft parts are then to be cleared from the +metatarso-phalangeal joint, and the toe still being retained on the +metatarsal bone, it should be carefully dissected up, avoiding any +pricking of the soft parts below, till the joint is reached, or the spot +at which the bone-pliers are to be applied is fully cleared.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation of the anterior portion of the Foot at the Tarso-metatarsal +Joint—Hey's Operation</span>.—This operation, which is now comparatively +rarely performed, has been invested with a halo of difficulty and +complexity which is to a great extent unnecessary.</p> + +<p>There is no doubt that the anatomical conformation of the joints +involved, especially the manner in which the head of the second +metatarsal (Fig. <span class="smcap">v.</span> C) projects upwards into the tarsus, and is locked +between the cuneiform bones, renders disarticulation in the healthy foot +rather difficult; but it must be remembered that in cases where for +accident we have to deal with previously healthy tissues, it is quite +unnecessary to disarticulate, a better result being attained by simply +sawing the foot across in the line of the articulation; and again, where +we have to operate for disease, the tissues<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">{73}</a></span> are so matted, and the +bones so soft, that complete removal of the metatarsus is much easier +than it appears when practising on the dead subject.</p> + +<p>Very various plans of incision have been proposed. Mr. Hey's original +procedure has not been much improved upon. His short account of it has +at once surgical value and historical interest:—</p> + +<p>"I made a mark across the upper part of the foot, to point out as +exactly as I could the place where the metatarsal bones were joined to +those of the tarsus. About half an inch from this mark, nearer the toes, +I made a transverse incision through the integuments and muscles +covering the metatarsal bones (<a href="#plate_iv">Plate IV.</a> figs. 10, 11). From each +extremity of this wound I made an incision (along the inner and outer +side of the foot) to the toes. I removed all the toes at their junction +with the metatarsal bones, and then separated the integuments and +muscles forming the sole of the foot from the inferior part of the +metatarsal bones, keeping the edge of my scalpel as near the bones as I +could, that I might both expedite the operation and preserve as much +muscular flesh in the flap as possible. I then separated with the +scalpel the four smaller metatarsal bones at their junction with the +tarsus, which was easily effected, as the joints lie in a straight line +across the foot. The projecting part of the first cuneiform bone which +supports the great toe I was obliged to divide with a saw. The arteries, +which required a ligature, being tied, I applied the flap which had +formed the sole of the foot to the integuments which remained on the +upper part, and retained them in contact by sutures....</p> + +<p>"The patient could walk with firmness and ease; she was in no danger of +hurting the cicatrix by striking the place where the toes had been +against any hard substance, for this part was covered with the strong +integuments which had before constituted the sole of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">{74}</a></span> the foot. The +cicatrix was situated upon the upper part of the foot, and had very +little breadth, as the divided parts had been kept united after being +brought into close contact."<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a></p> + +<p><i>Lisfranc's method</i> has, briefly, the following modifications.—Having +fixed the position of the articulations of the first and fifth +metatarsals with the tarsus, the operator unites them by a curved +incision across the dorsum of the foot, with its convexity downwards. He +then divides the dorsal ligaments over the articulations, opens the +first from the inside, the fifth, fourth, and third from the outside, he +then with a strong narrow-bladed knife divides the interosseous +ligaments between the sides and end of the head of the second metatarsal +and the cuneiforms, thus completing the disarticulation; bending the +fore part of the foot downwards, he then keeps the edge of the knife +close to the lower surface of the bones, separating the plantar +ligaments, and cutting out a long plantar flap of skin and muscles.</p> + +<p>In every case it must be remembered that the upper end of the fifth +metatarsal projects far up along the outer edge of the foot. Allowance +must be made for this projection in commencing the incision. A rule +given by Mr. Syme to guide the disarticulation of the three outer +metatarsals will often be of service; it is this: "Having once entered +the joint of the fifth, the knife must be drawn along in a direction of +a line drawn towards the distal end of the first metatarsal; for the +fourth, the direction must be changed to the middle of the same bone; +and to open the third it will be necessary to come across the dorsum of +the foot as if intending to reach the proximal end."</p> + +<p>To avoid the difficulties of disarticulation, Skey recommends cutting +off the head of the second metatarsal with a pair of pliers. Baudens, +Guérin, and others<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">{75}</a></span> approve of sawing all the bones across in the line +desired.</p> + +<p>Most surgeons are now agreed that in this operation it is better to make +both flaps by cutting from without, in preference to transfixion of the +plantar one from within. In cases where, from injury and disease, the +plantar flap is deficient in size, it may be necessary to make the +dorsal flap longer. However, the long plantar is preferable both from +its superior hardness, and also because from its length it permits the +cicatrix to be well on the dorsum of the foot, and therefore less likely +to be injured by the pressure of the boot in front.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputations through the Tarsus</span>.—Various plans of amputating through the +tarsus have been devised and described at great length. The most +important of these is the operation of removal of the anterior portion +of the foot, at the joints between the astragalus and scaphoid, and os +calcis and cuboid, well known to the profession by the name of its first +describer, Chopart.</p> + +<p>It has been so completely superseded by the infinitely preferable +amputation at the ankle-joint of Mr. Syme, as rarely, if ever, to be +practised in this country. Indeed, amputation at the ankle-joint may be +said to have taken the place of all these amputations through the +tarsus; for though cases are occasionally met with in which the +limitation of the disease or injury may render Chopart's possible, and +though at first sight it appears to have an advantage in removing less +of the body, still the following objections are nearly fatal to its +chance of being selected:—1. In cases of injury, through leaving a long +stump, and, at first sight, a useful one, experience shows that the +tendo Achillis sooner or later (being unopposed by the extensors of the +toes) draws up the heel so as to make the end of the stump point, and +the cicatrix press on the ground,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">{76}</a></span> rendering it unable to bear any +weight. 2. In cases of removal for disease of the tarsus, the bones left +behind, though apparently sound at the time, are almost sure to become +eventually diseased.</p> + +<p>As it has an historical interest, and as this operation (defective as it +is) had been the means of saving many legs prior to the invention of +amputation at the ankle-joint, a brief description may be appended:—</p> + +<p>Chopart's own manner of operation was briefly somewhat as follows:—</p> + +<p>The tourniquet having been applied, the surgeon is to make a transverse +incision through the skin which covers the instep, two inches from the +ankle-joint. He is to divide the skin, and the extensor tendons, and the +muscles in that situation, so as to expose the convexity of the tarsus. +He is next to make on each side a small longitudinal incision, which is +to begin below and a little in front of the malleolus, and is to end at +one of the extremities of the first incision. After having formed in +this way a flap of integuments, he is to let it be drawn upwards by the +assistant who holds the leg. There is no occasion to dissect and reflect +the flap, for the cellular substance connecting the skin with the +subjacent aponeurosis is so loose, that it can easily be drawn up above +the place where the joint of the calcaneum with the cuboides and that +between the astragalus and scaphoides ought to be opened. The surgeon +will penetrate the last the most easily, particularly by taking for his +guide the eminence which indicates the attachment of the tibialis +anticus muscle to the inside of the os naviculare. The joint of the os +cuboides and os calcis lies pretty nearly in the same transverse line, +but rather obliquely forwards. The ligaments having been cut, the foot +falls back. The bistoury is then to be put down, and the straight knife +used, with which a flap of the soft parts is to be formed under the +tarsus and metatarsus, long enough to admit of being applied to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">{77}</a></span> the +naked bones, so as entirely to cover them. It is to be maintained in +position with three or four straps of adhesive plaster, etc.<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a></p> + +<p>Chopart's amputation, after an interval of comparative neglect, was +introduced into this country by Mr. Syme in 1829. His method of +performance is simpler and easier than Chopart's. He thus describes +it:—"The blade of the knife employed should be about six inches long, +and half an inch broad, sharp at the point and blunt on the back. The +tourniquet ought to be applied immediately above the ankle, having +compresses placed over the posterior and anterior tibial arteries. The +surgeon should measure with his eye the middle distance between the +malleolus externus and the head of the metatarsal bone of the little +toe, which is the situation of the articulation between the os cuboides +and os calcis. Placing his forefinger here, he ought to place his thumb +on the other side of the foot directly opposite, which will show him +where the os naviculare and astragalus are connected. An incision (<a href="#plate_ii">Plate +II.</a> figs. 4 and 5) somewhat curved, with its convexity forward, is then +to be made from one of these points to the other, when, instead of +proceeding to disarticulate, the operator should transfix the sole of +the foot from side to side at the extremities of the first incision, and +carry the knife forwards so as to detach a sufficient flap, which must +extend the whole length of the metatarsus to the balls of the toes. The +disarticulation may finally be completed with great ease, as the shape +of the articular surfaces concerned is very simple, and nearly +transverse."<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> Regarding the method of disarticulating at the +astragalo-calcaneal joint, and removing all the foot except the +astragalus, no detail need be given. Malgaigne advises an internal flap, +thus sacrificing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">{78}</a></span> the valuable pad of the heel. Roux, Verneuil, and +others endeavour to save the pad. This operation, however, has now +fallen almost completely into disuse.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Subastragaloid Amputation</span> has been highly recommended. In it the flap is +made as in Syme's, then anterior bones removed as in Chopart's, and os +calcis grasped by lion forceps and twisted off, its attachment and the +insertion of tendo Achillis being cautiously avoided. If flaps are +scanty, head of astragulus may be cut off with a small saw.—Hancock and +Ashurst.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Tripier's Amputation</span><a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> is a modification of above, the skin incisions +being made as in Chopart's amputation, and then the calcaneum is sawn +through on a level with the sustentaculum tali on a plane at right +angles to the axis of the leg.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation at the Ankle-joint, or Syme's Amputation</span>.—This operation is +one of much interest and great practical importance. In our cold +variable climate caries of the bones of the tarsus, and strumous disease +of the ankle-joint, are very common and very intractable maladies, and +for both of these, when far advanced, Syme's amputation is the only +justifiable procedure. When properly done, according to the <i>exact</i> plan +of its proposer, it removes the whole of the diseased parts and not an +inch more, is an operation of very slight danger to life, and results +almost invariably in a thoroughly useful comfortable stump. Much of its +success depends on the manner in which it is performed, and as many +surgical manuals are not sufficiently full, some positively in error +regarding this point, and as very many modifications have been devised +diminishing in value and applicability very much in proportion as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">{79}</a></span> they +diverge from the original description, I think it advisable to describe +the operation minutely, and point out in detail the parts of it which +seem absolutely essential to success.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—The foot being held at a right angle to the leg, the point +of a straight bistoury, with a pretty strong blade, should be entered +just below the centre of the external malleolus (<a href="#plate_iv">Plate IV.</a> figs. 12, +13), (1.) and then carried right across the integuments of the sole, in +a straight line (or in the case of a prominent heel, slightly +backwards), (2.) to a point at the same level on the opposite side. (3.) +This incision should reach boldly through all the tissues down to the +bone. Holding the heel in the fingers of his left hand, the operator +then inserts his left thumb-nail into the incision, and pushes the flap +downwards, as with the knife kept close to the bone, and cutting on it, +he frees the flap from its attachments. The thumb-nail guards the knife +from in any way scoring the flap. (4.) This process is continued till +the tuberosity of the os calcis is fairly turned, and the tendo Achillis +nearly reached. Shifting his left hand he then extends the foot, and +joins the extremities of the first incision by a transverse one right +across the instep. (5.) Thus he opens the joint between the astragalus +and tibia, (6.) divides the lateral ligaments, disarticulates, and still +keeping close to the bone, removes the foot by the division of the tendo +Achillis.</p> + +<p>The lower ends of the tibia and fibula are then to be isolated from the +soft parts, and a thin slice, including both malleoli, to be removed. If +the disease of the joint has affected the lower end of the bone, slice +after slice may be removed, till a healthy surface of cancellated +texture is obtained. The vessels are then secured.</p> + +<p><i>Dressing of the Stump.</i>—From its peculiar shape and position, the +escape of any blood into the stump is much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">{80}</a></span> to be deprecated, for as it +cannot easily get out, on the one hand it gives pain, and may cause +sloughing from its pressure, and on the other it is sure eventually to +cause suppuration, and delay union. To avoid such results care must be +taken to secure every vessel that can be seen; if there is any general +oozing it is best merely to pass the sutures through the edges of the +flaps, but not bring them together, thus leaving the stump open for some +hours; then apply cold, and when the surfaces are fairly glazed over, +remove any clots and bring the flaps together.<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a></p> + +<p>Another plan introduced by Mr. Syme was to make a longitudinal slit in +the flap, through which all the ligatures are to be drawn; these give a +dependent drain to any pus that may be formed, and by their presence +greatly expedite the healing of the wound. Again, in cases where from +the amount of disease existing before the operation, and the gelatinous +thickening of the flap and neighbouring parts, much suppuration may be +looked for, probably it will be found best to keep the flaps quite apart +for some days, by stuffing the wound with lint, and aiming only at +secondary union by granulations.</p> + +<p>A drainage tube passed through the breadth of the flap, and brought out +at the angles, and retained for a few days, will do admirably.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p><i>Notes.</i>—(1.) If commenced further forward, as in Pirogoff's +modification, it will be found difficult to turn the corner of the +heel; if further back, the nutrition of the flap is endangered.</p> + +<p>(2.) This is very important. In several well-known text-books, even +in the last edition of Gross's <i>Surgery</i>, the incision is figured +passing obliquely <i>forwards</i>. This is a fatal error, for besides +making a flap far too long, it forces the operator to cut fairly +into the hollow of the sole, quite off the prominence of the os +calcis, and he finds that it is utterly impossible to free his flap +without using great force, and inevitably scoring it in all +directions. Sloughing is almost inevitably the result.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">{81}</a></span></p> + +<p>(3.) The incision is to stop at least half-an-inch below the +internal malleolus. Most surgical manuals, even when they profess +to describe Mr. Syme's own method of operating, say that the +incision should extend from malleolus to malleolus. If this is +done, the flap becomes unsymmetrical, too long, and also the +posterior tibial artery, on which much of the vascular supply of +the flap depends, is cut. When the incision is properly made, the +vessel is not cut till after its division into the plantar +arteries.</p> + +<p>(4.) Scoring the flap. Some may ask, Why do you object to a little +scoring, the tissues are thick enough, and besides, don't you +advise a slit in the flap yourself? Yes. One look at an injected +preparation will show that the vessels supplying this thick flap +come to it from its inner surface, and are inevitably cut across in +any scoring of it, and also, that scoring cuts across the vessels, +and <i>must</i> divide dozens of them; the slit we make is parallel with +their course, and <i>may</i> not divide one.</p> + +<p>(5.) Across the instep. Some authors recommend a semilunar anterior +flap; this is quite unnecessary, increases bagging and delays +union. It can be required only in cases where the heel flap has +been destroyed or lessened by disease, or by operators in whose +hands the heel flaps occasionally slough.</p> + +<p>(6.) It is not impossible that a careless operator may (by cutting +a little too low) miss the joint and get into the hollow of the +neck of the astragalus, where he may cut away for a long time +without making much progress. </p></div> + +<p><i>Advantages.</i>—1. It is wonderfully free of danger to life. It is very +hard to obtain exact statistical information, but my experience is that +the mortality is certainly not more than about 10 per cent., a very +remarkable result when compared with that of amputations through the +leg, the operation which used to be required for those cases which now +require only amputation at the ankle-joint.</p> + +<p>In the Statistical Report by the Surgeon-General of the United States, +9705 cases of amputation resulted in death, the proportions being as +follows:—</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">{82}</a></span></p> + +<table summary="amputation"> +<tr><td>Amputation of</td><td>hip,</td><td>85</td><td>per cent. died.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>thigh,</td><td>64</td><td class="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>knee,</td><td>55</td><td class="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>leg,</td><td>26</td><td class="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td>Amputation of</td><td>ankle-joint,</td><td>13</td><td>per cent. died.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>shoulder,</td><td>39</td><td class="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>arm,</td><td>21</td><td class="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>fore-arm,</td><td>16</td><td class="center">"</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p>2. It is the most perfect stump that can be made, in fact the only one +in the lower extremity which can bear pressure enough to support the +weight of the body; all the others require the weight to be distributed +over the general surface of the limb by means of apparatus. A good +ankle-joint stump can bear the whole weight of the body, as when the +patient hops on it without any artificial aid, or without even the +interposition of a stocking between the stump and a stone floor. More +than this, I have seen a patient who had both his feet amputated at the +ankle-joint run without shoes or stockings on the stone passages, +without even the aid of a stick, and with very great swiftness.</p> + +<p>The reason of this may be found in the nature of the flap itself, +originally intended to bear the weight of the body, there being no +cicatrix at the part on which pressure is borne. I have noticed that +perfection in walking on an ankle-joint stump has a certain relation to +the freedom of movement which the pad has over the face of the bone. +This ought to be pretty considerable. It is explained by the new +attachments formed by the tendons, and is under the control of the +patient, being elicited when he is told to move his toes.</p> + +<p>It has been objected to this operation that the flap is apt to slough. +When improperly performed, as when the flap is scored transversely in +its separation, and especially when the flap is cut too long (as has +been already noticed), this may occur; but that there is nothing +whatever in the position or condition of the flap itself that at all +necessitates its sloughing, is thoroughly proved by the following +remarkable case, given by Mr. Syme in his volume of <i>Observations in +Clinical Surgery</i>. I quote it entire:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">{83}</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"P.C., aged thirty-three, was admitted into the hospital on the 25th +July 1860, in the following state:—He had been treated in the +Manchester Infirmary for popliteal aneurism by pressure, so decidedly +applied that it had caused an ulcer, of which the cicatrix remained; but +without producing the effect desired. The femoral artery was then tied +with success, in so far as the aneurism was concerned, but with the +unpleasant sequel, some months afterwards, of mortification in the foot, +which was thrown off, with the exception of the astragalus and os calcis +with their integuments, a large raw surface being presented in front +where the bone was bare. Although the patient was extremely weak, and +the parts concerned might be supposed more than usually disposed to +slough, I did not hesitate to perform the operation, with the speedy +result of a most excellent stump and complete restoration to +health."—Pp. 49, 50.</p> + +<p>The modifications of Mr. Syme's original operation have been very +various. It will be unnecessary even to name them all. One or two may +require notice. Retaining Mr. Syme's incisions in their integrity, some +operators prefer not to disarticulate the foot, but remove it by sawing +through the tibia and fibula at once, while still in connection with the +foot. That most excellent surgeon and first-rate operator, Dr. Johnston +of Montrose, used to prefer this method.</p> + +<p>In cases where the pad of the heel has been destroyed by disease or +accident, so as to be partially or entirely unavailable for the flap, +the late Dr. Richard Mackenzie<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> practised the following operation by +internal flap:—With the foot and ankle projecting from the table with +their internal aspect upwards, he entered the point of the knife (<a href="#plate_i">Plate +I.</a> fig. 14) in the mesial line of the posterior aspect of the ankle, on +a level with the articulation, carried it down obliquely across the +tendo Achillis towards the external border of the plantar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">{84}</a></span> aspect of the +heel, along which it is continued in a semilunar direction. The incision +is then curved across the sole of the foot, and terminates on the inner +side of the tendon of the tibialis anticus, about an inch in front of +the inner malleolus. The second incision (<a href="#plate_iii">Plate III.</a> fig. 4) is carried +across the outer aspect of the ankle in a semilunar direction, between +the extremities of the first incisions, the convexity of the incision +downwards, and passing half an inch below the external malleolus.</p> + +<p>Precisely the same principle might supply the flap from the outer side +in cases where the internal flap as well as the heel was deficient, but +probably the nutrition of the external flap would be more doubtful. +Neither the one nor the other is nearly so good as the true heel flap, +and they are both only very poor substitutes for it when it cannot be +had.</p> + +<p>The modification devised by Dr. Handyside does not seem to have any +advantages over the original operation, and has not been adopted.</p> + +<p>The modification invented by Professor Pirogoff involves a much more +important principle than any of the preceding. Instead of dissecting the +flap from the posterior projecting portion of the os calcis, and +removing the tarsus entire, he sawed off the posterior portion of the os +calcis obliquely, leaving it in contact with the pad of skin, which is +retained. Immediately after making the cut which defines the posterior +flap and divides the tissues down to the bone, he opens the joint in +front, disarticulates, and then putting on a narrow saw immediately +behind the astragalus and over the sustentaculum tali, he saws the os +calcis obliquely downwards and forwards till he reaches the first +incision; then removes the ends of the tibia and fibula and brings up +the slice of os calcis into contact with them.</p> + +<p><i>Advantages.</i>—It is easy of performance, saving the dissection from the +heel, which some find so hard. It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">{85}</a></span> leaves a longer limb. It is said to +bear pressure better, and there is certainly not so much chance of +bagging of pus, and the mortality is exceedingly small, Hancock's +collected cases giving only 8.6 per cent.; in cases of injury it is +quite a warrantable operation.</p> + +<p><i>Disadvantages.</i>—It is contrary to sound principle in cases of disease, +for it wilfully leaves a portion of the tarsus, in which disease is +almost certain to return. It leaves too long a limb, for it is found +that the shortening in Mr Syme's method is just sufficient to admit of a +properly constructed spring being placed in the boot to make up for the +loss of the elastic arch of the foot. It brings the firm pad of the heel +too much forward, thus tending to lean the weight of the body on the +softer tissues behind the heel. It takes much longer to unite and +consolidate.</p> + +<p>The author has now, in a large number of cases of Syme's amputation for +disease, found advantage in leaving the periosteum in the heel flap, +<i>i.e.</i> he cuts fairly into the os calcis when dividing the skin of heel, +and then using a periosteum scraper instead of the knife, it is quite +easy to remove the whole of the periosteum from the bone; this results +in a large and more rounded pad of great strength and thickness.</p> + +<p>In cases where from disease or injury it is impossible to obtain either +a heel flap or a substitute lateral one, the question is, Where should +amputation be performed?</p> + +<p>It was for a long time the opinion of nearly all the best surgeons, and +still is the opinion of many, that amputation of the leg should be +performed at what was known as the "seat of election," just below the +knee, even in cases where abundance of soft parts could be obtained for +an amputation much lower down. The rule in surgery, to save as much of +the body as possible in every amputation, was in the leg believed to be +set aside by objections which militated strongly against all the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">{86}</a></span> other +operations in the leg except the one performed just below the knee. Very +briefly, these were somewhat as follows:—1. Just above the ankle you +have large bones with nothing to cover them except skin and tendons. 2. +Higher up in the calf you have plenty of muscle, but it is all on one +side, and that the wrong one; it is very heavy, very difficult to dress +and keep in position, and then when you have succeeded with it, the +muscle wastes away and the stump is flabby. 3. And chiefly, as in all +the amputations of the leg, the cicatrices are so much in the way, and +the bones are so ill covered, that the patient can never rest his leg on +the stump itself, but has either to rest his weight on his patella +impinging on the top of a bottle-shaped leg, or just to stick out his +stump behind him and kneel on the top of his wooden leg; therefore it is +no use to have a stump longer than a few inches; in fact, the longer the +stump is the more it is in the way. And more than this, many of the +stumps made near the ankle, or through the calf, are not only useless, +but positively painful. The skin becomes attached to the bones, the +cicatrix never properly firms at all, the patient can hardly bear the +pressure of a stocking, far less can he make use of the limb. For these +reasons, secondary amputations below the knee are of very common +occurrence.</p> + +<p>Now, this idea has been much modified, and a few isolated cases in the +past, and series of cases considerably more numerous in the present day, +show that under certain conditions, and as a result of certain +precautions in their performance, such operations are both warrantable +and successful.</p> + +<p>In the past, as we find in an erudite note in South's Chelius, Dionis, +White, and Bromfield had each of them many successful cases of +amputation just above the ankle, successful in so far that artificial +limbs could be used which preserved the motion of the knee, and gave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">{87}</a></span> +the patient much more command of the limb than is possible with the +short stump below the knee.</p> + +<p>A still more important point to be remembered is, that amputation just +above the ankle is a much less fatal amputation than that just below the +knee (Lister in <i>Holmes's Surgery</i>, 3d ed. vol. iii. p. 716; Gross, 6th +ed. vol. ii. p. 1113; Ben. Bell, 6th edit. vol. vii. p. 312).</p> + +<p>There is little doubt, however, that the principle so much in vogue in +the present day, of one long anterior or posterior flap, instead of two +equal flaps, or of circular amputations, has done very much to make +amputations at the ankle or through the calf justifiable and useful in +bearing the weight of the body.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation just above the Ankle.</span>—Cases admitting of this operation must +always be rare, for disease of the tarsus or ankle-joint hardly ever +goes so far as to contra-indicate the performance of Mr. Syme's greatly +preferable operation; and an accident which would require this operation +from injury to the ankle would in most cases require an amputation a +good deal higher up from the splintering of the tibia so apt to occur.</p> + +<p>In a suitable case the plan of the operation should be as follows:—A +long anterior flap slightly rounded at the end should be cut (<a href="#plate_i">Plate I.</a> +figs. 15, 16)—from the outside, not by transfixion,—and the anterior +muscles dissected up along with it. It should be long enough to fall +down over the face of the bones at the point of section, and easily +cover the point of the posterior flap, which is to be made by cutting +through all the tissues with one bold transverse stroke of the knife. +This operation, which is the plan of Mr. Teale of Leeds very slightly +modified, is equally applicable at any point of the leg, with this +difference only, that the length of the anterior flap must always be +carefully proportioned to the mass of the muscular flap behind it has to +cover in.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">{88}</a></span></p> + +<p>This operation provides a skin covering, without any danger of the +cicatrix being pressed on or becoming adherent.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>The author has within the last few years operated nine times in +this manner, in cases of accident in which the heel flaps had been +completely destroyed; and seen a tenth case in which Mr. Syme did +so. All ten cases recovered completely and rapidly, and walked on +useful limbs, with the free movement of the knee-joint. </p></div> + +<p>Where from injury in a muscular patient a long anterior flap cannot be +had, recourse should be had at once to the operation at the seat of +election, rather than run the risk of pressure on the cicatrix by using +a double flap operation, or trust that broken reed, the long posterior +flap from the great muscles of the calf.</p> + +<p>In June 1865, Mr. Henry Lee described a method of operating which he +hoped would unite the benefits of Mr. Teale's method to the ease of +performance of the old flap from the calf. I append a short account of +his method. From its position, however, it has the great disadvantage of +retaining the discharges, and by its weight straining the stitches and +weighing down the cicatrix:—</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Lee's Amputation</span> <i>of the Leg by a long rectangular flap from the +Calf</i>.—The operation described was performed according to Mr. Teale's +method, as far as the external incisions were concerned, but the long +flap was made from the back instead of from the front of the limb (<a href="#plate_iv">Plate +IV.</a> figs. 14, 15). Two parallel incisions were made along the sides of +the leg, these were met by a third transverse incision behind, which +joined the lower extremities of the first two. These incisions, which +formed the three sides of the square, extended through the skin and +cellular tissue only. A fourth incision was made transversely through +the skin in front of the leg so as to form a flap in this situation,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">{89}</a></span> +one-fourth only of the length of the posterior flap. When the skin had +somewhat retracted by its natural elasticity, an incision was made +through the parts situated in front of the bones, which were reflected +upwards to a level with the upper extremities of the first longitudinal +incisions. The deeper structures at the back of the leg were then freely +divided in the situation of the lower transverse incision. The conjoined +gastrocnemius and soleus muscles were separated from the subjacent +parts, and reflected as high as the anterior flap. The deeper layer of +muscles, together with the large vessels and nerves, were divided as +high as the incision would permit, and the bones sawn through in the +usual way. The flaps were then adjusted in the manner recommended by Mr. +Teale.<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a></p> + +<p>The patients were able to bear the weight of the body on the end of the +stump.</p> + +<p>In cases of chronic disease, where the muscles are atrophied and +condensed, the following posterior flap method may be used with +advantage. It is approved of by Mr. Spence. An incision is made across +the front of the leg from the <i>posterior edge</i> of the fibula to the +<i>posterior edge</i> of the tibia, or <i>vice versâ</i>, according to the limb. +The limb is then transfixed behind the bones from the same points, and a +long and gently rounded posterior flap cut. The bones are then cleaned, +and cut through at a little higher level.</p> + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation immediately below the Knee</span> <i>at the</i> "<i>true seat of +election</i>."—The principles on which this operation is founded are—1. +That a muscular flap is not necessary, skin being perfectly sufficient; +2. That as the muscles retract they must be cut at a lower level than +the bones, and as they retract unequally from their varying length, the +cuts must be made with due reference to that inequality; 3. That no more +of the tibia<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">{90}</a></span> need be retained than what is just sufficient to retain +the attachment of the ligamentum patellæ, and to insure its vitality; 4. +That the head of the fibula must be retained in every case, as in a +certain proportion the tibio-fibular articulation communicates with the +knee-joint.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—Two equal semilunar flaps of skin must be cut—from the +outside, not by transfixion,—one anterior and external, the other +posterior and internal, their extremities meeting at points about two +inches below the tuberosity of the tibia on either side (<a href="#plate_i">Plate I.</a> figs. +17, 18). These must be reflected up, and with them a further extent of +skin, embracing the whole circumference of the limb, must be dissected +up (as if pulling off the fingers of a glove), so as to expose the bone +one inch below the tuberosity. The anterior muscles being very close to +their origin, and consequently being able to retract very slightly, must +be cut as high as exposed, and the posterior ones about the middle of +their exposed surface.</p> + +<p>The bones must then be sawn as high as exposed, with the following +precautions:—1. In order to prevent splintering of the fibula, +endeavour to saw it along with the tibia, so as to finish it first; 2. +To prevent projection of a sharp prominence of the edge of the tibia, +enter the saw obliquely a little higher up than where you intend to +divide the bone, then withdraw it, and enter the saw again at right +angles to the bone, and a line or two lower down. Some surgeons prefer +to make this section afterwards with a finer saw or the bone-pliers.</p> + +<p>This operation is very frequently required to remedy painful and +unhealed stumps, the result of amputations lower down, specially those +in which the long posterior flap from the muscles of the calf has been +used. In the above amputation the patient will not be able to rest the +weight of his body on the <i>face</i> of the stump, but by putting the limb +into a well-padded case with soft<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">{91}</a></span> rounded edges, the weight might be +borne partly on the sides of the stump, and partly on the lower edge of +the patella; and the patient will be able to walk with great comfort, +preserving the use of his knee-joint.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation at the Knee-joint</span>.—This "relic of ancient surgery," as Mr. +Skey calls it, has been revived only of late years, and seems in certain +cases to be a justifiable and successful operation.</p> + +<p>Practised by Fabricius Hildanus and Guillemeau in the sixteenth and +seventeenth centuries, it had fallen into disuse till revived by Hoin, +Velpeau, and Baudens, on the Continent, Professor Nathan Smith in +America, and Mr. Lane in London.</p> + +<p>It is not possible that this operation can be at all frequent, since the +cases in which it is applicable are comparatively rare; for, to be +successful, the following conditions are essential:—1. That there be +abundant skin in front of the knee-joint to make a long anterior flap; +2. That the patella and articular surface of the femur are healthy. +These conditions at once exclude nearly every case of disease or +accident. If the joint is diseased some amputation through the thigh +must be attempted; if injured, and the front of the knee is safe, it may +very likely be possible to amputate below the knee. Hence this operation +may be useful in cases where, for malignant disease, the <i>whole</i> tibia +requires removal, and yet the knee-joint is sound, or for gunshot +injuries, in which the tibia is splintered but the soft tissues +comparatively uninjured.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—A long anterior flap should be cut with a semilunar end +(<a href="#plate_ii">Plate II.</a> figs. 6, 7), extending as far as the insertion of the +ligamentum patellæ. This flap, including the patella, should be thrown +up, the joint cut into, and a short posterior flap made by transfixion.</p> + +<p>It is important to retain the patella, if possible, as it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">{92}</a></span> fills up the +hollow between the condyles; it sometimes becomes anchylosed, but in +other cases it remains freely mobile, and adds to the value of the +stump.</p> + +<p>Professor Pancoast has practised an amputation at the knee-joint by +three flaps, performed entirely by the scalpel, which, he says, results +in a good stump. One flap, the anterior one, is longest and semilunar in +shape, its convexity passing three inches below the tuberosity of the +tibia; the other two are much smaller, and postero-lateral.<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a></p> + +<p><i>Advantages.</i>—The bone is not cut into at all, there is a free drain +for matter, no tendency to retraction of the flaps, and the weight of +the body is borne on skin previously habituated to pressure.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>The statistics seem to be favourable: out of 55 cases, Continental, +American, and English, 21 died, a mortality of 38 per cent., while +in a table of 1055 cases of amputation of the thigh, 464 died, +being a mortality of 44 per cent. In some of the American cases the +articulating extremity of the femur seems to have been removed, as +in the following operation:—</p></div> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation through the Condyles of the Femur</span>.—In the <i>London and +Edinburgh Journal of Medical Science</i> for 1845, Mr. Syme advocated a +method of amputation through the condyles of the femur as specially +suitable in case of diseased knee-joint. Amputation at this spot has +certain advantages:—1. The shaft of the bone being untouched, there is +no injury of the medullary cavity, and hence no fear of inflammation of +its lining membrane. 2. There is less risk of exfoliation, the +cancellated texture of the epiphysis not being liable to it. 3. Being +close to the joint, the muscles are cut through where they are +tendinous, thus very much diminishing the risk of retraction and +consequent protrusion of the bone. 4. A large broad surface of bone is +left to bear the weight of the body, and one which, like the ankle-joint +stump, will round off and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">{93}</a></span> afford a comfortable pad over which the skin +of the flap will freely play.</p> + +<p>One objection used to be urged against this mode of operating, the fear +lest the thickened, brawny, and often ulcerated textures in the +neighbourhood of a diseased knee-joint, would not make a good covering. +This, however, is no longer a bugbear, as we see in cases of resection, +where the diseased joint alone is taken away, how very soon all swelling +and disease departs, once its cause is removed.</p> + +<p>Mr. Syme's original operation was briefly as follows:—With an ordinary +amputating-knife make a lunated incision (<a href="#plate_i">Plate I.</a> fig. 19) from one +condyle to the other, across the front of the joint, on a level with the +middle of the patella, divide the tissues down to the bones, and then +draw the flap upwards, then cut the quadriceps extensor immediately +above the patella. The point of the blade should then be pushed in at +one end of the wound, thrust behind the femur, and made to appear at the +other end; it should then be carried downwards (<a href="#plate_iii">Plate III.</a> fig. 5), so +as to make a flap from the calf of the leg, about six or eight inches in +length, in proportion to the thickness of the limb; the flap should then +be slightly retracted, and the knife carried round the bone a little +above the condyles to clear a way for the saw, which should be applied +so as to leave the section as horizontal as possible.</p> + +<p>This method is now hardly ever used, as the following seems a much +better one:—</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Gritti's<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> Amputation</span>.—In this two flaps are formed—an anterior long +one rectangular and a posterior short one. The condyles of the femur are +divided through their base, and the lower surface of patella is removed +by a small saw, and then the surfaces of bone approximated.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">{94}</a></span></p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Stokes's<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> modification of Gritti's amputation</span>.—In this +"supracondyloid" amputation, the femur is sawn just above the condyles, +without going into the medullary canal. The anterior flap is oval, twice +as long as posterior, and the patella is brought up after denudation +against end of femur.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Carden's Amputation at the Condyles of the Femur</span>.<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a>—The operation +consists in reflecting a rounded or semi-oval flap of skin and fat from +the front of the knee-joint, dividing everything else straight down to +the bone, and sawing the bone slightly above the plane of the muscles, +thus forming a flat-faced stump, with a bonnet of integument to fall +over it.</p> + +<p>The operator standing on the right side of the limb, seizes it between +his left forefinger and thumb at the spot selected for the base of the +flap, and enters (<a href="#plate_ii">Plate II.</a> fig. 8) the point of the knife close to his +finger, bringing it round through skin and fat below the patella to the +spot pressed by his thumb; then turning the edge downwards at a right +angle with the line of the limb, he passes it through to the spot where +it first entered, cutting outwards through everything behind the bone +(<a href="#plate_iv">Plate IV.</a> fig. 16). The flap is then reflected, and the remainder of +the soft parts divided straight down to the bone; the muscles are then +slightly cleared upwards, and I saw it applied.</p> + +<p>I have ventured to make a slight change in the method of performing this +most excellent operation, for having found the posterior flap, as cut in +the method above described, rather scanty in the earlier cases in which +I have had occasion to perform it, after dissecting back the anterior +flap and cutting into the knee-joint, I shape a slightly convex +posterior flap of skin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">{95}</a></span> only, at least one and a half inches in length +in adult, and allow it to retract before dividing the muscles by a +circular cut to the bone, and have had every reason to be satisfied with +the change.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation of the Thigh.</span>—Amputation of the thigh has been the favourite +battle-ground where flap and circular, antero-posterior and lateral, +long and short flaps, double, triple, and conical incisions, have +striven with each other; so were I to attempt to describe one quarter of +the various methods employed, I should need to rewrite the history of +Amputation.</p> + +<p>It will suffice merely to describe the <i>best</i> modes of amputating the +thigh through its lower, middle, and upper thirds respectively, and at +the hip-joint.</p> + +<p>In one word, it may be stated that, with the exception of those +amputations performed through the lower third of the bone, the flap +method is to be preferred, and the flaps should in almost every case be +made by transfixion.</p> + +<p>In the lower third, however, the flap method, though exceedingly easy, +and capable of very rapid performance, has certain defects; the chief of +these being the tendency which the muscular flaps (the necessary result +of transfixion) have to cause undue retraction, and hence protrusion of +the bone. This is seen specially in the hamstrings, which from the great +distance of their origin, and the purely longitudinal direction of their +fibres, retract to a very great extent, much more than the anterior +muscles can do from the pennate direction of their fibres, and the +manner in which they are mutually bound down to each other and to the +bone.</p> + +<p>Even in this one position, the lower third of the thigh, the methods +that may be needed are various, and require separate notice;—for +operations here are extremely frequent from the frequency of strumous +disease of the knee-joint in our variable climate, and from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">{96}</a></span> fact +that compound fractures or dislocations of the knee-joint so very often +necessitate amputation.</p> + +<p>In cases where the skin over the patella is uninjured and available, the +operation by long anterior flap (either by Teale's method, or by Mr. +Spence's modification of it, which curiously is almost exactly similar +to the amputation of Benjamin Bell by a single flap) is suitable enough. +But, I believe, preferable to either of these is the operation of Mr. +Carden, already described. In cases where the knee-joint is injured, and +the skin over the patella unavailable, and yet where it is not necessary +to go higher up the limb, the modified circular amputation of Mr. Syme +will be found very suitable.</p> + +<p>As it is in this lower third of the thigh that a very large proportion +of the cases requiring a long anterior flap is to be found, it affords +the best opportunity for comparing in their detail the three almost +similar plans of B. Bell, Teale, and Spence—after which Mr. Syme's +modified circular may be described.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Benjamin Bell's Flap Operation above the Knee</span> (reported in his own +words, slightly abbreviated).—"When this operation is to be performed +above the knee, it may be done either with one or two flaps, but it will +commonly succeed best with one. The flap answers best on the fore part +of the thigh, for here there is a sufficiency of the parts for covering +the bones, and the matter passes more freely off than when the flap is +formed behind.... The extreme point of the flap should reach to the end +of the limb, unless the teguments are in any part diseased, in which +case it must terminate where the disease begins, and its base should be +where the bone is to be sawn. This will determine the length of the +flap, and we should be directed with respect to the breadth of it by the +circumference of the limb, for the diameter of a circle being somewhat +less than a third of its circumference,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">{97}</a></span> although a limb may not be +exactly circular, yet by attention to this we may ascertain with +sufficient exactness the size of a flap for covering a stump (<a href="#plate_iv">Plate IV.</a> +fig. 17). Thus a flap of four inches and a quarter in length will reach +completely across a stump whose circumference is twelve inches; but as +some allowance must be made for the quantity of skin and muscles that +may be saved on the opposite side of the limb, by cutting them in the +manner I have directed, and drawing them up before sawing the bone, and +as it is a point of importance to leave the limb as long as possible, +instead of four inches and a quarter, a limb of this size, when the +first incision is managed in this manner, will not require a flap longer +than three inches and a quarter, and so in proportion, according to the +size of the limb. The flap at its base should be as broad as the breadth +of the limb will permit, and should be continued nearly, although not +altogether, of the same breadth till within a little of its termination, +where it should be rounded off so as to correspond as exactly as may be +with the figure of the sore on the back part of the limb. This being +marked out, the surgeon, standing on the outside of the limb, should +push a straight double-edged knife with a sharp point to the depth of +the bone, by entering the point of it at the outside of the base of the +intended flap; and carrying the point close to the bone, it must here be +pushed through the teguments at the mark on the opposite side. The edge +of the knife must now be carried downwards in such a direction as to +form the flap, according to the figure marked out; and as it draws +toward the end, the edge of it should be somewhat raised from the bone, +so as to make the extremity of the flap thinner than the base, by which +it will apply with more neatness to the surface of the sore. The flap +being supported by an assistant, the teguments and muscles of the other +parts of the limb should, by one stroke of the knife, be cut<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">{98}</a></span> down to +the bone, about an inch beneath where the bone is to be sawn; and the +muscles being separated to this height from the bone with the point of a +knife, the soft parts must all be supported with the leather retractors +till the bone is sawn," etc., arteries tied, and dressings applied.<a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a></p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation of Thigh by Rectangular Flap</span>—(Teale's).—I take the +opportunity here of describing fully, and as far as possible in his own +words, Mr. Teale's method of amputating, this being the situation where +his method is most frequently available. The same principle may be +applied to amputations at almost any other part of the body.</p> + +<p>After advising the surgeon to mark out the proposed line of incision +with ink before the operation, he gives the following directions for +fixing the exact size of the flap:—"Supposing the amputation to take +place (<a href="#plate_ii">Plate II.</a> figs. 9, 10) at the lower part of the middle third of +the thigh, the circumference of the limb is to be measured at the point +where the bone is to be divided.<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> Assuming this to be sixteen inches, +the long flap is to have its length and breadth each equal to half the +circumference, namely, eight inches. Two longitudinal lines of this +extent are then traced on the limb, and are met at their lower points by +a transverse line of the same length. The inner longitudinal line should +be first traced in ink as near as practicable to the femoral vessels, +without including them within the range of the long flap. The outer +longitudinal line, which is somewhat posterior, is next marked eight +inches distant from the former and parallel to it. These two lines are +then joined by a transverse line of the same extent, which falls upon +the upper border of the patella, or upon some lower portion of this +bone. The short flap is indicated by a transverse line passing behind +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">{99}</a></span> thigh, the length of this flap being one-fourth that of the long +one; or, assuming the circumference of the limb to be sixteen inches, +and the length of the long flap eight inches, the length of the short +flap is two inches. The operator begins by making the two lateral +incisions of the long flap through the <i>integuments only</i>. The +transverse incision of this flap, supposing it to run along the upper +edge of the patella, is made by a free sweep of the knife through the +skin and tendinous structures down to the femur. Should the lower +transverse line of the flap fall across the middle or lower part of the +patella, the transverse incision can extend through the skin only, which +must be dissected up as far as the upper border of the patella, at which +place the tendinous structures are to be cut direct to the thigh-bone. +The flap is completed by cutting the fleshy structures from below +upwards close to the bone. The posterior short flap, containing the +large vessels and nerves, is made by <i>one sweep</i> of the knife down to +the bone, the soft parts being afterwards separated from the bone close +to the periosteum, as far upwards as the intended place of sawing.... In +adjusting the flaps, the long one is folded over the end of the bone, +and brought, by its transverse line, into union with the short flap, the +two corresponding free angles of each being first united by suture. One +or two additional stitches complete the transverse line of union. Care +is now required in arranging the two lateral lines of union. As the long +flap is folded upon itself so as to form a kind of pouch for the end of +the bone, it is requisite that it should be held in its folded state by +a point of suture on each side. Another stitch on each side secures the +lateral line of the short flap to the corresponding part of the long +one. A longitudinal line of union thus passes at right angles each end +of the transverse line."<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">{100}</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Teale's account of the resulting stumps is too long to quote entire, +but in a few words, we find that by retraction of the short posterior +flap, the cicatrix is drawn up quite behind and out of the way of the +bone, that a soft mass without any large nerves or vessels is the result +of the partial atrophy of the long flap, and that the patient is able to +bear one-half, two-thirds, or even in some cases the entire weight of +his body on the face of the stump. Such a power of support is to be +found in no other flap except in Mr. Syme's amputation at the +ankle-joint.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Spence's Amputation by a long Anterior Flap</span>.<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a>—The method used by Mr. +Spence in amputations just above the knee-joint obtains the advantages +of Teale's method, and avoids many of its disadvantages. He makes two +flaps. The anterior one, which is to fall loosely over and cover in the +posterior segment of the stump, must have a breadth fully equal to +one-half of the circumference of the limb, and must be gently rounded at +its extremity, so as to adjust itself readily to the curve of the cut +margin of the posterior half of the stump. He begins the anterior +incision below, or on a level with, the lower margin of the patella, and +when the skin is retracted to a little above the patella, cuts down +<i>obliquely</i> to the bone, so as to divide the soft parts up to the base +of the flap. For the posterior incision, he begins about two +fingers'-breadth below the base of the anterior flap, and the assistant +retracting the skin, the edge of the knife is carried obliquely up to +the bone (in Alanson's manner) and the posterior soft parts divided, the +bone is sawn through—or immediately above—the condyloid portion. Mr. +Spence does not advise or practise this method high up. The results are +good, for by these means the end of the bone has a thick covering, +including muscular fibres,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">{101}</a></span> over it, and the cicatrix is not pressed +upon in walking. The stump remains full, mobile, and fleshy, as in Mr. +Teale's method, without the disadvantage which it has, in requiring the +bone to be divided so far above the seat of injury or disease. This is +an exceedingly good method of operating in the lower third of the thigh, +in muscular patients the very best, and in all cases only equalled in +value by Carden's method.</p> + +<p>The next is now hardly ever used here, except in cases where the skin +over the patella is destroyed.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Modified Circular at Lower Third of Thigh</span> (Syme's).—Two equal semilunar +flaps of skin should be cut (<a href="#plate_i">Plate I.</a> fig. 20, <a href="#plate_iii">Plate III.</a> fig. 6), one +anterior, the other posterior, their convexities being towards the knee. +The skin and subcutaneous cellular tissue should be raised from the +fascia, and then retracted to a further distance of at least two inches; +the muscles should then be divided right down to the bone, on a level as +high as they are exposed in front, and as low as they are exposed +behind. This allows for the different amount of retraction at the two +sides of the limb, and leaves the muscles cut on a level; the whole mass +of muscles should then be drawn well up, and the bone exposed, and sawn +through at a level about two inches higher than where it was first +exposed by the anterior incision through the muscles.</p> + +<p>In very weak thin flabby limbs this process may be simplified by just at +once including the muscles in the skin flaps, and carefully exposing the +bone higher up. In performing the retraction the assistant should be +cautioned not to overdo it, lest he strip the periosteum from the bone +higher than is necessary. This is very easy to do in the weak limbs of +strumous patients, and may cause exfoliation, and greatly delay cure.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">{102}</a></span></p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation in the middle third of the Thigh</span>.—A very short notice will +suffice here. The exact position, shape, and size of the flaps must in +every case be modified by the nature of the injury for which the +operation is performed, taking the flaps where they can be obtained. As +a general rule, a long anterior flap with a short posterior, on the +principle described above, should be preferred. In cases where the long +anterior cannot be obtained, two equal flaps should be made by +transfixion. The flaps should always be antero-posterior, the lateral +flaps introduced by Vermale, and indorsed by Chelius and Erichsen, +having the great disadvantage of allowing the bone, which is drawn up by +the psoas and iliacus, to project at the upper angle.</p> + +<p>Supposing the right thigh is to be amputated, the surgeon, standing on +the inside of the leg, should raise the skin and muscles of the front of +the limb in his left hand, and entering the knife just in front of the +vessels, should transfix the limb, the knife passing in front of the +bone, and including as nearly as possible an exact half of the limb +(<a href="#plate_iv">Plate IV.</a> fig. 19); having by a sawing motion brought out the knife and +cut a flap of the required length, the knife is re-entered at the same +place, and passing behind the bone, the point must be brought out at the +angle on the other side. Both flaps being then held back by an +assistant, the bone is cleared by a circular turn of the knife, and the +saw applied, the vessels are found cut high up in the inner angle of the +posterior flap.</p> + +<p>In muscular patients it is often better to make the incision through the +skin first and allow it to retract before transfixing; this is slower +and not so brilliant looking, but avoids redundancy of muscle.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation at the Hip-Joint</span>.—This operation, exceedingly dangerous from +the amount of the body removed, the great hæmorrhage, and the risk of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">{103}</a></span> +pyæmia, is of comparatively modern invention. Though the proportion of +recoveries is at present to that of deaths about one to two or two and a +half, it is still a perfectly justifiable operation in many cases of +disease and injury.</p> + +<p>Like amputation at the shoulder, amputation at the hip has given rise to +very many various methods of performance. Under the heads of single +flap, double flap, oval, circular, and mixed flap and circular, at least +twenty distinct methods have been put on record, and, including +modifications, there are thirty-seven or thirty-eight different surgeons +who have each their own plan of operation.</p> + +<p>The reason of this fearful complexity in its literature depends on this +fact, that this amputation has generally been performed for cases of +such severe injury of the limb, that no milder amputation was possible, +and thus the flaps had to be taken just where the surgeon could get them +best. And this will have to be the guiding principle in most amputations +at this joint; the surgeon must just cut his coat according to his +cloth—get his flaps where and how he can.</p> + +<p>In cases, however, where it is possible to have a choice, and to select +the flaps, the following is, I believe, both the best and quickest +method:—</p> + +<p>This is one of the very few operations in which quickness of performance +is a desideratum; the use of anæsthetics has, in most other cases, given +time for elaboration of flaps, and careful dissection; here the risk of +loss of blood, specially from the posterior flap, renders rapid +disarticulation imperative.</p> + +<p><i>Amputation by double flap, anterior the longer.</i>—In hip-joint +amputations, besides the ordinary sponge-squeezers, two assistants are +necessary, whose duties are exceedingly important.</p> + +<p>The first is to check hæmorrhage. Pressing with a firm pad on the +external iliac just as it passes the bone,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">{104}</a></span> he must be prepared, the +instant the anterior flap is cut, to follow the knife and seize flap and +artery in his hand, and he is to hold it there till all the vessels in +the posterior flap are first tied.</p> + +<p>The second has to manage the limb, and on the manner in which he +performs his duty much of the success and nearly all the celerity of the +operation depend. While the surgeon is transfixing the anterior flap, +this assistant is to support the limb in a slightly flexed position, so +as to relax the muscles; the instant the flap is cut he is to extend the +limb forcibly, and at the same time be careful not to abduct it in the +least, but to turn the toes inward so as to bring the great trochanter +well forwards on a level with the joint; if this precaution is +neglected, the operator in making the posterior flap is almost certain +to lock his knife in the hollow between the head of the bone and the +great trochanter.</p> + +<p>If it is the left side, the operator, standing on the outside of the +limb, enters the point of a long straight knife midway between the +anterior superior spinous process of the ilium and the great trochanter, +and passes it as close to the front of the joint as possible, making the +point emerge close to the tuberosity of the ischium (<a href="#plate_iv">Plate IV.</a> fig. +20-20). With a rapid sawing movement he then cuts a long anterior flap, +avoiding any pointing of it, and endeavouring to make the curve equal. +The fingers of the assistant must be inserted so as to follow the knife +and seize the vessel even before it is divided. The flap being raised +out of the way, the surgeon, without changing his knife (as used to be +advised), opens the joint, divides the ligaments as they start up on the +limb being extended and adducted, the round ligament, and the posterior +part of the capsule; and then getting the knife fairly behind both the +head of the bone and the trochanter, cuts the posterior flap as rapidly +as possible. Instantly on the limb being separated, assistants<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">{105}</a></span> should +be ready with large dry sponges or pads of dry lint to press against the +surface of the posterior flap, till the large branches, chiefly of the +internal iliac, which are cut in it, are tied one by one.</p> + +<p>The lever invented by Mr. Richard Davy, by which the common iliac is +compressed from the rectum, has in many cases proved of great service in +preventing hæmorrhage, but has dangers of its own in cases of abnormal +position of rectum, or even in sudden movements of the patient.</p> + +<p>In every case the abdominal tourniquet will be found of great service in +checking hæmorrhage, during the operation of amputation at the +hip-joint. It consists of an arch of steel fitted with a pad behind, +which rests against the vertebral column, and a pad in front playing on +a very fine and long screw, through an opening in the arch. When screwed +down tightly on the aorta just before the incisions are commenced, it +checks hæmorrhage admirably without injuring the viscera. When this is +applied, a method of amputation once practised by Mr. Syme, though not +so rapid as the double-flap method by transfixion, will be found very +easy, and to result in most excellent flaps. He cut an anterior flap in +the usual manner by transfixion, then made a straight incision from its +outer edge down to about two inches below the great trochanter, thus +exposing it fully, and from the lower end of this incision transfixed +again, cutting a posterior flap nearly equal in size to the anterior; a +few strokes of the knife round the joint finished the disarticulation. +The resulting flaps came together with great accuracy, and were not +burdened with the great unequal masses of muscles so often noticed in +the posterior flaps which are made by cutting from within outwards +<i>after</i> disarticulation.</p> + +<p>In some cases of amputation where the femur has been badly shattered, it +is a good plan to amputate through the upper third of thigh, tie all the +vessels, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">{106}</a></span> then, aided by an incision at outer side, dissect out the +head of the bone.</p> + +<p>Mr. Furneaux Jordan of Birmingham carries out this principle by first +dividing the soft parts in circular direction low down the thigh, and +then dissecting out the head of the bone from the muscles by a long +incision on the outer aspect of the limb.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p><i>Note.</i>—In severe cases of smash when both lower limbs have +required amputation, the author has derived much assistance from +the method of managing the operation detailed below:—</p> + +<p><i>Double Primary Amputation of (both) Thighs from railway +smash</i>—<i>Rapid recovery.</i>—G., a healthy-looking man, aged +twenty-seven, but looking much older, while driving a horse near +Granton, caught his foot on the edge of a rail at a point, fell, +and both his legs were run over by several loaded wagons. A special +engine was procured, his thighs tightly tied up, and he was sent up +to hospital at once.</p> + +<p>I was in hospital at the time, so with as little delay as possible +he was placed on the operating table, and the necessity for +amputation being too evident, I obtained his leave to remove both +his legs above the knee; but his pulse was very feeble, and he was +intensely nervous, throwing his arms wildly about, panting for +breath, and looking very ill, cold, and exhausted.</p> + +<p>I determined that by great rapidity he might be got off the table +alive, so operated in the following manner:—Fixing the tourniquet +firmly near both groins, I first amputated the right leg by +Carden's method, and tied the femoral only, wrapped up the stump in +a towel wrung out of carbolic solution 1-20, then took off the +other limb by Mr. Spence's method,—it had been injured higher than +the right, so that I could not save the condyles of the +femur,—then tied the femoral there, and fixed it up with another +towel; then returning to the first, I tied one or two large +branches which spouted, and rolled it up again, then back to the +left one, doing the same, and getting the tourniquet off both +limbs. On going back to the right the surface was nearly dry and +glazed, so, asking Dr. Maclaren, who assisted me, to stitch it up +and insert a drainage-tube, I did the same for the left, so rapidly +that the patient was in his bed with his limbs dressed and bandaged +in 24½ minutes from the time he entered the hospital gate.</p> + +<p>The strictest antiseptic precautions were observed, two engines +being used to furnish spray. Of course this great rapidity was due +to the fact that everything was ready, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">{107}</a></span> assistants all in +hospital, admirably disciplined, and steam had been up in the spray +engines. Shock was comparatively trivial; his temperature once, and +only once, reached 100°. His stumps healed by first intention, and +he was in the garden on the seventh day after the operation.</p> + +<p>I have now in three cases found the benefit of this mode of dealing +with double primary amputation in avoiding shock, lessening the +time needed, and greatly diminishing the number of vessels +requiring to be tied. In a previous case of double amputation for +railway smash at the knees, the patient was almost pulseless, and +had he been kept many minutes more on the table would not have left +it alive. He also rapidly recovered.</p> + +<p>The case is interesting also as showing that, when the assistants +know their work, the strictest adherence to antiseptic precautions +need not in itself make either the operation or the dressing +tedious, though it can easily be made an excuse for much fussing +and many delays.<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> </p></div> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">{108}</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>EXCISION OF JOINTS.</h3> + + +<p><i>Historical.</i>—Beyond a passage ascribed to Hippocrates, but of very +doubtful authenticity, and slight allusions in the works of Celsus and +Paulus Ægineta, the ancients give us no information whatever on this +subject.</p> + +<p>Hippocrates says,—"Complete resections of bones in the neighbourhood of +joints both in the foot, in the hand, in the tibia up to the malleoli, +and in the ulna at its junction with the hand, and in many other places, +are safe operations, if that fatal syncope does not at once occur, and +continued fever does not attack the patient on the fourth day."</p> + +<p>Celsus and Ægineta both advise the removal of protruding ends of bone in +compound dislocations, but without giving any cases.</p> + +<p>From the days of these classic fathers of Surgery, we have hardly an +indication of any attention whatever having been paid to their hints +till quite within the last hundred years.</p> + +<p>The first distinct publication on the subject was by Henry Park of +Liverpool, in a letter to Percival Pott in 1783. He proposed the removal +of the articulating extremities of diseased elbow and knee-joints to +obtain cures. He says he was led to this by its having been the +invariable custom, for more than thirty years, at the Liverpool +Infirmary, to take off the protruded extremities of bones in cases of +compound dislocation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">{109}</a></span></p> + +<p>The chief credit, however, in practically elevating excisions into the +catalogue of recognised surgical operations, is owing, British surgeons +most cordially own, to two provincial surgeons of France, the Moreaus +(father and son) of Bar-sur-Ornain. They took the lead in the most +marked manner, having excised the shoulder in 1786, the wrist and elbow +in 1794, knee and ankle in 1792, and had followed this up so well that, +in 1803, the younger Moreau could boast, "the town has become in some +sort the refuge of the unfortunate afflicted with carious joints, after +they have tried all the means usually recommended by professional men, +or have had recourse to empirical nostrums, or when amputation seemed to +them the last resource."</p> + +<p>Moreau's papers and cases, which, between 1786 and 1789, he frequently +read to the French Academy, were, some violently opposed, others utterly +neglected by his compatriots, and many of them lost and buried in the +unpublished papers of that body.</p> + +<p>And though diseased joints did not decline in frequency, and though +injured ones were extremely numerous during these long years of European +war, excisions were but rarely performed.</p> + +<p>With the exception of the removal of head of humerus after gunshot +injury, hardly any British, and but very few French, limbs were saved by +excision taking the place of amputation.</p> + +<p>The limbs that were saved by Percy by excision of the head of the +humerus really owe their recovery and safety to the elder Moreau; for an +operation of his, at which he was assisted by that distinguished +military surgeon, gave the latter the hint, which he followed so +successfully, that by 1795 he had performed it nineteen times, and had +indoctrinated Sabatier, Larrey, and others, and elevated it into a +recognised operation of military surgery.</p> + +<p>So far, however, as the application of the great improvement<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">{110}</a></span> of the +Moreaus to disease went, the French surgeons have little reason to +boast, for it is to English surgery, and especially to one Edinburgh +surgeon, that this class of operations owes nearly all its improvement +in methods and frequency of performance.</p> + +<p>For though (as we shall see under the special heads) here and there one +or two cases were performed, it was not till the publication of Mr. +Syme's monograph on the excision of diseased joints, in 1831, that the +importance and value of the discovery were fairly brought before the +profession; and the conservative surgery, of which excision as preferred +to amputation is the great type, must ever be associated with British +surgeons—Syme, Fergusson, Mackenzie, Jones of Jersey, Butcher of +Dublin.</p> + +<p>On the Continent—Langenbeck, Stromeyer, Heyfelder, Ollier, Esmarch of +Kiel, specially in the surgical history of the first Schleswig-Holstein +war, have <ins class="correction" title="text reads 'fol-folowed'">followed</ins> up the example set them here.</p> + +<p>Before proceeding to describe the operations on the various joints, one +or two questions may be briefly asked and answered by way of +introduction.</p> + +<p>In what cases, or sorts of cases, are excisions suitable?</p> + +<p>1. In cases of compound injury or dislocation of a large joint, as used +by Filkin, Park, White, and other English surgeons long ago. In hospital +practice, or in private, where there is every advantage of rest, food, +and appliances, such operations will frequently be found suitable where +the joint is alone or chiefly the seat of injury, and where the general +health seems fit to bear a prolonged suppuration. But long and sad +experience has shown that, as a general rule in military practice, with +the difficulties of transport, the generally bad sanitary state of the +hospitals, and the want often of adequate dressings and attention, +excisions are much more fatal than amputations, and, except in elbow and +shoulder (<i>q.v.</i>), should be as a general rule avoided.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">{111}</a></span></p> + +<p>2. Excision for deformity (generally speaking for bony anchylosis) will +require for decision the consideration of many points, <i>i.e.</i> the joint +affected, the nature of the disease or injury which has caused the +anchylosis: and in each case—(1.) the state of health of the patient; +and (2.) his occupation, and the consequent position of limb which would +suit him best. As a general rule, I believe, experience will prove that +such operations on the lower extremity are almost absolutely +inadmissible, except under very special urgency on the part of the +patient, and a very high condition of health—while in the upper, the +elbow-joint is the only one which you will ever be likely to be asked to +remedy, or should comply with the request if asked; as the shoulder, +even if anchylosed, will (1.) from its own weight generally become so in +the most favourable position; and (2.) from the extreme mobility which +the scapula can acquire, its anchylosis will not be so much felt.</p> + +<p>The elbow, however, from the frequency of fractures of the condyles of +the humerus obliquely into the joint, and from the manner in which these +are so often neither recognised nor properly treated, very often becomes +anchylosed in the most awkward possible position, <i>i.e.</i> nearly +straight; and operations undertaken for such deformities are in general +both quite safe and very satisfactory. Mr. Syme had one case (resulting +from a fall, causing a double fracture), in which both arms were thus +firmly anchylosed in such a position that the sufferer could absolutely +perform none of the commonest duties of life without assistance. +Excision of both joints cured him.</p> + +<p>The author excised with success for disease the elbow-joint of a patient +whose other arm had required the same operation.</p> + +<p>The occupation of the patient must always be taken into consideration +when settling the position of an anchylosis, or the necessity or +advantage of a resection.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">{112}</a></span></p> + +<p>Thus, Bryant<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> tells of a painter who wished his arm to be fixed in a +straight position, and of a turner whose knee at his own request was +permitted to stiffen at a right angle, as that position allowed him to +turn his wheel.</p> + +<p>3. <i>Excision for Disease of the Joint.</i>—In our cold climate, so cursed +by scrofula, and specially among the children of the labouring poor, +such joint diseases are very prevalent, and whether the disease +commences in the synovial membrane, the articular cartilages, or the +heads of the bones, it frequently so disorganises the joint as to make +it a question whether something must not be done to preserve the very +life of the patient.</p> + +<p>The difficulty of diagnosing the cases in which excisions are suitable +or necessary is often very great; and we must balance its +performance—(1.) against the possibly good results of an expectant +treatment; (2.) against amputation of the limb.</p> + +<p>(1.) <i>Against expectant Treatment.</i>—The patient has youth on his side, +could we give him fresh sea air, good diet, cod oil, etc., we might very +likely obtain anchylosis; true, but he may die while trying for this +anchylosis, and also this anchylosis, when got, may so lame or deform +him that resection may still be required.</p> + +<p>These points must all be considered, but as a general rule, I would say +that such attempts at preservation of the limb are much more +justifiable, and longer justifiable in the hip and knee-joints than in +the elbow or shoulder; for the results in the lower limb will probably +be as good, if the patient survive, if not better, than those obtained +by excision, while the danger of the operation is greater; while in the +upper limb, the danger to life in operating is less than that of leaving +the limb on, and the results obtained by a successful operation, with +well-managed after treatment, are far more satisfactory than the best +possible anchylosis.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">{113}</a></span></p> + +<p>Another point bearing on this, of very great importance: In children, +the most frequent subjects of such disease, excision of the lower limb +may, by removing the epiphyses, cause to a very considerable degree +disparity in their length, thus rendering them nearly useless, while in +the upper such disparity is neither so extensive nor so injurious to the +usefulness of the limb, which is not required for purposes of +progression.</p> + +<p>In the hip-joint especially, all the resources of the art should be +tried in the expectant treatment, for amputation at the hip-joint is +hardly ever admissible for disease of the joint, while excision has +anything but satisfactory statistics.</p> + +<p>(2.) <i>Against Amputation.</i>—Many questions must be considered, chiefly +under the heads of the separate joints:—</p> + +<p>1. As to the difficulties and dangers of the operations contrasted.</p> + +<p>Such as the following:—</p> + +<p>Excisions give the surgeon more trouble, require more manual dexterity; +take longer to perform; are very painful operations. Not valid +objections in these days of chloroform and operative surgery on the dead +body.</p> + +<p>Excisions have the special peculiarity and danger of dealing chiefly +with cancellated bone, broadened out, open, with numerous patulous +canals for large veins, tending on any irritation or inflammation to set +up a diffuse suppuration, and to culminate in phlebitis, myelitis, and +other pyæmic conditions.</p> + +<p>Excisions are performed through degenerate or disorganised, amputations +through healthy, tissue.</p> + +<p>Excisions require extreme care and absolute rest (<i>i.e.</i> in lower limb) +for many weeks and months after the operation.</p> + +<p>But, on the other hand,—</p> + +<p>Amputations remove a portion of the body; excisions a much less one. +Amputations are always necessarily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">{114}</a></span> nearer the centre than the +corresponding excisions, and statistics show that the fatality of +operations increases in exact proportion as they approach the centre.</p> + +<p>A successful excision, especially in arm, saves a limb nearly perfect; +an amputation at best is only the stump for a wooden one.</p> + +<p>On the whole, there is actually very little difference in the mortality +of excisions and amputations.</p> + +<p>2. As to the results of the operation on the usefulness of the limb, +depending on joint involved, age of patient, and amount of bone +removed:—</p> + +<p>A. <i>Joint involved.</i>—These must be noticed separately, but one thing is +absolutely certain, that a much higher standard of usefulness, both in +equality of length, amount of anchylosis, and position, is needed in the +lower than in the upper limb. For a leg hanging like a flail, or +shortened by some inches, is not so good for purposes of locomotion as a +wooden leg is, while an arm, even though powerless at the elbow, and +perhaps much shortened, can be so strengthened and supported by slings +and bandages as to give a most useful hand, the complex movements and +uses of the fingers of which no mechanism can at all imitate.</p> + +<p>B. <i>Age of Patient.</i>—It must be remembered that excision in a child +removes the epiphyses by which in great measure the growth of the bone +is to be managed, and the stunted limb, especially in the leg, will +eventually be of little advantage, though after the operation it looked +excellently well, if a few years later it be found to be seven or eight +inches shorter than its neighbour.</p> + +<p>C. <i>Amount of Bone removed.</i>—From an erroneous view of the pathological +changes in the bone affected, far too much was removed by many of the +earlier operators, especially Moreau and Crampton.</p> + +<p>The reason that this is often still the case, is well seen in many +preparations. The bones are thickened to a considerable distance, and +covered with irregular warty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">{115}</a></span> excrescences. These, which used to be +considered evidences of disease, are only compact new healthy bone, +thrown out like the callus of a fracture in consequence of the +irritation.</p> + +<p>In a word, what we require to remove is the following:—</p> + +<p>1. All the cartilage, dead or alive, healthy or diseased.</p> + +<p>2. Only the bone involving the articular extremities, in thin slices, or +with the occasional use of the gouge, till a healthy bleeding surface is +obtained.</p> + +<p>3. The synovial membrane, however gelatinous or thickened looking, +really requires very little care or notice; it will disappear of itself, +partly by sloughing, partly by absorption during the profuse +suppuration.<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a></p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Excision of the Shoulder-Joint.</span>—Before considering the method of +operating, a word or two is required on the subject of how much is to be +removed, and in what cases the operation should be performed. The +shoulder and hip joints are the only ones in which partial excision is +ever admissible, indeed, in the shoulder excision of the head of the +humerus only is in many cases found to be all that is necessary, while +in all it is much less dangerous to life than when the glenoid cavity +also requires to be interfered with.</p> + +<p>It is rarely necessary to remove more of the bone than merely its +articular extremity (when performed for disease of the joint), and if +possible this should be done inside the capsule, <i>i.e.</i> through an +incision in the capsule, but without involving its attachment to the +neck of the bone. When the glenoid is also diseased, mere gouging or +scraping the cartilaginous surface will not suffice, but the neck must +be thoroughly exposed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">{116}</a></span> so that the whole cup of the glenoid may be +removed by powerful forceps.</p> + +<p><i>Cases suitable for Excision.</i>—Cases of chronic disease of the head of +the humerus (generally tubercular), or of chronic ulceration of the +cartilages which has resisted counter-irritation. Cases of gunshot +injury of the joint, or of compound dislocation, or fracture involving +the joint. Cases of limited tumours affecting merely the head and upper +third of the bone, and non-malignant in character. Anchylosis very +rarely requires and would not be much benefited by such an operation.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—Though perhaps not the easiest, the following method is +the one followed by the best results. It is suited especially for cases +of caries or other disease of the joint, where the head of the humerus +is either alone or chiefly affected:—</p> + +<p>A single straight incision (<a href="#plate_i">Plate I.</a> fig. <span class="smcap">a</span>.) is made from a point just +external to the coracoid process downwards along the humerus for at +least three inches. It corresponds almost exactly to the bicipital +groove, and has the advantage of avoiding the great vessels and nerves. +The long head of the biceps may then be raised from its groove, and +drawn to a side so as to be preserved. This is deemed of importance by +Langenbeck and others. Mr. Syme, however, did not attach much value to +its preservation, as it is often diseased. The capsule, which is often +much altered, perhaps in part destroyed, is then opened, and the tendons +of the muscles which rotate the head of the humerus divided in +succession, while the elbow is rotated first inwards and then outwards +by an assistant so as to put them on the stretch. The arm being then +forced backwards, the head of the bone can be protruded through the +wound, and sawn off at the necessary distance down the shaft. The +glenoid must then be carefully examined, and any diseased bone removed +by the cutting pliers. One or two small branches supplying the anterior +fold<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">{117}</a></span> of the axilla are the only vessels divided, and may not even +require ligature, unless, indeed, from necrosis, or to remove a tumour, +a larger portion of the humerus than usual has been removed. If the +limit of capsule has been infringed on below, the circumflex vessels may +probably be cut, in which case the bleeding may be considerable.</p> + +<p><i>N.B.</i>—In cases of fracture of neck of humerus, or of compound gunshot +injury, or where the head has been separated by necrosis from the shaft, +or where, as has happened to Stanley and others, the bone broke in the +endeavour to tilt the head out, the surgeon will require to seize the +detached head with strong forceps, and dissect it out with care.</p> + +<p><i>Other methods of Resection.</i>—When from great thickening and induration +of the soft parts, enlargement of the head of the bone, or other reason, +the straight incision may be deemed insufficient for the purpose (and we +may remark that there are comparatively few cases in which it is +insufficient), access may be obtained to the joint by raising a flap +from the deltoid (<a href="#plate_iii">Plate III.</a> fig. <span class="smcap">a</span>). Its shape—V-shaped, semilunar, or +ovoid—is not of much consequence, for there are no great nerves or +vessels to wound on the outside of the joint, and the surgeon should be +guided, as in all other operations on the joint, very much by the +position of any pre-existing sinuses. This flap being raised upwards +towards its base, very free access is gained to the joint.</p> + +<p>In these cases, fortunately comparatively rare, in which there is reason +to believe that the glenoid is chiefly involved in disease, and yet that +the disease can be removed without amputation, access will be gained +most easily by an incision (<a href="#plate_iii">Plate III.</a> fig. <span class="smcap">b</span>.) on the posterior surface +of the joint, corresponding in size and direction to the linear incision +in front. This gives a much easier mode of access to the glenoid. I have +seen this practised in one very remarkable case by Mr. Syme, in which +the glenoid cavity and neck of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">{118}</a></span> scapula were extensively diseased, +while the head of the bone was quite sound.</p> + +<p><i>After-treatment</i> is exceedingly simple; for the first day or two the +shoulder is to be supported on a pillow with a simple pad in the axilla, +if there is any tendency for the arm to drag inwards; after this the +patient should be encouraged to sit up and move about with his arm in a +sling, the elbow hanging freely down.</p> + +<p><i>Results.</i>—Hodge records ninety-six cases in which this excision was +performed for gunshot injury, of which twenty-five proved fatal, and +fifty for disease, of which only eight died,—results which are more +encouraging than those of amputation at the shoulder-joint for disease; +though for injury the mortality is much greater than Larrey's famous +Statistics of Amputation, <i>q.v.</i> p. 65.</p> + +<p>Spence had thirty-three cases, with three deaths. He generally made a +counter-opening behind to get rid of discharges, and inserted a +drainage-tube.</p> + +<p>Gurlt's statistics of excision for gunshot injury give of 1661 cases +1067 recoveries, 27 doubtful results, and 567 deaths, the mortality +being 34.70 per cent.</p> + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Excision of the Elbow-Joint</span>—<i>In what cases should it be performed?</i>—1. +For disease of the elbow-joint which has resisted ordinary remedies, and +is wearing down the patient's strength, including caries, ulceration of +cartilages, and gelatinous synovial degeneration.</p> + +<p>2. For wounds of the elbow penetrating the joint, the prognosis both as +to the patient's life and the usefulness of his arm is much better after +excision than after endeavours to save the joint without excision. This +is especially the case when the wound of the joint is small and +punctured, but if the case is seen early and treated by free drainage, +with antiseptic precautions, excision may not be required.</p> + +<p>3. For anchylosis, in cases where after disease or injury the limb has +stiffened in a bad position, especially<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">{119}</a></span> when, with a straight elbow, +the hand is rendered almost perfectly useless.</p> + +<p><i>How much should be removed?</i>—In the elbow-joint, more than any other +joint in the body, complete excision is absolutely necessary; any +portion of the articular surface being left proves a source of +unfavourable result.</p> + +<p>The surgeon is apt to err rather in removing too little than too much. +For the removal of too little bone is, on the one hand, apt to result in +long-standing sinuses, on the other, to induce anchylosis.</p> + +<p>In making the section of the bones, the saw ought to be applied to the +humerus transversely just at the commencement of its condyloid +projections, and to the radius and ulna, at least at a level with the +base of the coronoid process of the ulna.</p> + +<p>But while removing enough, we must not be led into the error of removing +too much. If this is done, as was done by Sir Philip Crampton in his +first case, and as happens occasionally of necessity in cases of +excision for gunshot wounds or other accidents, much of the power of the +arm is lost as a consequence of the shortening and excessive mobility.</p> + +<p>A mistaken pathology sometimes deceives in the examination of the state +of the bones, and causes an unnecessary amount to be removed. For in +many cases of disease the bones in the neighbourhood of the joint are +stimulated to an excessive amount of what is in reality Nature's effort +at repair, and while the cartilaginous surfaces are denuded of +cartilage, soft, and porous, the bones close by are roughened with a +stalactitic-looking growth, projecting in knobs and angles. Now, if this +be mistaken for disease and removed, too much will almost certainly be +taken away, and the result will be unsatisfactory.</p> + +<p>Much less care need be taken exactly to discriminate and remove the +diseased soft parts; indeed they may be left alone; the synovial +membrane in a state of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">{120}</a></span> gelatinous degeneration sometimes presents a +very formidable appearance of disease, but if the bones be properly +removed, all this swelling will soon go down, and a healthy condition of +parts succeed, without any clipping or paring on the surgeon's part.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—The back of the joint is of course chosen for the seat of +the incisions, both because the bones are there just under the skin, and +because the great vessels and nerves lie in front of the joint. The form +and number of the incisions vary considerably, and ought to vary +according to the nature of the case and the amount of disease or injury.</p> + +<p>Though it is now little used, for historical interest I retain the +description of the H-shaped incision (<a href="#plate_iii">Plate III.</a> fig. <span class="smcap">c</span>.), +used first by Moreau, and re-introduced by Mr. Syme, and used by him for +most of his very numerous cases.</p> + +<p>The posterior surface of the joint being exposed, the surgeon, with a +strong straight bistoury, makes a transverse incision into the joint +just above the olecranon. It should begin just far enough outside of the +internal condyle to avoid the ulnar nerve, which the surgeon should +protect by the forefinger of his left hand, and should extend +transversely across to the outer condyle. From each end of this incision +the surgeon should next make at a right angle two incisions, each about +one inch and a half or two inches long, right down to the bone, thus +marking out two quadrilateral flaps. These should next be raised from +the bones, up and down, as much of the soft parts being retained in them +as possible, so as to add to their thickness. The olecranon is thus +exposed, and should be removed by saw or pliers by cutting into the +greater sigmoid notch; the lateral ligaments must then be cut, if they +are not already destroyed by the disease, and the humerus protruded, a +proper amount of which is then to be sawn off in a transverse direction. +The head of the radius is then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">{121}</a></span> easily removed by the bone-pliers, and +the ulna also protruded, the attachment of the brachialis anticus to the +coronoid process divided, and the bone sawn across just at the base of +that process.</p> + +<p>Few vessels, if any, will require ligature, and the arm being bent to +nearly a right angle, the transverse incision must be very carefully +sewed up with silver sutures closely set and deeply placed, as much of +the future success of the joint depends on the completeness of the +primary union of this incision. The external incision may also be +accurately adjusted, the internal one not so completely, to allow free +vent for the discharge, which is aided by the ligatures, if any are +required, being brought out at its lower angle. A figure-of-8 bandage +should be applied over pads of dry lint, and the limb laid on a pillow. +No splint is necessary; in a few days the patient will be able to rise +and walk about.</p> + +<p>Passive motion should be begun so soon as the first inflammatory +symptoms have passed off.</p> + +<p>If properly performed, in a tolerably healthy subject, the surgeon +should not be satisfied with any results short of almost perfect +restoration of motion in the joint. Flexion and extension to their full +extent, with a very considerable amount of pronation and supination, are +to be expected, with proper care, in a patient of average intelligence.</p> + +<p>Numerous cases are now on record where almost perfect performance of all +the duties of life was retained after excision of the elbow-joint.<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a></p> + +<p>In most cases it is possible, and in nearly all advisable, to excise the +joint by means of a less complicated incision. Thus one long vertical +incision at the posterior surface, with its centre about midway between +the ulna and the external condyle, with a transverse<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">{122}</a></span> incision at right +angles to it, and reaching almost to the internal condyle, has been +often practised with a very good result.</p> + +<p>By nearly universal consent this single straight incision is now used, +and when it is properly dressed and <i>drained</i> gives admirable results.</p> + +<p>A single vertical incision (<a href="#plate_iii">Plate III.</a> fig. <span class="smcap">d.</span>) without any transverse +one, as long ago recommended by Chassaignac, is, in most cases, quite +sufficient to give access. It is most suitable in cases of anchylosis, +where there is little deposit of new bone, or in cases of disease of the +joint, accompanied with little swelling or thickening of surrounding +tissues. It has the advantage of avoiding the cicatrix of a transverse +incision, which doubtless may, if at all a broad one, somewhat interfere +with the future flexion of the limb, but, on the other hand, unless care +is taken, it does <i>not</i> give such free egress for the discharge, and +when there is much delay in healing, the vertical incision may leave a +cicatrix nearly as troublesome as the other.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>The following modification, suggested and practised by the late Mr. +Maunder, seems to be a step in the right direction when it is +practicable. "After a longitudinal incision crossing the point of +the olecranon I next let the knife sink into the triceps muscle, +and divide it longitudinally into two portions, the inner one of +which is the more firmly attached to the ulna, while the outer +portion is continuous with the anconeus muscle, and sends some +tendinous fibres to blend with the fascia of the fore-arm. It is +these latter fibres that are to be scrupulously preserved.</p> + +<p>"Two points have to be remembered: first, the ulnar nerve, often +unseen, must be lifted from its bed, and carried over the internal +condyle to a safe place, and then the outer portion of the triceps +muscle with its tendinous prolongation, the fascia of the fore-arm +and the anconeus muscle must be dissected up, as it were, in one +piece, sufficiently to allow of its being temporarily carried out +over the external condyle of the humerus."<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a></p> + +<p>This method aids in retaining the power of <i>active</i> extension of +the elbow-joint. </p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">{123}</a></span></p> + +<p>Excision for osseous anchylosis in the extended position of the joint +may be sometimes rendered very difficult by the density, firmness, and +extensive hypertrophy of the bones, which become fused into one solid +mass. Any attempt to isolate the bones, and remove the anchylosed joint +entire, by incising the bones as if for disease, will both prove very +laborious, and also probably end in doing some damage to the vessels and +nerves in front. But by sawing through the anchylosis about its centre, +as was pointed out many years ago by Mr. Syme, the fore-arm may be +flexed, and the bones as easily displayed, cleaned, and removed, as in +the operation for disease. In this operation, as there is less +thickening of the skin and subjacent textures, and in consequence more +risk of deficiency and even sloughing of the flaps made by the H-shaped +incision, a single straight incision will serve the +purpose admirably.</p> + +<p>Partial incisions of the elbow-joint are, as a rule, less successful and +more dangerous to life than complete ones, except in cases of excision +for anchylosis. Even in gunshot wounds, where the bones were previously +healthy, and where uninjured portions might have been left with some +hopes of success, this is the case.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>Dr. Heron Watson has devised the following operation for cases of +anchylosis the result of injury:—(1.) A linear incision over ulnar +nerve at inner side of olecranon. (2.) The ulnar nerve to be +carefully turned over the inner condyle. (3.) A probe-pointed +bistoury to be introduced into the elbow-joint in front of the +humerus, and then behind and carried upwards, so as to divide the +upper capsular attachments in front and behind. (4.) A pair of +bone-forceps to be next employed to cut off the entire inner +condyle and trochlea of the humerus, and then introduced in the +opposite diagonal direction so as to detach the external condyle +and capitulum of the humerus from the shaft. (5.) The truncated and +angular end of the humerus to be divided, turned out through the +incision, and smoothed across at right angles to the line of the +shaft by means of the saw, whereby (6.) room might be afforded, so +that partly by twisting and partly by dissection the external +condyle and capitulum are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">{124}</a></span> removed without any division of the skin +on the outer side of the arm.<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> Six cases have had satisfactory +results. </p></div> + +<p>The mortality from this operation is considerably less than that from +amputation of the arm. Of a series of excisions for disease, injury, and +anchylosis, 22.15 per cent. died, while out of a similar series of +amputations of the arm the mortality was 33.4 per cent.<a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> Our +mortality of excision of the elbow here is certainly much less than the +above. All of the cases, between thirty and forty, in which I have done +it have recovered with but one exception, and Mr. Syme lost only one +during the time I was his assistant.</p> + +<p>Professor Spence lost only 16 in 189 cases, or 8.3 per cent.</p> + +<p>Gurlt's statistics for gunshot injury give a mortality of over 24 per +cent.</p> + +<p>Out of 82 cases where the joint was excised for injury in the +Schleswig-Holstein and Crimean campaigns, only 16 died; and out of 115 +cases in which the joint was excised for disease, only 15 died.</p> + +<p>The period after the injury at which the excision is performed seems to +be important.</p> + + +<table summary="numbers"> +<tr><td> </td><td class="center"> </td><td class="center"> </td><td class="center"> </td><td class="center"> </td><td>Deaths.</td><td class="center"> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Thus of</td><td>11</td><td>cases</td><td>within</td><td>first twenty-four hours,</td><td>1</td><td>= 1-11</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>20</td><td class="center">"</td><td>between</td><td>second and fourth days,</td><td>4</td><td>= 1-5</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>9</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="center">"</td><td>eighth and thirty-seventh,</td><td>1</td><td>= 1-9</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center"> </td><td>—</td><td class="center"> </td><td class="center"> </td><td class="center"> </td><td>—</td><td class="center"> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="center"> </td><td>40</td><td class="center"> </td><td class="center"> </td><td class="center"> </td><td>6</td><td class="center"> </td></tr> +</table> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Excision of the Wrist</span>.—Very various methods have been proposed and +executed for the purpose of excising this joint. These vary much in +difficulty and complexity, in proportion to the endeavours made to save +the tendons from being cut.</p> + +<p>The principles which must guide all attempts at operative interference +with this joint are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">{125}</a></span>—</p> + +<p>1. To remove all the diseased bone, including the cartilage-covered +portions of the radius, ulna, and of the metacarpal bones, as little of +these bones being removed as possible, beyond the cartilage-covered +portions.</p> + +<p>2. To disturb the tendons as little as possible, especially to avoid +isolating them from the cellular sheath.</p> + +<p>3. To commence passive motion of the fingers very soon after the +operation.</p> + +<p>It is rarely possible to remove the carpal bones as a whole, from the +diseased condition which renders the operation necessary, and the +digging out of the various bones piecemeal renders the operation very +tedious, especially if the proximal ends of the metacarpal bones are +involved and require to be removed, hence this operation was practically +impossible till after the discovery of anæsthesia.</p> + +<p>In describing the operation elaborated and described by Professor +Lister, the type of the various plans in which the tendons are saved is +given, while a very few words descriptive of the incisions used by +others who cut the tendons will suffice.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Lister's Operation of Excision of the Wrist-Joint.</span>—Even an abridgment +of Mr. Lister's account of his operation must necessarily be long, +because the operation itself is so complicated and prolonged, and guided +by such precise principles, as to render much abridgment almost +impossible.</p> + +<p>A tourniquet is put on, to prevent oozing, which would conceal the state +of the bones; any adhesions of the tendons must be then broken down by +free movement of all the joints.</p> + +<p><i>The radial incision</i> (<a href="#plate_iv">Plate IV.</a> fig. <span class="smcap">a</span>.) is then made. It commences at +the middle of the dorsal aspect of the radius, on a level with the +styloid process, passes as if going towards the inner side of the +metacarpo-phalangeal joint of the thumb, in a line parallel to the +extensor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">{126}</a></span> secundi internodii, but turns off at an angle as it passes the +radial border of the second metacarpal, and then longitudinally +downwards for half the length of that bone. The extensor carpi radialis +brevior tendon is divided in the incision. The soft parts at the radial +side are to be carefully dissected up, and the tendon of the extensor +carpi radialis longior divided at its insertion. The cut tendons, and +the extensor secundi internodii tendon and the radial artery can thus be +pushed outwards, enabling the trapezium to be separated from the carpus +by cutting-pliers. The extensor tendons being relaxed by bending back +the hand, the soft parts must be cleared from the carpus as far as +possible towards the ulnar side.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 279px;"> +<img src="images/126.jpg" width="279" height="350" alt="Fig. VI." title="Fig. VI." /> +<span class="caption smcap">Fig. vi.<a name="FNanchor_58_58" id="FNanchor_58_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a></span> +</div> + +<p><i>The ulnar incision</i> (<a href="#plate_iv">Plate IV.</a> fig. <span class="smcap">b</span>.) extends from two inches above +the end of the ulna, in a line between the bone and the flexor carpi +ulnaris, straight down as far as the middle of the palmar aspect of the +fifth metacarpal. The dorsal lip of this incision is then raised, and +the tendon of the extensor carpi ulnaris cut at its insertion, and +reflected up out of its groove in the ulna along with the skin. The +extensor tendons are then raised from the carpus, and the dorsal and +lateral ligaments of the wrist divided, the tendons still being left as +far as possible undisturbed in their relation to the radius. In front +the flexor tendons are cleared from the carpus, the pisiform bone +separated from the others though not removed, and the hook of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">{127}</a></span> the +unciform divided by pliers. The knife must not go further down than the +base of the metacarpal bones, in case of dividing the deep palmar arch. +The anterior ligament of the wrist being now divided, the carpus and +metacarpus are to be separated by cutting-pliers, and the carpus +extracted by strong sequestrum forceps. By forcible eversion of the +hand, the ends of radius and ulna can be protruded at the ulnar +incision; as little as possible should be removed, consistent with +removing all the disease. The ulna should be cut obliquely, leaving the +base of the styloid process, and removing all the cartilage-covered +portion. A thin slice of the radius is then to be cut also with the saw, +so thin as to remove only the bevelled ungrooved portion, and leaving +the tendons as far as possible undisturbed in their grooves. The ulnar +articular facet is to be snipped off with bone-pliers. If the bones are +more deeply carious, the diseased parts must at all hazards be removed +with pliers or gouge. The metacarpal bones must then be treated in +precisely the same way, their ends sawn off and their articular facets +snipped off with the bone-pliers longitudinally. The trapezium is then +to be seized by forceps and carefully dissected out, the metacarpal bone +of the thumb pared like the others, the articular surface of the +pisiform removed, the rest of the bone being left if it is sound. The +radial incision is stitched closely throughout, and also the ends of the +ulnar incision, any ligature being brought out through the centre of the +ulnar incision, which is kept open with a piece of lint, which also +gives support to the extensor tendons.</p> + +<p>The after-treatment is important, the principal specialities being—(1.) +early and free movement of the fingers; (2.) secure fixing of the wrist +to procure consolidation. (1.) By passive motion of the joints of the +knuckles and fingers, commenced on the second day, and continued daily +after the operation; (2.) By a splint supporting the fore-arm and hand, +the fingers being held in a semiflexed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">{128}</a></span> position by a large pad of cork +fastened firmly on to the splint and made to fit the palm; this prevents +the splint from slipping up the arm, and by a turn of a bandage insures +fixation of the wrist-joint. The anterior part of this splint below the +fingers may be gradually shortened, allowing more and more passive +motion of the fingers, but the patient must wear it for months, indeed, +till he finds his wrist as strong without it as with it.</p> + +<p>Among the various operations that have been devised, the following +require notice:—Mr. Spence, Dr. Gillespie, Dr. Watson, and the author, +use a single dorsal incision with excellent results, and find it quite +easy to remove all the bones from it. Mr. Spence had sixteen cases +without a death.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p><span class="smcap">Posterior Semilunar Flap</span>, from carpal attachment of metacarpal of +index finger round to styloid process of ulna; dividing integuments +only, then separating the tendons of the common extensor +longitudinally, and drawing them aside by blunt hooks, the diseased +bones are removed piecemeal by curved parrot-bill forceps.<a name="FNanchor_59_59" id="FNanchor_59_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Posterior Curved Flap.</span>—An incision down to the carpal bones, +extended from a point two lines to the ulnar side of the extensor +secundi internodii pollicis, and from a quarter to half an inch +below the radio-carpal articulation, swept in a curvilinear +direction downwards, close to the carpal extremities of the +metacarpal bones, to a point just below the end of the ulna. The +flap thus marked out was dissected up, and consisted of the +integuments, areolar tissue, and extensor tendons of the four +fingers, together with large deposits of fibrine, the products of +repeated and prolonged inflammatory action. The tendon of the +second extensor and its soft parts around were separated from the +bones. The remains of the ligaments were cut, flexion of the hand +protruded the carious ends of radius and ulna. The bones were then +dissected out, leaving the trapezium, which was not diseased, and +hand placed on a splint.<a name="FNanchor_60_60" id="FNanchor_60_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a></p></div> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Excision of the Hip-Joint.</span>—The question as to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">{129}</a></span> the propriety of +performing this operation in any case is still debated by some surgeons, +and the selection of suitable cases for the operation is greatly +modified by the varying opinions of the different schools of surgery. +Enough here to describe the method of operating, and the amount of the +bone which is to be removed.</p> + +<p>As in the shoulder-joint, the head of the femur is much more liable to +disease, and, as a rule, much earlier attacked than is the acetabulum, +but unfortunately the acetabulum does eventually become affected also in +probably a much larger proportionate number of cases than the glenoid. +Caries of the head, neck, and trochanters of the femur is a very common +disease in this variable climate, and frequently connected with the +strumous taint. After much suffering, abscesses form and discharge, +giving considerable pain, and often end by carrying off the patient. As +a result of the abscess and destruction of the ligaments, the head of +the bone is apt to be displaced, and under some sudden muscular exertion +or involuntary spasm, consecutive dislocation of the femur (generally on +to the dorsum ilii) very often occurs.</p> + +<p>In such a case the operation of excision of the head of the femur is by +no means difficult, and not excessively dangerous, especially in young +children.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—It is hardly necessary, or indeed possible, to lay down +exact rules for the performance of this operation, in so far as the +external incisions are concerned, for the sinuses which exist ought in +general to be made use of.</p> + +<p>When the surgeon has his choice, a straight incision (<a href="#plate_ii">Plate II.</a> fig. +<span class="smcap">a</span>.), parallel with the bone, extending from the top of the great +trochanter downwards for about two inches, and also from the same point +in a curved direction with the concavity forwards, upwards towards the +position of the head of the bone (see diagram), will be found most +convenient. The incisions should be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">{130}</a></span> carried boldly down to the bone, +which will often be felt exposed and bathed in pus, any remains of the +ligamentous structures must be cautiously divided with a probe-pointed +bistoury, and then by bringing the knee of the affected side forcibly +across the opposite thigh, with the toes everted, the head of the bone +is forced out of the wound. The head, neck, and great trochanter should +be fully exposed, and the saw applied transversely below the level of +the trochanter, so as to remove it entire. If this is not done, it +prevents discharge, protrudes at the wound, and besides this it is +almost invariably diseased along with the head. Chain saws are quite +unnecessary, it being in most cases easy to apply an ordinary one to the +bone, if it is properly everted.</p> + +<p>Great care in the after-treatment is required to prevent undue +shortening of the limb, or in the event of a cure to secure the most +favourable position for the anchylosis. The femur occasionally tends to +protrude at the wound, and hence may require to be counter-extended by +splints. If required at all, the splint should be made with an iron +elbow opposite the wound to admit of its being easily dressed. In most +cases counter-extension may be best managed by a weight and pulley.</p> + +<p>Various forms of hammock swings to support the whole body, and slings of +leather or canvas to support the limb only, have been found to aid +recovery, and render the patient much more comfortable.</p> + +<p>When the acetabulum is also diseased the prognosis is much more +unfavourable than when it is sound.</p> + +<p>The experiments of Heine and Jäger on the dead body, and operations by +Hancock, Erichsen, and Holmes, on patients, have shown that in cases of +extensive disease of the acetabulum it is quite possible by a prolonged +and careful dissection to remove it all without injury of the pelvic +viscera.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">{131}</a></span></p> + +<p>The details of incisions for such an operation need scarcely be given, +as they must vary in each case with the amount of bone diseased, and the +position of the already existing sinuses. The amount of bone that <i>may</i> +be removed varies much. Erichsen in one case excised "the upper end of +the femur, the acetabulum, the rami of the pubis, and of the ischium, a +portion of the tuber ischii, and part of the dorsum ilii."<a name="FNanchor_61_61" id="FNanchor_61_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a></p> + +<p>A less formidable proceeding may be useful in cases where the acetabulum +is diseased, but not deeply. The moderate use of an ordinary gouge may +succeed in removing the diseased bone.</p> + +<p>Experience and the cold evidence of statistics prove, however, that the +prognosis in any case is modified very much for the worse by the +presence of any disease of the acetabulum, more than one-half of the +cases proving fatal in which it is diseased, whether attempts to remove +the disease of the acetabulum be made or not, and that those cases do +best in which the head of the femur has been displaced, and lies outside +the joint almost like a loose sequestrum among the soft parts.</p> + +<p>The results of excision of the hip have as yet been very discouraging, +the mortality of the whole series of published cases being, according to +Dr. Hodge's careful table, very little under 1 in every 2 cases, viz., 1 +in 2-5/53. Later statistics are however more favourable.</p> + +<p>Like all other excisions, the mortality increases very much with the +patient's age.</p> + +<p>Thus of 103 completed cases in which the age is given, 53 recovered and +50 died, but dividing the cases at the end of the sixteenth year, we +find that of the children below this age 43 recovered and 29 died, a +mortality of 40.2 per cent.; of the adults, 10 recovered, and 21 died, +or a mortality of 67.6 per cent.</p> + +<p>If we remember the marvellous power of recovery from joint diseases we +find in childhood, under the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">{132}</a></span> influence of good diet, cod-liver oil, and +fresh air, we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that such results and +such a mortality are by no means encouraging.</p> + +<p>From an extensive experience in a special hospital for hip-disease, +where fresh air, abundant nourishment, and very excellent nursing are +provided, the author is learning more and more to trust to the power of +nature in the cure of even very advanced cases of hip-disease in +children, and he believes that operation is rarely necessary, or even +warrantable, except for the removal of sequestra.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>Mr. Holmes's<a name="FNanchor_62_62" id="FNanchor_62_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a> statistics are interesting. He has operated on no +fewer than nineteen cases. Of these seven died, one after secondary +amputation at the hip. Another required amputation and recovered. +Two others died of other diseases without having used their limb. +Of the remaining nine, three were perfectly successful, four were +promising cases, and two unpromising.</p> + +<p>Professor Spence in 19 cases had 6 deaths, or a mortality of 31.6 +per cent.</p> + +<p>Culbertson's collection gives out of 426 cases, 192 deaths, or 45 +per cent.</p> + +<p>Mr. Croft, whose skill and success as an operator are well known, +has recorded 45 cases of excision of hip in his own practice; of +these 16 died, 11 were under treatment, 18 had recovered, of which +16 had moveable joints and useful limb; the other two are +"potentially cured."<a name="FNanchor_63_63" id="FNanchor_63_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a></p> + +<p>Various other incisions have been devised for gaining access to the +joint. The most noticeable are those in which a flap is made +instead of a linear incision. Sedillot makes a semilunar or ovoid +flap, the base of which is just below the great trochanter, and +which includes it, the convexity being upwards and the flap being +turned down. Gross's modification of this is preferable, being +turned the opposite way, the convexity being downwards (<a href="#plate_iii">Plate III.</a> +fig. <span class="smcap">e</span>.), and the flap thus being turned up.</p></div> + +<p><i>Results in successful cases.</i>—Of fifty-two in Hodge's table, +thirty-one had useful limbs, six indifferent, three<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">{133}</a></span> decidedly useless, +four died within three years, and of the remaining eight no details are +given.</p> + +<p>The shortening is always considerable, a high-heeled shoe being required +in most cases; a stick is indispensable; in many, crutches are +necessary.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>Various operations have been devised for the treatment of osseous +anchylosis of the hip-joint when in a bad position. All are more or +less dangerous. Perhaps one of the least dangerous is the plan of +subcutaneous division of the neck of the femur by a narrow saw, +proposed by Mr. Adams of London. It is sometimes a very laborious +operation. </p></div> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Excision of Knee-Joint</span>.—<i>Removal of Bone.</i>—In every case the excision +of the joint ought to be complete. Some attempts have been made to save +one or other of the articular surfaces, but they have proved failures. +The patella has frequently been left when it was not diseased, as is +often the case, but the results have not been such as to recommend such +a practice.</p> + +<p><i>Direction of Section of the Bones.</i>—The bones should be cut +transversely, and, as far as possible, be in accurate and complete +apposition. A slight bevelling at the expense of the posterior margin +will produce an anchylosis of the limb in a very slightly flexed +position, which is found to aid the patient in walking.</p> + +<p>It has been proposed by some<a name="FNanchor_64_64" id="FNanchor_64_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a> to cut both bones obliquely, so as to +obviate the difficulty of making the transverse surfaces parallel. This +involves a still greater practical difficulty in keeping these oblique +surfaces in position during the after-treatment.</p> + +<p>This plan might possibly be valuable in cases where the disease was +limited to one or other edge of the bone.</p> + +<p>Among the various incisions recommended, the best seems to be the +<i>Semilunar Incision</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—The limb being held in an extended position, a single +semilunar incision (<a href="#plate_i">Plate I.</a> fig. <span class="smcap">b</span>.) is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">{134}</a></span> made, entering the joint at +once, and dividing the ligamentum patellæ. It should extend from the +inner side of the inner condyle of the femur to a corresponding point +over the outer one, passing in front of the joint midway between the +lower edge of the patella and tuberosity of the tibia. The flap is then +dissected back, the ligaments divided, when by extreme flexion of the +limb the articular surface of the tibia and femur are thoroughly +exposed. The crucial ligaments must then be divided cautiously, and the +articular portion of the femur cleaned anteriorly by the knife, +posteriorly by the operator's finger, so far as possible to avoid injury +of the artery. The whole articular surface of the femur must then be +removed by a transverse cut with the saw as exactly as possible at a +right angle with the axis of the bone. The amount of the femur which +will require removal will in the adult vary from an inch to an inch and +a half or even more. It <i>must</i> involve all the bone normally covered by +cartilage; and this being removed, if the section shows evidence of +disease, slice after slice may require removal till a healthy surface is +obtained. Occasionally, if the diseased portion appears limited, though +deep, the application of a gouge may succeed in removing disease without +involving too great shortening of the limb. Specially in children, it is +of great importance to avoid removing the whole epiphysis. The tibia +must then be exposed in a similar manner, and a thin slice removed; if +the bone be tolerably healthy, even less than half an inch will prove +quite sufficient.</p> + +<p>This method has an immense advantage in that it provides an excellent +anterior flap for the amputation, which may be required in cases where +the disease of bone is found too extensive to admit of the excision +being practised.</p> + +<p>This method, with slight deviations, is substantially that of Richard +Mackenzie of Edinburgh, Wood of New York, Jones of Jersey.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">{135}</a></span></p> + +<p>Hæmorrhage must then be stopped, and that as thoroughly as possible, by +torsion, cold, and pressure, and the flap brought accurately together +with sutures.</p> + +<p>In some rare cases, it may be found necessary to divide the hamstring +tendons to rectify spastic contraction of the muscles; but this can +generally be done quite well from the original wound.</p> + +<p>Holt makes a dependent opening in the popliteal space for drainage. This +is unnecessary if the incisions are made sufficiently far back, and if +the wound is properly drained. It is unsafe, as approaching so close to +the artery and veins. If much bagging takes place, the use of a +drainage-tube will prove quite sufficient.</p> + +<p><i>After-treatment.</i>—Wire splints lined with leather and provided with a +foot-piece; special box-splints with moveable sides, as Butcher's;<a name="FNanchor_65_65" id="FNanchor_65_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> +plaster-of-Paris moulds are used by Dr. P.H. Watson<a name="FNanchor_66_66" id="FNanchor_66_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a> of Edinburgh and +others; this last form of dressing is the best, and allows the limb to +be suspended from a Salter's swing.</p> + +<p>H-<i>shaped incision.</i>—The internal incision should commence at +a point about two inches below the articular surface of the tibia, and +in a line with its inner edge; it should then be carried up along the +femur in a direction parallel to the axis of the extended limb, so as to +pass in front of the saphena vein, and thus avoid it, for a distance of +five inches. The external incision, commencing just below the head of +the fibula, must be carried upwards parallel to the preceding for the +same distance. Both incisions must be made by a heavy scalpel with a +firm hand, so as to divide all the tissues down to the bone. The +vertical incisions are then united by a transverse one passing across +just below the lower angle of the patella. The flaps thus formed must +then be dissected up and down, and the internal and external lateral +ligaments divided, thus thoroughly opening<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">{136}</a></span> the joint and exposing the +crucial ligaments. These must be divided carefully, remembering the +position of the artery. The bones are then to be cleared and divided, as +in the operation already described. This is the method of Moreau and +Butcher.<a name="FNanchor_67_67" id="FNanchor_67_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a></p> + +<p><i>Patella and Ligamentum Patellæ retained.</i>—"A longitudinal incision, +full four inches in extent, was made on each side of the knee-joint, +midway between the vasti and flexors of the leg; these two cuts were +down to the bones, they were connected by a transverse one just over the +prominence of the tubercle of the tibia, <i>care being taken to avoid +cutting by this incision the ligamentum patellæ</i>; the flap thus defined +was reflected upwards, the patella and the ligament were then freed and +drawn over the internal condyle, and kept there by means of a broad, +flat, and turned-up spatula; the joint was thus exposed, and after the +synovial capsule had been cut through as far as could be seen, the leg +was forcibly flexed, the crucial ligaments, almost breaking in the act, +only required a slight touch of the knife to divide them completely. The +articular surfaces of the bones were now completely brought to view, and +the diseased portions removed by means of suitable saws, the soft parts +being hold aside by assistants."<a name="FNanchor_68_68" id="FNanchor_68_68"></a><a href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a></p> + +<p>Results of Excision of Knee-joint:—Holmes's Table of recent cases from +1873-1878—</p> + +<table summary="numbers"> +<tr><td> </td><td class="tdr">245 cases;</td><td>25 deaths, and 47 failures.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Spence's</td><td class="tdr">33 cases;</td><td>22 recovered, 11 died.</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Buck's Operation for Anchylosed Knee-Joint</span>.—The principle of this +operation is to remove a triangular portion of bone, which is to include +the surfaces of the femur and tibia, which have anchylosed in an awkward +position, and by this means to set the bones free, and enable the limb +to be straightened. Access<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">{137}</a></span> to the joint may be obtained by either of +the two methods already described. Sections of the bones are then to be +made with the saw, so as to meet posteriorly a little in front of the +posterior surface of the anchylosed joint, and thus remove a triangular +portion of bone; the portion still remaining, and which still keeps up +the deformity, is then to be broken through as best you can, either by a +chisel, or a saw, or forced flexion. The ends are to be pared off by +bone-pliers, and the surfaces brought into as close apposition as +possible. The operation is a difficult one, a gap being generally left +between the anterior edges of the bones, from the unyielding nature of +the integuments behind, and the difficulty of removing the posterior +projecting edges from their close proximity to the artery. Of twenty +cases on record, eight died, and two required amputation.</p> + +<p><i>Relation of Age to result in Excision of Knee-Joint from Hodge's +Tables.</i></p> + +<p>Of 182 complete cases:—</p> + + +<table summary="numbers"> +<tr><td class="center">68 below 16 years: 50 recovered—18 died; or 26 per cent. died.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">114 above 16 years: 55 recovered—59 died; or 51.7 per cent. died.</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Excision of the Ankle-Joint</span>.—<i>In what cases is it to be done, and how +much bone is to be removed?</i></p> + +<p>In cases of compound dislocation of the ankle-joint, the tibia and +fibula are apt to be protruded either in front or behind. When this +happens it is a dislocation generally very difficult to reduce, and when +reduced to retain in position. In such cases, if there seems to be any +chance of retaining the foot, excision of the articular ends of tibia +and fibula greatly add to the probabilities in its favour. It may be +done without any new wound, and, in general, by an ordinary surgeon's +saw.</p> + +<p>When the astragalus does not protrude, it seems to matter little for the +future result whether its articular surface be removed or not. When, on +the other hand, it protrudes, as a result either of the displacement of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">{138}</a></span> +the entire foot, or of a dislocation complete or partial of the +astragalus itself, there is no doubt that excision either of its +articular surface or of the entire bone will give very excellent +results. Jäger reports twenty-seven such cases, with only one fatal, and +one doubtful result.</p> + +<p><i>In cases of disease of the Ankle-joint.</i>—Excision has been performed a +good many times, and should in most cases be complete. A work like this +is not the place to discuss the propriety of operations so much as the +method of performing them, but one remark may be permitted. Few points +of surgical diagnosis are more difficult than it is to tell whether in +any given case disease is confined to the ankle-joint, and whether or +not the bones of the tarsus participate. If they do even to a slight +extent, no operation which attacks the ankle-joint only has any +reasonable chance of success. It may look well for a time, but sinuses +remain, the irritation of the operation only hastens the progress of the +disease of the bone, and the result will almost certainly be +disappointing, amputation being almost the inevitable <i>dernier ressort</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Methods of Operating</i>:—</p> + +<p><i>Mr. Hancock</i> has been very successful by the following method:—</p> + +<p>Commence the incision (<a href="#plate_ii">Plate II.</a> figs. <span class="smcap">B.B.</span>) about two inches above and +behind the external malleolus, and carry it across the instep to about +two inches above and behind the internal malleolus. Take care that this +incision merely divides the skin, and does not penetrate beyond the +fascia. Reflect the flap so made, and next cut down upon the external +malleolus, carrying your knife close to the edge of the bone, both +behind and below the process, dislodge the peronei tendons, and divide +the external lateral ligaments of the joint. Having done this, with the +bone-nippers cut through the fibula, about an inch above the malleolus, +remove<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">{139}</a></span> this piece of bone, dividing the inferior tibio-fibular +ligament, and then turn the leg and foot on the outside. Now carefully +dissect the tendons of the tibialis posticus and flexor communis +digitorum from behind the internal malleolus. Carry your knife close +round the edge of this process, and detach the internal lateral +ligament, then grasping the heel with one hand, and the front of the +foot with the other, forcibly turn the sole of the foot downwards, by +which the lower end of the tibia is dislocated and protruded through the +wound. This done, remove the diseased end of the tibia with the common +amputating saw, and afterwards with a small metacarpal saw placed upon +the back of the upper articulating process of the astragalus, between +that process and the tendo Achillis, remove the former by cutting from +behind forwards. Replace the parts <i>in situ</i>; close the wound carefully +on the inner side and front of the ankle; but leave the outside open, +that there may be a free exit for discharge, apply water-dressing, place +the limb on its outer side on a splint, and the operation is completed.</p> + +<p>Skin, external, and internal ligaments, and the bones are the only parts +divided, no tendons and no arteries of any size.<a name="FNanchor_69_69" id="FNanchor_69_69"></a><a href="#Footnote_69_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a></p> + +<p><i>Barwell's</i> method by <i>lateral incisions</i> is briefly as follows:—</p> + +<p>On the outer side, an incision over the lower three inches of the fibula +turns forward at the malleolus at an angle, and ends about half an inch +above the base of the outer metatarsal. The flap is to be reflected, +fibula divided about two inches from its lower end by the forceps, and +dissected out, leaving peronei tendons uncut. A similar incision on the +inner side terminates over the projection of the internal cuneiform +bone; the sheaths of the tendons under inner angle are then to be +divided, and the artery and nerve avoided; the internal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">{140}</a></span> lateral +ligament is then to be divided, the foot twisted outwards, so as to +protrude the astragalus and tibia at the inner wound. The lower end of +the tibia and top of the astragalus are to be sawn off by a +narrow-bladed saw passing from one wound to the other.<a name="FNanchor_70_70" id="FNanchor_70_70"></a><a href="#Footnote_70_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a></p> + +<p>Dr. M. Buchanan of Glasgow has described an operation by which the joint +can be excised through a single incision over the external malleolus.</p> + +<p><i>Results.</i>—So far as can be gathered from cases already published, the +results are very often (at least in one out of every two cases) +unsatisfactory. Sinuses remain, which do not heal, the limbs are +useless, and amputation is in the end necessary.</p> + +<p>Langenbeck has performed it sixteen times during the last +Schleswig-Holstein war (in 1864), and the Bohemian war in 1866, with +only three deaths. In these cases the operation was subperiosteal.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Excision of the Scapula.</span>—More or less of the scapula has in many cases +been removed along with the arm, and even with the addition of portion +of the clavicle.</p> + +<p>Excision of the entire bone, leaving the arm, has been performed in two +instances by Mr. Syme. The procedure must vary according to the nature +and shape of the tumour on account of which the operation is performed. +Mr. Syme operated as follows:—</p> + +<p>In the first case, one of cerebriform tumour of the bone, he "made an +incision from the acromion process transversely to the posterior edge of +the scapula, and another from the centre of this one directly downwards +to the lower margin of the tumour. The flaps thus formed being reflected +without much hæmorrhage, I separated the scapular attachment of the +deltoid, and divided the connections of the acromial extremity of the +clavicle. Then, wishing to command the subscapular artery, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">{141}</a></span> divided +it, with the effect of giving issue to a fearful gush of blood, but +fortunately caught the vessel and tied it without any delay. I next cut +into the joint and round the glenoid cavity, hooked my finger under the +coracoid process, so as to facilitate the division of its muscular and +ligamentous attachments, and then pulling back the bone with all the +force of my left hand, separated its remaining attachments with rapid +sweeps of the knife." (<a href="#plate_iii">Plate III.</a> fig. <span class="smcap">g.</span>)</p> + +<p>Mr. Syme's second case was also one of tumour of the scapula; the head +of the humerus had been excised two years before.</p> + +<p>He removed it by two incisions, one from the clavicle a little to the +sternal side of the coracoid, directed downwards to the lower boundary +of the tumour, another transversely from the shoulder to the posterior +edge of the scapula. The clavicle was divided at the spot where it was +exposed, and the outer portion removed along with the scapula.<a name="FNanchor_71_71" id="FNanchor_71_71"></a><a href="#Footnote_71_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a></p> + +<p>The author has in a case of osseous tumour removed the whole body of the +scapula, leaving glenoid, spine, acromion and anterior margin with +excellent result and a useful arm.</p> + +<p>Large portions of the shafts of the humerus, radius, and ulna have been +removed for disease or accident, and useful arms have resulted; but as +the operative procedures must vary in every case, according to the +amount of bone to be removed, and the number and position of the +sinuses, no exact directions can be given.</p> + +<p>For very interesting cases of such resections reference may be made to +Wagner's treatise on the subject, translated and enlarged by Mr. Holmes, +and to Williamson's <i>Military Surgery</i>, p. 227.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Excision of Metacarpals and Phalanges</span>.—To <i>excise</i> the metacarpal +implies that the corresponding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">{142}</a></span> finger is left. Except in cases of +necrosis, where abundance of new bone has formed in the detached +periosteum, the results of such excisions do not encourage repetition, +the digits which remain being generally very useless. It is quite +different, however, if it is the thumb that is involved; and every +effort should, in every case, be made to retain the thumb, even in the +complete absence of its metacarpal bone. For the good results of a case +in which Mr. Syme excised the whole metacarpal bone for a tumour, see +his <i>Observations in Clinical Surgery</i>, p. 38.</p> + +<p>The operation is not difficult, and requires merely a straight incision +over the dorsum, extending the whole length of the bone.</p> + +<p>In the same way the proximal phalanx of the thumb may be excised, and +yet, if proper care be taken, a very useful limb be left. I quote entire +the following case by Mr. Butcher of Dublin:—</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Excision of Proximal Phalanx of the Thumb</span>.—The +thumb of the right hand was crushed by the crank of a steam-engine. +The proximal phalanx was completely shivered; its fragments were +removed, the cartilage of the proximal end of the distal phalanx, and +also of the head of the metacarpal bone, were pared off with a strong +knife. The digit was put up on a splint fully extended. In about a month +cure was nearly complete, a firm dense tissue took the place of the +removed phalanx, and the power of flexing the unguinal was nearly +complete.<a name="FNanchor_72_72" id="FNanchor_72_72"></a><a href="#Footnote_72_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a></p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Excision of the Joints of the Fingers</span>.—These operations may be +performed for compound dislocation, specially when the thumb is injured; +no directions can be given for the incisions.<a name="FNanchor_73_73" id="FNanchor_73_73"></a><a href="#Footnote_73_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">{143}</a></span></p> + +<p>In cases of disease it is rarely necessary or advisable to attempt to +save a finger, but if the metacarpo-phalangeal joint of the thumb be +affected, excision should be performed with the hope of saving the +thumb. A single free incision on the radial side of the joint will give +sufficient access.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Excision of the Os Calcis</span>.—In those comparatively rare cases in which +the os calcis is alone affected, the rest of the tarsus and the +ankle-joint being healthy, a considerable difference of opinion exists +as to the proper course to be followed. By some surgeons it is +considered best merely to gain free access to the diseased bone, and +then remove by a gouge all the softened and altered portions, leaving a +shell of bone all round, of course saving the periosteum and avoiding +interference with the joint. This operation requires no special detailed +instruction. We find many surgeons, among them Fergusson and Hodge, +supporters of this comparatively modest operation. The author has many +times performed this operation with excellent results. Even when nothing +but periosteum is left, the new bone becomes strong and of full size.</p> + +<p>Excision of the whole of the diseased bone at its joints, with or +without an attempt to leave some of the periosteum, has been deemed +necessary by others. Holmes, who has had considerable experience, +removes the bone at once by the following incisions, without paying any +reference to the periosteum:—</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—An incision (<a href="#plate_iii">Plate III.</a> fig. <span class="smcap">f.</span>) is commenced at the inner +edge of the tendo Achillis, and drawn horizontally forwards along the +outer side of the foot, somewhat in front of the calcaneo-cuboid joint, +which lies midway between the outer malleolus and the end of the fifth +metatarsal bone. This incision should go down at once upon the bone, so +that the tendon should be felt to snap as the incision is commenced. It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">{144}</a></span> +should be as nearly as possible on a level with the upper border of the +os calcis, a point which the surgeon can determine, if the dorsum of the +foot is in a natural state, by feeling the pit in which the extensor +brevis digitorum arises. Another incision is then to be drawn vertically +across the sole, commencing near the anterior end of the former +incision, and terminating at the outer border of the grooved or internal +surface of the os calcis, beyond which point it should not extend, for +fear of wounding the posterior tibial vessels. If more room be required, +this vertical incision may be prolonged a little upwards, so as to form +a crucial incision. The bone being now denuded by throwing back the +flaps, the first point is to find and lay open the calcaneo-cuboid +joint, and then the joints with the astragalus. The close connections +between these two bones constitute the principal difficulty in the +operation on the dead subject; but these joints will frequently be found +to have been destroyed in cases of disease. The calcaneum having been +separated thus from its bony connections by the free use of the knife, +aided, if necessary, by the lever, lion-forceps, etc., the soft parts +are next to be cleaned off its inner side with care, in order to avoid +the vessels, and the bone will then come away.<a name="FNanchor_74_74" id="FNanchor_74_74"></a><a href="#Footnote_74_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a></p> + +<p>Attempts may occasionally be made in such an operation to save a portion +of periosteum in attachment to the soft parts, but success or failure in +this seems to have very little effect on the future result.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p><i>Hancock's Method.</i>—A single flap was formed in the sole, with the +convexity looking forwards, by an incision from one malleolus to +the other.</p> + +<p><i>Greenhow's Method.</i>—Incisions made from the inner and outer +ankles, meeting at the apex of the heel, and then others extending +along the sides of the foot, the flaps being dissected back so as +to expose the bone and its connections.<a name="FNanchor_75_75" id="FNanchor_75_75"></a><a href="#Footnote_75_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a> </p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">{145}</a></span></p> + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Excision of Astragalus</span>.—A curved incision on the dorsum of the foot +extending from one malleolus to the other, and as far forwards as the +front of the scaphoid. The chief caution required is to divide all +ligaments which hold the bone in place, and dissect it clean on all +other parts before meddling with its posterior surface where the groove +exists for the flexor longus pollicis tendon near which the posterior +tibial vessels and nerve lie.<a name="FNanchor_76_76" id="FNanchor_76_76"></a><a href="#Footnote_76_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a></p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Excision of Astragalus and Scaphoid</span>.—An incision similar to the +anterior one in Syme's amputation at the ankle. The flap was then turned +back from the dorsum of the foot. The joint was then opened, the lateral +ligaments of the ankle-joint divided, the foot dislocated so as to show +the astragalo-calcanean ligaments, and allow them to be divided. The +bones were then grasped with the lion-forceps and pulled forwards, while +the posterior surface of the astragalus was very cautiously cleaned, so +as to avoid the posterior tibial artery.<a name="FNanchor_77_77" id="FNanchor_77_77"></a><a href="#Footnote_77_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a></p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Excision of Metatarso-Phalangeal Joint of Great Toe</span>.—Butcher performs +it by splitting up the sinuses leading to the carious joint, exposing it +and cutting off with bone-pliers the anterior third of the metatarsal +bone, and the proximal end of the first phalanx. He also cuts +subcutaneously the extensor tendons to prevent them from cocking up the +toe.<a name="FNanchor_78_78" id="FNanchor_78_78"></a><a href="#Footnote_78_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a> Pancoast prefers a semilunar incision. A lateral incision is +usually to be preferred.</p> + +<p>The author has performed this excision frequently for disease; when the +whole cartilages are removed and the wound is freely drained, an +admirable result is obtained.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">{146}</a></span></p> + +<p>In cases of compound dislocation of the head of the metatarsal bone, it +will occasionally be found necessary to excise it either by the +original, or a slightly enlarged wound.</p> + +<p>The author lately excised one-half of shaft of metatarsal and the +corresponding half of proximal phalanx of great toe for exostosis, with +antiseptic precautions. The result was a useful toe with a <i>mobile +joint</i>.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Excision of Metatarsal Bone of Great Toe</span>.—For this operation a +quadrilateral flap has been recommended, but this is quite unnecessary. +A single straight incision along the inner border of the foot, extending +the whole length of the bone, renders it very easy to remove the whole +bone from joint to joint. This is an operation, however, which is rarely +needed, and which would leave a very useless flail of a toe. The +operation, which is at once more commonly required, and also gives +promise of a more satisfactory result, is the one performed for +cario-necrosis of the shaft only, and in the following manner:—</p> + +<p>A straight incision through all the tissues, including the periosteum, +right down to the bone; then with nail or handle of the knife to +separate the periosteum from the bone; then with a pair of bone-pliers +or a fine saw to divide the shaft from both its extremities and remove +it entire.<a name="FNanchor_79_79" id="FNanchor_79_79"></a><a href="#Footnote_79_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a></p> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">{147}</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>OPERATIONS ON CRANIUM AND SCALP.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Trephining and Trepanning</span> are the names given to operations for the +removal of portions of the cranium by circular saws which play on a +centre pivot. When the motion is given to the saw simply by rotation of +the hand of the operator, as is common in this country, it is called +<i>trephining</i>; when (as used to be the case in this country, and still is +on the Continent) the motion is given by an instrument like a +carpenter's brace, the operation is called <i>trepanning</i>.</p> + +<p>The nature of the operation varies according to the nature of the case +for which it is performed. Thus (1.) it may be performed through the +uninjured cranium in the hope of evacuating an abscess of the diploe or +dura mater, or of relieving pressure caused by suppuration in the brain +itself, or by extravasation into the brain or membranes; or (2.) it may +be required in cases of punctured and depressed fracture for the purpose +of removing projecting corners of bone and allowing elevation of the +depressed portions; or (3.) it is sometimes used to remove a circular +portion of bone in cases of epilepsy in which pain or tenderness is felt +at some limited portion of the cranium.</p> + +<p>1. <i>In cases where the cranium and its coverings are entire.</i>—There are +certain positions where, if it is possible, the trephine should <i>not</i> be +applied. These are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">{148}</a></span> the longitudinal sinus, the anterior inferior angle +of the parietal bone, where the middle meningeal artery is in the way, +the occipital protuberance, and the various sutures. These being +avoided, a crucial incision is to be made through the skin, and its +flaps reflected. The pericranium should then be raised from the centre, +for a space large enough to hold the crown of the trephine. The +pericranium should never be removed, but carefully raised and preserved, +as its presence will greatly aid in the restoration of bone.<a name="FNanchor_80_80" id="FNanchor_80_80"></a><a href="#Footnote_80_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a> The +centre pin should then be projected for about the eighth of an inch and +bored into the bone. On it as a centre the saw is then worked by +semicircular sweeps in both directions alternately, till it forms a +groove for itself. Whenever this groove is deep enough the pin should be +retracted, lest from its projection it pierce the dura mater before the +tables of the skull are cut through. Were the cranium always of the same +thickness, and even of similar consistence, the operation would always +be exceedingly easy; but in both these particulars different skulls vary +much from each other, and thus by a rash use of the instrument the dura +mater may possibly be injured. The tough outer table is more difficult +to cut than the softer and more vascular diploe, and the inner table is +denser than either, but more brittle. In many old skulls, however, the +diploe is wanting altogether, and the two tables are amalgamated, and +often very thin.</p> + +<p>Great care must be taken in every case to saw slowly, to remove the +sawdust, and examine the track of the saw by a probe or quill, lest one +part should be cut through quicker than another. The last turns of the +instrument must specially be cautious ones. When the disk of bone does +not at once come away in the trephine, the elevator or the special +forceps for the purpose will easily remove it. If the abscess, +extravasation, or exostosis be then discovered and removed, all that +remains<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">{149}</a></span> is to remove any sawdust or loose pieces of bone, and possibly +to smooth off any sharp edges of the orifice by an instrument called the +lenticular. This is very seldom required, and now hardly ever used.</p> + +<p>2. <i>In cases of depressed or punctured fracture</i> the trephine is +occasionally required (when symptoms of compression are present) for the +purpose of enabling the depressed portion to be elevated. It is unsafe +to apply it to the depressed or fractured bone, lest the additional +pressure of the instrument should cause wound of the dura mater or +brain. It is generally applied on some projecting corner of sound bone +under which the depressed portion is locked, and hence it is rarely +necessary to remove a complete circular portion. In fact very many cases +of such displacement may be remedied more easily by a pair of strong +bone-forceps, or a Hey's saw, applied to remove the projecting portion +of sound bone. The same precautions must be used as in the operation +already described, and the sawing must be done even more cautiously, as +it is rarely more than a semicircle that requires cutting.</p> + +<p>In former days trephining was a much more frequent operation than it is +now, and apparently more successful. The reason of the greater apparent +success can easily be found in the fact that it was performed in many +cases merely as a precautionary measure against dreaded inflammation of +the brain, which probably never would have appeared at all, and that the +operation itself is one by no means dangerous. Very numerous +applications of the trephine have been made in the same individual—two, +four, six, and even in one case twenty-seven disks having been removed +from the same skull, and yet the patients have survived.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Tumours of the Scalp</span>, <i>Removal of</i>.—By far the most frequent are the +encysted tumours, or wens. These consist of a thick firm cyst-wall, +which contains soft,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">{150}</a></span> curdy, or pultaceous matter, sometimes almost +fluid, at others dry and gritty. They are loosely attached in the +subcutaneous cellular tissue, and unless they have become very large, or +have been much pressed on, are non-adherent to the skin.</p> + +<p>The treatment is thus very simple. They should merely be transfixed by a +sharp knife, the contents evacuated, and the cyst seized by strong +dissecting forceps and twisted out.</p> + +<p>If they have once become adherent, they must be dissected out in the +usual manner, after the adherent portion of skin has been defined by +elliptical incisions.</p> + +<p>In the case of large wens on visible parts of scalp or face, the author +avoids scar, by the following plan:—</p> + +<p>Make a small incision, two lines at most, through skin only, then with a +blunt probe separate the cyst from the skin subcutaneously; then, +pulling it to the wound with catch-forceps, empty the cyst and gradually +pull it out, as if taking out an ovarian cyst. No scar but a dimple will +remain.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">{151}</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>OPERATIONS ON EYE.</h3> + +<p class="center noind"><i>Operations on the Eye and its Appendages.</i></p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Operations on the Lids</span>.—</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/000a.jpg" width="150" height="128" alt="Fig. vii." title="Fig. vii." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. vii.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_81_81" id="FNanchor_81_81"></a><a href="#Footnote_81_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a></span> +</div> + + +<p>1. <span class="smcap">For Entropium or Inversion of the Lids, often Combined with +Trichiasis, irregularity of the Ciliæ</span>.—As in many cases the entropium +seems to depend partly on a too great laxity of the skin of the lid, +combined occasionally with spasm of the orbicularis, the simplest and +most natural plan of operation is (<i>a</i>) to remove (Fig. <span class="smcap">vii</span>. <i>a</i>) an +elliptical portion of skin, extending transversely along the whole +length of the affected lid, including the fibres of the orbicularis +lying below it, and then to unite the edges with several points of fine +suture. (<i>b</i>) An improvement on this in obstinate cases is proposed by +Mr. Streatfeild (Fig. <span class="smcap">viii</span>.) He continues the same incision, but in +addition removes a long narrow wedge-shaped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">{152}</a></span> portion of the tarsal +cartilage, grooving it without entirely cutting it through, in such a +manner that the retraction of the skin bends the cartilage backwards, +thus everting to a very considerable extent the previously inverted +ciliæ.<a name="FNanchor_83_83" id="FNanchor_83_83"></a><a href="#Footnote_83_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a></p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/000b.jpg" width="300" height="175" alt="Fig. viii." title="Fig. viii." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. viii.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_82_82" id="FNanchor_82_82"></a><a href="#Footnote_82_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>2. <span class="smcap">Ectropium</span> is the opposite condition from entropium; in it the eyelids +are everted and the palpebral conjunctiva is exposed.</p> + +<p>If the result of cicatrix, of a burn, or of disease of bone, the +treatment must be varied according to circumstances, and in many cases, +skin must be transplanted to fill the gap.</p> + +<p>In the more usual cases resulting from chronic inflammation the +following simple operations are required:—1. In mild cases the excision +of an elliptical portion of conjunctiva may suffice, the edges must not +be left to contract, but should be brought carefully together. 2. In +more chronic cases, where all the tissues of the lid are very lax, it is +necessary to remove (Fig. <span class="smcap">vii</span>. <i>b</i>) a V-shaped portion of lid and skin, +and then stitch it very carefully up with interrupted sutures.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Tumours of Eyelids</span>.—1. <i>Encysted tumours; cysts of the lids; tarsal +tumour.</i>—Under these and similar names are recognised a very frequent +form of disease, chiefly in the upper lid: small tumours which rarely +exceed half a pea in size, convex towards the skin, which is freely +moveable over them; they give no pain, and are annoying only from their +bulk and deformity.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—Evert the lid, incise the conjunctiva freely over the +tumour, insert the blunt end of a probe and roughly stir up the contents +of the cyst, thus evacuating it. If the tumour is large and of old +standing it may be requisite to cut out an elliptical or circular +portion of its conjunctival wall. The probe may require to be reapplied +once or twice at intervals<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">{153}</a></span> of two or three days, and in certain rare +cases it may be necessary as a last resource freely to cauterise the +inside of the cyst with the solid nitrate of silver.</p> + +<p>In <i>no</i> case is it ever necessary to excise the tumour from the outside +of the eyelid; when this has been done in error there frequently remains +an awkward and unsightly scar.</p> + +<p>2. <i>Fibrous cysts</i>, frequently congenital, are met with in one +situation, just over the external angular process of the frontal bone. +These are larger in size than the preceding, ranging from the size of a +barley pickle to that of an almond. Their treatment is excision by a +prolonged and careful dissection from the periosteum, to which they +almost invariably are adherent.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Operations on the Lachrymal Organs</span>.—In a system of ophthalmic surgery, +various operative procedures might be detailed under this head, +authorised and sanctioned by old custom. Excision of a diseased +lachrymal gland, and removal of stones in the gland or ducts, need no +special directions for their performance, and the operation immediately +to be described, under the head of Mr. Bowman's operation, is applicable +in almost every one of the diseased conditions of the lachrymal canal, +sac, and nasal duct, to the exclusion of all the older methods.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. Bowman's Operation.</i>—In cases of obstruction of the punctum, +canaliculus, and nasal duct, resulting in watery eye, accumulation of +mucus in the canal, and dryness of the nose, great difficulty used to be +experienced in the treatment. To pass a probe along the punctum was +extremely difficult, in fact, possible only with a very small one, while +the common operation of opening the dilated sac, through the skin, and +then passing probes through this artificial opening, was found quite +useless from the rapid closure of the wound, unless the treatment was +followed up by the insertion and retention<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">{154}</a></span> of a style in the nasal +duct. This was painful, unsightly, often unsuccessful; and even in some +cases dangerous, from the amount of irritation, suppuration, and even +caries of the nasal bones which is set up.</p> + +<p>The principle of Mr. Bowman's most excellent operation is, that the +punctum, canaliculus, and nasal duct resemble in many respects the +urethral passage, and in cases of stricture require to be treated on the +same principle. If, then, it were possible to pass instruments gradually +increasing in size through the seat of stricture, it would be gradually +dilated. It is, however, in the normal state of parts, impossible to +pass any instrument beyond the size of a human hair past the curve which +the canaliculus makes on its entrance to the duct, hence the proper +dilatation cannot be performed. Again, it is found that the puncta, +specially the lower one, are themselves very often to blame, in cases of +watery eye, sometimes because they are inverted or everted, more often +because, sympathising with the lid, they are turgid, angry, and +inflamed, pouting and closed like the orifice of the urethra in a +gonorrhœa.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bowman found that by slitting up the inferior punctum and +canaliculus as far as the caruncula, several advantages were +gained:—(1.) The swollen, angry, displaced punctum no longer impeded +the entrance of the tears; (2.) and chiefly when the canaliculus was +slit up, the curve, or rather angle, which impeded the passage of +probes, was done away with, and the nasal duct could be readily and +thoroughly dilated.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—The surgeon stands behind the patient, who is seated, and +leans his head on the surgeon's chest. The affected lid is then drawn +gently downwards on the cheek, so as to evert and thoroughly expose the +lower punctum. Into this the surgeon introduces a fine probe of steel +gilt, the first inch of which is very thin, especially at the point, and +deeply grooved on one side, exactly like a small (and straight) Syme's +stricture director.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">{155}</a></span></p> + +<p>Keeping the canal relaxed by relaxing his hold on the lid, the surgeon +now gently wriggles the probe along the canaliculus, gradually +stretching it as the probe advances, so as to avoid catching of the +sides of the canal before the point of the instrument, till he is +satisfied that it has fairly entered the nasal duct. He then stretches +the eyelid, brings the handle of the probe out over the cheek so as to +evert the punctum as much as possible, and then with a fine +sharp-pointed knife enters the groove (Fig. <span class="smcap">ix</span>.), and fairly slits up +the punctum and the canal to the full extent. The incision should be as +straight as possible, and through the upper wall of the canaliculus. A +dexterous turn of the instrument upwards on the forehead will generally +enable it to be passed at once fairly into the nose through the nasal +duct, the usual rule being observed of passing it downwards and slightly +backwards, the handle of the probe passing just over the supraorbital +notch.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> +<img src="images/155.jpg" width="450" height="231" alt="Fig. ix." title="Fig. ix." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. ix.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_84_84" id="FNanchor_84_84"></a><a href="#Footnote_84_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>For several days after the operation the probe will have to be passed, +both to prevent the wound in the canaliculus from healing up, which it +is too apt to do, and also to gradually dilate the nasal duct if it has +been previously strictured. Probes and directors of various sizes are +required; in fact very much the same instruments<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">{156}</a></span> (in miniature) as are +required for the treatment of stricture of the urethra.</p> + +<p>Mr. Greenslade has invented a very ingenious little instrument, of +which, through his kindness, I am able to show a woodcut (Fig. <span class="smcap">x</span>.), for +slitting up the canaliculus without having to fit the knife in the +groove.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 550px;"> +<img src="images/156.jpg" width="550" height="163" alt="Fig. x." title="Fig. x." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. x.</span></span> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Pterygium</span>, the reddish fleshy triangular growth, with its base at the +inner canthus, and its apex spreading to and often over the cornea, +requires invariably a small operation for its removal. In most cases it +will be found sufficient merely to raise the lax portion over the +sclerotic with forceps, and divide it freely, removing a transverse +portion. If it has encroached upon the cornea, the portion interfering +with vision must be dissected off with great care and removed.</p> + +<p>In some cases, however, it has been found that after removal of a large +pterygium, a retraction of the caruncle and the semilunar fold is apt to +take place, which renders the eyeball unpleasantly prominent. To avoid +this the pterygium may be carefully dissected up from its apex to near +its base, and then displaced laterally either upwards or downwards, its +apex and sides being stitched to a previously prepared site of +conjunctiva.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Operation for Convergent Strabismus.</span>—<i>Division of the internal +rectus.</i>—<i>Subconjunctival operation.</i>—The spring-wire speculum (C) +separating the lids, the surgeon divides the conjunctiva by a pair of +scissors in a horizontal line (Fig. <span class="smcap">xi. A A</span>) from the inner margin of +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">{157}</a></span> cornea, a little below its transverse diameter to the caruncle, +then snipping through the sub-conjunctival tissue, he passes a blunt +hook bent at an obtuse angle under the tendon of the internal rectus, +and endeavours by depressing the handle to project the point of the hook +at the wound. Then with successive snips of the scissors he divides the +tendon on the hook, close to its sclerotic margin. Lest it should not be +freely divided, various dips with the hook may be made to catch any +stray fibres left untouched; but very great care should be taken not to +wound the conjunctiva beyond the first horizontal cut in it. The tendon +being divided satisfactorily, the edges of conjunctiva should be +replaced, and the eye closed for a few hours.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/157.jpg" width="250" height="99" alt="Fig. xi." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xi.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_85_85" id="FNanchor_85_85"></a><a href="#Footnote_85_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a></span> +</div> + + +<p>The original operation of Dieffenbach, now rarely practised, consisted +in making an incision, <span class="smcap">b b</span>, across the tendon, then, by cutting the +areolar tissue exposing the insertion of the tendon, and dividing it +freely; after which the sclerotic in the neighbourhood was to be cleaned +and any band of fibres divided. There are risks on the one hand of a +most unseemly exophthalmos with divergent squint, and on the other of a +retraction of the semilunar fold, so that the sub-conjunctival operation +is always preferable.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Operations for Divergent Squint</span>.—This very serious deformity is often +the result of the operation for convergent squint, and is associated +with a fixed, leering, and prominent eye, and frequently with most +annoying double vision.</p> + +<p>1. In a simple case of primary divergent strabismus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">{158}</a></span> (very rare) it is +sufficient simply to divide the external rectus in the manner already +described for division of the internal.</p> + +<p>2. If secondary to an operation for convergent squint, the indication is +to restore the cut internal rectus to a position on the sclerotic a +little behind its previous one, as the cause of the divergence is found +in a complete detachment of the internal rectus. This is attempted in +various ways.</p> + +<p>(1.) <i>Jules Guérin</i> carefully divided the conjunctiva over it, and +sought for the remains of the internal rectus, freeing it from its +attachments. He then passed a thread through the sclerotic on the +<i>outer</i> side of the globe, and by pulling on it and fixing it across the +nose, rotated the eye inwards, in the hope that the remains of the +internal rectus would secure a new attachment.</p> + +<p>(2.) <i>Graefe's modification</i> of this is more certain. Without any minute +dissection he merely separated the internal rectus, along with the +conjunctiva, and fascia over it, so that it can be pulled forwards, then +cut the external rectus, and inverted the eyeball to a sufficient extent +by means of a thread passed through the portion of the tendon of the +external rectus, which remains attached to the sclerotic. The risk of +all these operations, in which both muscles are divided, is protrusion +of the eyeball from the removal of muscular tension.</p> + +<p>(3.) <i>Solomon's operation for the radical cure of extreme divergent +strabismus</i>,<a name="FNanchor_86_86" id="FNanchor_86_86"></a><a href="#Footnote_86_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a> is at first sight a very curious one. Without going +into all the details, the steps are as follows:—</p> + +<p><i>a.</i> A square-shaped flap, with its attached base at the nasal side, is +raised, containing the remains of the inner rectus and its adjacent +parts.</p> + +<p><i>b.</i> A flap similar in shape and size, but different in the position of +its attached base, is made on the other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">{159}</a></span> side of the cornea. It is made +by dividing the external rectus just behind its tendon, and then +reflecting forwards the tendon with its conjunctiva.</p> + +<p><i>c.</i> These two flaps are united over the vertical meridian of the cornea +by sutures, three generally being sufficient. This entirely hides the +cornea for a time, but eventually shrivels and contracts, and the +remnants are to be cut off with scissors three weeks after the +operation.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Puncture of the Cornea</span>.—<i>Paracentesis of the Anterior +Chamber.</i>—<i>Tapping of the Aqueous Humour.</i>—This very simple operation +is in many cases extremely useful. In cases of corneal ulcer, the result +either of injury or disease, where there is much pain in the bone, and +evidence of tension of the globe, it gives great relief, and when +repeated at short intervals greatly hastens a cure. Sperino of Turin +recommends its frequent use in cases of chronic glaucoma.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—The surgeon stands behind the patient, who is seated; the +lids being fixed, the upper by the surgeon's left hand, and the lower by +an assistant, the cornea is punctured a little in front of the sclerotic +margin, either with a broad needle, or, what is as good, a well-worn +Beer's knife. Care must be taken on entering the knife, on the one hand, +not to wound the iris, which is sometimes arched forwards in the cases +of commencing glaucoma, and, on the other, fairly to enter the anterior +chamber, not merely split up the layers of the cornea. On withdrawing +the cataract knife, the aqueous humour gets out by its side, aided by a +slight turn of the knife, sometimes with great force, and in much larger +quantity than usual. If the operation has been done by a needle, a blunt +probe requires to be introduced on the removal of the needle. Once +punctured, the remarkable fact is that the same wound suffices for many +succeeding tappings, which are effected by pressing the probe into the +wound day after day, sometimes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">{160}</a></span> several times a day, with great relief +to the symptoms. If the probe is to be used for succeeding evacuations, +the operator must be careful to remember the exact spot at which the +needle or knife was entered. To facilitate remembering it, it is best, +when nothing prevents it, to operate always in the same spot. Sperino +chooses the horizontal meridian of the cornea at the temporal side, at +the junction of the cornea and sclerotic.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Cataract Operations.</span>—Here we cannot enter into any discussion of the +pathology of cataract and the varieties of it. Enough for our purpose to +know that the lens is in some cases hard, in others soft, and that thus +in the latter it may be removed piecemeal, and by a small incision, +while in the former, removal must be almost entire, and by a larger +opening.</p> + +<p>In cataract, the lens, which should be transparent, has become opaque, +and the object of treatment is to get it out of the line of sight, to +prevent it from obstructing, now that it can no longer assist sight.</p> + +<p>The operations used for this end may be classed under three heads:—</p> + +<p>1. <i>Operations for the removal of the lens out of the way without its +removal from the eye.</i>—These used to be extensively practised under the +name couching, and are of two kinds,—<i>Depression</i>, where the lens is +simply pushed down from its place by a needle; <i>Reclination</i>, in which +it is shoved backwards (turning on its transverse axis) as well as +downwards. These are relics of old surgery, and very rarely practised by +any oculists of eminence, as, though easy to perform, and with very +flattering immediate results, the risks of chronic inflammation of the +whole globe and injury to the retina are very great.</p> + +<p>2. <i>For solution.</i>—<span class="smcap">The Needle Operation</span>.—Suitable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">{161}</a></span> (among other cases) +especially in congenital cataracts in infants, and in cases of diabetic +cataract.</p> + +<p>The principle of this operation is that the lens, once the capsule is +freely opened in front and the aqueous humour admitted, is found rapidly +to become absorbed and disappear, if the cataract has been a soft one.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—A needle with a lance-shaped head is to be used. It should +be so made that the rounded shaft of the needle is just large enough to +play freely in the wound made by the broader point, and yet not so small +as to allow the aqueous humour to escape rapidly. The pupil has been +dilated, the patient is lying on his back, and the globe is fixed by +forceps attached to the conjunctiva of the inner side of the eye, and +held by an assistant. The surgeon then enters the needle close to the +sclerotic margin of the cornea, carries it fairly on in the anterior +chamber, till the centre of the pupil is reached. He then, by bringing +forward the handle, projects the point backwards against the anterior +capsule, which he freely lacerates with the point and edge in several +directions.</p> + +<p>In infants, where processes of repair go on very rapidly, the whole lens +may be freely broken up. In diabetic cataract, or indeed in all cases of +solution, where the patient is adolescent or adult, or the eye at all +weak, only a small portion of the lens should be attacked at one +sitting.</p> + +<p>The needle should then be withdrawn gradually and with great care, that +the broad axis of the blade be in exactly the same position in which it +entered, <i>i.e.</i> flat and parallel with the iris, lest the iris be +wounded, entangled, or prolapsed.</p> + +<p>The eye is then to be closed for twenty-four hours; if there is much +pain, atropia must be freely used.</p> + +<p><i>Varieties in the Operation.</i>—Some use two needles at once for breaking +up the lens. Some surgeons prefer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">{162}</a></span> to enter the needle through the +sclerotic; this complicates the operation and renders it less certain, +as the point of the needle is of course out of sight in its progress +between the iris and the lens.</p> + +<p>Even in children this operation requires in most cases to be repeated at +least once, while in adults it may be required at short intervals for +many months.</p> + +<p>3. <i>By Extraction.</i>—In these operations the lens is at once removed +from the eye—</p> + +<p>(1.) By linear, or perhaps, more correctly, rectilinear incision. This +method is specially suited for cases of soft cataract.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—A fine spear-shaped needle is very cautiously introduced +through the cornea, about a line from its outer margin, and the anterior +capsule lacerated, and the lens broken up, great care being taken not to +injure the posterior capsule. The pupil must then be kept freely +dilated, the wound heals at once, and the aqueous humour reaccumulates.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/162a.jpg" width="400" height="126" alt="Fig. xii." title="Fig. xii." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xii.</span></span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/162b.jpg" width="400" height="125" alt="Fig. xiii." title="Fig. xiii." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xiii.</span></span> +</div> + +<p>From three to six days after this first operation, a linear incision +(Fig. <span class="smcap">xii</span>.) is made in the outer side of the cornea by a straight stab +from a double-edged knife, or rather spear. The size of the incision +must vary with the size and consistence of the lens, and can be +regulated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">{163}</a></span> by the breadth of the knife and the distance to which it is +entered. By careful withdrawal of the knife, in many cases a large +portion of the soft lens can be removed along with it, and then what +remains must be cautiously lifted out by a flat spoon introduced through +the wound, and behind the remains of the lens.</p> + +<p>Care must be taken lest any of the lens substance remain in the wound; +with this precaution the incision generally heals rapidly, and with much +less risk of general inflammation of the ball than in the ordinary flap +operation of extraction.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p><span class="smcap">Extraction of Soft Cataract by Suction.</span>—Mr. T. P. Teale, of +Leeds,<a name="FNanchor_87_87" id="FNanchor_87_87"></a><a href="#Footnote_87_87" class="fnanchor">[87]</a> has invented an instrument by which the removal of soft +cataract is made more easy, through a linear incision by suction, +applied through the medium of a hollow curette furnished with an +india-rubber tube and mouth-piece.</p> + +<p>The curette is of the usual size, but is roofed in (instead of +being merely grooved) to within one line of its extremity, thus +forming a tube flattened above, but terminating in a small cup. +This is screwed into an ordinary straight handle, which is hollow +for a short distance, far enough to join with a second tube fixed +at right angles to the handle, and into which the india-rubber pipe +and mouth-piece, through which suction is to be made, is attached. +In many cases it seems to serve its purpose extremely well.</p> + +<p>Certain points require attention:—1. That the puncture to admit +the curette is large enough; 2. That its end be sufficiently +rounded; 3. Its open end must be held in the area of the pupil, and +not allowed to pass behind the iris, else there is great risk of +the iris being drawn in. Among other advantages claimed by its +inventor, the chief seems to be a more thorough removal of the lens +than by the ordinary means, and consequently less risk of opaque +deposit in the posterior capsule. </p></div> + +<p>(2.) <span class="smcap">Extraction by Flap.</span>—When properly performed in a suitable subject, +and when free from accident, this operation is one of the most +thoroughly beautiful and satisfactory in the whole domain of surgery; +but it is difficult, and liable to many risks<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">{164}</a></span> which neither skill nor +caution can completely guard against.</p> + +<p>It is required in many cases of hard cataract, which are amenable +neither to solution nor linear extraction.</p> + +<p><i>Operation</i> must be considered in various stages:—</p> + +<p><i>a.</i> To make a flap of cornea large enough to permit of the removal of +the entire lens without pressure or bruising. To make it of cornea only, +to prevent the escape of the vitreous, and to avoid injury of the iris.</p> + +<p>The great difficulty in making the required section of the cornea is, +that we are debarred from using scissors or any ordinary knife or +scalpel in making it, for this reason, that the sawing movements +required in all ordinary cutting are inadmissible here, as any +withdrawal of the blade, however slight, would permit evacuation of the +aqueous humour, and at once be followed by prolapse of the iris before +the knife. Hence we are compelled to make the requisite flap by one +steady push of a knife, which, too, must be of such a shape as in its +entrance constantly to fill up the wound it makes. Very various shapes +and sizes of knives have been proposed, the one called Beer's knife +being the sort of model or common parent from which all the others are +derived. It is triangular in shape, with a straight back, about 12-10ths +of an inch in length, and 4-10ths broad at the base of the blade, +tapering at a straight edge from its base to its point, and also +diminishing in thickness to the point.</p> + +<p>Considerable difference of opinion exists as to the relative merits of +an upper or lower section of the cornea. The general view at present +seems to be that an upper section is to be preferred; but in cases where +the surgeon is not ambidexterous, it is better that he should make the +section which lies easiest to his hand than attempt an upper section in +a less favourable position.</p> + +<p>The patient should be placed flat on his back, the lids should be gently +opened, the upper one by the surgeon,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">{165}</a></span> the lower one by his assistant, +who is to press the lid downwards against the malar bone without +exercising any pressure on the ball. The eye should be still further +steadied by the conjunctiva and subjacent cellular tissue on the inner +side being seized by a pair of catch-forceps, still with no downward +pressure on the ball. The point of the knife must then be introduced +about a line from the outer sclerotic margin of the transverse diameter +of the cornea (Fig. <span class="smcap">xiii.</span>), the blade being held parallel with the +fibres of the iris, pushed steadily across the anterior chamber, and +protruded as nearly as possible at the corresponding spot at the inner +side of the cornea. The aqueous humour should not escape till the +section is completed. If it does, the iris is almost certainly projected +forwards and entangled in the blade of the knife, a most annoying +accident, and one which is not easily remedied. The books tell us of +various manœuvres by pressure or otherwise, by which the iris may be +pushed back. Practically, however, if it has once occurred it is not +easily saved from being cut. If a small portion only is involved, it is +not of much consequence; if a large portion be in danger, it is +sometimes necessary to withdraw the knife before the section is +completed, and finish it with a probe-pointed, curved bistoury.</p> + +<p>If, however, the flap is safely finished, the lids should be gently +allowed to close for a few seconds.</p> + +<p>On opening them again the surgeon must decide whether the corneal flap +is sufficiently large to allow the lens to come out without force; if +not, he must enlarge it either by the narrow probe-pointed "secondary +knife" or by a pair of sharp scissors. Occasionally the lens, and even a +little vitreous humour, may escape at once on the section being +completed, but this is not to be desired.</p> + +<p><i>b.</i> <i>Laceration of the Capsule of the Lens.</i>—This is performed by +insinuating a sharp curved needle under the corneal flap, avoiding the +iris, and then tearing up the anterior capsule through the dilated +pupil, the chief point<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">{166}</a></span> to be attended to being that the capsule be +lacerated in its entire length.</p> + +<p><i>c.</i> <i>Removal of the Lens.</i>—This must be done with the most extreme +caution and gentleness, lest the vitreous humour be also evacuated. The +surgeon's object is to tilt the lens so as to turn it slightly on its +transverse axis, and cause the edge nearest the section to rise out of +the capsule and appear at the wound. This is best done by gentle +pressure at the required spot by the back of the needle, or by a common +probe. When the lens begins to protrude the pressure must be very, +gentle, lest it be forced out suddenly and the vitreous follow it.</p> + +<p>Soft portions of the lens are apt to remain adherent to the wound in the +cornea. These must be removed by scoop or probe.</p> + +<p><i>Varieties in the method of Flap Extraction.</i>—Jacobsen of Königsberg in +every case gives chloroform. He always makes his flap in the boundary +line of the cornea and the sclerotic, through a vascular structure, and +he believes that union is on this account more rapid, and after +extraction removes that portion of the iris which appears to have been +most exposed to bruising during the exit of the lens.</p> + +<p>The operation of extraction may in many cases be either preceded or +followed by iridectomy, as proposed by Mooren, Von Graefe, and others. +The following operation seems to diminish the risks to a very great +extent:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p><i>Professor Von Graefe's Operation.</i>—The lids are separated by a +speculum, and the eyeball is drawn down by forceps placed +immediately below the cornea. The point of a small knife, of which +the edge is directed upwards, is inserted at a point fully half a +line from the margin of the cornea near its upper part, so as to +enter the anterior chamber as peripherally as possible. The point +should not be directed at first towards the spot for +counterpuncture; nor till the knife has advanced fully three and a +half lines within the visible portion of the anterior chamber, +should the handle be lowered and the point directed so as to make +a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">{167}</a></span> symmetrical counterpuncture, which will give the external wound +a length of four and a half or five lines. As soon as the +resistance to the point is felt to be overcome, showing that the +counterpuncture is effected, the knife must at once be turned +forward, so that its back is directed almost to the centre of the +ideal sphere of the cornea, whether the conjunctiva is transfixed +or not, and the scleral border is divided by boldly pushing the +knife onwards and again drawing it backwards. This portion of the +operation is concluded by the formation of a conjunctival flap a +line and a half or two lines in length. A section thus made is +almost perpendicular to the cornea, a circumstance much +facilitating the passage of the lens, and the line of incision is +nearly straight, so that the wound does not gape. The iris should +be excised to the very end of the wound, and the capsule most +freely opened by a V-shaped laceration. Any lens, even the hardest, +may then be removed without the introduction of an instrument into +the eye, but Von Graefe's experience shows it to be advisable to +assist the evacuation by the hook in about one case in eight. In a +certain number of cases the lens will escape without difficulty +when the operator presses on the posterior lip of the wound, +especially when the back of the spoon is made to glide along the +sclera; should this not occur, Von Graefe uses a peculiar blunt +hook, or occasionally, though rarely, a spoon. A compressing +bandage is applied, and replaced at intervals.<a name="FNanchor_88_88" id="FNanchor_88_88"></a><a href="#Footnote_88_88" class="fnanchor">[88]</a> </p></div> + +<p>We are recommended to perform it in two sets of cases:—</p> + +<p>1. Those in which the eye is known to be unhealthy and liable to +inflammations, specially of iris, retina, or choroid. In cases where the +patient has already lost an eye, Von Graefe thinks iridectomy should +always precede extraction. In the above, then, it is a precautionary +measure, and, if convenient, should be performed three, four, or even +six weeks before the extraction.</p> + +<p>2. It is recommended to be performed at the same time as extraction in +all cases in which the operation has presented any special difficulties, +or has not gone smoothly, <i>e.g.</i> in cases where the lens has required +much force to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">{168}</a></span> expel it, either from the flap of cornea being too small, +or from adhesions between the lens and capsule; or, again, in cases in +which there is a tendency to prolapse of the iris, in which any of the +cortical substance has been necessarily left behind, or in which old +adhesions had existed between the iris and capsule, or between the +cornea and iris.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Operations for Artificial Pupil.</span>—The cases are by no means unfrequent +in which it is necessary to remove or destroy a portion of the iris to +admit light to the retina. In cases of excessive prolapse of the iris +after extraction of the lens, where the iris has formed adhesions to the +wound, and still more frequently in cases where central opacities of the +cornea have fairly occluded the natural pupil, the only chance for +vision is to enlarge the old one, or make a new pupil by removal of the +iris.</p> + +<p>Very various operations have been proposed, and exceedingly numerous and +complicated instruments invented for this purpose. We can notice here +only one or two of the most approved procedures:—</p> + +<p>1. <i>Incision</i> is the simplest.</p> + +<p>This is practicable and effectual only in cases where the iris is so far +healthy as still to retain its contractile power, and so far free from +adhesions as to be able to make use of it. The best example of such a +case is that of a cataract, in which after extraction a prolapse of the +iris has occurred to such an extent as to obliterate the pupil, and +where, at the same time, the only adhesions are to the wound, none to +the cornea.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—A double-edged needle is introduced through the cornea +near its margin; on arriving at the place where the pupil ought to be, +one edge is drawn against the iris, and divides it transversely, if +possible, without injuring the lens; the fibres of the iris start back, +contract, so that a sufficiently large central pupil may be obtained.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">{169}</a></span></p> + +<p>2. <i>Excision.</i>—In the far more frequent cases in which there exist +adhesions between iris and cornea, or iris and anterior capsule, +incision is not sufficient, and it is necessary to excise a portion of +the iris.</p> + +<p>The simplest and safest operation is the following:—</p> + +<p>The patient recumbent, and the lids held apart by a speculum, the +eyeball should be steadied by the forceps of an assistant. A broad +cutting needle should then be introduced at the lower or outer edge of +the corneal margin. This must be very gently withdrawn so as to retain +as much aqueous humour as possible. Into the wound thus made the surgeon +must introduce the blunt hook (known as Tyrrell's) at first with its +point forwards, then, on arriving opposite the edge of the pupil, which +it is intended to enlarge or replace, with its point turned backwards, +so as to hook over the edge of the iris and thus drag on it. Once the +hook has fairly got hold, it must again be rotated forwards, and +withdrawn in the same direction as it was put in. The iris thus pulled +out of the wound is to be cut off with a pair of fine scissors, so as to +remove a sufficient amount to make a new pupil of the required size.</p> + +<p>But in those cases in which the whole or greater part of the pupillary +margin is adherent, the blunt hook will not do, because there exists no +edge round which to hook it. One of two plans is generally chosen to +remedy this:—</p> + +<p>(1.) A free incision made with a double-edged needle; through this a +pair of canula forceps is introduced, with which a portion of iris is +seized and dragged to the external wound; it can then either be cut off +or tied (see <i>Iridesis</i>); or,</p> + +<p>(2.) A previous attempt may be made to free a portion to form an edge to +catch hold of, either by incision or by <i>Corelysis</i> (<i>q.v.</i>)</p> + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Iridesis.</span>—<i>Critchett's Operation of Ligature.</i><a name="FNanchor_89_89" id="FNanchor_89_89"></a><a href="#Footnote_89_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a>—Patient<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">{170}</a></span> being put +under chloroform, the ball is fixed by the wire speculum, and also by a +fold of conjunctiva being seized by forceps. An opening is then made +with a broad needle through the margin of the cornea, <i>close</i> to the +sclerotic, just large enough to admit the canula forceps, with which a +small portion of iris close to its ciliary attachment is seized and +drawn out; a piece of fine floss silk, previously tied in a small loop +round the canula forceps, is slipped down and carefully tightened round +the prolapsed portion. This speedily shrinks, and the loop may generally +be removed about the second day. The chief advantage claimed for this +method is the ease with which the size of the new pupil can be +regulated. It is also suitable in cases of conical cornea, where it is +wished to change the form of the pupil into a narrow slit.</p> + +<p><i>N.B.</i>—The ends of the ligature must be left sufficiently long to avoid +any risk of their being drawn out of sight into the substance of the +cornea, or even into the ball, by retraction of the fibres of the iris.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Corelysis</span>.—<i>Freeing of the Pupil.</i>—An operative procedure for +separating posterior adhesions of the iris to the lens. In it the +surgeon hopes to act, not on the iris, as in the operations for +artificial pupil, but only on the bands of false membrane which distort +the pupil.</p> + +<p>The operation is briefly as follows:—The eye being firmly held by a +wire speculum, and forceps pinching up the conjunctiva, a broad needle +is passed rapidly through the cornea at a point which may give easy +access to the adhesion to be torn through. This point is generally at +the opposite margin of the irregular pupil, so that the needle may pass +through the cornea in front of the one side of the iris, then through +the orifice of the pupil, so as to reach the back of the other side. The +needle is withdrawn gradually, so as to lose as little of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">{171}</a></span> the aqueous +humour as possible, and then the spatula hook, called after the inventor +of the operation, Mr. Streatfeild, is introduced. It is used first as a +spatula, that is, with its blunt, though polished edge, to separate the +adhesions, and if this is unsuccessful, as a hook (<span class="smcap">Fig. xiv.</span>), so as to +catch and tear them. In cases which resist the instrument used in both +of these ways, Mr. Streatfeild has used very fine canula-scissors to cut +the adhesions.<a name="FNanchor_90_90" id="FNanchor_90_90"></a><a href="#Footnote_90_90" class="fnanchor">[90]</a> Such a further complication of the operation +practically alters its character into an operation for artificial pupil, +<i>q.v.</i></p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 200px;"> +<img src="images/171.jpg" width="200" height="143" alt="Fig. xiv." title="Fig. xiv." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xiv.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_91_91" id="FNanchor_91_91"></a><a href="#Footnote_91_91" class="fnanchor">[91]</a></span> +</div> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Iridectomy.</span>—In cases of acute glaucoma, irido-choroiditis, and all deep +inflammations of the eye in which the ocular tension is increased, also +in certain cases of flap extraction already alluded to, the operation of +iridectomy as originally proposed by Von Graefe will be found of use.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—The patient recumbent, and the eye absolutely fixed by +speculum and forceps, a linear incision, varying in length from +one-sixth to one-fourth of an inch, is made just at the margin of the +cornea. The point of election is the upper pole of the cornea. The lens +must not be wounded. The best instrument for making the section is an +ordinary linear extraction knife, bent at an angle to admit of its being +introduced from above. The iris will protrude through the wound, or, if +adherent, must be drawn out by forceps, and then is to be cut off with +scissors. The operation is rarely successful, unless a third, or at +least a fourth, of the iris be removed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">{172}</a></span></p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Excision of a Staphylomatous Cornea.</span>—There are certain cases in which +the whole or greater part of the cornea bulges forward in a great blue +projecting tumour. It is very ugly as it protrudes between the lids and +prevents their closure; besides this, from its exposure it frequently +inflames, even ulcerates, and has a most injurious effect on the other +eye. In the cases suitable for operation vision is completely gone, +without hope of its restoration by any operative procedure.</p> + +<p>The best thing for the patient is to have just enough of the staphyloma +removed to enable the remains of the eyeball to form a good stump for an +artificial eye. Various means have been suggested for doing this, +varying in extent and severity from a mere shaving off the apex of the +staphyloma to excision of the whole eyeball.</p> + +<p>By far the best method of operating is the one proposed and practised by +Mr. Critchett.</p> + +<table summary="figdob"> +<tr><td> +<div class="center ill"> +<img src="images/172a.jpg" width="400" height="239" alt="Fig. xv." title="Fig. xv." /> +<br/><span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xv.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_92_92" id="FNanchor_92_92"></a><a href="#Footnote_92_92" class="fnanchor">[92]</a></span> +</div> +</td><td> +<div class="center ill"> +<img src="images/172b.jpg" width="200" height="148" alt="Fig. xvi." title="Fig. xvi." /> +<br/><span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xvi.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_93_93" id="FNanchor_93_93"></a><a href="#Footnote_93_93" class="fnanchor">[93]</a></span> +</div> +</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p>The object of it is to remove an elliptical portion of the front of the +staphyloma, or the whole staphyloma, when it is possible, and at the +same time to prevent as far as possible the escape of the vitreous.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">{173}</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—Three, four, or five small curved needles armed with +thread are passed through the staphyloma from above downwards, being +each entered a little above the line of the intended upper incision, and +brought out a little below the line of the intended lower one (Fig. <span class="smcap">xv.</span>)</p> + +<p>To remove the included elliptical portion, Mr. Critchett pierces the +sclerotic with a Beer's knife, just in front of the tendinous insertion +of the external rectus. Through this incision a pair of probe-pointed +scissors is introduced, and the piece cut just within the points of the +needles. On the removal, the needles, which have retained the vitreous +by their pressure, are drawn through and the threads cautiously tied.</p> + +<p>Union by first intention very often occurs, and an excellent stump is +left with a narrow depressed transverse cicatrix<a name="FNanchor_94_94" id="FNanchor_94_94"></a><a href="#Footnote_94_94" class="fnanchor">[94]</a> (Fig. <span class="smcap">xvi.</span>)</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Extirpation of the Eyeball.</span>—1. <i>Of the Eyeball only.</i>—A circular +incision should be made with curved scissors through the conjunctiva, a +little beyond the corneal margin, then, beginning with the external +rectus, muscle after muscle should be raised with the forceps, and +divided, after which the optic nerve is cut through with the scissors. A +slight preliminary extension outwards of the optic commissure will +facilitate the dissection, and must be secured with metallic sutures; +any vessels should be tied, and the orbit filled up with a light +compress of charpie secured with a bandage.</p> + +<p>2. <i>Of the contents of the Orbit.</i>—This may be required for malignant +disease, but with a very poor prognosis. The optic commissure should be +freely divided, and then, by bold strokes of curved scissors, or curved +probe-pointed bistoury, the orbit may be fairly emptied by scooping out +its contents. Even the periosteum may require to be scraped off, and the +optic nerve<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">{174}</a></span> divided as far back as possible. The hæmorrhage may be +pretty smart, but can generally be easily checked by compresses; if +necessary, these can be soaked in the solution of the perchloride of +iron.</p> + +<p>The author has done this operation many times, in cases extensive and of +old standing, for malignant disease, melanotic and encephaloid. All have +recovered, and in no instance has there been any trouble in stopping the +bleeding.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">{175}</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>OPERATIONS ON THE NOSE AND LIPS.</h3> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Rhinoplastic Operations.</span>—The operations for the restoration or repair +of lost or mutilated noses are so various, and the minuteness of detail +necessary for full description of them so great, that a complete account +in a manual such as this is impossible; a brief notice of some of the +most important varieties of the operation is all that can be given.</p> + +<p><i>Principles.</i>—1. It is necessary in every case that a suitable edge be +prepared on which to fix the flap of skin, however obtained. To be +suitable, this edge, should be (<i>a</i>) made in healthy skin, not in old or +weak cicatrices; hence no trace of the original disease should be left; +(<i>b</i>) it should be made thoroughly raw, by the removal of an appreciable +amount of its edge; it should be pared, not merely scraped.</p> + +<p>2. It is useless to attempt to restore a nose unless the patient is in +good general health, well nourished, and perfectly free from all remains +of disease in the nose or its neighbourhood. The flaps which are to form +the new nose may be obtained either from (1.) the cheeks; (2.) the +forehead; (3.) a distant part either of the patient or of another +person.</p> + +<p>(1.) <i>From the Cheeks.</i>—When the cheeks are healthy, and specially if +they are tolerably full and lax, the flaps from the cheeks produce much +the most satisfactory result. As performed by Mr. Syme, the operation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">{176}</a></span> +consists in the shaping of two equal flaps (<span class="smcap">a, a</span>) from the skin of the +cheek at each side, having the attachment above. A site for each flap is +formed by the careful paring away of the whole thickness of the edge of +the cavity of the lost organ (see Fig. <span class="smcap">xvii</span>.)</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 200px;"> +<img src="images/176.jpg" width="200" height="169" alt="Fig. xvii." title="Fig. xvii." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xvii.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_95_95" id="FNanchor_95_95"></a><a href="#Footnote_95_95" class="fnanchor">[95]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>The flaps are then raised from their attachments to the upper jaw-bone, +and approximated in the middle line by several points of metallic suture +and the outer edges stitched to the raw surface on each side at a proper +distance from the nasal orifice. If any septum remains of the old nose, +it may be made very useful as a fixed point, a straight needle being +thrust through one flap close to its outer lower edge, then through the +septum, and out at a corresponding point of the other flap. The edges of +the wound left in the cheek at each side can generally be, to a certain +extent, approximated by silver stitches (<span class="smcap">b, b</span>) and the triangular +portion (<span class="smcap">c, c</span>), which is necessarily left to heal by granulation, proves +an advantage, as by its depression it enhances the apparent height and +prominence of the new organ. The cavity should be very gently distended +with lint, and may be supported by the blades of a small pair of +forceps, applied so as to embrace the nose.</p> + +<p>(2.) <i>From the Forehead.</i>—The Indian operation may be used as a last +resource, in cases where, from disease, the cheeks also have suffered, +and are not to be trusted to for flaps.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—1. It should be decided as to the shape and size of the +portion of skin necessary, by fitting on pieces of soft leather or +moulding wax. To allow for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">{177}</a></span> shrinking, the flap should be made at least +one-third larger than is at first apparently necessary. The exact +boundaries of the flap to be raised should then be marked out on the +forehead by lightly pencilling it with nitrate of silver, the mark from +which is not effaced by blood, as is sure to be the case with an ink +line. Various shapes have been proposed for the flap varying in length +of neck, in the shape of the angles, and especially in the arrangements +made for the formation of a columna. Some (as Liston) prefer afterwards +to provide for the columns separately, by a flap raised from the upper +lip in a subsequent operation. The flap is then to be raised from the +forehead, care being taken not to injure the periosteum. The incision is +to be carried lower down on the side (generally the left), to which the +flap is to be twisted. The flap is then to be brought round (Fig. +<span class="smcap">xviii</span>.) and carefully fitted on to the edges previously prepared for its +reception. The neck must be left as lax as possible, lest by tight +twisting the supply of blood be cut off, and the flaps thus deprived of +nourishment. Both silk and metallic sutures are recommended. Hamilton of +Dublin,<a name="FNanchor_96_96" id="FNanchor_96_96"></a><a href="#Footnote_96_96" class="fnanchor">[96]</a> after a large experience of both, prefers the former.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 279px;"> +<img src="images/177.jpg" width="279" height="400" alt="Fig. xviii." title="Fig. xviii." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xviii.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_97_97" id="FNanchor_97_97"></a><a href="#Footnote_97_97" class="fnanchor">[97]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>There are various risks; sloughing of the whole flap at once, shrinking +of it after weeks or even months;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">{178}</a></span> certain inevitable drawbacks, as the +cicatrix on the forehead, the very various and ludicrous changes of +colour to which the new organ is subject,—these cannot be remedied by +further operation. Two points generally require a second use of the +knife a few weeks after:—(1.) The neck of the flap is sure to be +redundant and prominent, but can be pared. (2.) The columna almost +always requires improving, and, in Liston's method, to be made. He pared +the inner surface of the apex of the nose, and then raised a central +flap of the lip in the middle line, about a quarter of an inch broad, +and extending from the remains of the old septum to the free border, +raising it from the gum, and stitched the free end of it to the prepared +apex, bringing together the two divided portions of the lip by ordinary +harelip sutures. Tho columna, if redundant, could be shaved down, and it +was found that the mucous surface very quickly became like skin on +exposure.</p> + +<p>For other points with regard to the operation, reference may be made to +the works of Liston and Skey, and Hamilton's monograph, referred to +above.</p> + +<p><i>Note.</i>—The tongue and groove suture proposed by Professor Pancoast, +and recommended by Professor Gross, is said to be specially suitable for +such plastic operations. It is very complicated, as it requires one edge +to be bevelled to a wedge shape, the other being grooved to include the +wedge, thus opposing four raw surfaces, which are retained in contact by +being transfixed by fine silk sutures.</p> + +<p>(3.) There are certain cases in which neither cheeks nor forehead are +available for flaps, and yet the patients press very much for some +operation. If they have patience and determination, the Taliacotian or +Italian operation may be attempted.</p> + +<p>Without going into detail, the principle of it is as follows:—1. A +piece of skin of suitable size was marked out over the left biceps, and +defined by two longitudinal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">{179}</a></span> incisions, and raised from the subcutaneous +cellular tissue, thus being left attached by its two ends only; a piece +of linen was pulled below it. 2. After a few days the upper end was also +divided, and the flap thus contracted. In a few days more the sides of +the old nose were made raw, and the upper free surface of the flap also +made raw and stitched to them, the arm being fastened up by a most +elaborate series of bandages. 3. After a fortnight in this position, the +last attachment of the flap to the arm was severed, and the new nose +could then be modelled at pleasure.</p> + +<p>The literature of the subject is exceedingly curious, especially the +cases in which the new material was obtained from an accommodating +friend or servant.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Operative Treatment of Lupus.</span>—We may here notice a mode of treatment +which has admirable results. The patient being put deeply under an +anæsthetic, the surgeon with a sharp spoon carefully pares away all the +diseased tissues, and then destroys the base either by nitric acid or a +strong solution of chloride of zinc. The author has done this in a great +number of cases with excellent effect.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Nasal Polypi,</span> <i>Removal of.</i>—Of these there are different kinds.</p> + +<p>1. <span class="smcap">Ordinary Mucous Polypi.</span>—These grow from the spongy bones, generally +the superior one, are non-malignant in their character, soft and +vascular, often fill up the whole of both nasal cavities, and frequently +hang down behind into the pharynx. The practical point to remember is +that, however large and numerous they may be, they <i>invariably</i> have +their origin from a comparatively limited spot, the edge of the spongy +bone, and <i>always</i> hang from a narrow neck. Hence the treatment is easy +and satisfactory, if the neck be attacked, and not the body of the +tumour.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">{180}</a></span></p> + +<p>Slightly curved, narrow-bladed forceps should be passed along by the +side of the superior spongy bone, with their blades open, till the neck +of the polypus is seized. Holding it firmly, the forceps should then be +slowly twisted round till the neck is destroyed and the polypus +detached. This should be repeated till the patient can blow freely +through both nostrils. If attempts are made to seize the body of the +polypus, it will break down under the forceps, bleed, and give much +trouble.</p> + +<p>2. <span class="smcap">The Fibrous Polypus.</span>—This form is fortunately much more rare than +the other. It is almost invariably single, is attached to the posterior +margin of the nares by a narrow but very strong root, is extremely firm +in consistence, may grow to a large size so as to obstruct both +nostrils, generally gives rise to severe and frequent hæmorrhages. The +hæmorrhage <i>during</i> any attempt to remove it is generally of the most +severe character, but ceases <i>immediately</i> on its complete detachment.</p> + +<p>We owe nearly all that we do know about the treatment of this form of +polypus to Mr. Syme. His method is—By the ordinary polypus forceps +described already, he seized the tumour through the nostril, and then +with the fore and middle fingers of the left hand introduced behind the +soft palate, he attacked the point of attachment, and by his nails, +aided by the forceps, detached it from its narrow base.<a name="FNanchor_98_98" id="FNanchor_98_98"></a><a href="#Footnote_98_98" class="fnanchor">[98]</a></p> + +<p>3. <span class="smcap">Malignant Polypi</span> should not be meddled with unless it is absolutely +certain that the whole of the bone from which they grow can be removed +also. This is very rarely the case. (See <i>Excision of Superior +Maxilla</i>.)</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Operations on the Lips.</span>—1. Epithelial cancers of the lower lip are very +frequent, and require removal.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">{181}</a></span></p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 350px;"> +<img src="images/181a.jpg" width="350" height="217" alt="Fig. xix." title="Fig. xix." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xix.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_99_99" id="FNanchor_99_99"></a><a href="#Footnote_99_99" class="fnanchor">[99]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>If the tumour or ulcer is small, and involves a considerable thickness +of the lip, it is most easily removed by a V-shaped incision +(Fig. <span class="smcap">xix. A B A</span>). Its shape permits the most accurate apposition of the +cut surfaces; and if the lips are full and the tumour small, very slight +trace of the operation will remain.</p> + +<p>Again, if the tumour be more extensive, involving a large portion of the +prolabium, and yet not extending deeply into the substance of the lip, +it may be very easily removed by a pair of curved scissors, applied in +the direction shown in the diagram (Fig. <span class="smcap">xx. A B</span>). The skin must then be +stitched to the mucous membrane by numerous points of interrupted +suture.</p> + +<p>But if the tumour be at once extensive and deep, mere removal is not +sufficient, but some provision must be made for supplying the blank left +by the operation.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 350px;"> +<img src="images/181b.jpg" width="350" height="213" alt="Fig. xx." title="Fig. xx." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xx.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_100_100" id="FNanchor_100_100"></a><a href="#Footnote_100_100" class="fnanchor">[100]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>In cases where a third, or even a half, of the lower lip has thus been +removed, it may be found sufficient freely to dissect what is left of +the lip from the gums, and thus approximate the cut surfaces in the +middle line.</p> + +<p>This alone, however, would so much diminish the buccal orifice, and +twist its corners, as to cause great deformity. The addition of an +incision horizontally outwards, at one or both angles of the mouth, +will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">{182}</a></span> do away with such risk, and allow the surfaces to come together +without puckering; while by stitching the skin and mucous membrane +together in the course of these horizontal incisions, we can increase +the size of the buccal orifice almost <i>ad libitum</i>.</p> + +<p>Lastly, when the lower lip has been entirely removed, it is still +possible to supply its place in the following manner, which was devised +by Mr. Syme: The tumour being fairly isolated by a V-shaped +incision (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxi.</span>) <span class="smcap">C A C</span> including the whole thickness of the lip, +each of the incisions should be prolonged downwards and outwards, as +shown by the dotted lines <span class="smcap">A D</span>, <span class="smcap">A D</span>. The flaps thus marked out must be +separated from the bone, brought upwards, and approximated in the middle +line. Possibly it may be necessary still further to enlarge the buccal +orifice by short lateral incisions, <span class="smcap">C C</span>. Whether these are required<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">{183}</a></span> or +not, silk stitches are to be introduced to unite the skin and mucous +membrane along the lines <span class="smcap">a c</span>. The gap left between <span class="smcap">D B D</span> must be left to +granulate, but in most cases may be very much diminished in size by +additional sutures at its outer corners, near <span class="smcap">d</span>. The granulating surface +<span class="smcap">E E</span> very rapidly heals up, leaving a dimple on each side, which rather +improves the appearance, by adding to the prominence of the chin, <span class="smcap">b</span>.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 350px;"> +<img src="images/182.jpg" width="350" height="292" alt="Fig. xxi." title="Fig. xxi." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xxi.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_101_101" id="FNanchor_101_101"></a><a href="#Footnote_101_101" class="fnanchor">[101]</a></span> +</div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 350px;"> +<img src="images/182b.jpg" width="350" height="296" alt="Fig. xxii." title="Fig. xxii." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xxii.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_102_102" id="FNanchor_102_102"></a><a href="#Footnote_102_102" class="fnanchor">[102]</a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Operations for Harelip</span>, though all conducted on the same general +principles, vary considerably in extent required according to the +position and size of the fissure or fissures to be remedied.</p> + +<p>1. <i>For Single Harelip.</i>—Where the fissure extends only from the +prolabium up to the attachment of the lip to the gums: this is very +easily remedied, the chief risk being lest the surgeon should not remove +enough of the edges of the fissure.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—Bleeding being controlled by an assistant, the surgeon +fixes a pair of spring artery forceps into the mucous membrane and skin +at the salient angle at each side of the fissure. Taking one of these in +his left hand, he puts the edge to be pared on the stretch, and then +with a sharp narrow straight bistoury he transfixes the lip at the point +just beyond the upper angle of the fissure, and cuts outwards, being +careful to remove the whole thinner part of the lip, and to leave the +edge rather concave than convex. If left convex, or even quite straight, +there is a risk that, after union has taken place, an angle remain +showing the position of the cleft. The same is then to be done on the +other side. The bleeding is then to be controlled by twisting the larger +vessels, and if oozing still continues from the smaller ones, a pad of +lint should be placed in the wound, and a few minutes' delay given, as, +to facilitate immediate union, it is of the greatest importance that all +hæmorrhage should have ceased before the edges are brought together.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">{184}</a></span></p> + +<p>When the bleeding has ceased, the edges should be approximated by two or +more points of interrupted metallic suture inserted very deeply through +the tissues, and taking a good hold of the edges of the wound. If the +edges do not fit accurately, one or two horse-hair sutures will help. +Some surgeons still prefer the old harelip needles secured by a +figure-of-eight suture. A silk suture inserted through the prolabium is +of great advantage, as it keeps the inner surface of the wound closed, +which without it is very apt to be kept open by the pressure of the +teeth or gums, and in infants by the movements of the tip of the tongue.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>Various methods have been devised to utilise, if possible, the +portion of the edge of the lip which is separated during the +operation of refreshing the edges, for the purpose of filling up +the sort of cleft or gap which is apt to be noticed at the edge of +the prolabium. The most ingenious and simplest of these is that +proposed by M. Nelaton, for use in cases where the fissure does not +extend so far up as the nose. It consists in leaving the two +portions which are pared off (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxiii.</span>) the sides of the cleft +attached to each other as well as to the free edge of the lip, then +pulling them down, so as to bring their bleeding surfaces into +apposition, and make a diamond-shaped wound instead of a triangular +cleft (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxiv.</span>) When brought together by sutures a projection is +left at the edge of the lip; this, in most cases, disappears; if it +does not, it can easily be pared down. </p></div> + +<table summary="figdob"> +<tr><td> +<div class="center ill"> +<img src="images/184a.jpg" width="200" height="163" alt="Fig. xxiii." title="Fig. xxiii." /> +<br/><span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xxiii.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_103_103" id="FNanchor_103_103"></a><a href="#Footnote_103_103" class="fnanchor">[103]</a></span> +</div> +</td><td> +<div class="center ill"> +<img src="images/184b.jpg" width="220" height="206" alt="Fig. xxiv." title="Fig. xxiv." /> +<br/><span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xxiv.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_104_104" id="FNanchor_104_104"></a><a href="#Footnote_104_104" class="fnanchor">[104]</a></span> +</div> +</td></tr> +</table> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">{185}</a></span></p> + +<p>2. When the fissure, though single, extends upwards into the nose, the +operation is more difficult, and the result frequently less +satisfactory. The first thing to be done is to separate the lips from +the gums, so as to make them more freely mobile. The whole edges of the +cleft require refreshing.</p> + +<p>3. <i>Double Harelip</i>, without bony deformity, and where the intervening +portion of the skin is vertical, does not project, and can be made +useful for the new lip. Such cases are not very common, but when they do +occur the question arises, How are they to be managed—in two separate +operations or at once? I believe, in every case, at once. The central +wedge-shaped portion is not large enough to extend downwards as far as +the prolabium, but still should not be removed altogether, as it may be +of great use, especially in bearing the columna nasi, and allowing its +full development. The edges should be pared in the same way, and to the +same extent as in single harelip, with the addition that the intervening +portion should have its edges completely removed, and be left in the +form of a wedge, with its apex downwards. The highest suture should be +passed through first one side, then the base of the wedge, and then the +other side; the second one through both, and the apex of the wedge; and +a third should unite the prolabium, not including the wedge.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/185.jpg" width="150" height="129" alt="Fig. xxv." title="Fig. xxv." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xxv.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_105_105" id="FNanchor_105_105"></a><a href="#Footnote_105_105" class="fnanchor">[105]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>4. <i>Double Harelip</i> combined with fissures of the hard palate, and +projection of a central bone. This is the analogue of the +inter-maxillary bone in the lower animals, and bears the two middle +incisor teeth, and projects very variously in different cases. In some +it projects horizontally forwards in the most<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">{186}</a></span> hideous manner, in others +it lies at an angle more or less oblique; in very few does it maintain +its proper position; when projecting forwards, and as the teeth also +share in its projection, it entirely prevents approximation of the edges +of the fissures by operation, so it must first be dealt with in one of +two ways, either—</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 200px;"> +<img src="images/186.jpg" width="200" height="123" alt="Fig. xxvi." title="Fig. xxvi." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xxvi.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_106_106" id="FNanchor_106_106"></a><a href="#Footnote_106_106" class="fnanchor">[106]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>(1.) It may be at once removed with bone-pliers, the piece of skin over +it being saved. This is the best that can be done in cases of old +standing after the first year or two, though attempts have been made to +break the neck of the projecting portion, and thus permit of its being +shoved back.</p> + +<p>(2.) By gradual pressure by a spring truss, strapping, or a bandage, it +may be forced back. This is possible only in cases where the deformity +has been comparatively slight, and the patient has been seen early. The +edges must then be pared and approximated as directed above.</p> + +<p>One or two points about the operation for harelip require a special +notice:—</p> + +<p>1. <i>When to operate.</i>—Great differences in opinion exist. Some say not +before two or three years, others within two or three days, or even +<i>hours</i>, after birth.</p> + +<p>Probably the safest time is not much earlier than the second month in +very strong children, the fifth in weakly ones, up to the commencement +of the first dentition; and when once dentition has commenced it is not +so safe to operate till it is over.</p> + +<p>Prior to dentition the operation is attended with rather more risk, but +again, if delayed, there is great risk that the teeth do not come in +properly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">{187}</a></span></p> + +<p>2. With regard to the most delicate part of the operation, <i>the +management of the prolabium</i>.—Some are satisfied, and I believe +rightly, with careful apposition by a silk suture after a <i>sufficient</i> +amount of the edges has been removed; others have proposed various plans +to obviate any risk of an angle remaining.</p> + +<p>Malgaigne proposes to retain a small portion of the parings of the edge +to make small flap at each side; Lloyd a single one from the long half +of the lip, and brings it up under the opposite one, securing it with a +stitch.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">{188}</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>OPERATIONS ON THE JAWS.</h3> + + +<p class="gap">1. <span class="smcap">Excision of the Upper Jaw.</span>—With regard to the morbid conditions for +which this operation is undertaken, it may be sufficient here to +observe, that in no case can the operation be called justifiable in +which the disease extends beyond the upper jaw-bone and the +corresponding palate-bone, for unless the morbid growth be entirely +removed, recurrence is inevitable, and no advantage is gained by the +operation. It is undertaken for the removal of tumours of the antrum and +of the alveolar margins, in all which cases the section for its removal +must be made through healthy bone, and wide of the disease, so as to +insure that the whole is removed. There are other cases in which the +whole or part of the upper jaw has been removed for the purpose of +giving access to disease behind, for example, to naso-pharyngeal polypi +with extensive attachments.</p> + +<p>In describing the operation for the excision of the entire upper jaw, we +have to consider—(1.) what incisions through the soft parts will expose +the tumour best, and with least deformity; (2.) what bony processes +require to be divided, and where. Very various incisions have been +recommended by various authors; some describing three, in various +directions, forming flaps of different sizes, while others, again, are +satisfied with a very small division of the upper lip into the nose, or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">{189}</a></span> +even attempt removal of the bone without any incision through the skin +at all. These discrepancies depend in great measure on different views +of what constitutes excision of the upper jaw, the more complicated ones +contemplating removal of the whole bone anatomically so called, +including the floor of the orbit, while the less complicated ones are +suitable for cases in which a much less extensive removal is required.</p> + +<p>To remove the whole bone, an incision (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxvii. A</span>) of the skin must +extend from the angle of the mouth upwards and outwards in a slightly +curved direction with its convexity downwards, as far on the malar bone +as half an inch outside of the outer angle of the eye. The flaps must +then be raised in both directions, the inner one specially dissected off +the bones, so as to expose thoroughly the nasal cavity. It is of great +importance thoroughly to display the floor of the orbit, so that the +attachment of the orbital fascia may be accurately cut through, the +inferior oblique muscle divided at its origin, and the eye and the fat +of the orbit cautiously raised from its floor.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/189.jpg" width="150" height="189" alt="Fig. xxvii." title="Fig. xxvii." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xxvii.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_107_107" id="FNanchor_107_107"></a><a href="#Footnote_107_107" class="fnanchor">[107]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>Three processes of bone then require attention and division.</p> + +<p>(1.) The articulation with the opposite bone in the hard palate. To +divide this, one incisor tooth at least must be drawn, the soft palate +divided by a knife to prevent laceration, and the thick alveolar portion +sawn through in a longitudinal direction from before backwards.</p> + +<p>(2.) The articulation with the malar bone at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">{190}</a></span> upper angle of the +incision through the skin. This must be notched with a small saw in a +direction corresponding to the articulation, and then wrenched asunder +by a pair of strong bone-pliers.</p> + +<p>(3.) The nasal process of the upper jaw must now be divided by the +pliers, one limb of which is cautiously inserted into the orbit, the +other into the nose. If the disease extends high up in this process, it +may be necessary partially to separate the corresponding nasal bone, and +thus reach the suture between the nasal process and the frontal bone. +The pliers must now be inserted into the groove already made by the saw +on the hard palate, and the separation continued to the full extent +backwards. A comparatively slight force exerted on the tumour either by +the hand, or (when the tumour is small) by a pair of strong claw +forceps, will suffice to break down the posterior attachments of the +bone and remove it entire. The necessary laceration of the soft parts +behind is so far an advantage, as it lessens the risk of hæmorrhage from +the posterior palatine vessels.</p> + +<p>The hæmorrhage from this operation was at one time much dreaded, but is +rarely excessive; very few vessels require ligature, except those +divided in the early stages in making the skin flaps; the hollow left +should be stuffed with lint, which may be soaked in the perchloride of +iron should there be any oozing.</p> + +<p>The incisions recommended for this operation have been very various, and +a knowledge of some of them may occasionally be useful, on account of +specialities in the shape and size of the tumour. Liston "entered the +bistoury over the external angular process of the frontal bone, and +carried it down through the cheek to the corner of the mouth. Then the +knife is to be pushed through the integument to the nasal process of the +maxilla, the cartilage of the ala is detached from the bone, and lip cut +through in the mesial line; the flap<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">{191}</a></span> thus formed is to be dissected up +and the bones divided."<a name="FNanchor_108_108" id="FNanchor_108_108"></a><a href="#Footnote_108_108" class="fnanchor">[108]</a> Dieffenbach made an incision through the +upper lip and along the back or prominent part of the nose, up towards +the inner canthus, from whence he carried the knife along the lower +eyelid, at a right angle to the first incision as far as the malar bone.</p> + +<p>In cases where the tumour is of moderate size, Sir W. Fergusson +found<a name="FNanchor_109_109" id="FNanchor_109_109"></a><a href="#Footnote_109_109" class="fnanchor">[109]</a> it sufficient to divide the upper lip by a single incision +exactly in the middle line, this incision to be continued into one or +both nostrils, if required. The ala of the nose is so easily raised, and +the tip so moveable as to give great facilities to the operator for +clearing the bone even to the floor of the orbit.</p> + +<p>In cases where the tumour is larger, or the bones more extensively +affected, Sir W. Fergusson preferred an extension of the foregoing +incision (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxvii. B</span>) upwards along the edge of the nose almost to +the angle of the eye, and thence at a right angle along the lower +eyelid, as far as may be necessary, even to the zygoma. The advantages +claimed for such procedures are that the deformity is less and the +vessels are divided at their terminal extremities.</p> + + +<p class="gap">2. <span class="smcap">Excision of the Lower Jaw.</span>—Removal of portions, greater or smaller, +of the lower jaw, for tumours, simple or malignant, are now operations +of very frequent occurrence, while in some few cases the whole bone has +been removed at both its articulations.</p> + +<p>The operative procedures vary much, according to the amount of bone +requiring removal, and also the position of the portion to be excised.</p> + +<p>(1.) <i>Of a portion only of one side of the body of the bone.</i>—This is +perhaps the simplest form of operation, and is frequently required for +tumours, specially for epulis.</p> + +<p><i>Incision.</i>—If the parts are tolerably lax and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">{192}</a></span> tumour small, a +single incision just at the lower edge of the bone, of a length rather +greater than the piece of bone to be removed, will suffice; this will +divide the facial artery, which must be tied or compressed,<a name="FNanchor_110_110" id="FNanchor_110_110"></a><a href="#Footnote_110_110" class="fnanchor">[110]</a> while +the surgeon, dissecting on the tumour, separates the flaps in front, +cutting upwards into the mouth, and then detaches the mylohyoid below, +and clears the bone freely from mucous membrane. He then, with a narrow +saw, notches the bone beyond the tumour at each side, and, introducing +strong bone-pliers into the notches, is enabled to separate the required +portion. The wound is then stitched up, and a very rapid cure generally +results with very little deformity, as the cicatrix is in shadow. If +from the size of the tumour more room is needed, it can easily be got by +an additional incision from the angle of the mouth joining the former.</p> + +<p>To prevent deformity, which is apt to result from the centre of the chin +crossing the middle line, it is often a wise precaution to have a silver +plate prepared fitting the molar teeth of both jaws on the sound side, +and thus acting as a splint. Such a precaution may be required in any +operation in which the lower jaw is sawn through.</p> + +<p><i>N.B.</i>—There are certain cases in which the epulis is small and +confined to the alveolar margin, in which an attempt may be made to +retain the base of the jaw entire, and remove the tumour without any +incision of the skin. The mucous membrane on both sides being carefully +dissected from the affected part, the bone may be sawn as before, but +only through the alveolar portion, the groves of the saw converging as +they penetrate, then by a pair of strong curved bone-pliers, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">{193}</a></span> +affected alveolar portion is to be scooped out without injuring the +base. This proceeding, which has been practised by Syme, Fergusson, +Pollock, the author in many cases, and others, leaves no deformity, but, +it must be owned, is much more liable to the risk of recurrence of the +disease, and for this reason is strongly condemned by Gross.</p> + +<p><i>Note.</i>—In this, as in all other operations on the jaws, the very first +thing to be done is to draw the teeth at the spots at which the saw is +to be applied.</p> + +<p>(2.) <i>Excision of a portion involving the Symphysis.</i>—Free access is of +importance. The best incision is probably one which (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxvii. C</span>) +commences at the angle of the mouth opposite the healthy portion of jaw, +extends down to the place at which the saw is to be applied and then +along the base of the jaw past the middle line to the other point of +section. The flap is to be thrown up and the bone cleared. The next +point to be noticed is, that when, in clearing the bone behind, the +muscles attached to the symphysis are divided, the tongue loses its +support, and unless watched may tend to fall backwards, embarrassing +respiration and even perhaps choking the patient. The tongue, being +confided to a special assistant, must be drawn well forwards. Various +plans have been devised for keeping it in position, as stitching it to +the point of the patient's nose; putting a ligature into its apex, and +fastening it to the cheek by a piece of strapping, and transfixing its +roots with a harelip needle, used to stitch up a central incision in the +chin. The tendency to retraction very soon ceases, new attachments are +formed by the muscles, and after the first five or six days there is +very little risk of the tongue giving rise to any untoward consequences +by its displacement.</p> + +<p>(3.) <i>Disarticulation of one, or both Joints.</i>—When the portion of bone +implicated involves disarticulation for its complete removal, the +difficulty of the operation is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">{194}</a></span> much increased. The remarkably strong +attachments of the joint, especially the relation of the temporal muscle +to the coronoid process, and the close proximity of large arteries and +nerves, especially the internal maxillary artery and the lingual nerve, +render this disarticulation very difficult.</p> + +<p>The chief points to be attended to seem to be (1.) that the incision +through the skin should extend quite up to the level of the +articulation; (2.) that the bone should be sawn through at the other +side of the tumour, and freely cleared from all its attachments, before +any attempt be made at disarticulation, for by means of the tumour great +leverage can be attained, so as to put the muscles on the stretch, and +allow them to be safely divided; (3.) that the articulation should +always be entered from the front, not from behind, and the inner side of +the condyle should be very carefully cleaned, the surgeon cutting on the +bone so as to avoid, if possible, the internal maxillary artery; (4.) +free and early division of the attachment of the temporal muscle to the +coronoid process.</p> + +<p>Disarticulation of the entire bone has been very rarely performed.<a name="FNanchor_111_111" id="FNanchor_111_111"></a><a href="#Footnote_111_111" class="fnanchor">[111]</a> +If necessary, it can be performed without any incision into the mouth, +by one semilunar sweep from one articulation to the other, passing along +the lower margin of each side of the body, and just below the symphysis +of the chin.</p> + +<p><i>Disarticulation of the Ramus without opening into the cavity of the +Mouth.</i>—That this operation is possible, though it may not be often +required, is shown by the following case by Mr. Syme. It was a tumour of +the ramus, extending only as far forwards as the wisdom-tooth:—</p> + +<p>"An incision was made from the zygomatic arch down along the posterior +margin of the ramus, slightly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">{195}</a></span> curved with its convexity towards the +ear, to a little way beyond the base of the jaw. The parotid gland and +masseter muscle being dissected off the jaw, it was divided by +cutting-pliers immediately behind the wisdom-tooth, after being notched +with a saw. The ramus was then seized by a strong pair of tooth-forceps, +and notwithstanding strong posterior attachments, was drawn outwards, +its muscular connections divided and turned out entire. There was thus +no wound of the mucous membrane of the mouth, the masseter and pterygoid +muscles were not completely divided, and the facial artery was +intact."<a name="FNanchor_112_112" id="FNanchor_112_112"></a><a href="#Footnote_112_112" class="fnanchor">[112]</a></p> + +<p>Fergusson<a name="FNanchor_113_113" id="FNanchor_113_113"></a><a href="#Footnote_113_113" class="fnanchor">[113]</a> holds that even the very largest tumours of the lower jaw +may be successfully removed without opening into the orifice of the +mouth at all by division of the lips. A large lunated incision below the +lower margin of the bone, with its ends extending upwards to within half +an inch of the lips, will give free access, and yet avoid both +hæmorrhage and deformity, as the labial artery and vein are not cut, and +there is no trouble in readjusting the lips. Some tumours of lower jaw +can be removed without any wound of skin.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">{196}</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>OPERATIONS ON MOUTH AND THROAT.</h3> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Salivary Fistula</span>, <i>Operation for.</i>—After a wound or abscess of the +cheek, in which the parotid duct is implicated, a salivary fistula is +very apt to remain. The saliva thus discharges in the cheek, giving rise +to considerable annoyance, as well as injury to the digestion. It is by +no means easy to cure this. Perhaps the best operation is the one of +which a rude diagram is given (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxviii.</span>). The duct (<span class="smcap">c</span>) communicates +with the fistula (<span class="smcap">d</span>). One end of a thread, either silken or metallic, +should be passed through the fistula, and then as far backwards as +convenient through the cheek into the mouth; the needle should then be +withdrawn, the thread being left in. The other end being threaded should +then be re-inserted at the fistula, and carried forwards in a similar +manner; the needle should be again unthreaded in the mouth and +withdrawn; the two ends should then be tied pretty tightly inside, and +allowed to make their way by ulceration<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">{197}</a></span> into the cavity of the mouth. A +passage will thus be obtained for the saliva into the mouth, and every +possible precaution should be taken to enable the external wound to +close.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/196.jpg" width="250" height="275" alt="Fig. xxviii." title="Fig. xxviii." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xxviii.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_114_114" id="FNanchor_114_114"></a><a href="#Footnote_114_114" class="fnanchor">[114]</a></span> +</div> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Excision of the Tongue</span>, for malignant disease of the organ, may be +either complete or partial. Complete excision affords a hope of +permanent and complete relief from the disease, but it is an operation +of extreme difficulty and danger. It may be performed in either of the +following methods. The first is the only one in which absolute +completeness of removal is insured.</p> + +<p>1. <i>Syme's method of excision.</i>—The patient being seated on a chair, +chloroform was not administered, so that the blood might escape +forwards, and not pass into the pharynx. The operation is thus +described:<a name="FNanchor_115_115" id="FNanchor_115_115"></a><a href="#Footnote_115_115" class="fnanchor">[115]</a>—</p> + +<p>"Having extracted one of the front incisors, I cut through the middle of +the lip and continued the incision down to the os hyoides, then sawed +through the jaw in the same line, and insinuating my finger under the +tongue as a guide to the knife, divided the mucous lining of the mouth, +together with the attachment of the genio-hyoglossi. While the two +halves of the bone were held apart, I dissected backwards, and cut +through the hyoglossi, along with the mucous membrane covering them, so +as to allow the tongue to be pulled forward, and bring into view the +situation of the lingual arteries, which were cut and tied, first on one +side, and then on the other. The process might now have been at once +completed, had I not feared that the epiglottis might be implicated in +the disease, which extended beyond the reach of my finger, and thus +suffer injury from the knife if used without a guide. I therefore cut +away about two-thirds of the tongue, and then being able to reach the os +hyoides with my finger, retained it there while the remaining +attachments were divided by the knife in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">{198}</a></span> my other hand close to the +bone. Some small arterial branches having been tied, the edges of the +wound were brought together and retained by silver sutures, except at +the lowest part, where the ligatures were allowed to maintain a drain +for the discharge of fluids from the cavity." The patient was able to +swallow from a drinking-cup with a spout on the day following the +operation, and was able to travel upwards of 200 miles within four weeks +of the operation.</p> + +<p>2. <i>By the Écraseur.</i>—Nunneley of Leeds has recorded cases in which he +made a small incision through the skin, and mylohyoid and geniohyoid +muscles, and through this passed a curved needle bearing the chain of +the écraseur completely round the base of the tongue. In one case the +chain was unsatisfactory, but strong whipcord was introduced as it was +withdrawn, and tied with all possible force. The organ eventually +sloughed away, with a cure which lasted at least for some months.</p> + +<p>Sir James Paget operates as follows:—</p> + +<p>The patient is placed under the influence of chloroform, and the mouth +held widely open. The tongue is then drawn forwards, the mucous membrane +and soft parts of the floor of the mouth, including the attachment of +the genio-hyoglossi to the symphysis being divided close to the bone. +The steel wire of an écraseur is then passed round its root as low down +as possible, slowly tightened, and the tongue thus divided through its +whole thickness in a very few minutes. The bleeding is slight, being +almost entirely from the parts cut with the knife. Recovery has been +rapid in the recorded cases.<a name="FNanchor_116_116" id="FNanchor_116_116"></a><a href="#Footnote_116_116" class="fnanchor">[116]</a></p> + +<p>To Dr. George Buchanan of Glasgow the credit is due of the invention of +the operation of removal of the half of the tongue in the median line. +In at least one instance the cure after five years is still permanent.</p> + +<p>Partial excisions of the tongue are as unsatisfactory<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">{199}</a></span> in their results +as they are unsound in principle, yet many cases present themselves, in +which, while the patient urges some operative measure for his relief, +the tumour is so limited as not to warrant the exceedingly dangerous +operation of complete excision.</p> + +<p>Portions may be removed in various ways:—</p> + +<p>1. By the knife. If in the apex, by a V-shaped incision; if in the +lateral regions, by a bold free incision with a probe-pointed bistoury +round the tumour.</p> + +<p>2. By ligature, drawn as tightly as possible, and, if the portion +included be large, in successive portions.</p> + +<p>3. By the écraseur.</p> + +<p>Mr. Furneaux Jordan has removed the whole tongue with success by means +of two écraseurs worked at the same time.<a name="FNanchor_117_117" id="FNanchor_117_117"></a><a href="#Footnote_117_117" class="fnanchor">[117]</a></p> + +<p>4. By the galvano-caustic wire.</p> + +<p>5. The author has in nine cases removed the affected half of the tongue +by means of the thermo-cautery, first splitting it in the middle line +and then cutting through the base with a curved platinum knife at a low +red heat. In one only was there any trouble from hæmorrhage, and all +made good recoveries.</p> + +<p>Mr. Barwell has recorded (<i>Lancet</i>, 1879, vol. i.) an easy, safe, and +comparatively painless mode of removing the tongue by écraseurs.</p> + +<p>Mr. Walter Whitehead,<a name="FNanchor_118_118" id="FNanchor_118_118"></a><a href="#Footnote_118_118" class="fnanchor">[118]</a> of Manchester, has had a very large +experience of an operation devised by himself, in which, after pulling +the tongue well forward by a string previously introduced near its apex, +and the mouth being held open by a gag, he detaches the organ from jaw +and fauces by successive short snips with scissors, and then in same +manner divides the muscles, tying or twisting the vessels as they bleed. +His success has been very great by this method, though others who have +tried it have sometimes found bleeding troublesome.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">{200}</a></span></p> + +<p>It is comparatively seldom now necessary to split the jaw and perform +Syme's operation, and in all operations on the tongue the thermocautory +(Paquelin's) is of great use.</p> + +<p>Regnoli's method<a name="FNanchor_119_119" id="FNanchor_119_119"></a><a href="#Footnote_119_119" class="fnanchor">[119]</a> may deserve a brief notice. A semilunar incision +along the base of the jaw, from one angle to the other, detaches the +muscles and soft structures, and is thrown down; the tongue is then +drawn through the opening, and can be freely dealt with either by knife +or ligature. After removal the flap is replaced.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Fissures in the Palate.</span>—The operations requisite for the cure of +fissures in the soft and hard palates are so complicated in their +details, that a small treatise would be required thoroughly to describe +the various procedures.</p> + +<p>Different cases vary so much in the nature and amount of their +deformity, that at least five different sets of cases have been +described. It is sufficient here merely to describe the absolutely +essential principles of the operations for the cure of fissures of the +hard and soft palate respectively.</p> + +<p>In all operations on the palate, two conditions used to be considered +requisite for success:—1. That the patient should have arrived at years +of discretion, at twelve or fourteen years at least; that he be +possessed of considerable firmness, and be extremely anxious for a cure, +so as to give full and intelligent co-operation. 2. That for some days +or weeks prior to the operation the mouth and palate should have been +trained to open widely and to bear manipulation, without reflex action +being excited. Professor Billroth of Vienna,<a name="FNanchor_120_120" id="FNanchor_120_120"></a><a href="#Footnote_120_120" class="fnanchor">[120]</a> and Mr. Thomas +Smith<a name="FNanchor_121_121" id="FNanchor_121_121"></a><a href="#Footnote_121_121" class="fnanchor">[121]</a> of London, have had cases which prove the possibility of +performing this operation in childhood, under chloroform, with the +assistance, in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">{201}</a></span> English cases, of a suitable gag, invented by Mr. +Smith. The effect of the operation on the voice of the child has been +very encouraging, as much more improvement takes place than in cases +where the operation is performed late in life.</p> + +<p><i>Fissure in the soft palate only</i> appears as a triangular cleft, the +apex of which is above, the base being a line between the points of the +bifid uvula, which are widely separated. To cure this it is required—</p> + +<p>1. That the edges of the fissure should be brought together without +strain or tightness. In small fissures this can generally be done easily +enough; but where the fissure is extensive, some means must be used to +relieve tension. For this, Sir William Fergusson long ago proposed the +division of the palatal muscles, the levator, tensor, and +palato-pharyngeus muscle of each side. The incisions in the palate for +this purpose certainly aid apposition, but many surgeons entertain +doubts whether the division of the muscles has much to do with the good +result, and believe that the simple incisions in the mucous membrane, in +a proper direction, are all that is required (see Fig. <span class="smcap">xxix.</span>).</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/201.jpg" width="300" height="224" alt="Fig. xxix." title="Fig. xxix." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xxix.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_122_122" id="FNanchor_122_122"></a><a href="#Footnote_122_122" class="fnanchor">[122]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>2. That the edges of the fissure be made raw, so as to afford surfaces +which will readily unite. Complicated instruments, such as knives of +various strange shapes, have been devised for this purpose; an ordinary +cataract knife, very sharp, and set on a long handle is perhaps the +best. It greatly facilitates the section if the parts are tense, so the +point of the uvula should be seized by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">{202}</a></span> an ordinary pair of spring +forceps, and drawn across the roof of the mouth, while the knife should +enter in the middle line, a little above the apex of the fissure, and +make the cut downwards as in harelip.</p> + +<p>3. That sutures should be inserted to keep the edges in apposition, yet +not so tightly as to cause ulceration. They may be either of metal, +silver being preferable, or of fine silk well waxed. The metallic +sutures are now generally preferred. Some dexterity is required in their +introduction, and various instruments have been devised; the best seems +to be a needle with a short curve fixed on a long handle, which should +be entered on the (patient's) left side of the fissure in front, and +brought out on the right side.</p> + +<p>If silk sutures be used, the chief difficulty, that of passing the +thread through the second side from behind forwards, can be avoided in +the following manner.<a name="FNanchor_123_123" id="FNanchor_123_123"></a><a href="#Footnote_123_123" class="fnanchor">[123]</a> A curved needle is passed through one side of +the fissure, and then towards the middle line, till its point is seen +through the cleft. One of the ends of the thread is then seized by a +long pair of forceps, and drawn through the cleft; the needle is then +withdrawn, leaving the thread through the palate, and both ends are +brought outside at the angle of the mouth. Another needle is then passed +through a corresponding point at the opposite side of the palate, till +its point again appears at the cleft; this time a double loop of the +thread is also brought out through the cleft by the forceps into the +mouth. If then the single thread of the first ligature which is in the +cleft be passed through the loop of the second one also in the cleft, it +is easy, by withdrawing the loop through the palate, to finish the +stitch (see Fig. <span class="smcap">xxix.</span>). All the stitches should be passed and their +position approved before any one be tied, and it is most convenient to +secure them from above downwards. To prevent confusion, each pair of +threads after being inserted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">{203}</a></span> should be left very long, and brought up +to a coronet fixed on the brow, which is fitted with several pairs of +hooks numbered for easy reference. This will prevent twisting of the +threads or any mistake in tying.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Fissure of the Hard Palate.</span>—This may vary in extent from a very slight +cleft in the middle line behind, up to a complete separation of the two +halves of the jaw, including even the alveolar process in front, and +sometimes complicated with harelip.</p> + +<p>To close such fissures by operation is difficult, as the breadth of the +cleft is so great as to prevent the apposition of the edges when +prepared, without such extreme tension as quite prevents any hope of +union. Through the researches of Avery, Warren, Langenbeck, and others, +a method has been discovered of closing such fissures by operation, +which, though certainly not easy, is, when properly performed, generally +successful.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—In addition to the usual paring of the edges of the cleft, +an incision is made on each side of the palate, extending "from the +canine tooth in front to the last molar behind,"<a name="FNanchor_124_124" id="FNanchor_124_124"></a><a href="#Footnote_124_124" class="fnanchor">[124]</a> along the alveolar +ridge (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxx.</span>). The whole flap between the cleft and this incision on +each side is then to be raised from the bone by a blunt rounded +instrument slightly curved. With this the whole mucous membrane and as +much of the periosteum as possible should be completely raised from the +bone, attachments for nourishment of the flap being left in front and +behind where the vessels enter.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 185px;"> +<img src="images/203.jpg" width="185" height="200" alt="Fig. xxx." title="Fig. xxx." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xxx.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_125_125" id="FNanchor_125_125"></a><a href="#Footnote_125_125" class="fnanchor">[125]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>The flaps thus raised will be found to come together in the middle line, +sometimes even to overlap, and,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">{204}</a></span> when united by suture, form a new +palate at a lower level than the fissure, experience having shown that +in cases of fissure the arch of the palate is always much higher than +usual. The flaps do not slough, being well supplied with blood, unless +they have been injured in their separation.</p> + +<p>The edges must be carefully united by various points of metallic suture, +and the fissure of the soft palate closed at the same sitting, unless +the patient has lost much blood, or is very much exhausted with the +pain. The stitches may be left in for a week, or even ten days, unless +they are exciting much irritation. The patient must exercise great +self-control and caution in the character of his food and his manner of +eating for ten days or a fortnight after the operation.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Excision of Tonsils.</span>—To remove the whole tonsil is of course impossible +in the living body, the operation to which the name of excision is given +being only the shaving off of a redundant and projecting portion. When +properly performed it is a very safe, and in adults a very easy +operation, but in children it is sometimes rendered exceedingly +difficult by their struggles, combined with the movements of the tongue +and the insufficient access through the small mouth. Many instruments +have been devised for the purpose of at once transfixing and excising +the projecting portion; some of them are very ingenious and complicated. +By far the best and safest method of removing the redundant portion is +to seize it with a volsellum, and then cut it off by a single stroke of +a probe-pointed curved bistoury; cutting from above downwards, and being +careful to cut parallel with the great vessels.</p> + +<p>The ordinary volsellum is much improved for this purpose by the addition +of a third hook in each tonsil placed between the others, with a shorter +curve, and slightly shorter; this ensures the safe holding of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">{205}</a></span> +fragment removed, and prevents the risk of its falling down the throat +of the patient.</p> + +<p>If both tonsils are enlarged they should both be operated on at the same +sitting, and the pain is so slight that even children frequently make +little objection to the second operation. Bleeding is rarely troublesome +if the portion be at once fairly removed, but if in the patient's +struggles the hook should slip before the cut is complete, the partially +detached portion will irritate the fauces, cause coughing and attempts +to vomit, and sometimes a troublesome hæmorrhage.</p> + +<p>The plentiful use of cold water will generally be sufficient to stop the +bleeding, though cases are on record in which the use of styptics, or +even the temporary closure of a bleeding point by pressure, has been +necessary.</p> + +<p>M. Guersant has operated on more than one thousand children, with only +three cases of any trouble from hæmorrhage, while four or five out of +fifteen adults required either the actual cautery or the sesqui-chloride +of iron.<a name="FNanchor_126_126" id="FNanchor_126_126"></a><a href="#Footnote_126_126" class="fnanchor">[126]</a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">{206}</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>OPERATIONS ON AIR PASSAGES.</h3> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Operations on the Larynx and Trachea.</span>—The great air passage may be +opened at three different situations, and to the operations at these +different places the following names have been given:—</p> + +<p><i>Laryngotomy</i>, when the opening is made in the interval between the +cricoid and thyroid cartilages, through the crico-thyroid membrane.</p> + +<p><i>Laryngo-tracheotomy</i>, when the cricoid cartilage and the upper ring of +the trachea are divided.</p> + +<p><i>Tracheotomy</i>, when the trachea itself is opened by the division of two, +three, or more rings.</p> + +<p>Of these the last, <i>tracheotomy</i>, is by far the most frequent, +important, difficult, and dangerous, and requires a very detailed +description. Chassaignac<a name="FNanchor_127_127" id="FNanchor_127_127"></a><a href="#Footnote_127_127" class="fnanchor">[127]</a> says "the only really rational operation +for the opening of the air passages by the surgeon is tracheotomy."</p> + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Tracheotomy.</span>—<i>Anatomy.</i>—Between the cricoid cartilage and the level of +the upper border of the sternum, the middle line of the neck is occupied +by the upper portion of the trachea. Its depth from the surface varies, +gradually increasing as the trachea descends, and varying very much +according to the fatness, muscularity, and length of the neck. It is, +however, almost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">{207}</a></span> subcutaneous at the commencement below the cricoid, and +on the level of the sternum it is in most cases at least an inch from +the surface, in many much deeper. Again, its length varies, even in the +adult, from two and a half to three, or even four inches. This is +important, as affecting the simplicity of the operation, which, as a +rule, is easier the longer the neck is.</p> + +<p>The trachea has most important and complicated anatomical +relations—some constant, others irregular.</p> + +<p>1. The carotid arteries and jugular veins lie at either side, but, where +these are regular in their distribution, do not practically interfere in +a well-conducted operation.</p> + +<p>2. The thyroid gland lies in close relation to the trachea, one lobe +being at each side (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxxi.</span> B B), and the isthmus of the thyroid +crosses the trachea just over the second and third cartilaginous rings. +In fat vascular necks, or where the thyroid is enlarged it may occupy a +much larger portion of the trachea. The position of the isthmus +practically divides the trachea into two portions in which it is +possible to perform tracheotomy. Both have their advocates, but the +balance of authority tends to support the operation below the thyroid. A +separate notice of each will be required immediately.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 142px;"> +<img src="images/207.jpg" width="142" height="350" alt="Fig. xxxi." title="Fig. xxxi." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xxxi.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_128_128" id="FNanchor_128_128"></a><a href="#Footnote_128_128" class="fnanchor">[128]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>3. The <i>muscles</i> in relation to the trachea are the sterno-hyoid and +sterno-thyroid of each side. The latter are the broadest, are in close +contact across the trachea by the inner edges below, but gradually +diverge as they ascend the neck. In thick-set, muscular necks, however, +they are in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">{208}</a></span> close contact for a considerable distance, and require to +be separated to give access to the trachea.</p> + +<p>The <i>arteries</i> are in most cases unimportant; no named branch of any +size ought to be divided in the operation. However, occasionally very +free bleeding may result from the division of an abnormal <i>thyroidea +ima</i> running up the trachea to the thyroid body from the innominate, or +even from the aorta itself.</p> + +<p>The <i>veins</i> are very numerous and irregularly distributed. There is +generally a large transverse communicating branch between the superior +thyroid veins just above the isthmus. The isthmus itself has a large +venous plexus over it. Below the isthmus the veins converge into one +trunk (or sometimes two parallel ones) lying right in front of the +trachea.</p> + +<p>4. The last anatomical point which may give trouble in normal necks is +the thymus, which is present in children below the age of two, and +covers the lower end of the trachea just above the level of the sternum. +Where this is not only not diminished, but enlarged, as it sometimes is +in unhealthy children, it may give a very great deal of trouble, rolling +out at the wound and greatly embarrassing proceedings.</p> + +<p>Abnormalities are very various and sometimes very dangerous: vessels +crossing the trachea, as the innominate did in Macilwain's case,<a name="FNanchor_129_129" id="FNanchor_129_129"></a><a href="#Footnote_129_129" class="fnanchor">[129]</a> or +where two brachiocephalic trunks are present, as recorded by +Chassaignac.<a name="FNanchor_130_130" id="FNanchor_130_130"></a><a href="#Footnote_130_130" class="fnanchor">[130]</a> One of the most frequent dangers to be guarded against +is a possible dilatation of the aorta or aneurism of the arch. This may +very possibly, as happened in one case to the author, give rise to +suffocative paroxysms from its pressure on the recurrent laryngeal +nerves. Tracheotomy may be deemed necessary, and there is a great risk, +unless proper precautions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">{209}</a></span> be taken, of wounding the aorta, where it +passes upwards in the jugular fossa. In the author's case the vessel had +actually to be pushed downwards by the pulp of the forefinger while the +trachea was opened, the knife being guided on the back of the nail of +the same finger.</p> + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">The Operation.</span>—In a work of this kind it would be utterly impossible to +go at all into the subject of what diseases, injuries, etc., warrant or +require the operation. It is enough to describe the various methods of +operating, their dangers and difficulties.</p> + +<p>1. <i>The operation above the isthmus of the thyroid.</i>—A spot about a +quarter or half of an inch in vertical diameter between the cricoid +cartilage (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxxi.</span>) and thyroid isthmus.</p> + +<p><i>Advantages.</i>—It is near the surface, the vessels are few and +comparatively small. It is most suitable in cases of aneurism.</p> + +<p>Professor Spence<a name="FNanchor_131_131" id="FNanchor_131_131"></a><a href="#Footnote_131_131" class="fnanchor">[131]</a> gives his sanction to the high operation in adults +with thick short necks when the operation is performed for ulceration or +papilloma of larynx or for spasm from aneurism, the low operation being +still best in cases of croup or diphtheria.</p> + +<p><i>Disadvantages.</i>—The space is too small, requires very considerable +disturbance of the thyroid isthmus, or actual division of it. It is too +near the point where the disease is; so much so, that in most cases of +croup or diphtheria it would be perfectly useless. However, if required, +or if the operation lower down be contra-indicated, this may be +performed easily enough. A straight incision being made in the middle +line about one inch and a half in length, expose the upper ring by +careful dissection, if possible draw aside the veins, and depress the +thyroid isthmus, divide the rings thus exposed, and introduce the tube.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">{210}</a></span></p> + +<p><i>The operation below the isthmus.</i>—This, though more difficult in its +performance, is a much more scientific and satisfactory operation. +Considerable coolness and a thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the +part are absolutely required.</p> + +<p>The patient being in the recumbent posture, the shoulders should be well +raised, and the head held back so as to extend the windpipe, and thus +bring it as near as possible to the surface. A pillow, or the arm of an +assistant, behind the neck will be of service.</p> + +<p><i>N.B.</i>—Be careful lest too great extension by an anxious assistant, +accompanied by closure of the mouth, should choke the patient (whose +breathing is of course already much embarrassed) before the operation be +begun.</p> + +<p>Chloroform may occasionally be given, and, if well borne, renders the +operation very much easier than it would otherwise be. An incision must +then be made exactly in the median line of the neck, from a little below +the cricoid cartilage, almost to the upper edge of the sternum; at first +it should be through skin only, then the veins will be seen, probably +turgid with dark blood; the larger ones should be drawn aside, if +necessary divided, the bleeding stopped by gentle pressure. The deep +fascia must then be cautiously divided, great care being taken to keep +exactly in the middle line, and the contiguous edges of sterno-thyroid +muscles separated from each other by the handle of the knife. A quantity +of loose connective tissue, containing numerous small veins, must now be +pushed aside, the thyroid isthmus pressed upwards, still with the handle +of the knife. The forefinger must then be used to distinguish the rings +of the trachea. If there is much convulsive movement of the larynx and +trachea, they should be fixed by the insertion of a small sharp hook +with a short curve, just below the cricoid cartilage, and this should be +confided to an assistant. The surgeon should then, with the forefinger +of his left hand, fix the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">{211}</a></span> trachea, and open it by a straight +sharp-pointed scalpel, boldly thrusting it through the rings with a jerk +or stab, the back of the knife being below, and divide two or three of +the rings from below upwards. Any attempt to enter the trachea slowly +with a blunt knife or trocar will probably be unsuccessful, as the +rings, especially in children, give way before the knife, which merely +approximates the sides of the trachea without opening it.</p> + +<p><i>Question of Hæmorrhage.</i>—It is often a question of some importance, +and one which sometimes it is not easy to settle, how far attempts +should be made completely to arrest the venous hæmorrhage before opening +the trachea.</p> + +<p><i>On the one hand</i>, if not arrested, besides the risk of weakening the +patient, we have to dread the much more serious complication of the +admission of blood into the wound. And this is very serious in a patient +whose respiration has already been much impeded, whose lungs are +probably engorged, and who has certainly, by the mere existence of a +wound in his trachea, lost the power of coughing properly; it must never +be forgotten that a quantity of blood so trifling as to be at once +ejected by a single cough in the case of a healthy chest, may be a fatal +obstacle to respiration in one already weakened by disease. Thus any +well-marked arterial hæmorrhage from cut branches, or from the isthmus +of the thyroid, must certainly be arrested prior to opening the trachea. +Besides this, blood once having entered the bronchi is apt to extend +into their smaller ramifications and prove a cause of death, by acting +as a local irritation, and setting up intra-lobular suppurative +pneumonia. The author has found this to be the case both after +tracheotomy and still more frequently in suicide by cut throat.</p> + +<p>But, <i>on the other hand</i>, it is equally true that there is almost always +a considerable amount of oozing from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">{212}</a></span> small venous radicles divided +during the operation, which depends simply on the great venous +engorgement resulting from the obstruction to the respiration, so that +while to attempt to tie every point would be simply endless, we may be +almost certain that the oozing will cease whenever the trachea is +opened, and respiration fairly improved. Slight pressure on the wound is +generally sufficient to stop the bleeding till the venous engorgement +has disappeared.</p> + +<p>Of late years many tracheotomies have been done bloodlessly by use of +the thermo-cautery, for division of the soft parts, but the subsequent +sloughing of the wound is a great objection to this method.</p> + +<p>In cases of extreme urgency, all such minor considerations as +suppression of venous oozing must be ignored, and the trachea simply +opened as rapidly as possible. I had once to perform the operation after +respiration had entirely ceased, and no pulse could be felt at the +wrist, with no assistance except that of a female attendant. Merely +feeling that no large arterial branch was in the way, I cut straight +through all the tissues, opened the trachea, and commenced artificial +respiration. The patient eventually recovered.</p> + +<p><i>Question of Tubes, etc.</i>—Once the trachea is opened, the next question +is, How is the opening to be kept pervious? For the moment the handle of +the scalpel is to be inserted in the wound, so as to stretch it +transversely; this will probably suffice to allow of the escape of any +foreign body. But where, to admit air, the wound is to be <i>kept</i> open, +how is this to be done? It used to be advised that an elliptical portion +of the wall of the trachea be removed; this, though succeeding well +enough for a time, was unscientific, as the wound always tended to +cicatrise, and ended of course in permanent narrowing of the canal of +the trachea. It may be necessary thus to excise a portion of the +trachea, in cases where it is very intolerant of the presence of a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">{213}</a></span> +tube. Such a case is recorded by Sir J. Fayrer of Calcutta.<a name="FNanchor_132_132" id="FNanchor_132_132"></a><a href="#Footnote_132_132" class="fnanchor">[132]</a> Not +much better is the proposal to insert a silk ligature in each side of +the wound, and by pulling these apart thus mechanically to open the +wound. This also is evidently a merely temporary expedient.</p> + +<p>Various canulæ and tubes have been proposed. The ones recommended by the +older surgeons had all one great fault; they were much too small, and +were many of them straight, and thus liable to displacement. The +smallness of their bore was their greatest objection, and Mr. Liston +conferred a great benefit on surgery by his insisting upon the +introduction of tubes with a larger bore, and with a proper curve, so as +thoroughly to enter the trachea. The tube ought to be large enough to +admit all the air required by the lungs, without hurrying the +respiration in the least.</p> + +<p>There is a mistake made in the construction of many of the tubes even of +the present day; the outer opening is large and full, while for +convenience of insertion the tube tapers down to an inner opening, +admitting perhaps not one-half as much air as the outer one does.</p> + +<p>It must be remembered that for some days there is great risk of the tube +becoming occluded, by frothy blood or mucus, especially in cases of +croup, and in children. To prevent this a double canula will be found of +great service, providing only that it be remembered that the inner +canula, not the outer merely, is to be made large enough to breathe +through, and that the inner should project slightly beyond the outer +one.</p> + +<p>The inner one can thus be removed at intervals and cleansed, by the +nurse, without any risk of exciting spasm or dyspnœa by its absence +and reintroduction.</p> + +<p><i>After-treatment.</i>—The after-treatment of a case in which tracheotomy +has been performed demands great care and many precautions. For the +first day or two the constant presence of an experienced nurse or +student<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">{214}</a></span> is always necessary to insure the patency of the tube. The +temperature of the room should be equable and high, and it seems of +importance that the air should be kept moist as well as warm by the use +of abundance of steam.</p> + +<p>A piece of thin gauze, or other light protective material, should be +placed over the mouth of the tube, to prevent the entrance of foreign +bodies.</p> + +<p>In cases where the operation has been performed for some temporary +inflammatory closure of the air passage, retention of the tube for a few +days may suffice. It may then be removed, but it must be remembered that +the wound will generally close with great rapidity, so that it is as +well to be quite sure of the patency of the natural passage before the +artificial one is allowed to close by the removal of the tube.</p> + +<p>In cases where from long-standing disease or severe accident the larynx +is rendered totally unfit for work, and the tube has to be worn during +the rest of the patient's life, care must be taken (1.) lest the tube do +not fit accurately, in which case it may ulcerate in various directions, +even into the great vessels;<a name="FNanchor_133_133" id="FNanchor_133_133"></a><a href="#Footnote_133_133" class="fnanchor">[133]</a> (2.) lest the tube become worn, and +lest the part within the windpipe fall into the trachea and suffocate +the patient.<a name="FNanchor_134_134" id="FNanchor_134_134"></a><a href="#Footnote_134_134" class="fnanchor">[134]</a></p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Laryngotomy.</span>—As a temporary expedient in cases of great urgency, where +proper instruments and assistants are not at hand, laryngotomy is +occasionally useful, though from the want of space without encroaching +on the cartilages of the larynx, and from its close proximity to the +disease, laryngotomy is by no means a suitable or permanently successful +operation.</p> + +<p>In the adult, especially in males with long spare necks, the operation +itself is exceedingly easy to perform. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">{215}</a></span> crico-thyroid space (Fig. +<span class="smcap">xxxi. a</span>) is so distinctly shown by the prominence of the thyroid +cartilage, and is so superficial that it is quite easy to open it in the +middle line with a common penknife, there being merely the skin and the +crico-thyroid membrane to be cut through, with very rarely any vessel of +any size. The opening can then be kept patent by a quill or a small +piece of flat wood. This simple operation has in many cases, where a +foreign body has filled up the box of the larynx, succeeded in saving +life, and even in cases of disease I have known it useful in giving time +for the subsequent performance of tracheotomy.</p> + +<p>Easy as it appears and really is, cases are on record in which the +thyro-hyoid space has been opened instead of the crico-thyroid, such +operations being of course perfectly useless.</p> + +<p>The incision is best made transversely.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Laryngo-Tracheotomy.</span>—This modification consists in opening the air +passage by the division of the cricoid cartilage vertically in the +middle line, along with one or two of the upper rings of the trachea.</p> + +<p>It seems to combine all the dangers with none of the advantages of the +other methods of operating. It is close to the disease, involves cutting +a cartilage of the larynx, and almost certain wounding of the isthmus of +the thyroid; and it is not easy to see what corresponding advantages it +has over tracheotomy in the usual position.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Thyrotomy</span> is an operation by which the larynx is opened in the middle +line by a vertical incision, and its halves separated, while any morbid +growths are excised from the cords or ventricles. The merits and dangers +of this operation have been discussed at length by Mr. Durham<a name="FNanchor_135_135" id="FNanchor_135_135"></a><a href="#Footnote_135_135" class="fnanchor">[135]</a> and +Dr. Morell Mackenzie.<a name="FNanchor_136_136" id="FNanchor_136_136"></a><a href="#Footnote_136_136" class="fnanchor">[136]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">{216}</a></span></p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Laryngectomy or Excision of the Larynx</span>, first performed by Dr. Heron +Watson in 1866, has been lately frequently performed for carcinoma and +sarcoma. Each case presents its own difficulties, which vary according +to the amount and extent of the disease for which it is done.</p> + +<p>The trachea must be divided and tamponed by a Trendelenburg canula, +after which the larynx must be carefully dissected out. The immediate +mortality, <i>i.e.</i> in first ten days, is fifty per cent., and Dr. Gross +holds that life has not been prolonged by the operation.<a name="FNanchor_137_137" id="FNanchor_137_137"></a><a href="#Footnote_137_137" class="fnanchor">[137]</a></p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Œsophagotomy.</span>—This operation is very rarely required, and has as yet +been performed only for the removal of foreign bodies impacted in the +œsophagus, and interfering with respiration and deglutition. To cut +upon the flaccid empty œsophagus in the living body would be an +extremely difficult and dangerous operation, from the manner in which it +lies concealed behind the larynx, and in close contact with the great +vessels. When it is distended by a foreign body, and specially if the +foreign body has well-marked angles, the operation is not nearly so +difficult. It has now been performed in forty-three cases at least, of +which eight or nine have proved fatal. Seven, along with another in +which he himself performed it with success, were recorded by Mr. Cock of +Guy's Hospital.<a name="FNanchor_138_138" id="FNanchor_138_138"></a><a href="#Footnote_138_138" class="fnanchor">[138]</a> Three others were performed by Mr. Syme, with a +successful result. Of the seven cases collected by Mr. Cock only two +died, one of pneumonia, the other of gangrene of the pharynx.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—Unless there is a very decided projection of the foreign +body on the right, the left side of the neck should be chosen, as the +œsophagus normally lies rather on the left of the middle line. An +incision similar to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">{217}</a></span> that required for ligature of the carotid above the +omohyoid should be made over the inner edge of the sterno-mastoid +muscle; with it as a guide, the omohyoid may be sought and drawn +downwards and inwards, the sheath of the vessels exposed and drawn +outwards, the larynx slightly pushed across to the right, the thyroid +gland drawn out of the way by a blunt hook, the superior thyroid either +avoided or tied. The œsophagus is then exposed, and if the foreign +body is large, it is easily recognised; if the foreign body be small, a +large probang with a globular ivory head should then be passed from the +fauces down to the obstruction; this will distend the walls of the +œsophagus, and make it a much more easy and safe business to divide +them to the required extent. The wound in the œsophagus should be +longitudinal, and at first not larger than is required to admit the +finger, on which as a guide the forceps may be introduced to remove the +foreign body, or, if necessary, a probe-pointed bistoury still further +to dilate the wound.</p> + +<p>For some days or even weeks the patient must be fed through an elastic +catheter introduced through the nose and retained, or by an ordinary +stomach-tube through the mouth. In introducing the latter there is +always a risk of opening the wound. No special sutures for the wound in +the œsophagus are required, nor is it advisable too closely to sew up +the external wound.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">{218}</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>OPERATIONS ON THORAX.</h3> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Excision of Mamma.</span>—When the whole breast is to be removed, two +incisions, inclosing an elliptical portion of skin along with the +nipple, must be made in the direction of the fibres of the pectoralis +muscle. The distance between the incisions at their broadest must depend +upon the nature of the disease for which the operation is performed, and +the extent to which the skin is involved; in every case the whole nipple +should be removed. The incisions should, if possible, be parallel with +the fibres of the pectoralis major, and extend across the full diameter +of the breast. During the operation the arm should be extended so as to +stretch both skin and muscle. The lower flap should be first raised and +dissected downwards, with care that the cuts are made in the +subcutaneous fat, and wide of the disease; the upper flap is then thrown +open, and the edge of the gland raised, so that the fibres of the +pectoralis are exposed below it. These should be cleanly dissected, so +as to insure removal of the whole gland.</p> + +<p>Any bleeding during the operation can easily be checked by the fingers +of an assistant, and if the arteries entering the gland from the axilla +be divided last, they can be at once secured. If there are many bleeding +points, the application of cold for a few hours before the wound is +finally closed is a wise precaution.</p> + +<p>The requisite stitches may be inserted while the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">{219}</a></span> patient is under +chloroform, but not tightened. The arm should then be brought down to +the side, and a folded towel laid over the wound after it is finally +closed. Great benefit results from the free use of drainage-tubes in +most cases; for this purpose a dependent opening in the lower flap is +often made.</p> + +<p>Surgeons now operate even when the axillary glands are diseased, and by +a very free dissection and removal, even in hopeless-looking cases, life +may be prolonged. To insure the removal of the lymphatic vessels as well +as the glands, it is best not to separate the breast at its axillary +margin, but keep it attached by the tail of lymphatics surrounded by +fat, which will lead up to the glands. Section of the great pectoral +muscle will aid the dissection.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>When the tumour is very large, and the skin has been much stretched +and undermined, more complicated incisions may be necessary; these +must be governed a good deal by the presence and positions of +adhesions or ulcerations of the skin. The best direction, when the +surgeon has his choice, that these incisions can take, is that of +radii from the nipple, bisecting the flaps made by the original +elliptical incision. </p></div> + +<p><i>N.B.</i>—In operating for malignant disease, the one paramount +consideration is that <i>all</i> the disease be excised, however curious, +inconvenient, or awkward, even insufficient, the flaps may look. Partial +excisions are worse than useless.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Paracentesis Thoracis</span>, for the relief of pleurisy, acute and chronic, +and empyema, is an operation of extreme simplicity.</p> + +<p>The proper selection of cases, the settling of the suitable position for +the tapping, and the choosing of the suitable time for it, are more +difficult, and not within the scope of the present work. On these +subjects much information may be obtained from the papers of Dr. +Bowditch of Boston, of Dr. Hughes and Mr. Cock,<a name="FNanchor_139_139" id="FNanchor_139_139"></a><a href="#Footnote_139_139" class="fnanchor">[139]</a> and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">{220}</a></span> an exceedingly +interesting and valuable paper by Dr. Warburton Begbie.<a name="FNanchor_140_140" id="FNanchor_140_140"></a><a href="#Footnote_140_140" class="fnanchor">[140]</a></p> + +<p><i>Where</i> is it to be performed? Not <i>above</i> the sixth rib, else the +opening is not sufficiently dependent; very rarely <i>below</i> the eighth on +the right side, and the ninth on the left. The intercostal space +generally bulges outwards if fluid is present, and this bulging acts as +an aid to diagnosis. As the intercostal artery lies under the lower edge +of the upper rib in each space, the trocar should be entered not higher +than the middle of the space; and because the artery is largest near the +spine, and also the space is there deeply covered with muscle, the +tapping should never be <i>behind</i> the angle of the rib. In most of the +manuals we are told to select a spot midway between the sternum and +spine for the puncture; but Bowditch, Cock, and Begbie, who have had +large experience, prefer, and I believe rightly, a position considerably +behind this, <i>an inch</i> or two below the angle of the scapula, between +the seventh and eighth, or between the eighth and ninth ribs.</p> + +<p>The operation may be performed with a simple trocar and canula, round, +about an eighth of an inch in diameter, and at least two inches in +length. The point must be sharp, and it must be pushed in with +considerable quickness, so as to penetrate, not merely push forwards, +the pleura, which may be tough, and thicker than usual. Once the skin is +pierced, the instrument must be directed obliquely upwards, so as to +make the opening and position of the trocar dependent. When the trocar +is withdrawn the fluid may be allowed to flow so long as it keeps in a +full equable stream; whenever it becomes jerky and spasmodic, the canula +should be removed <i>before</i> the sucking noise of air entering the chest +is heard.</p> + +<p>In more chronic cases, where the quantity of fluid is large, and +especially if it is thick and curdy, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">{221}</a></span> exhausting syringe of Mr. +Bowditch is an improvement on the simple trocar and canula.</p> + +<p>It consists of a powerful syringe, which fits accurately to the trocar +with which the puncture is made. There is a stop-cock between the trocar +and syringe, and another at right angles to the syringe. The trocar +being introduced, it is held firmly in position by an assistant, by +means of a strong cross handle; the first stop-cock is then opened, and +the syringe worked slowly till it is filled with fluid through the +trocar, the other delivery stop-cock being closed. The first is then +closed, and the second opened; the syringe is then emptied through the +second into a basin. By a repetition of this process, the fluid can be +removed at pleasure, without any risk of the entrance of air.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>Dieulafoy's aspirateur, which the author has now used in a very +large number of cases, will be found the best method yet devised of +safely removing the fluid in cases of serous effusion. But in +severe cases of empyema the pus is sure to be reproduced in the +great majority, and then a free incision, with strict antiseptic +precautions, will be needed, and subsequent free drainage.</p> + +<p>The author has used with great benefit silver tubes, like long +narrow trachea-tubes, with broad shields, to insure free drain. </p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">{222}</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>OPERATIONS ON ABDOMEN.</h3> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Paracentesis Abdominis.</span>—To withdraw fluid from the abdominal cavity is +an exceedingly simple operation in itself, though certain precautions +are necessary to render it safe.</p> + +<p><i>Trocar.</i>—The usual instrument used to be a simple round canula with a +trocar, the point of which should be very sharp, and in the shape of a +three-sided pyramid. It should be about three inches in length, and a +quarter of an inch in diameter. It may for convenience have an +india-rubber tube fixed to its side or end, for the purpose of conveying +the fluid to the pail or basin, but any other additions or alterations +have not been improvements. Lately surgeons have been diminishing the +size of the tube so as to withdraw the fluid more slowly, and taking +many precautions to insure the wound being kept aseptic.</p> + +<p><i>Where to tap.</i>—In the linea alba, midway between the umbilicus and +pubes, or rather nearer the umbilicus. Here, there are no muscles nor +vessels, the opening is a dependent one, and the bladder is quite out of +the way of injury.</p> + +<p><i>N.B.</i>—It is a wise precaution, in every case where there is a +possibility of doubt as to the state of the bladder, to pass a catheter. +I have myself known at least one case in which a surgeon was asked to +tap an over-distended bladder, as a case of ascites.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">{223}</a></span></p> + +<p><i>The Operation.</i>—As there is great risk of syncope coming on during the +operation, from the sudden relief to the pressure on the organs, a broad +flannel bandage should be applied to the belly, the ends of which are +split into three at each side, and crossed and interlaced behind. An +assistant should stand at each side to make gradual pressure by pulling +on the ends of the bandage, thus assisting the flow, and maintaining the +pressure. A hole should be cut in the bandage at the spot where the +puncture is to be made, and the trocar inserted by one firm push, +without any preliminary incision, unless the patient is inordinately +fat. As the trocar is withdrawn, the canula should be pushed still +further in. The surgeon should be ready at once to close the canula with +his thumb, if the flow begins to cease, lest air should be admitted. If +the flow ceases from any cause before all the fluid seems to be +evacuated, the trocar should <i>not</i> be re-introduced, lest the intestines +be wounded, but a blunt-headed perforated instrument fitting the canula +should be inserted.</p> + +<p>When all the fluid that can be easily obtained is evacuated, the canula +may be withdrawn, and a pad of lint secured over the wound by strapping.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Gastrotomy.</span>—Cutting into the stomach for the extraction of a foreign +body has now been performed at least ten times, and all but one +recovered. A typical example is that by Dr. Bell of Davenport, who +removed a bar of lead one pound in weight and ten inches in length, by +an incision four inches in length from the umbilicus to the false ribs. +The opening into the stomach was as small as possible, and required no +sutures.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Gastrostomy</span> has within the last few years been practised very +frequently. Gross has collected 79 cases, 57 of which were for carcinoma +of œsophagus, all of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">{224}</a></span> which died within a few weeks, except eight who +survived for periods varying from three to seven months. The results in +cases of cicatricial and syphilitic strictures are more +favourable.—Howse's method seems the best, consisting of two stages.</p> + +<p>1. A curved incision is made through the parietes parallel with, and a +finger-breadth below, the lower margin of chest wall on left side, the +peritoneum should be opened at the linea semilunaris, the stomach sought +for, and then attached to the abdominal wall by an outer ring of sutures +and to the edge of the wound by an inner ring. It should then be dressed +with carbolised lint and supported by a bandage.</p> + +<p>2. A small opening should be made four or five days after the first +stage and the patient should be fed through this opening.</p> + +<p>For full details, see Mr. Durham's paper in vol. i. of Holmes's Surgery, +edition of 1883, pp. 801-4.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Gastrectomy.</span>—Excision of whole or part of the stomach is one of the +latest developments of operative daring, first done as a regular +operation by Pean in 1879, it has now been repeated sixteen times; four +cases have survived the operation for more than ten days. The chief +points to be attended to are prevention of death from shock and +hæmorrhage, and very careful stitching up of the wound. Considering the +difficulty of the diagnosis, the danger of the operation, and the almost +certain recurrence of the disease, the propriety of such operation seems +very doubtful.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Ovariotomy.</span>—For the pathology of ovarian disease we must refer to Sir +Spencer Wells's work on the subject, and to the smaller Monograph on +Ovarian Pathology, by the late lamented Dr. Charles Ritchie, junior.</p> + +<p>Even the modifications in the method of operating which have been +devised are so various and numerous,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">{225}</a></span> that if collected from the medical +journals of the last ten years they would fill a large volume. Besides +this, the operation of ovariotomy is one attended by so many +complications, that individual cases vary from each other as much as do +individual cases of hernia and tracheotomy; and as the specialities of +each case require to be met by specialities of treatment, there is +hardly any operation in surgery which requires greater readiness of +invention, or more individual sagacity in the operator.</p> + +<p>To lay open the abdominal cavity from the sternum to the pubes, and +rapidly dissect out of this cavity an enormous tumour with a narrow +neck, the operator's only embarrassment being the peristaltic movements +of the bowels, and his only care being to tie the neck of the tumour +firmly with strong string, sew up the wound, and trust to nature, was an +operation very easy to perform, and requiring free cutting rather than +dexterity, and rashness more than true surgical insight.</p> + +<p>Such were the ovariotomies prior to 1857.</p> + +<p>An ovariotomy in 1883 is a very different business, varying in certain +important particulars.</p> + +<p>(1.) Instead of the incision extending from sternum to pubes, it is now +made as short as possible.</p> + +<p>(2.) Instead of being removed entire, the cyst is now emptied with the +greatest possible care (prior to its removal), and none of the contents +allowed to enter the peritoneal cavity.</p> + +<p>(3.) The pedicle is brought to the surface, and in every case where it +is possible is secured outside the wound.</p> + +<p>Besides these three important and cardinal points, there are other minor +matters almost equally essential; these are—(1.) The proper management +of the adhesions and the thorough prevention of all hæmorrhage from +them; (2.) the stitching up of the external wound, including the +peritoneum; (3.) the treatment of the patient during the first few days +of convalescence.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">{226}</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Operation</i> in a typical case, after the method of Sir Spencer Wells and +Dr. Thomas Keith.—The patient having had her bowels gently opened on +the previous day, and being as far as possible in her usual state of +health, should be warmly clad in flannel, both in body and limb, and +laid on an operating table of convenient height, in or near the room she +is to occupy. No carrying from ward to operating theatre and back again +is admissible. It will be found both cleanly and convenient to have a +large india-rubber cloth over the whole abdomen, cut out in the centre +so as to expose so much of the tumour as is necessary, but gummed on or +otherwise secured to the sides of the abdomen, and thus protecting the +clothes, and hanging down over the edge of the table; this will prevent +all wetting of the clothes and unnecessary exposure of the patient's +person, and can be easily removed after the operation. Chloroform being +administered, the bladder is evacuated by means of a catheter, and the +patient's head and shoulders are elevated on pillows. An incision is +then made in the linea alba, between the umbilicus and pubes, for about +four inches in length at first, so as to be large enough to admit the +hand, through all the tissues down to and through the peritoneum. Care +is necessary in dividing the peritoneum, on the one hand, not to divide +too much, in which case the cyst-wall will be penetrated, and the +contents effused into the peritoneal cavity; or, on the other hand, too +little, in which case the peritoneum may be mistaken for the cyst, and +separated from the transversalis fascia under the idea that adhesions +exist. Once the peritoneal cavity is opened, the incision through the +peritoneum must be extended to the full length of the external wound by +a probe-pointed bistoury.</p> + +<p>The operator's hand must now be passed into the abdomen, and the tumour +isolated from its connections as far as possible. When no adhesions +exist it is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">{227}</a></span> extremely easy to pass the hand quite round the tumour, +ascertain its relations to the uterus and Fallopian tubes, and the +length and thickness of its pedicle. The presence of adhesions adds very +seriously to the danger and duration of the operation. We will suppose +at present that none exist in this typical case, and that the pedicle is +found of a satisfactory size and shape. The surgeon now protrudes the +anterior portion of the cyst-wall through the wound, and pierces it with +a large trocar,<a name="FNanchor_141_141" id="FNanchor_141_141"></a><a href="#Footnote_141_141" class="fnanchor">[141]</a> to which is attached an india-rubber tube, by means +of which the effused fluid can be easily got rid of in any direction. +During the escape of the fluid from the cyst a special assistant keeps +up the tension by careful pressure on the abdomen. In cases where the +cyst is multilocular, and thus only a portion of the contents of the +tumour is at first evaluated, the operator should, by partially +withdrawing the trocar, without removing it entirely from the cyst, +endeavour to pierce and evacuate the other cysts, still through the +original opening in the first one.</p> + +<p>While doing this, great care must be taken lest he pierce the external +wall of the tumour, and let any of the contents escape into the +abdominal cavity; to guard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">{228}</a></span> against this, the punctures should be made +by the right hand, while the left, re-inserted into the abdomen, +supports the cyst-wall.</p> + +<p>The tumour having been as far as possible emptied of its fluid contents, +must now be dragged out of the wound, care being still taken lest any of +its fluid contents escape into the peritoneal cavity. In favourable +cases the pedicle is now brought easily into view. This may vary very +much in length and thickness. It is sometimes entirely absent, the +tumour being sessile on the broad ligament of the uterus; sometimes it +is thick and strong, sometimes long and slender. The manner in which it +is to be managed depends on its length and thickness. Varieties in +treatment will be noticed immediately. We will suppose that it is four +inches in length and one or two fingers in breadth. This is quite a +suitable case for the use of the clamp, the principle involved in the +use of which is, that the pedicle should be brought quite out of the +abdomen through the wound and secured on the surface. The best form +seems to be one made like a carpenter's callipers, with long but +removable handles, and a very powerful fixing-screw.</p> + +<p>The blades of this clamp being protected by pads of lint should be made +to embrace the pedicle close to the cyst, in a direction at right angles +to the abdominal wound, and lying across it, the handles should then be +removed, and pads of lint placed below the clamp to protect the skin. +The cyst may now be cut away at some little distance above the clamp, +enough being left to prevent all danger of its slipping. Further to +avoid this danger, the pedicle may be transfixed by one or two needles +above the clamp.</p> + +<p>The wound is now to be sewed up by several points of interrupted suture, +some inserted very deeply through all the tissues, including even the +peritoneum, others in the intervals of the first, including little more +than the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">{229}</a></span> skin. They may be either of iron, silver, platinum, +telegraph-wire (Mr. Clover's copper, coated with gutta-percha), or silk. +It seems of very little consequence which is used. Sir Spencer Wells, +after many trials, uses silk, as being removed with least pain to the +patient, and really causing no more suppuration than the metallic ones +do, if only removed early enough, viz., about the second or third day, +by which time the union of the wound should be firm.</p> + +<p>The after-treatment should be very simple. Except under special +circumstances, stimulants are rarely necessary, and indeed, to avoid +vomiting, as little as possible should be given by the mouth during the +first twenty-four hours. The patient should be allowed to suck a little +ice to allay thirst, and opiate and nutritive enemata will be found +quite sufficient to keep up the strength in ordinary cases. The urine +should be drawn off by the catheter every six hours. The room should be +kept quiet, and the temperature equable, so long as there is no +interference with a plentiful supply of fresh air.</p> + +<p>Some of the specialities and abnormalities involving special risks may +now be briefly noticed:—</p> + +<p>1. <i>Adhesions.</i>—These vary much in amount, in position, in +organisation, and danger.</p> + +<p><i>a.</i> <i>In amount.</i>—In certain cases no adhesions exist, while in others, +omentum, intestines, tumour, uterus, and abdominal wall may be all +matted together in one common mass.</p> + +<p><i>b.</i> <i>In organisation.</i>—Occasionally they are so soft and friable as to +break down under the finger with ease, and so slightly organised as not +to bleed at all in the process, while again they may be so firm and +close as to require a careful and prolonged dissection, and so vascular +as to require many points of ligature to be applied to large active +vessels.</p> + +<p><i>c.</i> There are special <i>dangers</i> connected with the presence of these +adhesions, and varying much in different<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">{230}</a></span> cases. Thus adhesions to the +intestines can generally be separated with comparative ease, and seem, +as a rule, to require the application of fewer ligatures than those +which unite the tumour to the abdominal wall. Adhesions to the wall are +sometimes so firm as to be quite inseparable, and thus to necessitate +some of the cyst-wall being left adherent. In Sir Spencer Wells's cases, +adhesions to the liver and gall-bladder occasionally occurred, requiring +careful dissection to separate them, and yet the patients all survived, +while pelvic adhesions, especially to the bladder and uterus, on more +than one occasion prevented the completion of the operation.</p> + +<p>Vascular adhesions to the wall which require many ligatures certainly +add to the dangers of the case, while adhesions to the anterior wall of +the abdomen render the operation, especially its first stages, much more +difficult, preventing the cyst from being recognised.</p> + +<p>2. <i>The condition of the pedicle</i> is of great importance. If it is too +short, it prevents the use of the clamp, as if applied it is apt either +to pull the uterus up, or, pulling the clamp down, to make undue +traction on the wound, and rupture any adhesions. This is especially the +case where much flatus is generated, or where the patient is naturally +stout.</p> + +<p><i>Treatment.</i>—Where the pedicle is just long enough to allow the clamp +to be applied, and yet too short to leave room for any distension of the +abdomen without undue tension, the best plan is to transfix it with a +stout double thread just below the clamp, tie it in two halves, and +bring the threads out past the clamp, so that, if tension does occur, +the clamp may be removed, the part beyond it cut off, and the rest +allowed to slip back into the pelvis, the ligatures being kept out at +the mouth of the wound.</p> + +<p>Or again, it is sometimes possible, after applying one clamp firmly as +near the tumour as possible, to apply another above it when the greater +part of the tumour<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">{231}</a></span> has been cut away; when the second is firmly fixed +it may then be safe to remove the first, and thus an artificially +elongated pedicle is obtained.</p> + +<p>When still shorter, two plans remain for selection—(1.) to transfix the +pedicle in one or more points, then, securing it in two, three, or more +portions, cut it off above the ligatures and return it, leaving the +ligatures at the lower end of the wound. This gives a free drain for +pus, but theoretically the sloughing pedicle might be expected to set up +peritonitis; (2.) to transfix and tie the pedicle with one or more loops +of stout string, cut the ends off short, and return the whole affair, +closing the external wound at once. Theoretically there are grave +objections to this plan, but it has proved very successful, especially +in the hands of Dr. Tyler Smith.</p> + +<p>Another ingenious modification, sometimes useful in a short narrow +pedicle, is to tie it as close to the cyst as possible, bring the +ligature out at the wound, and then with a strong harelip needle +transfix the pedicle, along with both sides of the wound, just below the +ligature.</p> + +<p>When the pedicle is excessively broad and stout, it should be transfixed +by strong needles and double threads in various places, and thus tied in +several portions. Absence of the pedicle greatly adds to the danger in +any given case. Various plans have been tried, as cutting the attachment +through slowly by the écraseur, ligature of each vessel separately, so +many as twelve being sometimes required, and cauterising the stump. The +latter, as used by Mr. Baker Brown, has met with a large measure of +success, and is much used now.<a name="FNanchor_142_142" id="FNanchor_142_142"></a><a href="#Footnote_142_142" class="fnanchor">[142]</a></p> + +<p>Dr. Keith for a time operated with antiseptic precautions,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">{232}</a></span> but has now +(1883) entirely given up the use of the spray, which he believes has +especial dangers in abdominal surgery.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Operation for Strangulated Inguinal Hernia.</span>—The great rule to be +remembered with regard to this, as well as all other operations for +hernia, is, that the earlier it is performed the better chance the +patient has. Once a fair trial has been given to the taxis, aided by +proper position of the patient, the warm bath, and specially chloroform, +the operation should be performed.</p> + +<p>The patient should be placed on his back with his shoulders elevated, +and the knee of the affected side slightly bent. The groin should then +be shaved, and the shape and size of the tumour, with the position of +the inguinal canal, carefully studied. The surgeon should then lift up a +fold of skin and cellular tissue, in a direction at right angles to the +long axis of the tumour, and holding one side of this raised fold in his +own left hand, commit the other to an assistant. He then transfixes this +fold with a sharp straight bistoury, with its back towards the sac, and +cuts outwards, thus at once making an incision along the axis of the +hernia without any risk of wounding the sac or bowel. Any vessel that +bleeds may now be tied. This incision will be found sufficiently large +for most cases; if not, however, it can easily be prolonged either +upwards or downwards. The surgeon must now devote his attention to +exposing the neck of the sac, and in so doing, defining the external +inguinal ring. The safest method of doing so is carefully to pinch up, +with dissecting forceps, layer after layer of connective tissue, +dividing each separately by the knife held with its flat side, not its +edge, on the sac, and then by means of the finger or forceps raising +each layer in succession and dividing it to the full extent of the +external incision. It is not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">{233}</a></span> always an easy matter to recognise the +sac, especially as the number of layers above it, which are described in +the anatomical text-books, are often not at all distinct.</p> + +<p>The thickness of the connective tissue of the part varies immensely; +sometimes six layers or even more can be separately dissected, while, +again, one only may be found before the sac is exposed.</p> + +<p>If small and recent, the sac may be recognised by its bluish colour, and +by the fact that it is possible to pinch up a portion of it between the +finger and thumb, and thus to rub its opposed surfaces against each +other.</p> + +<p>If large and of old standing, it is sometimes so thin as not to be +recognisable, or again so enormously thickened, and so adherent, as to +be defined with great difficulty.</p> + +<p>If it is small, <i>i.e.</i> when the whole tumour is under the size of an +egg, it ought to be thoroughly isolated, and its boundaries everywhere +defined. If large, and specially if adherent, the neck alone should be +cleared.</p> + +<p>The sac thus being reached, the external abdominal ring should be +clearly defined, and the finger passed into it so as if possible to +determine the presence or absence of any constriction in it. If it feels +tight, the internal pillar of the ring should then be cautiously divided +on the finger by a probe-pointed narrow bistoury, in a direction +parallel to the linea alba.</p> + +<p>At this stage the question comes to be considered as to whether the sac +should or should not be opened. Much has been said and written on both +sides.</p> + +<p>Not to open the sac avoids the risk of peritonitis, and of injury to the +bowel; but, on the other hand, exposes the patient to the danger of the +hernia being returned unreduced; for in many cases the stricture is to +be found in the sac itself, and adhesions very rapidly form between +coils of intestine in the sac and the inner wall. Again, not to open the +sac prevents us from discovering the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">{234}</a></span> +condition in which the <ins class="correction" title="text reads 'bowl'">bowel</ins> is; it +may possibly be gangrenous, in which case such a return <i>en masse</i> would +be almost necessarily fatal.</p> + +<p>A general rule or two may be given here:—</p> + +<p>1. The sac should be opened in every case where there is any reason for +doubt about the condition of the bowel, where there has been +long-continued vomiting, or much tenderness on pressure.</p> + +<p>2. Even in cases in which there is every reason to believe the bowel is +perfectly sound, the sac should be opened, unless the whole contents can +be easily and completely reduced out of the sac into the belly, as in +cases where this cannot be done there probably exist either a stricture +in the neck of the sac itself, or adhesions of the bowel to the sac. We +should endeavour to avoid opening the sac in cases of old scrotal hernia +of large size, where the symptoms have not been urgent, especially in +large unhealthy hospitals, as the risk of peritonitis is so great. +Antiseptic precautions seem considerably to diminish the risk of opening +the sac.</p> + +<p>If the sac then is not to be opened, the rest of the operation is very +simple. Endeavour to reduce the bowel out of the sac, and then return +the sac itself, unless the hernia is of old standing, and adhesions +prevent its reduction. A few silver stitches to close the wound and a +carefully adjusted pad are now all that is requisite.</p> + +<p>If the sac is to be opened, how can it be done with least danger to the +bowel?</p> + +<p>If the hernia is small, and it is possible to define it all, the sac +should be opened at its lower end, as <i>there</i> a small quantity of serous +fluid which intervenes between the sac and the bowel will be found. +Where this is present, there is no danger of wounding the bowel, as the +sac can be easily pinched up; but this is by no means invariably the +case, so great care should always be taken. A small portion of the wall +being thus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">{235}</a></span> pinched up should be divided in the same manner as the +layers of cellular tissue were divided in exposing the sac. A few drops +of serum will then escape, and the glistening surface of the bowel be +exposed; the finger should then be introduced at the opening, and the +incision enlarged by a probe-pointed bistoury. If the hernia is small +the sac should be slit up to its full extent; if large, only a +sufficient portion of the neck should be opened. As soon as the opening +in the sac is large enough to admit the point of the operator's +forefinger, it should be inserted so as to protect the intestines, and +the remainder of the sac slit up on it as a guide.</p> + +<p>The sac thus opened, the next step is to divide the constriction, +wherever it be. It is most likely to be found at the neck of the sac, +just where it protrudes through the internal ring in an oblique hernia, +or through the tendons of the transversalis and internal oblique, where +the hernia is direct. Now, this constriction might be divided in any +direction were it not for the risk of wounding the epigastric artery, +and also of injuring the spermatic cord, which is in close relation to +the neck of the sac of an oblique hernia.</p> + +<p>Wound of the epigastric artery is the chief danger, for in <i>all</i> cases +it is close to the neck of the sac. Were its position in relation to the +neck of the sac constant, it might be easily avoided by an incision in +the opposite direction; but as this relation varies according to the +nature of the hernia, an element of danger is introduced. Thus, in +oblique inguinal ruptures, where the sac passes out through the internal +ring (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxxii. ir</span>), the artery will always be found to the inside of +the neck of the sac; while in direct herniæ, where the bowel has made +its escape through the triangle of Hesselbach (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxxii.</span> +), and +passed through the conjoint tendon straight to the external ring, the +epigastric artery will be found on the outside of the neck of the sac. +In recent herniæ the differential diagnosis is comparatively easy, but +in those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">{236}</a></span> of old standing and large size, in which the obliquity of the +canal has been much diminished, it is almost impossible to tell of what +kind the hernia originally was, and consequently to determine in which +direction it is safe to incise the neck of the sac.</p> + +<p>Such being the case, the best rule is to incise the neck of the sac +directly upwards, <i>i.e.</i> in a line parallel with the linea alba, and +also to cut it very cautiously bit by bit, in every case, if possible, +with the finger inserted as a guide to the position of a vessel and a +protection to the gut.</p> + +<p>The spermatic vessels lie sometimes behind, sometimes on either side of +the sac, and in very old herniæ may be separated from each other so as +really to surround the sac. The cut directly upwards is also the safest +for them.</p> + +<p>All constrictions being overcome, it is not sufficient merely to push +back the gut into the belly. Its condition must be carefully examined, +and it must be decided whether the constriction has caused gangrene or +not. To examine this properly, it is generally best to pull down an inch +or two more of the gut, so as thoroughly to bring into view the +constricted portion, as <i>it</i> is most likely to be fatally nipped.</p> + +<p>It is not always easy to decide as to the condition of the bowel. +Certain points must be observed:—</p> + +<p>(1.) <i>Colour.</i>—There may be very great alteration in the colour of the +bowel from congestion, and yet no gangrene. It may be dark red, claret, +purple, or even have a brownish tint, and yet recover; where it is +black, or a deep brown, the prognosis is unfavourable.</p> + +<p>(2.) <i>Glistening.</i>—So long as the proper glistening appearance of the +bowel remains, there is hope for it, even when the colour is bad; if it +has lost it, and especially if, instead of being tense and shining, it +is dull and flaccid and in wrinkles, the bowel is almost certainly +gangrenous.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">{237}</a></span></p> + +<p>(3.) <i>Thickness.</i>—If much thickened, and especially if rough on the +surface, the bowel has probably been forming adhesions to the sac, or to +contiguous coils, and the prognosis is less favourable.</p> + +<p>(4.) <i>Smell.</i>—The peculiar gangrenous odour on opening the sac is very +characteristic. In cases where ulceration and perforation have occurred, +the odour is fæcal.</p> + +<p>1. If, then, the bowel is tolerably healthy-looking, though discoloured, +it should be returned gradually, not <i>en masse</i>, into the abdomen, the +wound sewed up, and a pad of lint put on, with a bandage.</p> + +<p>2. If there are adhesions of bowel to sac or to a neighbouring coil, or +of omentum to sac, the stricture should be freely divided, the +protruding coils of intestine should be emptied of their contents, but +no rash attempt made to force their return. Especially is this rule to +be observed with protruded, swollen, or adherent omentum, for +considerable risks attend any attempt at excision of the protruded +portion—risks of hæmorrhage, peritonitis, and ulceration of the +contiguous bowel.</p> + +<p>If the bowel be returned, or even the continuity of the canal restored +by the cutting of the stricture, though the bowel be not returned, no +great risks accrue from the retention of a piece of omentum in the sac, +in a position which it may possibly have already occupied for years.</p> + +<p>3. If the bowel is absolutely gangrenous, even in a very small portion +of its length, no reduction should be attempted, but the gangrenous +portion should be kept outside, with the hope that adhesive inflammation +may be set up, so as to glue the bowel to the abdominal wall, prevent +fæcal extravasation, and form a temporary artificial anus. If the +gangrenous portion be very full of fæces or flatus, incisions may be +made into it. This should be avoided in cases where the patient is +already much prostrated, as I have seen cases in which the opening of +the bowel seemed to inflict a fatal shock.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">{238}</a></span></p> + +<p>Enterectomy or excision of the gangrenous portion has recently been +recommended and performed by some surgeons. The very high authority of +the late Professor Spence is against such procedure.<a name="FNanchor_143_143" id="FNanchor_143_143"></a><a href="#Footnote_143_143" class="fnanchor">[143]</a></p> + +<p>Cases of gangrene of even large portions of bowel are by no means +necessarily fatal. They may recover with an artificial anus, the remedy +of which by surgical means we must notice in its proper place.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Operation for Strangulated Femoral Hernia.</span>—While the general principles +guiding treatment and ruling the conduct of the operation are the same +as in inguinal, there are some differences in points of detail which +render a brief separate description necessary.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>A single word on the anatomy. Tracing a femoral rupture from within +outwards, we find that its first stage is to push its way through +the weak point of the arch formed by Poupart's ligament, that is, +the spot called the crural arch, bounded on its outer side by the +sheath of fascia which surrounds the femoral vein; above by +Poupart's ligament; on its inner side by the curved fibres of +Poupart's ligament, which, curving backwards, are inserted into the +ilio-pectineal line, have a sharp falciform edge, and have been +dignified by the special name of Gimbernat's ligament (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxxii. +g</span>); and below by the os pubis itself. This arch or ring thus +bounded is, in the normal state of parts, filled by a layer of +fibrous texture, a little fat, and occasionally a small gland. +These parts are pushed forwards in the descent of the hernia, and +in a small recent one may be said to form a sort of inner covering; +in a larger and older one they are split by the hernia, and, while +forming a constriction round its neck, leave the fundus of the sac, +so far as they are concerned, quite uncovered.</p> + +<p>A femoral hernia may stop there, satisfied with merely coming +through the ring, and, if sudden and recent in a healthy, well-knit +subject, such a rupture is exceedingly dangerous, the constriction +being very severe, and the consequent gangrene of the bowel very +rapid if unrelieved. In most cases, however, it makes its way still +further out, and the next covering it gains is from the cribriform +fascia. This is the layer of fibres, pierced (as its name implies) +with orifices for the passage of veins and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">{239}</a></span> lymphatics, which +stretches between the two curved edges of the saphenous opening. It +varies much in strength; when the rupture has been slow and +gradual, it will certainly add a covering of greater or less +thickness, but where the hernia is large and old we must not expect +to find many traces of the cribriform fascia, at least over the +fundus of the tumour.</p> + +<p>The ordinary superficial fascia of the part, with its fat, nerves, +veins, and lymphatics, and the thin skin of the groin, are the only +remaining coverings. It is very remarkable how exceedingly thin all +the so-called coats become in large femoral herniæ of long +standing, especially in thin old people. </p></div> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—Various incisions are recommended. The one which gives +freest access and exposes the sac best, is shaped like a T, the +horizontal limb of which is oblique, the direction of the obliquity +varying on the two sides. The horizontal incision should be made just +over Poupart's ligament, and parallel to it, the centre of the incision +corresponding to the neck of the sac, and its length varying according +to the size of the tumour and the depth of the parts; the other should +extend downwards from the centre of the former, as far as is necessary +to display the whole sac. The first should be made by pinching up and +transfixing the skin, the second by ordinary incision, to the same depth +as the first. The small flaps thus made must now be thrown back; any +vessels that have been divided are to be tied. Now, with great care and +caution the surgeon is to pinch up and divide any layers of condensed +cellular tissue which may still cover the sac, till it is thoroughly +exposed to its full extent, and remove any glands which may intervene.</p> + +<p>The neck of the sac being exposed, it may be possible in some very +exceptional cases to give the patient the benefit of the minor +operation, which consists in leaving the sac unopened. In such a case +(to be described immediately), the surgeon passes his finger along the +neck of the sac as far as possible into the ring, and then with a +probe-pointed bistoury very cautiously nicks the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">{240}</a></span> upper edge of +Gimbernat's ligament, in one or more places, being careful to feel for +any pulsation before dividing a single fibre. He may then be able to +empty the sac of its contents, and return the bowel and omentum, still +retaining the sac outside.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, where it is determined to open the sac, the pinching +up of the sac must be managed with great care, to avoid injury of the +bowel. There is generally a little fluid to be found at the fundus, +which will protect the bowel. In one case in which Liston operated, he +tells us, "there was no possibility of pinching up the sac, either with +the fingers or forceps; it contained no fluid, and was impacted most +firmly with bowel; very luckily the membrane was thin; and, observing a +pelleton of fat underneath, I scratched very cautiously with the point +of the knife in the unsupported hand, until a trifling puncture was +made, sufficient to admit the blunt point of a narrow bistoury."<a name="FNanchor_144_144" id="FNanchor_144_144"></a><a href="#Footnote_144_144" class="fnanchor">[144]</a> If +the sac contains bowel and omentum, it is safer to open it over the +omentum than over the bowel. When a small opening is made, an escape of +the contained fluid takes place, and then the sac should be slit up as +far as its neck by a probe-pointed bistoury, guided by the finger, +introduced to protect the bowel, whenever the opening is sufficiently +large. The forefinger must now be cautiously insinuated into the neck of +the sac, the nail being directed to the bowel, the pulp to the +crescentic margin of Gimbernat's ligament, and any constriction very +cautiously divided. The bowel should then be drawn down a little, the +constricted point carefully examined, and then returned or not, +according to its condition.</p> + +<p>Two points require a brief separate notice:—</p> + +<p>1. In what direction is the crural arch to be divided? Not outwards +certainly, on account of the vein, nor downwards, as the bone prevents +that direction. Is it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">{241}</a></span> to be upwards or inwards? Not upwards, for such +an incision would endanger the spermatic cord or round ligament, besides +greatly weakening the abdominal wall by the division, partial or +complete, of Poupart's ligament. Inwards then it must be; and little +more need be said about it, were it not for the occasional existence of +an abnormal course and distribution of the obturator artery.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 550px;"> +<img src="images/241.jpg" width="550" height="437" alt="Fig. xxxii." title="Fig. xxxii." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xxxii.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_145_145" id="FNanchor_145_145"></a><a href="#Footnote_145_145" class="fnanchor">[145]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>The usual origin of this vessel is from the internal iliac, in which +case (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxxii. n o</span>) it never comes near the sac at all. In certain +cases (1 in 3½) it rises from the epigastric, and in a very few (1 in +72) from the external iliac. If rising from either of the two last, it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">{242}</a></span> +most commonly passes downwards at the outer side of the hernia, in which +case (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxxii. s o</span>) no harm can possibly result; but in a few rare +cases, perhaps 1 in every 60 of those operated on, the vessel winds +round the hernia (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxxii. o</span>), crossing at its inner side, and thus +may be (and has actually been) divided by a rash incision. With due +care, however, and by cutting a very little at a time, even this danger +may be avoided.</p> + +<p>2. Under what circumstances is it possible or justifiable to reduce a +femoral hernia, without previously opening the sac? Only in certain very +select cases, where the hernia is recent, the constricting parts lax, +the general symptoms very mild, and where there is reason to believe the +bowel has completely escaped injury by compression or the taxis. There +are both difficulties and dangers in this so-called minor operation:—1. +<i>Difficulties</i>, For it is not easy to divide the constriction without +the assistance of the finger in the sac, and it is not easy to reduce +the contents with the sac unopened, except through a much freer opening +than is necessary when the <ins class="correction" title="text reads 'bowl'">bowel</ins> has been fairly exposed. 2. +<i>Dangers</i>, Of reducing sac and viscera, together with the strangulation +still kept up by tightness in the neck of the sac; or of supposing the +sac is emptied while a knuckle of bowel still remains in it, and is +strangulated; or, lastly, of reducing the intestine which has already +become gangrenous. It is very remarkable how very soon gangrene may come +on, in a case of a small recent femoral hernia, in which the fibrous +tissues constricting the neck of the sac are tense and undilatable. A +protrusion for eight hours has been sufficient to destroy the life of a +knuckle of bowel.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>A note here on a certain condition very frequent in femoral herniæ, +which may occasionally give a good deal of trouble. Symptoms of +strangulation have been well marked, yet when the sac is opened +nothing is to be seen except a mass of omentum, perhaps tolerably +healthy-looking. To reduce this <i>en</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">{243}</a></span><i> masse</i> would be very unsafe; +it is necessary carefully to unravel it, and disengage the knuckle +of bowel which is almost certainly included in it, and which has +given rise to the symptoms of strangulation. </p></div> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Operation for Strangulated Umbilical Hernia.</span>—The operation is +practically the same, whether the hernia is a true umbilical one, or one +which with more strict accuracy might be called ventral. True umbilical +hernia is a disease of infancy and childhood, being almost always +congenital, and the viscera protrude through the umbilical aperture. +This rarely requires operation, as it may generally be returned with +ease, and even cured by a proper bandage and compress. Ventral hernia, +commonly called <i>umbilical</i>, is generally a protrusion of viscera +through a new preternatural aperture in the fibrous tissues close to the +navel, may often attain a large size, is liable to strangulation, and is +not easily palliated or cured.</p> + +<p>In either case the operation requires a very brief description. If the +hernia is small, under the size of a hen's egg, a crucial incision +through the thin skin which covers it will thoroughly expose the sac +when the flaps are dissected back. The forefinger should then be +inserted in the round opening, and the edges cautiously incised in +several directions, each incision however being very small.</p> + +<p>If the rupture is large, a single linear, or a T-shaped incision, +exposing the base of the tumour, will be sufficient to allow the +requisite dilatation of the opening to be made. It is not at all +necessary in every case to open the sac of the peritoneum. If required, +it must be done with great caution, as the sac is generally very thin. +In cases where the hernia is chiefly omental, the sac should be opened, +lest a knuckle of bowel be inclosed and strangulated in the omentum.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Obturator Hernia</span> is an extremely rare lesion, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">{244}</a></span> a large proportion of +the recorded cases were discovered only after death. When diagnosed +during life and strangulated, some have been reduced by taxis, and only +a very few cases have been operated on, some with success. It is not +likely that a diagnosis could be made, except in very emaciated +patients, in whom pain at the obturator foramen was a prominent symptom, +and in whom it could be ascertained positively that the crural ring was +empty. An incision over the tumour, sufficient to allow the pectineus +muscle to be exposed and divided, is necessary. The hernia may then be +reduced without opening the sac, if recent; if of long standing, the sac +must be opened. One case is recorded by Dr. Lorinzer, in which, after +strangulation for eleven days, he opened the sac and found the bowel +gangrenous. The patient had a fæcal fistula; but survived the operation +for eleven months. Nuttel, Obrè, and Bransby Cooper have each diagnosed +and treated such cases.<a name="FNanchor_146_146" id="FNanchor_146_146"></a><a href="#Footnote_146_146" class="fnanchor">[146]</a></p> + +<p>Other forms of hernia are so rare, and the treatment of each case must +necessarily vary so much in its circumstances, as not to require or +admit of any detailed account of the operations requisite for their +relief.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Operations for the Radical Cure of Hernia.</span>—The inconveniences and +discomfort caused by even the best-adjusted trusses or bandages, the +unsatisfactory support they afford, and the risk of their slipping and +allowing the hernia to escape, have given rise to many attempts to cure +hernia by operation.</p> + +<p>Even to enumerate these would be quite beyond the limits of the present +volume; suffice it to classify a few of the most important of them +according to the principle involved in each, and then give a very brief +account of the method of operating which seems to be at once the most +scientific, least dangerous, and most permanently useful.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">{245}</a></span></p> + +<p>The question at issue is briefly this. We have, in a hernia, the +following condition:—The walls of a great cavity are at one or more +points specially weak, the contained viscera have protruded, either by +extension and stretching of a natural opening, or by the formation of a +new breach in the walls, and, in protruding, they have brought with them +as a covering a serous membrane, extremely extensible, highly sensitive +to injury, and, when injured, certain to resent it by severe, spreading, +and dangerous inflammation.</p> + +<p>Do we desire to remedy this protrusion, we may act—</p> + +<p>1. On the intestines themselves; but for all surgical purposes, they are +out of our reach. We cannot do more than, by diminishing their contents, +diminish their volume, and by position and rest reduce to the utmost +their tendency to protrude. This includes the medical and prophylactic +treatment of hernia, or rather of the tendency to hernia.</p> + +<p>2. We may try what can be done with the <i>sac</i> which the intestines have +pushed down before them. Can it be obliterated? If it can, perhaps the +intestines may be retained in their cavity. Very many plans of dealing +with the sac have been tried.</p> + +<p>To cause obliteration of its cavity many methods have been proposed:—by +ligature of it along with the spermatic cord, involving loss of the +testicle, either by gradual separation, by sloughing, or by immediate +removal;—by cutting into it, and then stitching it up;—by constricting +it with wire, as in the <i>punctum aureum</i>; by pinching sac and coverings +up, by passing needles under them as they emerge from the external ring, +as Bonnet of Lyons did; by constricting sac alone with a double wire, by +subcutaneous puncture, as Dr. Morton of Glasgow has done;—by severe +pressure from the outside with a strong tight truss and a pad of wood, +as proposed by Richter; by setons of threads or candlewicks, as proposed +by Schuh of Vienna;—by injection<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">{246}</a></span> of tincture of iodine or cantharides, +as by Velpeau and Pancoast;—by the introduction into the sac of thin +bladders of goldbeaters' skin, which were then filled with air, and were +intended to excite inflammation, as in the radical cure of hydrocele; or +by the still more severe method of Langenbeck, consisting in exposing +the sac by a free incision at the superficial ring, separating it from +the cord, and passing a ligature round the sac alone, leaving the +ligatured portion in the scrotum either to become obliterated or to +slough out. Schmucker of Berlin varied this, by cutting away the +constricted portion below the ligature.</p> + +<p>The objections to these methods are various: the more gentle are +uncertain and inefficient; of the more severe, some involve mutilation, +by the loss or removal of the testicle; others, as those of Langenbeck +and Schmucker, are very dangerous and fatal, by the inflammation +spreading to the peritoneal cavity (20 to 30 per cent. died); while all +of these methods afford at best only temporary relief. And this is only +what might have been expected, for the sac was only a <i>result</i> of the +protrusion, not a <i>cause</i>; and so long as the weakness and insufficiency +of the parietes of the abdomen remain, so long will the extensible +loosely-attached peritoneum continue to furnish new sacs for visceral +protrusions.</p> + +<p>3. We have now only the canal left to act upon; and the operations on +the canal may be divided into two great classes:—</p> + +<p>(<i>a.</i>) Those in which the operator attempts to plug up the dilated +canal. (<i>b.</i>) Those in which he tries to constrict it, by reuniting its +separated sides.</p> + +<p>(<i>a.</i>) Attempts to plug the canal have, in most cases, been made by +invagination of the skin of the scrotum and its fascia. These have been +very numerous and various in their adaptation of mechanical appliances, +but have all been designed with the same object. Dzondi of Halle, and +Jameson of Baltimore, incised<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">{247}</a></span> lancet-shaped flaps of skin, and +endeavoured to fix them by displacement over the ring. Gerdy invaginated +a portion of scrotum and fascia into the enlarged canal, by the +forefinger pushed it up, and secured it in its place by a thread passed +from the point of his finger first through the invaginated skin, then +through the abdominal walls, endeavouring to include the walls of the +inguinal canal, causing the point of the needle to project some lines +above the inguinal ring; the same process being effected with the other +end of the thread on the other side of the finger, and the two ends +which have been brought out near each other on the abdominal wall, being +tied tightly over a cylinder of plaster. The ensheathed sac was then +painted with caustic ammonia to excite inflammation, and a pad put on +over all.</p> + +<p>Signoroni modified this by fixing the invaginated skin by a piece of +female catheter, retained in its place by transfixion by three harelip +needles, tied by twisted sutures.</p> + +<p>Wützer of Bonn, again, modified this, by substituting a complicated +instrument, consisting of a stout plug in the inguinal canal, held in +position by needles which are passed through the anterior wall of the +canal in the groin. Compression between plug and compress, with the +intention of causing adhesion between skin, fascia, and sac, is then +managed by means of a screw. The plug is retained for about seven days.</p> + +<p>Modifications of this method have been tried by Wells, Rothmund, and +Redfern Davies, all aiming in the direction of simplicity; but by far +the most simple and efficacious method on the Wützer principle yet +devised is that of Professor Syme, which he described in the pages of +the <i>Edinburgh Medical Journal</i> for May 1861, in which the invagination +of integument is both simply and securely managed by strong threads, as +in Gerdy's method, while a piece of bougie or gutta-percha,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">{248}</a></span> to which +the threads are fixed, replaces Wützer's expensive and complicated +apparatus. Sir J. Fayrer of Calcutta has had a very large experience of +Wützer's method, and also of a plan of his own. Out of 102 cases by the +latter method, 77 were cured, 9 relieved, 14 failed, and 2 died.<a name="FNanchor_147_147" id="FNanchor_147_147"></a><a href="#Footnote_147_147" class="fnanchor">[147]</a></p> + +<p>Mr. Pritchard of Bristol has proposed an additional step in operations +on the invagination principle, consisting in the stripping of a thin +slip of skin from the orifice of the cutaneous canal, and then putting a +pin through the parts to get them to unite, and thus close the aperture +completely.</p> + +<p>Now, what results follow these operations? At first they are almost +invariably successful, but the complaint is that, in most cases, the +rupture recurs. The principle is to plug up the passage by the +mechanical presence of the invaginated skin, the plug being retained in +position by adhesive inflammation between it and the edges of the +dilated ring. But the ring is left dilated, or, indeed, generally its +dilatation is increased; and as, on continued pressure from within, the +new adhesions give way, or, as often happens, a new protrusion takes +place in the circular <i>cul-de-sac</i> necessarily left all round the apex +of the invagination, the still lax ring and canal offer no resistance to +the protrusion.</p> + +<p>(<i>b.</i>) The principle of constriction of the canal by reuniting its +separated sides. This is the principle of the various methods introduced +by Mr. Wood of King's College, and described by him in his most able and +exhaustive work.<a name="FNanchor_148_148" id="FNanchor_148_148"></a><a href="#Footnote_148_148" class="fnanchor">[148]</a></p> + +<p>He applies sutures through the sides of the dilated inguinal or crural +canals, or umbilical openings, in such a manner as to insure their +complete closure.</p> + +<p>1. <i>For inguinal hernia.</i>—To stitch together the two sides of the canal +with safety requires attention to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">{249}</a></span> several points—(1.) That it be done +nearly, if not entirely, subcutaneously. (2.) That the protruding bowel +should be kept out of the way, and not be transfixed by the needle. (3.) +That the spermatic cord should be protected from injurious pressure.</p> + +<p>These different indications are attained by Mr. Wood by a very ingenious +mode of operating, which I can describe here only briefly, and for a +full description of which I must refer to Mr. Wood's own monograph +already alluded to.</p> + +<p>For his first twenty cases Mr. Wood used strong hempen thread for the +stitches; of late, however, he has proved the greater advantage of +strong wire.</p> + +<p>When a large old hernia in an adult is the subject of operation, it is +thus performed by Mr. Wood:—The pubes being shaved, and the patient put +thoroughly under the influence of chloroform, the rupture is reduced, +and the operator's forefinger forced up the canal so as to push every +morsel of bowel fairly into the abdomen. An assistant then commands the +internal ring by pressure, to prevent return of the rupture.</p> + +<p>An incision is made in the scrotum over the fundus of the sac, large +enough to admit a forefinger and the large needle used in the operation; +the edges of the skin are to be separated from the fascia below for +about one inch all round. The forefinger is then to be passed in at the +aperture and pushed upwards, invaginating the detached fascia before it, +and it must be made to enter the inguinal canal far enough to define the +lower border of the internal oblique muscle stretched over it. A large +curved needle (unarmed) is then passed on the finger as a guide, through +the internal oblique tendon, the internal portion of the ring, and the +skin of the abdomen; it is then threaded and withdrawn. Again, the +needle (now with a thread) is guided by the finger and pushed through +Poupart's ligament and the external pillar of the ring as before; while +by a little manipulation its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">{250}</a></span> point is made to protrude through the same +opening in the skin as before, a loop of thread is now left there, and +the needle, still threaded, is again withdrawn. The next stitch, still +guided on the finger, takes up the tendinous layer of the triangular +aponeurosis covering the outer border of the rectus tendon close to the +pubic spine; the point of the needle is then turned obliquely, so as to +protrude through the original puncture in the skin a third time, the +needle is then freed from the thread and withdrawn, thus leaving two +ends and one intermediate loop of thread all at the one opening. These +are so arranged that when they are tightened they draw together the +sides of the canal; they are then secured over a compress of lint. The +compress is removed and the stitches loosened, at dates varying from the +third to the seventh day.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wood now uses wire instead of thread. It has the advantage of +greater firmness, excites less suppuration, and may be left much longer +<i>in situ</i>, in consequence of which there is less risk of suppuration or +pyæmia, and more chance of a good consolidation of the parts.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>In congenital herniæ, and small ruptures in children and young +boys, Mr. Wood uses rectangular pins in the following manner:—The +scrotum being invaginated (without any incision through the skin) +as far as possible up the canal, a rectangular pin, with a +slightly-curved spear-pointed head, is passed through the skin of +the groin to the operator's forefinger; guided by it, it is brought +safely down the canal, and brought out through the skin of the +scrotum just over the fundus of the hernial sac. A second pin is +passed from the lower opening (still guided by the finger) in an +upward direction, transfixing in its course the posterior surface +of the outer pillar of the superficial ring, its point being +brought out through, or at least close to, the first puncture made +by the first pin. The pins are then locked in each other's +loops—the punctures and skin protected by lint or adhesive +plaster,—and the whole is retained by lint and a spica bandage. +The pins should generally be withdrawn about the tenth day. </p></div> + +<p>The author has now in many cases stitched with catgut<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">{251}</a></span> the edges of the +ring after the ordinary operation for hernia with the best effect.</p> + +<p>2. <i>For Femoral Rupture.</i>—Cases suitable for operation are very +infrequent; but should such a one be met with, Mr. Wood proposes the +following operation on the same plan as the preceding. The hernia being +fully reduced and the parts relaxed by position, an incision about an +inch long should be made over the fundus of the tumour, and its edges +raised so as to admit the finger fairly into the crural opening. The +vein is then to be pushed inwards, and the needle passed through the +pubic portion of the fascia lata of the thigh, and then through +Poupart's ligament, appearing on the skin of the abdomen, a wire is then +passed through the eye of the needle and hooked down, appearing through +the wound, it is then withdrawn, and the needle again passed through the +pubic portion of the fascia lata, but about three-quarters of an inch to +the inside of the first puncture, then through Poupart's ligament again, +and protruded through the same orifice in the skin; the other end of the +wire is then hooked down as before, leaving a loop above, at the needle +orifice, and two ends at the wound in the skin below. Both loops and +ends must be managed as before.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>The author after operating for the relief of strangulation in a +case of very large femoral hernia in a girl aged 23, stitched up +the neck of the sac, and also stitched it to Gimbernat's ligament. +The result for some months was admirable, though the hernia had +been a very difficult one to replace from its size, and had been +long in the habit of coming down. Eventually protrusion occurred to +a very slight extent, but a truss keeps it completely up. </p></div> + +<p>3. <i>For Umbilical Rupture.</i>—The principle involved in Mr. Wood's +operation for umbilical rupture is precisely the same as for inguinal +and crural. It consists in stitching the two edges of the tendinous +aperture by wire; the needle is passed on a sort of small scoop or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">{252}</a></span> +broad grooved director, which at once invaginates the skin and protects +the bowel. Two stitches are thus inserted on each side. For the +ingenious method by which they are introduced subcutaneously, I must +refer to the detailed description in Mr. Wood's monograph. The wires are +thus twisted and tightened over a pad of lint or wood, drawing together +the edges of the opening in the tendon.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Operations for Artificial Anus.</span>—In children the condition known as +imperforate anus may sometimes be remedied by exploratory operations in +the perineum, guided by the protrusion caused by the distended +intestine. There are other cases, however, in which the rectum, as well +as the anus, seems to be deficient, and in which, from the want of +protrusion, there is no warrant for attempting an operation there; in +these the only chance of life that remains is in an attempt to open the +bowel higher up.</p> + +<p>In adults, again, absolute closure of the rectum and anus, and complete +obstruction, may be the result of malignant disease, or even, very +rarely, of simple organic stricture.</p> + +<p>In such cases, where the patient is tolerably strong and yet evidently +doomed from the complete obstruction, an attempt at the formation of an +artificial anus is warrantable, and in many cases afford great relief, +and prolongs life for months.</p> + +<p>Without going into all the various positions proposed for such +operations, I select the two most warrantable, which have borne the test +of experience. These are—1. Colotomy in the left loin. This is +applicable in the case of adults with rectal obstruction. 2. Colotomy in +the left groin applicable in cases of imperforate anus and deficiency of +rectum in infants.</p> + +<p>1. <i>Colotomy in the left loin</i>, generally known by the name of +<i>Amussat's operation</i>.—The patient is laid upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">{253}</a></span> his face, a pillow +placed under the abdomen, rendering the left flank prominent. A +transverse incision should then be made at a level about two +finger-breadths above the crest of the ilium, extending from the outer +edge of the erector spinæ muscle forward for four or five inches, +according to the fatness of the patient; the muscles must then be +carefully divided till the transversalis fascia is exposed. It is then +to be pinched up and divided, as in the operation for strangulated +hernia. The muscular wall of the colon uncovered by peritoneum is then +in most cases very easily recognised from its immense distension. The +bowel should then be hooked up by a curved needle, two or three points +at least secured to the margins of the wounds by stitches, and then the +bowel should be opened by a longitudinal incision of at least an inch in +length. When the distension has been great, there is generally a rush of +fluid fæces, which must be provided for, special care being taken lest +any get into the cavity of the peritoneum.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/253.jpg" width="250" height="171" alt="Fig. xxxiii." title="Fig. xxxiii." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xxxiii.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_149_149" id="FNanchor_149_149"></a><a href="#Footnote_149_149" class="fnanchor">[149]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>2. <i>Colotomy in the left groin</i>, for absence of anus and deficiency of +rectum in newly born infants.—The dissections of Curling, Gosselin, and +others have shown that in infants the operation of lumbar colotomy is +very difficult, and its results uncertain, while it is comparatively +easy to open the colon in the left groin. Huguier, again, has shown that +in certain cases the colon is not to be found in the left groin, but is +accessible in the right groin. This abnormality seems, as shown by +Curling, to occur not oftener than once in every ten cases.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">{254}</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—An oblique incision from an inch and a half to two inches +in length should be made in the left iliac region above Poupart's +ligament, extending a little above the anterior-superior spinous process +of the ilium. The fibres of the abdominal muscles should be divided on a +director passed beneath them, and the peritoneum should next be +cautiously opened to a sufficient extent. The colon will most likely +protrude, but if small intestine appear the colon must be sought for +higher up. A curved needle armed with a silk ligature should be passed +lengthways through the coats of the upper part of the colon, and another +inserted in the same way below, and the bowel, being drawn forwards, +should then be opened by a longitudinal incision. The colon must +afterwards be attached to the skin forming the margin of the wound by +four sutures at the points of entry and exit of the needles.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Operation for the Removal of an Artificial Anus</span>, in cases where the +bowel is patent below.—After the operation for hernia in a case where +the bowel is gangrenous, the only hope of the patient's recovery +consists in the formation of adhesions between the bowel and the +external wound, and the presence, for a time at least, of an artificial +anus. If adhesions do form, and the patient recovers, it becomes a +matter of great importance for his future comfort that the canal of the +intestine should be re-established, and the fistulous opening allowed to +close. This, however, is by no means easy, as even when the portion of +intestine destroyed has been very small, a septum or valve remains which +directs the contents of the bowel outwards, and so long as it exists is +an effectual obstacle to any of the fæcal contents passing into the +distal portion of the bowel. This septum or éperon is formed by the +mesenteric side of the two ends of the bowel. To destroy this without +causing peritonitis is the aim of the surgeon,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">{255}</a></span> and it is not an easy +matter to accomplish. To cut it away would at once open the peritoneal +cavity, so the mode of treatment now adopted in the rare cases where it +is necessary is that recommended by Dupuytren. The principle of it is to +destroy the éperon by pressure so gradual as to cause adhesive +inflammation between the two surfaces, and thus seal up the cavity of +the peritoneum, before the continuance of the same pressure shall have +caused sloughing of the septum. This is managed by the gradual +approximation by a screw of the blades of a pair of forceps, to which +Dupuytren gave the name Enterotome. The process, which extends over days +and weeks, must be carefully watched lest the inflammation go too far.</p> + +<p>Plastic operations are occasionally required to close the opening after +the passage is restored. For a good example of such an operation see +<i>Edin. Med. Journal</i> for August 1873, in which Mr. John Duncan describes +a case.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">{256}</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>OPERATIONS ON PELVIS.</h3> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Lithotomy.</span>—However interesting and even instructive it might be, any +history of the various operations for the removal of calculi from the +bladder would be quite out of place in a manual such as this. It will be +sufficient here to describe the operations recommended and practised in +the present day.</p> + +<p>There are three different situations in which the bladder may be entered +for the purpose of removing a calculus:—</p> + +<p>1. The perineum, where access is gained through the urethra, prostate, +and neck of the bladder.</p> + +<p>2. Above the pubes, where the portion of bladder not covered by +peritoneum is opened from above.</p> + +<p>3. From the rectum.</p> + + +<p class="gap">1. <span class="smcap">Lithotomy through the Perineum</span>, by far the most frequent position for +the operation.—Very various methods for its performance have been +devised, differing in the nature and shape of the instruments employed, +the direction and size of the incisions, the nature of the wound; but +all resemble each other in certain very cardinal and important +particulars. Thus all agree that it is absolutely necessary to enter the +bladder at <i>one</i> spot—the neck of the bladder; and that to do this +safely the urethra must be opened, and some instrument<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">{257}</a></span> previously +introduced by the urethra is to be used as a guide for the knife. But an +instrument in the urethra and bladder is surrounded for at least an inch +of its course by the prostate; and thus the knife, gorget, or finger, +which, guided by the instrument in the urethra, is intended to cut or +dilate the entrance to the bladder for the purpose of allowing the +calculus to be removed, cannot do this without also cutting or dilating +this prostate gland. Experience has proved that much of the success of +the operation depends upon the position and amount of incision made in +this prostate gland. But it might be asked, Why can we not enter the +bladder by one side, avoiding altogether its neck and this prostate +gland? For this, among other reasons, that the bladder normally +contains, and so long as the patient lives must contain, a certain +quantity of a very irritating fluid. It is surrounded by the loose +areolar tissue of the pelvis, into which, if any of this fluid escapes, +abcesses will form and death probably ensue; this result will almost +certainly follow any opening made into the bladder except at one spot. +This spot is the neck of the bladder. Why does urinary infiltration not +occur there? Because the fascia of the pelvis (which when entire can +resist infiltration) is prolonged forwards at the neck of the bladder, +over the prostate (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxxiv. pf</span>), for which it forms a very strong +funnel-like sheath. So long as this sheath is not cut where it covers +the sides of the prostate, urinary infiltration of the pelvis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">{258}</a></span> is +impossible, the urine being carried forwards and fairly out of the +pelvis in this urine-tight funnel.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 350px;"> +<img src="images/257.jpg" width="350" height="197" alt="Fig. xxxiv." title="Fig. xxxiv." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xxxiv.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_150_150" id="FNanchor_150_150"></a><a href="#Footnote_150_150" class="fnanchor">[150]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>But it may now be said, If this be the case, we are very much limited in +the size of the incision we may make into the bladder. We cannot remove +a large stone, for the prostate ought not to be larger than a good-sized +chestnut, and any cut we might make through a chestnut without cutting +out of its side must be very small. Very true; but fortunately the +sheath of the prostate, unlike the rind of the chestnut, is very freely +dilatable, and will allow the passage of a very considerable stone.</p> + +<p>Again, an inquirer might ask, If it is so dilatable, why should we run +the risk of cutting the prostate at all? Why should we not introduce +instruments gradually increasing in size into the membranous portion of +the urethra, and thus dilate prostate and neck of bladder? For this +reason, that the urethral canal passing through the prostate is itself +lined immediately outside of the mucous membrane by a firm membranous +sheath (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxxiv. rr</span>), which resists dilatation to the utmost. +Experience tells us that any attempts to dilate or even forcibly to tear +this ring of fibrous texture are both ineffectual and dangerous, while a +clean cut into it and through it into the substance of the prostate is +at once effectual and comparatively safe.</p> + +<p>In a word, we can describe the relation of the prostate to the operation +of lithotomy somewhat in this manner:—Its fibrous sheath surrounding +the urethra must be cut freely. The gland substance may be cut and +freely dilated by the finger. Its fibrous envelope must, as far as +possible, be preserved intact, but this interferes the less with the +operation, as it is comparatively freely dilatable.</p> + +<p>The firm lining of the urethra, which must be cut, is specially strong +at its base, forming a tough resisting band just at the aperture of the +bladder, which, unfortunately,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">{259}</a></span> is often so high up in the pelvis in +tall patients, or in cases in which the prostate is much enlarged, as to +be almost out of reach of the finger, and so far up the staff as perhaps +to escape division. You will be warned of such an occurrence by the +urine in the bladder failing to make its appearance; and if any attempt +be made to dilate the opening and introduce the forceps without further +incision of the base of the prostate, the result will very likely be +fatal, generally from pyæmic symptoms depending on a suppurative +inflammation of the prostatic plexus of veins (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxxiv</span>.). In fact, +upon a recognition of this fact is founded the aphorism, "that cases in +which the forceps have been introduced before the bladder fairly begins +to empty its contents are generally fatal."</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 350px;"> +<img src="images/259.jpg" width="350" height="206" alt="Fig. xxxv." title="Fig. xxxv." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xxxv.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_151_151" id="FNanchor_151_151"></a><a href="#Footnote_151_151" class="fnanchor">[151]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>We have thus traced the necessary guiding principles as to our incisions +from the bladder outwards through the prostatic portion of the urethra. +We have next to discover what sort of an opening is necessary in the +membranous portion of the urethra consistent with the fulfilment of the +same conditions, namely, freedom of escape for the urine, and room +enough to remove the stone. Both of these are gained at once by a free +incision of the membranous portion, dividing especially those anterior +fibres of the great sphincter muscle of the pelvis, the levator ani, +which embrace the membranous portion, under the special names of +compressor (Fig.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">{260}</a></span> <span class="smcap">xxv.</span>) and levator urethræ (Guthrie's and Wilson's +muscles).</p> + +<p>The principles which guide the position and size of the preliminary +incisions which enable the urethra to be opened are very simple:—(1.) +The wound in the perineum should be large enough to give free access to +the urethra, and easy egress to the stone; (2.) It should be conical, +with its base outwards, so as to favour escape of urine and prevent +infiltration; (3.) It should not wound any important organ or vessel; +that is, it must avoid the rectum, the corpus spongiosum, especially the +bulb, if possible, the artery of the bulb, and in every case should +leave the pudic artery intact.</p> + +<p>So far for broad general principles, which must guide all methods of +successful lithotomy.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">The Lateral Operation.</span>—<i>Operation of Cheselden.</i>—(1.) <i>Instruments +required.</i>—A staff with a broad substantial handle, and a longer curve +than the ordinary catheter requires, furnished with a very deep and wide +groove, which occupies the space midway between its convexity and its +left side. The one used should invariably be large enough to dilate +fully the urethra.</p> + +<p>A knife, with its blade three or four inches in length, but sharp only +for an inch and a half from its point, its back straight up to within a +sixth of an inch of its point, and there deflected at an angle to the +point, which again curves to the edge. The angle from the back to the +point permits the knife to run more freely along the groove in the +staff.</p> + +<p>A probe-pointed straight knife with a narrow blade may occasionally be +useful in enlarging the incision in the prostate, when this is required +by the size of the stone.</p> + +<p>Forceps of various sizes and shapes, some with the blades curved at an +angle to reach stones lying behind an enlarged prostate, all with broad +blades as thin as is consistent with perfect inflexibility, the blades +hollowed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">{261}</a></span> and roughened in the inside, but without the projecting teeth +sometimes recommended, which are dangerous from being apt to break the +stone.</p> + +<p>A scoop to remove fragments or small stones, sometimes useful with the +aid of the forefinger in lifting out a large one.</p> + +<p>A flexible tube of at least half an inch calibre, and about six inches +long, rounded off and fenestrated above, fitted at its outer end with a +ring and two eyelet-holes for the tapes, with which it is tied into the +bladder.</p> + +<p>Prior to the operation the patient's health should be attended to, the +stomach and bowels regulated, and any disorder of the kidneys or bladder +as far as possible alleviated. If his health has been good and habits +active, three or four days' confinement to his room on low diet, with a +full purge the evening before the operation, is all the preparatory +treatment that is necessary.</p> + +<p>It is of the utmost importance for the safety of the operation and the +patient's comfort after it, that the rectum be completely unloaded +before the operation, and the bowels so far emptied as to permit three +or four days after the operation to elapse without any movement of the +bowels being necessary. If there is any doubt as to the effect of the +laxative, a large stimulant enema should be administered on the morning +of the operation.</p> + +<p><i>Position.</i>—Much depends on the proper tying up of the patient. He +should be placed with his breech projecting over the edge of a narrow +table, with head slightly raised on a pillow, but the shoulders low. The +hands are then to be secured each to its corresponding foot, by a strong +bandage passing round wrist and instep, or by suitable leather anklets, +the knees should be wide apart, and on exactly the same level, so that +the pelvis may be quite straight. An assistant should be placed to take +charge of each leg.</p> + +<p>The staff is next introduced and the stone felt; if there is little +water in the bladder a few ounces may be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">{262}</a></span> injected, but this is rarely +necessary, for the patient should be ordered to retain as much water as +possible, and when he cannot retain it, injection of water may do harm, +and will probably not be retained, but at once come away along the +groove in the staff. The staff is then committed to a special assistant, +who must be thoroughly up to his duty, and attend to the staff alone.</p> + +<p>Some surgeons direct the assistant to make the convexity of the staff +bulge in the perineum, to enable the groove to be struck more easily. It +will be, however, safer both for the rectum and the bulb, if the staff +be hooked firmly up against the symphysis pubis, as advised by Liston. +The same assistant can also keep the scrotum up out of the way.</p> + +<p>If the perineum has not been previously shaved, this is now done.</p> + +<p>The operator sits down on a low stool in front of the patient's breech, +his instruments being ready to his hand, and then steadying the skin of +the perineum with the fingers of his left hand, enters the point of the +knife in the raphe of the perineum, midway between the anus and scrotum +(one inch in front of anus—<i>Cheselden</i>, <i>Crichton</i>; one and a +quarter—<i>Gross</i>, <i>Skey</i>, and <i>Brodie</i>; one and +three-quarters—<i>Fergusson</i>; one inch behind the scrotum—<i>Liston</i>), and +carries the incision obliquely downwards and outwards, in a line midway +between the anus and tuberosity of the ischium. The length of the +incision must vary with the size of the perineum, and the supposed size +of the stone, but there is less risk in its being too large, so long as +the rectum is safe, than in its being too small. Its depth should be +greatest at its upper angle, where it has to divide the parts to the +depth of the transverse muscle of the perineum, and least at its lower +angle, where a deep incision is not required, and would be almost sure +to wound the rectum.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">{263}</a></span></p> + +<p>The forefinger of the left hand is now to be deeply inserted into the +wound, and any remaining fibres of the levator ani in front are to be +divided, the edge of the knife being directed from above downwards. The +left forefinger being still used to push its way through the cellular +tissue, the groove in the staff is now felt in the membranous portion of +the urethra covered by the deep fascia of the perineum. Now comes the +deeper part of the incision. Guided by the finger-nail of the left hand, +the surgeon introduces the point of the knife into the groove of the +staff. He then takes hold of the staff for a moment to feel that it is +held up properly against the pubis, and in the middle line, and also +that the knife is fairly in the groove. Giving the staff back again to +the assistant, and keeping the rectum well out of the way by the left +hand, he now steadily directs the knife along the groove of the staff +till the bladder is fairly entered, and the ring at the base of the +prostate completely divided. When this is the case a gush of urine takes +place, following the withdrawal of the knife.</p> + +<p>When making the deep incision, and in the groove of the staff, the blade +of the knife should lie neither vertical nor horizontal, but midway +between the two, so as to make the section of the left lobe of the +prostate in its longest diameter, that is, in a direction downwards and +backwards (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxxiv.</span> L).</p> + +<p>The knife is now withdrawn, and the left forefinger inserted. In most +cases it will be long enough to reach the bladder and touch the stone, +and may then be freely used by gradual pressure to dilate the wound; +this may be done very freely when necessary for a large stone, if only +the ring of fibrous tissue surrounding the urethra be first cut and the +bladder fairly entered. Whenever the stone is felt by the finger, the +assistant may withdraw the staff.</p> + +<p>When the operator has thus felt the stone and sufficiently dilated the +wound, the next step is to introduce<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">{264}</a></span> the forceps; this should be done +under the guidance of the finger, and with the blades closed. When the +stone is felt the blades should be opened very widely, slightly +withdrawn, and then pushed in again, the lower one, if possible, being +insinuated under the stone. The blades must be made fairly to grasp and +contain the stone in their hollow, for if they only nibble at the end of +an oval stone, extraction is impossible. Extraction should then be +performed slowly, with alternate wrigglings of the forceps from side to +side, so as gradually to dilate, not to tear, the prostate, and the +operator must remember to pull in the axis of the pelvis, not against +the os pubis or the promontory of the sacrum.</p> + +<p>If there is much resistance, it may possibly be caused by the stone +having been caught in its longer axis, and this may be remedied by +careful manipulation by means of the finger and forceps. If the stone is +still too large to be extracted without greater force than is +warrantable, there are still various expedients (see <i>infra</i>, pp. 265, +270).</p> + +<p>In most cases, however, the stone is removed rapidly enough by the +single incision. The finger, or a sound, must then be introduced to feel +if any more stones are present. The closed forceps make a very effectual +instrument for this purpose. Much information may be gained from the +appearance of the first stone, the presence or absence of facets. Its +smoothness or roughness enables us to form a pretty certain opinion; yet +the bladder should always be carefully searched; and if the stone has +been friable or broken in extraction, should be washed out by a current +of water. Where the calculi are very numerous, or where many fragments +have separated, the scoop will be found useful, both for detecting and +removing them. All the stones being extracted, there is in most cases +little or no bleeding (see <i>infra</i>, Hæmorrhage). The tube already +described may now be inserted and tied into the bladder. It may be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">{265}</a></span> +retained for forty-eight or seventy-two hours, according to +circumstances. Care must be taken lest it be closed up by coagula during +the first hour or two after the operation. In children the tube is not +necessary, and from their restlessness might possibly do harm, but in +adults (though neglected by some surgeons) experience shows it is a +valuable adjunct in the after-treatment.</p> + +<p>Having thus traced the course of an ordinary uncomplicated case of +lithotomy by the lateral operation, a brief notice is suitable of some +of the obstacles and difficulties, some of the dangers and bad results +which may be met with, and the best methods of overcoming them.</p> + +<p>1. <i>Large size of the stone</i>, as an obstacle to extraction. When, either +from the enormous size of the stone, generally to be made out before the +operation, or from some congenital or acquired deformity of the pelvis, +it is obvious beforehand that the calculus cannot pass through the bony +pelvis entire, a choice of two courses remains, either—</p> + +<p>(1.) The high or supra-pubic operation (<i>q.v. infra</i>); or (2.) Crushing +of the calculus in the bladder, and removal piecemeal. Instruments of +great strength have been devised for this latter operation. The risk to +the bladder is very great, and fragments are apt to be left behind; +these are sure to form nuclei of new calculi.</p> + +<p>2. <i>Peculiarities in the position or relations of the stone</i> in the +bladder:—</p> + +<p>(1.) It may lie in a sort of pouch behind the prostate, and thus be out +of the reach of the forceps. This may be remedied by the use of curved +forceps, or, better still, by the finger in the rectum to tilt up the +stone into the bladder.</p> + +<p>(2.) It may lie above the pubis in the anterior wall of the bladder. +Pressure on the hypogastrium, or the use of a strong probe as a hook, +will generally suffice to dislodge it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">{266}</a></span></p> + +<p>(3.) The stone may be encysted. This is extremely rare, and, as +Fergusson says, we hear more of these from bunglers who have operated +only several times, than from those who have had large experience.</p> + +<p>3. <i>An enlarged prostate</i> is at once a source of difficulty and of some +danger.</p> + +<p>The distance of the bladder from the surface may be so very much +increased by enlargement of the prostate as to render even the longest +forefinger too short to reach the stone or even the bladder. This +renders the introduction of the forceps more difficult and uncertain, +the dilatation more prolonged, and the extraction more dangerous. If +very large, the groove of the staff may not reach the bladder, and thus +the deep incision may fail of cutting the ring at the base of the gland, +and the urine may thus not escape, and all the dangers of laceration of +the ring may result. Such cases may be well managed by the insertion of +a straight deeply grooved staff into the insufficient incision, and +fairly into the bladder, and on this, pushing a cutting gorget through +the uncut portion of the gland. This insures a sufficient yet not +dangerous incision, which we cannot so safely perform with the knife, as +the parts are so far beyond the reach of the guiding forefinger.</p> + +<p>Under the head of risks after lithotomy we may class the following:—</p> + +<p>1. Sinking, or shock. In the very aged or very young, or after a very +prolonged or painful operation, shock may now and then kill the patient +within a few hours. Since the days of chloroform this result is +extremely rare.</p> + +<p>2. Hæmorrhage seems to be a very infrequent risk. The transverse +perineal artery, which is always cut in the operation, is small, and +rarely bleeds much. If the bulb is wounded, as no doubt frequently +occurs, the flow from it can easily be checked. The pudic is so well +protected from any ordinary incision as to be practically<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">{267}</a></span> safe; and if +wounded by some frightfully extensive incision, it can be compressed +against the tuberosity of the ischium.</p> + +<p>There is an abnormal distribution of the dorsal artery of the penis, in +which, rising higher up than it ought, and coursing along the neck of +the bladder, and the lateral lobe of the prostate, it may be divided. +This may give trouble, and even result in fatal hæmorrhage. Fortunately +it is rare. The author has met with one case in a boy of eleven, in whom +a very severe hæmorrhage was not to be explained. The patient recovered +without another bad symptom.</p> + +<p>Again, a general oozing may often appear a few hours after the +operation, when the patient is warm in bed, apparently from the +substance of the prostate. If raising the breech and the application of +cold fail to arrest it, it may be necessary to plug the wound. This is +done by stuffing it with long strips of lint round the tube. Great care +must be then taken lest the tube become occluded.</p> + +<p>3. Infiltration of urine may occur as a result of a too free incision of +the vesical fascia (in adults), and still more frequently of a too small +external wound.</p> + +<p>Here it should be noticed that in children it is fortunately of very +little consequence to preserve the integrity of the prostatic sheath of +vesical fascia. In them the prostate is so exceedingly small and +undeveloped, that even the forefinger could not be introduced into the +bladder without a complete section of the prostate. Probably from the +blander nature of their urine, and the greater vitality of their +tissues, this is of less consequence, as it is rarely found that any bad +effects result from this section.</p> + +<p>Among other risks we find peritonitis, inflammation of neck of bladder, +inflammation of prostatic plexus of veins, resulting in pyæmia, +suppression of urine, and other kidney complications. For the symptoms +and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">{268}</a></span> treatment of these there is no place in a mere manual of surgical +operations.</p> + +<p><i>Wound of rectum and recto-vesical fistula.</i>—Such wounds were not +uncommon, and in many cases unavoidable, before the days of chloroform, +from the struggles of the patient; now they are comparatively rare, and +should be still rarer. They probably occur in more cases than the +surgeon is aware of, and heal up without his knowledge; we may arrive at +this conclusion from the fact that small wounds are found in +<i>post-mortem</i> examinations of cases in which no such complication has +been thought of.</p> + +<p>They occasionally heal without giving any trouble, but, at other times, +as the external wound contracts, a communication forms between rectum +and the urethra, in which the contents are apt to be interchanged in a +most disagreeable manner, flatus passing per urethram, and urine per +rectum.</p> + +<p>When it is evidently not going to heal spontaneously, the septum between +the external orifice of the wound and the communication with the gut +should be laid open, as in the operation for fistula <i>in ano</i>.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>There are certain modifications and varieties in the method of +operating for stone through the perineum, which deserve at least a +brief notice:—</p> + +<p>1. <i>The bilateral operation.</i>—Though he was not the inventor, +Dupuytren's name is justly associated with this operation. The +principle of it is to divide both sides of the prostate equally, so +as to give more room for extraction of a large stone, without the +necessity of much laceration, or the risk of cutting through the +prostatic sheath of fascia.</p> + +<p><i>The operation.</i>—A semilunar incision is made transversely across +the perineum, extending from a point midway between the right tuber +ischii and the anus, upwards, crossing the raphe nearly an inch +above the anus, and then curving downwards to a corresponding point +on the opposite side. The skin, superficial fascia, and a few of +the anterior fibres of the external sphincter, are thus divided, +and the groove of the staff sought by the forefinger. The +membranous portion of the urethra is then laid open<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">{269}</a></span> in the middle +line, and the beak of a double lithotome caché securely lodged in +the groove. It is then pushed into the bladder with its concavity +upwards, and when fairly in it is turned round, its blades +protruded to the required extent, and withdrawn with its concavity +downwards, thus dividing both lobes of the prostate in a direction +downwards and outwards (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxiv.</span> D D). The operation is finished +in the usual manner. Though it is a comparatively easy operation, +and theoretically may be proved to have many advantages, experience +has shown that the results are not so favourable as those of the +ordinary lateral operation.</p> + +<p>2. <i>Buchanan's medio-lateral operation</i> on a rectangular +staff.—The staff is bent at a right angle three inches from the +end, and deeply grooved on its left side. This is introduced into +the urethra so that the angle projects the membranous portion of +the urethra close to the apex of the prostate and the terminal +straight portion enters the bladder parallel to the rectum. The +angle projects in the perineum, so that the operator with his left +forefinger in the rectum is enabled, by a stab with a long straight +bistoury (held horizontally and with the cutting edge to the left +side), at once to enter the groove, and, by following the groove, +the bladder. Whenever the escape of urine shows that the bladder is +fairly reached, the knife is withdrawn so as to make a lateral +section of the prostate, and then, with the finger still in the +rectum, to make an incision in the ischio-rectal fossa, of +<ins class="correction" title="text reads 'sufficent'">sufficient</ins> size to allow the stone to be easily +withdrawn.</p> + +<p>The inventor claims for this method that it is easier, that there +is less risk of hæmorrhage, wound of the rectum, and infiltration +of urine.</p> + +<p>3. <i>Allarton's operation of median lithotomy</i> suits admirably for +stones known to be small, but is quite unsuitable for large ones. +Probably in most cases it should be superseded by lithotrity.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—A large curved staff with a central groove is to be +held firmly hooked up against the symphysis pubis, and then +steadied by the left forefinger in the rectum. The operator pierces +the raphe of the perineum with a long straight bistoury about half +an inch above the verge of the anus, enters the groove of the +staff, and cuts inwards, almost, but not quite, into the bladder. +In withdrawing the knife the wound in the urethra is enlarged +upwards towards the scrotum. A ball-pointed probe is then passed on +the staff into the bladder, the staff is withdrawn, and the finger, +guided by the probe, is used to dilate the neck of the bladder, to +an extent sufficient for the removal of the stone by a small pair +of forceps.</p> + +<p>In this operation the prostate is hardly incised at all. The +results are not better than those of the lateral operation. </p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">{270}</a></span></p> + +<p class="gap">2. <span class="smcap">Lithotomy above the Pubes</span>, <i>or the High Operation</i>.—In cases where, +from the known size of the stone, or from the deformity of the bones of +the pelvis, it is impossible that the stone can be extracted entire in +the usual manner; in cases where the prostate is very much enlarged, or +where there is any real or supposed likelihood of inflammation of the +neck of the bladder, the supra-pubic operation <i>may</i> be warrantable. Its +performance is easy, it does not involve any wound of the peritoneum if +properly performed, and there is no risk of hæmorrhage. There are +certainly great risks attending it of peritonitis and urinary +infiltration.</p> + +<p>In more than one case this operation has been attended by wound of +peritoneum and subsequent escape of intestines through the wound, even +when dressed antiseptically and performed under spray.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—The patient lies on his back, with his head and shoulders +slightly raised, so as to relax the abdominal muscles, and his legs +hanging down over the edge of the table. If his bladder can bear it, it +should be fully distended, either by voluntary retention of the urine, +or by injection with tepid water. A vertical incision is then made in +the middle line, separating the recti muscles from below upwards, care +being taken to push the peritoneum well out of the way, which is easily +done by the finger in the loose cellular tissue of the part. The +anterior wall of the bladder is then exposed, uncovered by peritoneum; +it must be opened with great care, also in the middle line, while the +wound in the parietes is held aside by retractors. The wall of the +bladder should be transfixed by a curved needle, and thus held in +position before it is opened. The stone is then removed by a pair of +straight forceps, generally with great ease. Attempts used to be made to +leave a catheter or canula in the bladder wound to prevent infiltration. +Probably the safest method now will be to close the bladder wound at +once by metallic<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">{271}</a></span> stitches, and stitching the abdominal wound carefully +with deeply entered wires, to leave the patient on his back. When +compared with the lateral operations the statistics of the supra-pubic +operation are discouraging, the mortality being one in three and a half +to one in four. But in cases where the stone is known to be very large +and of firm consistence, the risks are probably less from this method +than from lateral lithotomy, followed by efforts to crush the stone +through the wound prior to its removal.</p> + +<p>The late Mr. George Bell, a most successful lithotomist, proposed to +perform this operation in two stages. In a case of greatly enlarged +prostate, where the bladder had been punctured above the pubes by a +country surgeon for retention of urine, he dilated the track of the +canula by means of sponge-tents gradually increased in size, and then +succeeded in extracting through the dilated opening several large +calculi. The case recovered, and may encourage similar attempts.</p> + +<p class="gap">3. <span class="smcap">Operations through the Rectum.</span>—(<i>a.</i>) <i>Sanson's Recto-vesical +Operation.</i>—The principle of this operation consisted in laying the two +canals, the rectum and the urethra, into one. A large staff, grooved on +its convexity, being inserted into the urethra, the operator, with the +forefinger of his left hand in the rectum as a guide to the knife, +pierces the anterior wall of the rectum, reaches the groove of the staff +just in front of the prostate, and cutting outwards divides the rectum, +the anterior fibres of levator ani, and the sphincter, as well as the +skin of the perineum in the middle line. Entering the knife again into +the groove of the staff, it is to be pushed right onwards into the +bladder, dividing the prostate, and avoiding if possible the seminal +vesicles and ducts; the stone is then very easily removed.</p> + +<p>Though this operation was supposed to lessen the risk of pelvic +infiltration it is <i>not</i> found to do so, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">{272}</a></span> it adds the additional +inconvenience of almost inevitable rectal fistula, through which the +urine escapes. It is certainly a very easy operation, but the mortality +is found to be greater than in the ordinary lateral operation.</p> + +<p>(<i>b.</i>) <i>Lithotomy through the rectum above the prostate.</i>—The presence +of a small portion of bladder beyond the prostate in close relation to +the rectum renders it possible, in cases where the prostate is not +enlarged, to enter the bladder and remove a stone of moderate size, +without interfering with the peritoneum, prostate, or neck of the +bladder.</p> + +<p>This ingenious but difficult operation was performed for the first time +by Drs. Sims and Bauer in 1859.</p> + +<p>I quote the brief notice of the operation by Dr. Sims from the <i>Lancet</i> +of 1864 (vol. i. p. 111):—</p> + +<p>"The patient was placed on the left side, and my speculum was introduced +into the rectum, exposing the anterior wall of the rectum, just as it +would the vagina in the female. A sound was passed into the bladder. The +doctor entered the blade of a bistoury in the triangular space bounded +by the prostate, the vesiculæ seminales, and the peritoneal +reduplication. He passed the finger through this opening, felt the +stone, and removed it with the forceps without the least trouble. The +operation was done as quickly and as easily as it would have been in a +female through the vaginal septum. After the removal of the stone, Dr. +Bauer kindly asked me to close the wound with silver sutures, which I +did, introducing some five or six wires, with the same facility as in +the vagina. There was no leakage of urine. The patient recovered without +the least trouble of any sort. The wires were removed on the eighth day, +and on the ninth day the patient rode in a carriage with Dr. Bauer a +distance of four or five miles, to call on, and report himself to, our +distinguished countryman, Dr. Mott."</p> + +<p>The chief risks in this operation seem to be the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">{273}</a></span> chance of wounding the +peritoneal <i>cul-de-sac</i>, as the amount of free space between it and the +prostate seems to vary much in individuals and in races. Dr. Marion Sims +mentioned to me in conversation that he believed this operation +impossible in the negro race, from the greater projection downwards of +the peritoneal reduplication. An enlarged prostate would be an +insuperable objection. The use of silver wire, to close up the wound at +once, diminishes very much any risk of recto-vesical fistula.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Lithotrity or Lithotripsy.</span>—There exist cases of stone in the bladder, +which, under certain conditions, may be relieved without lithotomy, by +an operation which crushes the stone into fragments small enough to be +discharged through the urethra.</p> + +<p>To enter with any fulness into the history, literature, and varieties of +this operation, and the instruments required, would in itself require a +large volume. Suffice it here to describe the case suitable for the +operation, the essentials required in the instrument, and the method of +performance.</p> + +<p>1. <i>For a case to be suitable</i> the <i>stone</i> should not be too large, and +especially not too hard, also there should not be too many of them.</p> + +<p>The <i>urethra</i> should be capacious enough to let the instrument pass +easily and painlessly.</p> + +<p>The <i>bladder</i> should be large enough to contain four ounces of water at +least, should not be much inflamed, and, on the other hand, should not +be paralysed. Paralysis or want of tone in the bladder prevents the +thorough evacuation of its contents, and still more the expulsion of the +fragments of stone.</p> + +<p>2. <i>A good instrument</i> should, as far as possible, combine strength with +lightness. The curved portion of the fixed blade should be fenestrated +to allow escape of the fragments and thorough closure of the +instrument.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">{274}</a></span></p> + +<p>The movable blade must be so arranged as to combine perfect ease of +movement up and down in seeking for the stone, with a powerful, slow, +and gradual approximation in crushing it. This can be managed by an +ingenious arrangement, which leaves the movable blade under the control +only of the operator's thumb till the stone is found, and yet, by +touching a spring, gives him the advantage either of a fine screw or of +a rack and pinion movement for crushing the stone.</p> + +<p>3. <i>Operation.</i>—The patient being prepared by a free evacuation of the +bowels, and the urethra having been previously fairly dilated, he is +asked to retain his urine as long as possible, or, if he cannot do so, a +few ounces of tepid water may be injected per urethram.</p> + +<p>He is then laid on a sofa or table, the breech being well raised by +pillows, the shoulders low, the thighs and knees bent up and separated. +The instrument, well warmed and oiled, is then introduced with the +blades closed. When fairly into the bladder the search for the stone +begins.</p> + +<p>There are differences of opinion regarding the best method of fishing +for the stone; great patience and gentleness, with a thorough previous +acquaintance with bladder manipulation, are required, whichever method +be chosen.</p> + +<p>The two chief methods may be described as the English and the French, +the latter, Civiale's, being now used by Sir Henry Thompson, and other +English operators. Briefly, the two are:—</p> + +<p>(1.) <i>Heurteloup's and Sir B. C. Brodie's.</i>—In this, after the +instrument is fairly entered, its handle is elevated, thus depressing +the curved extremity, the forceps are then opened, and, by being kept as +low as possible in the bladder, it is hoped that the calculus will fall +into the opened blades by its own weight. In this method<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">{275}</a></span> the fundus is +the scene of crushing, and there is a risk of injuring the sensitive +neck of the bladder, especially at the moment of opening the blades.</p> + +<p>(2.) <i>Civiale's—Thompson's.</i>—In this the pelvis is to be so elevated +that the centre of the bladder and space beneath it give plenty of room +for seizing the stone, and all contact with the wall of the bladder is +(as far as possible) avoided.</p> + +<p>The instrument is introduced closed, and carried fairly away in to the +posterior part of the bladder before it is opened at all. It probably +grazes the stone in passing, and, if so, is directed to the side of the +bladder in which the stone is <i>not</i> lying. Then when nearly touching the +posterior wall, the movable blade is withdrawn, the instrument inclined +towards the stone lying unmoved in the most dependent part, and there +seizes it generally with ease.</p> + +<p>If not felt, the blades are again to be opened, turned a little to the +other side of the bladder, and then closed. Sir H. Thompson lays the +greatest stress on the importance of always having the blades fairly +opened before shifting their position, for if moved when closed, the +very opening of the movable blade is certain to drive the stone out of +the way and prevent its seizure.</p> + +<p>Certain rules are useful:—Move the axis of the instrument as little as +possible; it should be kept in the centre of the bladder, so far in, +that the movements of the male blade are quite free from the neck of the +bladder and prostate, and the blades only should be moved in the bladder +on the centre of the shaft as an axis. There should be no jerking once +the stone is caught, and the crushing should be done as far as possible +in the very centre of the bladder, the blades not touching any of the +walls.</p> + +<p>After the stone is seized, do not crush till, by a turn of the blades +from side to side, you discover that none<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">{276}</a></span> of the mucous membrane of the +bladder is caught in the instrument.</p> + +<p>The lithotrite is not meant to extract stones, but to crush them, hence +never attempt to withdraw it unless the blades are in absolute +apposition.</p> + +<p>Never attempt too much at one time. Sir H. Thompson holds that five +minutes is the longest time that should be given, perhaps in most cases +three minutes being long enough.</p> + +<p>While many surgeons will still agree with the above advice, Dr. Bigelow +of Boston has lately been highly commending a method which he has called +Litholapaxy, in which, at one sitting under chloroform, the stone is +crushed and aspirated, or sucked out of the bladder at once.<a name="FNanchor_152_152" id="FNanchor_152_152"></a><a href="#Footnote_152_152" class="fnanchor">[152]</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>Since the above was written the operation of Litholapaxy has made +great strides in the favour of surgeons, and many stones that would +have been removed by lithotomy are now broken down by powerful +instruments at a single sitting, and removed piecemeal by the +suction apparatus.</p> + +<p>S. W. Gross has collected 312 cases, of which 17 died or 5.45 per +cent., but of 180 done by experienced surgeons, Thompson, Bigelow, +Van Buren, Weir, and Stevenson only five died, or 3.33 per cent., +while of 1470 cases of lithotrity, as formerly practised, 159, or +10.81, per cent. died.<a name="FNanchor_153_153" id="FNanchor_153_153"></a><a href="#Footnote_153_153" class="fnanchor">[153]</a> </p></div> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Operations for Stricture of Urethra.</span>—Under this head many manipulations +and operations might be described; the very instruments devised being +exceedingly numerous and complicated. Enough here to detail a few of the +more simple and practical procedures under the different heads of—1. +<i>Dilatation</i> gradual and forced. 2. <i>Internal Division.</i> 3. <i>External +Division.</i></p> + +<p class="gap">1. <span class="smcap">Dilatation.</span>—Under this head we have—</p> + +<p><i>a.</i> <i>Vital dilatation.</i>—The passing of a succession of bougies, +gradually increasing in diameter, at intervals of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">{277}</a></span> three or four days, +for the purpose of exciting an amount of interstitial absorption in the +new material constituting the stricture, sufficient to remove it. +Passing a bougie, though certainly often very difficult, perhaps should +hardly come into the category of surgical operations, yet to preserve a +certain completeness in the account of stricture, a very brief +description may be here inserted.</p> + +<p>The recumbent posture is in most cases to be preferred. The patient +should lie flat on his back, with the knees slightly bent and separated, +and the head and shoulders slightly raised on a pillow. The operator +standing on the patient's left side, raises the penis in his left hand, +and with the right introduces the instrument, previously warmed and +oiled, into the meatus. He then pushes it very gently onwards, at the +same time stretching the penis with the left hand, just so far as to +efface any wrinkles in the mucous membrane, till the point reaches the +bulbous portion. The axis of the instrument, which at first for +convenience was over the left groin, has now gradually been approaching +the middle line. When this is reached, the instrument should be raised +from the abdomen, and the handle cautiously carried in the arc of a +circle first upwards and then downwards, till, when the instrument is +fairly into the bladder, the handle is depressed between the patient's +thighs. While this is being done the operator's left hand should be +withdrawn from the penis, and the points of the fingers applied to the +perineum.</p> + +<p>In cases of difficulty certain points may be remembered:—</p> + +<p>(1.) That the point of the instrument may in the first inch or two be +occasionally entangled in a lacuna in the roof, especially when a small +instrument is used; hence the beak should be at first maintained against +the inferior wall of the canal.<a name="FNanchor_154_154" id="FNanchor_154_154"></a><a href="#Footnote_154_154" class="fnanchor">[154]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">{278}</a></span></p> + +<p>(2.) That the handle should not be depressed too soon; if it is, there +is a risk of a false passage being made through the upper wall.</p> + +<p>(3.) The opposite error may force the point out of the urethra between +the membranous portion and the rectum, and onwards into the substance of +the prostate gland.</p> + +<p>And certain cautions may be given:—</p> + +<p>(1.) In every exploration of an unknown urethra the surgeon should +commence with an instrument of medium size, certainly not less than No. +7 or 8.</p> + +<p>(2.) In cases of difficulty occurring in the urethra behind the scrotum, +invariably use the forefinger of the left hand in the rectum as a guide.</p> + +<p>(3.) Expression of pain on the part of the patient is no indication that +a false passage is being made, nor its absence that the instrument is in +the passage, for it is a remark of Mr. Syme, that passing an instrument +through a stricture is generally more painful than making a false +passage through the walls of the urethra.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>An instrument may be passed, while the patient is erect, with the +following precautions:—The patient should stand with his back +against a wall, his arms supported on the back of a chair on each +side, heels eight or ten inches apart, and four or five inches from +the wall; his clothes thoroughly down, not merely opened. The +bougie should then be held nearly horizontal, with its concavity +over the left groin of the patient, the penis being raised in the +surgeon's left hand. Introduced thus for four or five inches, the +handle is gradually raised into the middle line of the abdomen, and +to the perpendicular; it is then to be lightly depressed, and, as +the point enters the bladder, brought down towards the operator +until it sinks beneath the horizontal line. </p></div> + +<p><i>b.</i> <i>Mechanical dilatation</i> is of two kinds, both very rarely +used:—(1.) When an instrument cannot be passed, it consists of passing +down day after day the point of an instrument (sometimes armed with +caustic, sometimes not), and pressing it against the stricture<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">{279}</a></span> till it +is overcome.<a name="FNanchor_155_155" id="FNanchor_155_155"></a><a href="#Footnote_155_155" class="fnanchor">[155]</a> (2.) When an instrument is introduced through an +intractable stricture, and is left there either for some hours, or for +some days, to excite what is called "suppuration" of the stricture.<a name="FNanchor_156_156" id="FNanchor_156_156"></a><a href="#Footnote_156_156" class="fnanchor">[156]</a></p> + +<p><i>c.</i> <i>Forced dilatation.</i>—Under this head we might describe at great +length mechanical contrivances to force or rupture a stricture. A word +or two on a few of the most important:—</p> + +<p>(1.) Conical bougies of steel or silver.</p> + +<p>(2.) Mr. Wakley's method, on which many others have been founded. He +passed a small bougie or wire into the bladder, over which were slipped +straight tubes of varying size, with perfect certainty that they could +not leave the urethra.</p> + +<p>(3.) Mr. Holt's method.<a name="FNanchor_157_157" id="FNanchor_157_157"></a><a href="#Footnote_157_157" class="fnanchor">[157]</a>—The principle of it is to rupture the +stricture at once, so that a No. 12 catheter can immediately be passed +into the bladder.</p> + +<p>He attains this object by means of an instrument composed of two grooved +blades, united about one inch from their apex, into a conical sound, +which at its apex is about the size of a No. 2 bougie. This is passed +into the bladder, and the grooved blades are separated to any extent +that is desired by passing down between them a straight rod equal in +size of a No. 8, 10, or 12, bougie. To guide this properly it is made +hollow, and it is passed down over a central wire which lies between the +grooved blades of the instrument and is welded to the apex. A great +improvement is effected on Mr. Holt's later instruments by this wire +being made hollow, and fitted with a stilette, for by this means we can +with certainty ascertain whether or not the instrument has been passed +into the bladder. This instrument, which is an improvement upon one +invented<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">{280}</a></span> by Perrève nearly forty years ago, has been used on very many +occasions by Mr. Holt and others with success. The risk to life, if the +case be properly managed, is trifling, but, like every other means of +treating stricture, it has the objection that the stricture is liable to +recur, unless bougies be passed at intervals for months and years.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Thompson has introduced and described another very ingenious +instrument for the same purpose, constructed on somewhat similar +principles. His account of it, to which I must refer, will be found in +Holmes's <i>System of Surgery</i>, 1st ed. vol. iv. p. 399.</p> + +<p class="gap">2. <span class="smcap">Internal Division of Stricture</span> is a mode of treatment which by many +surgeons is highly disapproved, yet of late years it has been more used +than formerly, especially in resilient strictures. It may be done in two +ways:—</p> + +<p>(1.) <i>From before backwards.</i>—This method, to be at all admissible, +requires a guide to be previously passed; a lancet-shaped blade may then +be slipped down a groove in this guide till the stricture is divided. +This is least objectionable in cases of stricture close to the meatus.</p> + +<p>(2.) <i>From behind forwards.</i>—To make the incision thus, it is of course +necessary that the stricture should be so far dilatable as to admit an +instrument the point of which is large enough to contain the blade by +which the stricture is to be divided. This will be found to be at least +equal in size to a No. 3 or No. 4 catheter. In many instruments it is +much larger.</p> + +<p><i>Civiale's</i> instrument for internal incision of the urethra from behind +forwards has the very high recommendation of Sir H. Thompson.<a name="FNanchor_158_158" id="FNanchor_158_158"></a><a href="#Footnote_158_158" class="fnanchor">[158]</a> It +consists of a sound with a bulbous extremity (as large as a No. 5 +bougie) which contains a small blade, which can be made to project<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">{281}</a></span> for +such a distance as the operator wishes. It is passed through the +stricture with the blade concealed, till the bulb is carried about +one-third of an inch or more beyond the stricture; the blade is then +projected, and the incision made by drawing it slowly but firmly +outwards towards the meatus, with the blade towards the floor of the +urethra, till the stricture is divided in its whole extent. Sir H. +Thompson recommends this to be used in cases <i>where it is not that the +stricture is of very small calibre, but that it is undilatable</i>, that +prevents the cure. Many modifications of above have been devised by +Lund, Teevan, and other surgeons, on similar principles.</p> + +<p class="gap">3. <span class="smcap">Mr. Syme's Operation of External Division.</span>—Mr. Syme held that no +stricture through which the water can escape should be called +<i>impermeable</i>, for by patience and care the surgeon should always be +able to pass a slender director through the stricture on which it may be +divided with ease and certainty. The old operation of "perineal section" +for so-called impermeable stricture is very different, being difficult, +dangerous, and uncertain in its results.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—A director is passed into the stricture. Mr. Syme's +directors are of different sizes, the smallest being in diameter less +than an ordinary surgical probe. They are made of steel, are grooved on +the convexity, and have this peculiarity, that while the lower half is +small, the upper is of full size (No. 8 or 10), the difference in +calibre occurring quite abruptly. The presence of this "shoulder" on the +staff enables the operator to ascertain exactly the position of the +stricture, and also to tell when it is fully divided without the +necessity of withdrawing the instrument.</p> + +<p>This being fairly in the stricture, the patient is put in the position +for lithotomy, an assistant holds the staff in his right hand, drawing +up the scrotum with his left.</p> + +<p>The surgeon then makes an incision in the middle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">{282}</a></span> line over the +stricture for the necessary distance, from above downwards, till he +exposes the urethra, and feels exactly the shoulder of the staff. Care +must be taken not to go past the urethra at either side. When he +distinctly feels the outline of the staff, he takes it in his left hand, +and a short sharp-pointed bistoury in his right. It should be held +firmly in the palm of the hand, with the back of the blade resting on +the forefinger, the pulp of which guides the point to the groove, and +guards it when making the incision; the knife is to be placed on the +groove beyond (<i>on the bladder side</i>) of the stricture, and brought +forwards, slowly cutting through <i>the whole</i> stricture; till the +shoulder of the staff is reached. It requires strength and precision to +divide thoroughly the indurated stricture, which is apt to elude the +knife.</p> + +<p>The shoulder of the staff can now be passed through the stricture if the +operation is complete; if not, the incision must be extended, always in +the middle line, and guided by the groove. When thoroughly divided, the +staff is now to be withdrawn, and a full-sized catheter with a double +curve passed into the bladder. This should <i>not</i> be furnished with a +stop-cock or plug, lest the bladder should by inadvertence be allowed to +be too full, and extravasation into the cellular tissue of the urethra +take place along the side of the instrument.</p> + +<p>The catheter should be tied in, and left for two, sometimes for three +days, when it can generally be removed with safety, and a bougie should +be passed at intervals of three or four, till the wound is healed. To +prevent recurrence of the stricture, it is a wise precaution to pass an +instrument at intervals for many months after the cure is apparently +complete.</p> + +<p>In certain cases, where the stricture is far back and the urinary +symptoms severe, Mr. Syme found advantage from the introduction of a +shorter double-curved catheter (only about nine inches long) through +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">{283}</a></span> wound into the bladder, where it should be left for three days. +This seems to diminish the risk of rigors, and other symptoms of fever, +which are apt to occur when the urine is allowed for the first time to +pass over the wound.</p> + +<p><i>Perineal Section</i> is an operation both dangerous and difficult; as Sir +Astley Cooper used to say, "the surgeon who performs it requires to have +a long summer's day before him."</p> + +<p>No director or guide can be passed. A full-sized catheter must be passed +as far as possible <i>up</i> to the stricture, and held firmly in the middle +line. The patient must be tied up in lithotomy position on a table in +the very best light that can be obtained. The perineum being shaved, an +incision must be made in the middle line from over the point of the +catheter to the verge of the anus, if the stricture extends far back.</p> + +<p>The urethra should then be opened over the catheter, the edges of the +mucous membrane held to each side by silk threads passed through them; +and the surgeon must endeavour to pass a fine probe into the opening of +the stricture; if this can be done, it is comparatively easy to slit the +stricture up. If not, the surgeon must simply seek for the remains of +the urethra by slow, cautious dissection in the middle line. If +successful, a catheter must be secured in the bladder in the usual way.</p> + +<p>A stricture near the orifice, or, as it is not uncommon, involving +merely the meatus, can be treated with great ease in the above manner by +division on a grooved probe. When quite close to the orifice, with a +well-defined hardness, as of a ring round the urethra, it may be divided +subcutaneously by a tenotomy knife or other narrow-bladed instrument. It +is not necessary to keep a catheter in the bladder in cases where the +stricture has been in front of the scrotum.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Puncture of the Bladder.</span>—A patient and dexterous<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">{284}</a></span> use of the catheter +prevents this operation from being often required; still, circumstances +may arise in which it is found impossible to enter the bladder <i>per vias +naturales</i>. In such a case the bladder may be punctured from the outside +by a curved trocar and canula, in either of two situations.</p> + +<p>1. <i>From above the pubis.</i>—This operation is a very simple one, and +when the bladder is distended need not imply a wound of the peritoneum.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—A preliminary incision, varying in length according to the +amount of fat, should be made above the pubis exactly in the middle +line; the edges of the recti should be separated, the peritoneum pushed +out of the way and upwards by the finger, and a curved trocar plunged +into the distended bladder obliquely backwards. The canula should be +retained for a day or two, and then a flexible catheter with a shield +inserted instead. Such instruments have been worn for years. The +aspirateur pneumatique of Dr. Dieulafoy will be found an exceedingly +useful instrument for puncture of bladder and removal of urine. The +author has now used it very frequently with the best results. Its +advantage is that the urine is removed through an aperture so small as +to allow of the withdrawal and reintroduction of the canula as often as +is necessary.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 289px;"> +<img src="images/284.jpg" width="289" height="350" alt="Fig. xxxvi." title="Fig. xxxvi." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xxxvi.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_159_159" id="FNanchor_159_159"></a><a href="#Footnote_159_159" class="fnanchor">[159]</a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">{285}</a></span></p> + +<p>2. <i>From the Rectum.</i>—Except in cases of enlargement of the prostate, +it is at once easier and safer to puncture the bladder from the rectum. +The well-known triangular space uncovered by peritoneum, with its apex +in front close to the prostate, and bounded on either side by the vasa +deferentia and vesiculæ seminales, can be easily reached by a curved +trocar. This should be guided by one, or, still better, by two fingers, +into the rectum, with its concavity upwards, and the point should be +pushed upwards by depression of the handle, whenever it is fairly behind +the prostate. The trocar may then be withdrawn, and the canula retained +for at least forty-eight hours by a suitable bandage. Mr. Cock, of Guy's +Hospital, had a special canula for the purpose, which expands at its +extremity after its introduction, and thus is not apt to slip.<a name="FNanchor_160_160" id="FNanchor_160_160"></a><a href="#Footnote_160_160" class="fnanchor">[160]</a> Some +surgeons insist that the surgeon should be able to ascertain the +existence of fluctuation between the finger in the rectum, and the other +hand above the pubes. This is exceedingly difficult to elicit when the +bladder is very much distended, and from the constrained position of the +finger in the bowel.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Phymosis.</span>—Elongation of the prepuce, with contraction of its orifice, +in most cases congenital, sometimes so extreme as to cause difficulty in +micturition, and frequently preventing the uncovering of the glans.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—In all well-marked cases, the following is required:—The +elongated prepuce should be pulled forwards by a pair of catch-forceps, +and a circle of skin and mucous membrane removed by a single stroke of a +bistoury, or by sharp scissors. Care should be taken lest the glans be +included in the incision, as has happened in <i>at least</i> one instance. +The skin will then be found to retract very freely beyond the glans, but +the mucous membrane is found still to cover the glans, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">{286}</a></span> its orifice +is still constricted. It must then be slit up (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxxvii.</span> <i>b b</i>) on +the dorsum of the glans, with probe-pointed scissors, as far as the +corona, and the glans will then be thoroughly exposed. The edges of +mucous membrane and skin should then be stitched to each other by at +least five or six fine silk sutures, any bleeding points having been +first carefully secured. The angles will in time round off, and a +wonderfully seemly prepuce be obtained. This operation may be done as a +method of cure for obstinate enuresis in cases in which the prepuce is +very long and redundant, even when it is not too tight. The author has +done this in more than twenty cases with excellent results.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/286.jpg" width="250" height="242" alt="Fig. xxxvii." title="Fig. xxxvii." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xxxvii.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_161_161" id="FNanchor_161_161"></a><a href="#Footnote_161_161" class="fnanchor">[161]</a></span> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p><i>Varieties.</i>—When the prepuce is narrowed at its orifice without +being redundant in length, a milder operation will prove +sufficient. The principle is the same as in the former, but the +amount of incision is less, and nothing is removed. Two methods are +possible:—</p> + +<p>1. <i>By scissors.</i>—The blunt point of a pair of scissors is +introduced through the preputial orifice, the other blade being +outside, and the skin and mucous membrane are divided for about +half an inch; the skin being then retracted, the mucous membrane is +still further divided by one or two additional snips, and then the +edges of skin and mucous membrane are stitched together by one or +two points of suture.</p> + +<p>2. <i>By knife.</i>—A director being introduced within the prepuce, a +narrow-bladed knife is guided along it, and pushed through the +prepuce from within, and then made to divide skin and mucous +membrane from within outwards. Stitches as before.</p> + +<p><i>N.B.</i>—Be careful lest the director pass into the meatus +urinarius, and the glans be split up.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">{287}</a></span></p> + +<p>Again, some surgeons prefer two lateral incisions instead of one +dorsal one. In this case skin and mucous membrane should be divided +by scissors for about a quarter of an inch, and then a single +stitch inserted in the angle of junction. This has been further +modified by Cullerier, who proposed the division of the tight +mucous membrane only, in three or four points. He used a pair of +scissors with one sharp and one probe-pointed blade, the sharp one +thrust in between skin and mucous membrane, the blunt one between +the mucous membrane and the glans. </p></div> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Amputation of the Penis.</span>—This exceedingly simple operation is performed +by a single stroke of an amputating knife, drawn along from heel to +point, while the penis is stretched in the operator's left hand. As +there is more risk of redundancy than of deficiency of the skin, no +attempt is made to save it. Numerous vessels in the corpora cavernosa +require ligature. Amputation of the penis may be done bloodlessly by the +thermo-cautery even close to its root. Transfix the root of corpora +cavernosa by a needle; above this pass two or three turns of an elastic +ligature; then slowly divide at a low red heat the skin and corpora +cavernosa below the needles; split the urethra after dividing its mucous +membrane with a knife. The author has done this several times with ease +and rapid healing.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/287.jpg" width="150" height="165" alt="Fig. xxxviii." title="Fig. xxxviii." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. xxxviii.</span> +<a name="FNanchor_162_162" id="FNanchor_162_162"></a><a href="#Footnote_162_162" class="fnanchor">[162]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>The chief risk is stricture of the orifice of the urethra. To prevent +this, several modifications of the operation have been introduced.</p> + +<p>1. <i>Ricord's method.</i><a name="FNanchor_163_163" id="FNanchor_163_163"></a><a href="#Footnote_163_163" class="fnanchor">[163]</a>—After the amputation the surgeon seizes with +forceps the mucous membrane of the urethra, and with a pair of scissors +makes four slits in it, so as to form four equal flaps, and with a silk +ligature stitches each of these to the skin. Contraction of the +cicatrix<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">{288}</a></span> will thus tend to open rather than close the urethral orifice.</p> + +<p>2. <i>Teale's method.</i><a name="FNanchor_164_164" id="FNanchor_164_164"></a><a href="#Footnote_164_164" class="fnanchor">[164]</a>—He slits up, by a bistoury on a director, the +urethra and skin over it for about two-thirds of an inch, and then +stitches the one to the other, thus making it a long oval dependent +orifice (Fig. <span class="smcap">xxxviii.</span>).</p> + +<p>3. <i>Miller's proposed method.</i><a name="FNanchor_165_165" id="FNanchor_165_165"></a><a href="#Footnote_165_165" class="fnanchor">[165]</a>—"A narrow-bladed knife is first +used to transfix the penis between the spongy and cavernous bodies close +to the root; the knife having been carried forwards for an inch and a +half, its edge is turned perpendicularly downwards, and the urethra and +skin flap are divided, the cavernous bodies and dorsal integument being +then cut perpendicularly upwards where the knife was originally entered +for transfixion. A button-hole is afterwards made in the lower flap, +though which the corpus spongiosum and urethra protrude, while the flap +itself is turned upwards, and attached dorsally and laterally, so as to +cover in the exposed cavernous structure."</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Hydrocele.</span>—The very simple operation necessary for hydrocele is thus +performed:—The surgeon supports the tumour in his left hand so as to +project it forwards, and make the scrotum as tense as possible in front. +Having carefully ascertained the exact position of the testicle, which +can generally be easily enough done by a finger accustomed to +discriminate the difference between a soft solid, and a bag tensely +filled with fluid, aided by the peculiar sensation of the testicle when +squeezed, the surgeon enters a trocar and canula about an eighth of an +inch in diameter into the distended cavity of the tunica vaginalis, near +the fundus of the swelling. When it is evident the instrument is fairly +entered, and not till then, the trocar is withdrawn, and the fluid +allowed completely to drain off. When it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">{289}</a></span> ceases to flow the surgeon +places his forefinger over the end of the canula to prevent the entrance +of air, till he fits into its orifice a suitable syringe containing two +drachms of the tincture of iodine, made according to the Edinburgh +Pharmacopœia: the tincture of the British Pharmacopœia is not +sufficiently strong. Having injected this cautiously into the cavity, +the canula is withdrawn, and the surgeon, seizing the now flaccid +scrotum in his right hand, gives it a thorough shake, so as to spread +the iodine over as much as possible of the inner wall. When properly +performed this very simple procedure very rarely fails to produce a +radical cure; though less thorough operations, such as mere evacuation +of the fluid, less stimulating injections, unguents introduced on +probes, and the like, often fail of success, and thus give encouragement +to absurdities, such as wire-setons, or to more severe operations, such +as laying open the sac.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Hæmatocele.</span>—When the contents of the sac of the tunica vaginalis are +found to be grumous instead of simply serous, or when, as often happens, +only pure blood escapes when the fluid is nearly evacuated, it is found +that simple evacuation and injection are very rarely sufficient to +effect a cure.</p> + +<p>After they have been fairly tried, the sac of the hæmatocele should be +laid open in its full extent; any large vessels which bleed should be +tied, and the cavity then stuffed with lint. When the lint can be +removed, which will be after two or three days, the edges of the wound +should be brought closely together, and the cavity will then rapidly +heal up from the bottom, and be obliterated by secondary union of +granulations.</p> + +<p>In cases where the walls of the cavity are enormously thickened, or +even, as sometimes happens, almost bony in consistence, an elliptical +portion may be removed with advantage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">{290}</a></span></p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Excision of Testicle.</span>—This operation is rarely required except for +tumours of the testicle. Hence the size of the incision necessary must +vary much with the size of the tumour; and the amount of skin to be +removed (if any) on the amount of adhesions it has formed to the tumour.</p> + +<p>One or two points must be attended to in every case of extirpation of a +testicle:—</p> + +<p>1. The incision should commence over the cord just outside of the +external ring, and be continued fairly over the tumour to its base.</p> + +<p>2. As to removal of skin, some surgeons advise that none should be taken +away, others that a considerable quantity can be spared. There is +certainly less risk of secondary hæmorrhage if a portion be removed, +than when a flaccid empty bag is left. The author invariably removes a +very large quantity of skin if the tumour is large, as there is much +more rapid healing, and the resulting scrotum is much more comfortable +for the patient.</p> + +<p>3. The cord should be exposed at the beginning of the operation, raised +from its bed and given to an assistant, who should compress it gently, +not from any fear of its escape into the abdomen, but to prevent +hæmorrhage. If the tumour has been very large and heavy, the cord will +have been much stretched, and if divided too high up, may really give +trouble by its elasticity, unless the above precaution is taken. The +cord then having been divided close to the tumour, the latter is +removed, care being taken not to include the sound testicle in the +removal. All the vessels are then to be tied or twisted, and the +spermatic artery is to be secured alone, not, as used to be the case, +included in a common ligature with the other constituents of the cord. +Secondary hæmorrhage is very apt to occur from small scrotal branches +which may have escaped notice during the operation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">{291}</a></span></p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Operations on the Anus and its Neighbourhood.</span>—<span class="smcap">Fistula in Ano.</span>—While +much might be written on the pathology of fistula, and a good deal even +on its diagnosis, a very few words will suffice to describe the simple +and effectual operation for its relief.</p> + +<p>Dismissing at once all so-called palliatives, drugs, unguents, pressure, +and injections, as mere waste of time, and holding that the only method +of cure consists in laying the fistula fairly open, the question narrows +itself into this: What is the best method of laying it open? Prior to +the discovery by Ribes of the great principle that the internal orifice +of the sinus is always within an inch or an inch and a half of the +orifice of the anus, the operations for fistula were most unnecessarily +severe; the gut used to be divided as far up as the sinuses extended; +and large portions of the anus used to be excised bodily along with the +sinuses. It is now a much simpler and more satisfactory operation.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—A common silver probe bent to the required shape is passed +into the external opening, or, if there are more than one, into the +largest and oldest one. The forefinger of the left hand being introduced +into the rectum, the probe is passed through the internal orifice, and +its point brought out by the anus. The portion of tissue raised by the +probe can then be easily divided with the certainty that the fistula is +laid fully open. Anal fistulæ have been divided by the elastic ligature, +but it seems slower in action and more painful, with no counterbalancing +advantages.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>The author has for last few years operated almost exclusively by a +long knife which is continued into a steel probe. The probe is +passed up the fistula, then into the bowel, and is hooked out at +the anus, and in being simply pushed on the knife cuts the +fistula—tuto, cito, et jucunde, the patient rarely knowing that +more has been done than an exploration.</p> + +<p>In cases where, from the hardness and density of the parts it is +impossible to pass the probe and bring it out at the anus, a strong +probe-pointed bistoury may be passed in by the external<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">{292}</a></span> orifice +till its probe-point can be felt by the finger in the bowel at the +internal opening. Supported by the finger it can then be made to +cut outwards till the whole septum is divided. </p></div> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Fissure of the Anus, Ulcer of the Anus</span>, resemble each other alike in the +exceeding annoyance which they give to the sufferer, and in the +simplicity of the treatment needed.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—Once the presence of either is determined by the finger in +the anus, a sharp-pointed curved bistoury should be introduced, +transfixing the base of the fissure or ulcer, and then guided on the +finger, completely dividing it, so as to change the ragged ulceration +into a simple wound which will rapidly heal.</p> + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Prolapsus Ani</span>, <i>Operation for</i>.—Complete prolapsus in which the whole +gut is involved, as seen in the very young and the very aged, is suited +for palliative rather than radical treatment.</p> + +<p>Cases of prolapsus of the mucous membrane only, as is not uncommon in +connection with or as a result of hæmorrhoids in adults, give +opportunity for operative interference.</p> + +<p>We may act on either the skin or mucous membrane, or both at once.</p> + +<p class="gap">1. <i>The skin</i> is often found loose, and arranged in radiating folds +round the anus. In such cases, as recommended first by Dupuytren, some +of these projecting folds may be removed. Again it may be prolapsed in a +great loose ring or circular fold round the margin, forming an +exaggerated external pile; in such a case the loose fold may be fairly +excised with curved scissors, as recommended by Hey of Leeds.</p> + +<p>The first of these methods is apt to be insufficient, the second again +has the risk of removing too much.</p> + +<p class="gap">2. If the protrusion is chiefly mucous membrane exposed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">{293}</a></span> in folds, or a +ring, which is generally outside, one of two methods of treatment may be +tried:—</p> + +<p><i>a.</i> By ligature, as recommended by Mr. Copeland. Raising a longitudinal +fold of the mucous membrane, he passed a ligature round it as if it were +a pile. There is less chance of the ligature slipping if a double thread +be used and its base thus transfixed. Three, four, or even more folds +may be thus treated.</p> + +<p><i>b.</i> When the mucous membrane has been so long exposed as to have lost +many of its characters, and to resemble leather in its toughness, +excision will be found less painful and much more rapid than ligature.</p> + +<p>A longitudinal fold at each side of the anus should be pinched up and +excised by a pair of probe-pointed curved scissors. There is always a +certain amount of risk of hæmorrhage following such an operation. The +risk is lessened and the result improved by stitching up the wound in +the mucous membrane before the protruded portion of bowel is returned.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Polypi of the Rectum.</span>—Pedunculated growths varying in consistence, +shape, and size, but resembling each other in having a distinct stalk, +and in frequently being protruded at stool.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—Invariably by ligature, which may be single round the +stalk, if the tumour be globular and with a distinct narrow stalk, or by +transfixion, if (as sometimes happens) the tumour be of uniform +thickness throughout, like a worm.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Hæmorrhoids Or Piles.</span>—In the treatment of piles it is the differential +diagnosis that is troublesome and occasionally difficult; the operative +interference required is generally very simple, if the nature of the +case be rightly determined.</p> + +<p><i>External piles.</i>—<i>Operation.</i>—The apex of the soft flabby excrescence +should be seized by a pair of catch-forceps,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">{294}</a></span> and it should be cut off +close to its base with a knife, or, what is better, a pair of curved +scissors. Any little vessel which jets may then be secured. If, instead +of numerous individual tumours, a ring of skin round the anus be +involved, the whole of it should be shaved off, but not very close to +its base, lest too great contraction of the anal orifice should ensue.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>If the surgeon, after excising a pile or piles, will take the +trouble to stitch up the wound with catgut, he will find the cure +much more rapid and less painful than when this is omitted. </p></div> + +<p><i>Internal piles.</i>—Incision is extremely dangerous, from the vascularity +of the parts, and their being so inaccessible from their position within +the sphincter ani. Hence ligature is safer and equally effectual. The +patient should be directed to sit over hot water, and strain till the +whole of his piles are fairly protruded. The surgeon should then +transfix the base of each separately with a curved needle bearing a +strong double thread. The needle being cut off, the threads should be +very firmly tied, each isolating its own half of the pile. The tying +should be exceedingly tight, so as to cause instant and complete +strangulation and death of the tumours. All the piles should be tied at +the same sitting. If the piles are very small they may be secured +without transfixion in a single noose after being seized by a hook or +forceps. There is greater risk of the noose slipping than when the base +has been transfixed.</p> + +<p>The strangulated masses must then be returned into the bowel, and the +patient kept in bed or on a sofa till the ligatures separate, which is +generally not till the fourth or fifth day. A certain amount of urinary +irritation, showing itself sometimes in strangury, sometimes in complete +retention, occasionally follows this operation.</p> + +<p>Mr. Smith of King's College, and many other surgeons, treat internal +piles by means of an ivory clamp to hold<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">{295}</a></span> them tight, while they are +burned off by the actual cautery or the thermo-cautery at a low red +heat. They claim that pyæmia more rarely follows this mode.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>There are certain cases in which the lower inch or two of the +rectum are found red and congested, and in which every stool is +followed by the loss of a certain quantity of florid arterial +blood, and yet no distinct hæmorrhoidal tumour is to be seen. In +such cases the ligature is not applicable, and relief is obtained +by the application of pure nitric acid, or other potential caustics +to the bleeding surface, as recommended by Houston, Lee, Smith, +Ashton, and others. These cases are comparatively rare, and +whenever they can be applied, the ligature is much simpler, safer, +and more certain. </p></div> + +<p><i>Venous piles.</i>—When a sudden effusion of blood has occurred into one +of the varicose veins or sinuses of a congested anus, an oval or rounded +tumour is felt, very tense, shining, and painful. To slit it freely up +with an abscess lancet, and evert the clot inside, at once relieves all +the symptoms.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">{296}</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>TENOTOMY.</h3> + + +<p>For convenience' sake I group under this one head certain operations +used for the relief of distortion, in which muscles or tendons are +divided subcutaneously. Since the discovery of the principle by Delpech, +and the application of it by Stromeyer, Dieffenbach, Little, and +countless successors, it has been used for very many cases for which it +is totally inapplicable, <i>e.g.</i> for the division of the muscles of the +back in spinal curvature. Still there remain several deformities for the +relief of which subcutaneous tenotomy is a most important remedy; chief +among these are Wry Neck and Club-foot.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Operation for Wry Neck.</span>—<i>Subcutaneous section of the +sterno-mastoid.</i>—In what cases of wry neck is this operation suitable? +In those only in which the muscles are the starting-point of the +mischief. These are sometimes congenital, more frequently they commence +in childhood. In cases where the distortion depends on disease of the +cervical vertebræ, or is secondary to curvature of the spine, division +of the muscle is worse than useless.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—A tenotomy knife, which should be sharp-pointed, narrow in +the blade, with a blunt back, should be introduced through the skin a +little to one side of the sternal portion of the affected muscle, passed +along<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">{297}</a></span> with its flat edge between the skin and the tendon, till it has +fairly crossed the tendon; the blade should then be turned so that by a +gradual sawing motion the edge may be made to divide the tendon about an +inch above the sternum. A distinct snap will then be felt or heard, and +the position of the head will be at once much improved. Exercise, warm +bathing, and rubbing, will generally suffice to complete the cure, +without it being necessary to call in the aid of the instrument-maker +with his expensive apparatus.<a name="FNanchor_166_166" id="FNanchor_166_166"></a><a href="#Footnote_166_166" class="fnanchor">[166]</a></p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Operations for Club-Foot.</span>—The following are the tendons which <i>may</i> +require division in the cure of club-foot, and the operations for their +division.</p> + +<p>1. <i>The tendo Achillis.</i>—There are very few cases of true club-foot +which can be successfully treated without division of the tendo +Achillis. While in talipes equinis it is generally the only disturbing +agent, in talipes varus and valgus it invariably increases and maintains +the deformity, which the tibiales or peronei seem to originate.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—The foot being held at about a right angle with the leg, +the operator should pinch up the skin over the tendon, introduce the +knife flatwise, a little to one side of the tendon, till its point is +nearly projecting at the other, then turn the edge on the tendon and cut +inwards with a sawing motion till the tendon gives way with a distinct +snap, and the foot can be completely flexed with ease.</p> + +<div class="blockquot smlet"><p>Dr. Little<a name="FNanchor_167_167" id="FNanchor_167_167"></a><a href="#Footnote_167_167" class="fnanchor">[167]</a> recommends that the tendon should be divided from +before backwards. There is more risk by this method of wounding the +skin, and thus losing the subcutaneous character of the operation.</p> + +<p>Professor Pancoast<a name="FNanchor_168_168" id="FNanchor_168_168"></a><a href="#Footnote_168_168" class="fnanchor">[168]</a> divides the inferior portion of the soleus +muscle instead of the tendo Achillis. </p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">{298}</a></span></p> + +<p>2. <i>Tibialis posticus.</i>—Next in frequency and importance to that of the +tendo Achillis, division of this tendon is much more difficult to +perform. It may be performed either above or below the ankle.</p> + +<p>(<i>a.</i>) <i>Above the ankle.</i>—The blade of a tenotomy knife should be +entered perpendicularly at the posterior margin of the tibia, half an +inch or an inch above the internal malleolus, so as to pass between the +bone and the tendon of the tibialis posticus, the blade directed towards +the latter; the assistant should now evert the foot, the operator +pressing the blade against the tendon.<a name="FNanchor_169_169" id="FNanchor_169_169"></a><a href="#Footnote_169_169" class="fnanchor">[169]</a></p> + +<p>(<i>b.</i>) <i>Below the ankle, close to the attachment to the scaphoid.</i> This +is the better position of the two when the position of the tendon can be +made out, which is not always the case, especially in cases of old +standing.</p> + +<p>Raising the skin just over the astragalo-scaphoid joint, the knife +should be entered with its blade downwards, and across the tendon, and +should be made to cut on the bone, while an assistant everts the foot +till the tendon gives way with a distinct snap.</p> + +<p>3. <i>Tibialis anticus</i> may in like manner be divided either just above +the ankle, or at its insertion. When it requires division it can +generally be made so prominent as to render its division comparatively +easy.</p> + +<p>4. <i>Peronei.</i>—These do not often require division, cases of talipes +valgus being usually paralytic in character. If necessary they can be +cut as they cross the fibula.</p> + +<p>5. <i>The plantar fascia</i>, may require division; when this is the case, it +is so prominent as to render the operation very easy, if conducted on +the principles mentioned above.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">{299}</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>OPERATIONS ON NERVES.</h3> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Nerve-stretching.</span>—Surgical literature in last ten years is full of +cases in which nerves have been stretched for all manner of diseases +with varying success: an example of the operative procedure may +suffice:—</p> + +<p>1. Stretching of the great sciatic either for sciatica, sclerosis, or +locomotor ataxia.</p> + +<p><i>Operation.</i>—A line drawn from the centre of the space between the +tuberosity of the ischium or the great trochanter to a corresponding +point between the condyles of the femur will give the direction. A free +incision in this line three or four inches in length—the nerve lies +just below the the femoral aponeurosis, beneath the edge of gluteal +fold, requiring no muscular fibres to be divided. It must be raised from +its bed and boldly stretched or elongated into a loop. Symington's +experiments have shown that in the average adult 130 lb. are required to +break the nerve.</p> + +<p>2. The facial has been stretched for spasm. The trunk is easily reached +by an incision extending from near the external auditory meatus to the +angle of the jaw, which enables the parotid to be pushed forward and the +edge of the sterno-mastoid pulled backwards.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Neurotomy and Neurectomy.</span>—Chiefly performed for neuralgia of the fifth +nerve.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">{300}</a></span></p> + +<p><i>a.</i> This is a very easy operation if directed at the terminal branches +only of the nerve, where they make their exit from the frontal, +supraorbital, and mental foramina. The author has done it in very +numerous cases, and with great relief, if care be taken to destroy the +nerve in the foramen to some extent—a sharp-pointed thermo-cautery does +this easily and safely.</p> + +<p><i>b.</i> The more severe and radical operation of cutting out a portion of +the trunk of the fifth nerve just after it has left the skull, and +destroying Meckel's ganglion, has been done pretty frequently, chiefly +by American surgeons—in various ways.</p> + +<p>1. <i>Carnochan's Operation.</i>—Exposing the whole front wall of antrum, +its cavity is opened into from the front by a large trephine. The lower +wall of the infra-orbital canal is cut away by a chisel, the posterior +wall of the antrum by a smaller trephine, the nerve thus isolated is +traced up to and past Meckel's ganglion, which is removed close to the +foramen rotundum by cutting the nerve by curved blunt-pointed scissors.</p> + +<p>2. <i>Pancoast's Operation.</i>—Expose the coronoid process by a free +incision, divide it at its root and throw it up, then expose and tie +internal maxillary artery, after which the upper portion of the external +pterygoid is to be detached from the sphenoid, thus exposing the nerve +leaving foramen ovale; the second portion is deeper and not so easily +got at.</p> + +<p>3. The spinal accessory occasionally may be divided before it enters the +sterno-mastoid in cases of spasmodic wry neck, with great advantage. +This operation is an easy one; the sterno-mastoid edge being once fairly +exposed, the nerve is easily seen, and a piece should be cut out at +least half an inch in length.</p> + + +<p class="gap"><span class="smcap">Nerve Suture</span> is occasionally practised with great advantage in cases +where nerves have been divided<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">{301}</a></span> either by accident or in operation. +Catgut seems to be the best medium, and cases are on record in which, +even after months of separation and subsequent paralysis, improvement +has followed an operation for refreshing and joining the divided ends.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">{302}</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="ADDENDUM_TO_CHAPTER_IX" id="ADDENDUM_TO_CHAPTER_IX"></a>ADDENDUM TO CHAPTER IX.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Solis Cohen</span> has recently (in a paper read before the Philadelphia +College of Physicians, April 4, 1883) collected the notes of sixty-five +cases of excision of the entire larynx. Fifty-six of these were done for +cancer, and the remainder for sarcomata, papillomata, etc. Of the +fifty-six done for cancer, forty are reported as having died, either +shortly after the operation from shock or pneumonia, or a few months +later from recurrence of the disease. In two instances the disease had +recurred, but death had not been reported when the paper was read. +Fourteen remain in which neither death nor recurrence had been reported. +Dr. Cohen's conclusion is that laryngectomy does not tend to the +prolongation of life, and thinks that the greatest good to the greater +number appears better secured by dependence on the palliative operation +of tracheotomy.</p> + +<!-- <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">{303}</a></span> --> + + + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> +<!-- <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">{304}</a></span></p> --> + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">{305}</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="INDEX" id="INDEX"></a>INDEX.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"> + + +<ul> +<li><span class="smcap">Abdomen</span>, operations on, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>.</li> + +<li>Abernethy on ligature of external iliac, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>.</li> + +<li>Adams on anatomy of common iliac, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on hip deformity, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>.</li> + +<li>Ægineta, Paulus, on excision of joints, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>.</li> + +<li>Allarton on median lithotomy, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>.</li> + +<li>Amputation and excision contrasted, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>.</li> + +<li>Amputation at ankle-joint (Syme's), <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of anterior portion of foot (Hey's), <a href="#Page_73">73</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of arm, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">at elbow-joint, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">through femur, condyles of, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of fingers, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>-54.</li> +<li class="ind">of fore-arm, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">at hip-joint, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">at knee-joint, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of penis, <a href="#Page_286">286</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">at shoulder-joint, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">at tarsus (Chopart's), <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">at thigh, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">double primary of thigh, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of toes, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">at wrist-joint, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>.</li> + +<li>Amussat's operation, <a href="#Page_252">252</a>.</li> + +<li>Anchylosis of elbow, excision for, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>.</li> + +<li>Ankle-joint, excision of, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>.</li> + +<li>Annandale on staphyloraphy, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>.</li> + +<li>Anus, artificial, operation for, <a href="#Page_252">252</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">artificial, removal of, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>.</li> + +<li>Arendt, ligature of external iliac, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> + +<li>Astragalus, excision of, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>.</li> + +<li>Auchincloss on ligature of subclavian, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>.</li> + +<li>Avery, hard palate, fissures of, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>.</li> + + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Barwell</span> on excision of ankle-joint, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of tongue, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>.</li> + +<li>Baudens on amputation at elbow-joint, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on amputation of anterior portion of foot, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on amputation at knee-joint, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>.</li> + +<li>Bauer on recto-vesical lithotomy, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>.</li> + +<li>Begbie, Dr. Warburton, on paracentesis thoracis, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>.</li> + +<li>Bell, Benjamin, on amputation, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on amputation of ankle, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on amputation of thigh, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>.</li> + +<li>Bell, Sir Charles, on ligature of femoral, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>.</li> + +<li>Bell, George, on supra-pubic lithotomy, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>.</li> + +<li>Bell, John, on ligature of gluteal, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li> + +<li>Bey, Gaetani, on amputation above the shoulder-joint, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>.</li> + +<li>Bigelow, Dr., on litholapaxy, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>.</li> + +<li>Billroth, Dr., on fissure of palate, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>.</li> + +<li>Bladder, puncture of, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>.</li> + +<li>Bonnet on radical cure of hernia, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>.</li> + +<li>Botal on amputation, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>.</li> + +<li>Bowditch on paracentesis thoracis, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>.</li> + +<li>Bowman's operation, lachrymal canal, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>.</li> + +<li>Brachial, ligature of, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>.</li> + +<li>Brodie, Sir B. C., on lithotomy, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on lithotrity, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>.</li> + +<li>Bromfield, amputation of leg, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.</li> + +<li>Brown, Baker, ovariotomy, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>.</li> + +<li>Bryant, on excision of joints, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>.</li> + +<li>Buchanan, Dr. A., on lithotomy, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>.</li> + +<li>Buchanan, Dr. G., on excision of tongue, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>.</li> + +<li>Buchanan, Dr. M., on excision of ankle, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">{306}</a></span></li> + +<li>Buck's operation for anchylosis, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>.</li> + +<li>Butcher, ligature of subclavian, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">excision of joints, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">excision of wrist-joint, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">excision of knee-joint, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">excision of metacarpals. <a href="#Page_142">142</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Campbell</span>, Professor, on ligature of gluteal, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>.</li> + +<li>Carden's amputation at condyles of femur, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.</li> + +<li>Carmichael on ligature of gluteal, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li> + +<li>Carnochan on neurectomy, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>.</li> + +<li>Carotid, ligature of common, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">ligature of external, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.</li> + +<li>Cataract operations, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>.</li> + +<li>Celsus on amputation, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of joints, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>.</li> + +<li>Chamberlaine, on ligature of axillary, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>.</li> + +<li>Chassaignac on tracheotomy, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>.</li> + +<li>Cheiloplastics, Syme on, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>.</li> + +<li>Cheselden on amputation, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on lithotomy, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>.</li> + +<li>Chopart's amputation, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.</li> + +<li>Civiale on lithotrity, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.</li> + +<li>Club-foot, operations for, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>.</li> + +<li>Cock on œsophagotomy, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">paracentesis thoracis, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on puncture of bladder, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>.</li> + +<li>Colles on ligature of brachial, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.</li> + +<li>Cooper, Sir Astley, on ligature of aorta and iliacs, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on perineal section. <a href="#Page_276">276</a>.</li> + +<li>Cornea, puncture of, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">staphylomatous, excision of a, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>.</li> + +<li>Corelysis, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>.</li> + +<li>Crampton, Sir Philip, on excision, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>.</li> + +<li>Crichton on lithotomy, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>.</li> + +<li>Critchett's operation of iridesis, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">operation for staphyloma, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>.</li> + +<li>Croft, Mr., on hip disease, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>.</li> + +<li>Culbertson on excision of hip, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>.</li> + +<li>Cullerier on phymosis, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>.</li> + +<li>Curling on operation for artificial anus, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>.</li> + +<li>Cusack on treatment of brachial aneurism, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Davies, Redfern</span>, on radical cure of hernia, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>.</li> + +<li>Davy's (Mr. Richard), lever, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>.</li> + +<li>Desault on ligature of axillary, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>.</li> + +<li>Dieffenbach on excision of upper jaw, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>.</li> + +<li>Dieulafoy's aspirateur, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>.</li> + +<li>Dionis' amputation of leg, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>.</li> + +<li>Dubrueil, amputation at wrist, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>.</li> + +<li>Duncan, Mr. J., on artificial anus, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>.</li> + +<li>Dupuytren on ligature of iliac, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on ligature of subclavian, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">amputation at elbow-joint, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">removal of artificial anus, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on bilateral lithotomy, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>.</li> + +<li>Durand, case of hæmorrhage from iliac, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> + +<li>Durham on thyrotomy, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>.</li> + +<li>Dzondi on radical cure of hernia, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Elbow-Joint</span>, amputation at, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>.</li> + +<li>Ellis on anatomy of iliac arteries, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>.</li> + +<li>Ectropium, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>.</li> + +<li>Entropium, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>.</li> + +<li>Erichsen on excision of hip, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.</li> + +<li>Esmarch on excision of joints, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>.</li> + +<li>Excision and amputation contrasted, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>.</li> + +<li>Excision of ankle-joint, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of astragalus, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of elbow-joint, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of hip-joint, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of jaw, upper, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of jaw, lower, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of knee-joint, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of mamma, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of scapula, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of shoulder-joint, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of testicle, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of tongue, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of tonsils, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of wrist-joint, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>.</li> + +<li>Eye, operations on, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>.</li> + +<li>Eyeball, extirpation of the, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>.</li> + +<li>Eyelid, tumours on the, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Fayrer</span>, Sir J., on tracheotomy, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on radical cure of hernia, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>.</li> + +<li>Femoral, ligature of, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">superficial, ligature of, in Scarpa's space, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>.</li> +<li><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">{307}</a></span></li><li class="ind">in Hunter's canal, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>.</li> + +<li>Femur, amputation through condyles of, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>.</li> + +<li>Fergusson, Sir W., on ligature of subclavian, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on amputation at shoulder-joint, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of joints, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of upper jaw, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of lower jaw, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on fissures of palate, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on lithotomy, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>.</li> + +<li>Filkin on excision of joints, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>.</li> + +<li>Fingers, amputation of, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>.</li> + +<li>Fissures in the palate, soft, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">in the palate, hard, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of anus, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>.</li> + +<li>Fistula, salivary, operations for, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">in ano, operation for, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>.</li> + +<li>Fore-arm, amputation through the, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">ligature of vessels in, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.</li> + +<li>Forster, Mr. Cooper, on gastrotomy, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>.</li> + +<li>Furner, ligature of both subclavians, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Gastrectomy</span>, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>.</li> + +<li>Gastrostomy, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>.</li> + +<li>Gastrotomy, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>.</li> + +<li>Gersdorf, Hans de, on amputation, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>.</li> + +<li>Gerdy on radical cure of hernia, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>.</li> + +<li>Gilbert, amputation above the shoulder-joint, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>.</li> + +<li>Gillespie on excision of wrist-joint, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.</li> + +<li>Gluteal, ligature of, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> + +<li>Gosselin on colotomy, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>.</li> + +<li>Graefe on strabismus, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on cataract operations, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">or iridectomy, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>.</li> + +<li>Green on ligature of subclavian, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>.</li> + +<li>Greenhow on excision of os calcis, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>.</li> + +<li>Greenslade on Bowman's operation, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>.</li> + +<li>Gritti's amputation, <a href="#Page_93">93</a></li> + +<li>Gross on amputation at elbow-joint, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on amputation, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>-87.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of hip, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on lithotomy, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on rhinoplastic operation, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of lower jaw, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>.</li> + +<li>Guérin, Jules, on amputation of toes, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on operation for strabismus, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>.</li> + +<li>Guersant on excision of tonsils, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>.</li> + +<li>Guillemeau on amputation at knee-joint, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li> + +<li>Gurlt's statistics, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Hæmorrhoids</span>, operations for, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>.</li> + +<li>Hæmatocele, operation for, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>.</li> + +<li>Hamilton on rhinoplastic operations, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>.</li> + +<li>Hancock on excision of hip, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of ankle, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of os calcis, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>.</li> + +<li>Harelip, operations for, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>.</li> + +<li>Harrison on anatomy of iliac, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on brachial aneurism, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.</li> + +<li>Hart, Mr. Ernest, on flexion of limbs, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>.</li> + +<li>Heath's case of aneurism of innominate, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>.</li> + +<li>Heine on excision of hip, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.</li> + +<li>Hernia, strangulated inguinal, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">strangulated femoral, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">strangulated umbilical, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">strangulated obturator, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">radical cure of, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>.</li> + +<li>Heurtloup on lithotrity, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>.</li> + +<li>Hey on amputation, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>.</li> + +<li>Heyfelder on excisions, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.</li> + +<li>Hildanus, Fabricius, on amputation, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li> + +<li>Hip-joint, amputation at the, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">excision of, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.</li> + +<li>Hippocrates on excision of joints, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>.</li> + +<li>Hodgson, statistics of aneurism, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">ligature of axillary, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>.</li> + +<li>Hodge on excisions <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>.</li> + +<li>Hoin on amputation at knee-joint, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>.</li> + +<li>Holmes on excision of hip, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>.</li> + +<li>Holt's operation for stricture, <a href="#Page_279">279</a>.</li> + +<li>Howse, Mr., on gastrotomy, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>.</li> + +<li>Hughes, Dr. on paracentesis thoracis, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>.</li> + +<li>Huguier on colotomy, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>.</li> + +<li>Hunter on ligature of femoral, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>.</li> + +<li>Hutchinson's statistics, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>.</li> + +<li>Hydrocele, operation for, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Iliac</span>, ligature of common, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> +<li><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">{308}</a></span></li><li class="ind">ligature of external, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>.</li> + +<li>Iliac, ligature of internal, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>.</li> + +<li>Innominate, ligature of the, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>.</li> + +<li>Iridectomy, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>.</li> + +<li>Iridesis, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Jacobson</span> on cataract operations, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>.</li> + +<li>Jäger on excision of hip, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.</li> + +<li>James, Mr., on ligature of aorta, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> + +<li>Jameson on radical cure of hernia, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>.</li> + +<li>Jaw, excision of upper, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">excision of lower, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>.</li> + +<li>Johnston, Dr., on amputation at ankle-joint, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>.</li> + +<li>Joints, excision of, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>.</li> + +<li>Jones on excision of joints, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>.</li> + +<li>Jordan, Mr. F., on amputation, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>;</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of tongue, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Keith</span>, Dr. Thomas, on ovariotomy, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>-227.</li> + +<li>Kirby, Mr., on ligature of iliac, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> + +<li>Knife, Beer's description of, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>.</li> + +<li>Knee, amputation below and above, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">amputation at, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">joint, excision of, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Lachrymal</span> organs, operations on the, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>.</li> + +<li>Lane, Mr., on amputation at knee-joint, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li> + +<li>Langenbeck on excision of joints, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on fissure in hard palate, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on radical cure of hernia, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>.</li> + +<li>Larrey on amputation at shoulder, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of joints, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>.</li> + +<li>Larynx, operations on the, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>.</li> + +<li>Laryngectomy, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">Dr. Solis Cohen on, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.</li> + +<li>Laryngotomy, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>.</li> + +<li>Laryngo-tracheotomy, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>.</li> + +<li>Layraud, Dr., case of hæmorrhage from iliac, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> + +<li>Lee, Mr. Henry, amputation of leg, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>.</li> + +<li>Ligature of the aorta, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of the axillary, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of the brachial, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of the carotid, common, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of the carotid, external, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of the femoral, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of the gluteal, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of the iliac, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of the iliac, external, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of the iliac, internal, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of the innominate, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of the lingual, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of the popliteal, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">of the subclavian, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>-37.</li> +<li class="ind">of the vessels in fore-arm, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>.</li> + +<li>Lips, operations on the, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>.</li> + +<li>Lisfranc on amputation, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>.</li> + +<li>Lister, Professor, on Syme's amputation, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of wrist, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>.</li> + +<li>Liston, Mr., on ligature of subclavian, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on rhinoplastic operations, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of upper jaw, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">tracheotomy, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on femoral hernia, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on lithotomy, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>.</li> + +<li>Litholapaxy, Dr. Bigelow on, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>.</li> + +<li>Lithotomy, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>.</li> + +<li>Lithotrity, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>.</li> + +<li>Little on club-foot, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>.</li> + +<li>Lloyd on harelip, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>.</li> + +<li>Lorinzer on obturator hernia, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>.</li> + +<li>Louis on amputation, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>.</li> + +<li>Lower extremity, amputations of, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>.</li> + +<li>Lupus, operative treatment of, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Macilwain</span> on tracheotomy, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>.</li> + +<li>Mackenzie, Dr. Morell, on thyrotomy, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>.</li> + +<li>Mackenzie, Dr. R., on modification of Syme's amputation, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of joints, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>.</li> + +<li>Malgaigne on Chopart's amputation, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on harelip, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>.</li> + +<li>Mamma, excision of, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>.</li> + +<li>Manec on ligature of axillary, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>.</li> + +<li>Maunder on excision of the elbow-joint, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">{309}</a></span></li> + +<li>Maclennan, Dr. G., on amputation above the shoulder-joint, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>.</li> + +<li>Metacarpals, amputation of, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">excision of, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>.</li> + +<li>Metatarsals, amputation of, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>.</li> + +<li>Miller on amputation of penis, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>.</li> + +<li>Monteiro, Dr., on ligature of aorta, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> + +<li>Mooren on cataract operations, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>.</li> + +<li>Moreaus, the, on excision of joints, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>.</li> + +<li>Morel, tourniquet invented by, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>.</li> + +<li>Morton, Dr., on radical cure of hernia, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>.</li> + +<li>Murray, Dr., on ligature of aorta, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> + +<li>Mussey, case of amputation, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>.</li> + +<li>Mynors on amputation, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Nasal polypi</span>, removal of, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>.</li> + +<li>Needle operation for cataract, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>.</li> + +<li>Nelaton on harelip, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>.</li> + +<li>Nerve-stretching, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>.</li> + +<li>Nerve suture, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>.</li> + +<li>Neurectomy, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>.</li> + +<li>Neurotomy, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>.</li> + +<li>Norris's statistics, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>.</li> + +<li>Nunneley on excision of tongue, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Œsophagotomy</span>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>.</li> + +<li>Ollier on excision of joints, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>.</li> + +<li>Os calcis, excision of, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>.</li> + +<li>Ovariotomy, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Paget</span> on excision of tongue, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>.</li> + +<li>Palate, fissures in soft, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">fissures in hard, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>.</li> + +<li>Pancoast, Professor, on rhinoplastic operations, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on radical cure of hernia, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on neurectomy, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on club-foot, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>.</li> + +<li>Paracentesis thoracis, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">abdominis, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>.</li> + +<li>Paré, Ambrose, on amputation, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on amputation at elbow-joint, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>.</li> + +<li>Park on excision of joints, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>.</li> + +<li>Peixotto, Dr., on ligature of innominate, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>.</li> + +<li>Penis, amputation of, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>.</li> + +<li>Perineal section, operation of, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>.</li> + +<li>Percy on excision of joints, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>.</li> + +<li>Phymosis, operation for, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>.</li> + +<li>Pirogoff's modification of Syme's amputation, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>.</li> + +<li>Pollock on excision of lower jaw, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>.</li> + +<li>Polypi, nasal, removal of, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">anal, removal of, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>.</li> + +<li>Popliteal, ligature of, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>.</li> + +<li>Porta's statistics, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>.</li> + +<li>Porter, Professor, on ligature of innominate, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on ligature of common carotid, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">statistics of amputation, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>.</li> + +<li>Post on ligature of iliac, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>.</li> + +<li>Pritchard, Mr., radical cure of hernia, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>.</li> + +<li>Prolapsus ani, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>.</li> + +<li>Pterygium, operation for, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>.</li> + +<li>Puncture of bladder, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>.</li> + +<li>Pupil, operations for artificial, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>.</li> + +<li>Purmannus on amputation, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Quain</span> on anatomy of iliac, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on anatomy of brachial, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Regnoli</span> on excision of tongue, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>.</li> + +<li>Rhinoplastic operations, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>.</li> + +<li>Richter on radical cure of hernia, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>.</li> + +<li>Ricord on amputation of penis, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>.</li> + +<li>Rigaud on amputation above the shoulder-joint, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>.</li> + +<li>Ritchie, Dr. Charles, on ovariotomy, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>.</li> + +<li>Rodgers, Dr., on ligature of subclavian, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>.</li> + +<li>Rothmund on radical cure of hernia, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>.</li> + +<li>Roux on ligature of subclavian, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on ligature of axillary, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>,</li> +<li class="ind">on Chopart's amputation, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Sabatier</span> on excision of joints, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>.</li> + +<li>Salivary fistula, operation for, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>.</li> + +<li>Sanson on recto-vesical lithotomy, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>.</li> + +<li>Scalp, tumours of the, removal of <a href="#Page_149">149</a>.</li> + +<li>Scapula, excision of (Syme), <a href="#Page_140">140</a>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">{310}</a></span></li> + +<li>Schuh on radical cure of hernia, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>.</li> + +<li>Schmucker on radical cure of hernia, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>.</li> + +<li>Scultetus on amputation, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>.</li> + +<li>Sedillot's operation for ligature of carotid, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of hip, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>.</li> + +<li>Shoulder-joint, amputation at the, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">excision of, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>.</li> + +<li>Signoroni on radical cure of hernia, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>.</li> + +<li>Sims, Dr. M., on lithotomy, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>.</li> + +<li>Smith, Dr. Nathan, on amputation at knee-joint, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li> + +<li>Smith, Thomas, on staphyloraphy, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>.</li> + +<li>Smith, Dr. Tyler, on ovariotomy, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>.</li> + +<li>Smyth on subclavian aneurism, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>.</li> + +<li>Skey on ligature of subclavian, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on amputation, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of wrist, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on rhinoplastic operation, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on lithotomy, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>.</li> + +<li>Solis Cohen, Dr., on laryngectomy, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.</li> + +<li>Solomon on strabismus, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>.</li> + +<li>South on ligature of aorta, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> + +<li>Spence, Professor, on amputation, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>.</li> + +<li>Sperino on puncture of cornea, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>.</li> + +<li>Stanley on excision of shoulder, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>.</li> + +<li>Steven, Professor, on ligature of internal iliac, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>.</li> + +<li>Strabismus, convergent, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">divergent, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>.</li> + +<li>Streatfeild on entropium, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on corelysis, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>.</li> + +<li>Stricture, operation for, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>.</li> + +<li>Stokes's amputation, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.</li> + +<li>Stromeyer on excision of joints, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>.</li> + +<li>Subclavian, ligature of right, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">ligature of left, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>.</li> + +<li>Surgeon-General, United States, statistical report by, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>.</li> + +<li>Syme, Mr., on amputation at ankle-joint, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on amputation through condyles of femur, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on amputation at hip-joint, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on amputation above the shoulder-joint, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on modified circular amputation, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on axillary aneurism, operation for, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on cheiloplastic operation, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">Chopart's amputation introduced by, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of lower jaw, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of joints, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>-120.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of scapula, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of tongue, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on ligature of femoral, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on ligature of gluteal, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on radical cure of hernia, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on Hey's operation, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on œsophagotomy, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on removal of polypi, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on rhinoplastic operation, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on stricture, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>-282.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Tait</span> on ligature of iliac, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> + +<li>Taliacotian operation, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>.</li> + +<li>Tarso-metatarsal joint, amputation at, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>.</li> + +<li>Tarsus, amputation through the, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.</li> + +<li>Teale on amputation, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on amputation of fore-arm, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on amputation of arm, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on amputation of leg, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on amputation of thigh, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on amputation of penis, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>.</li> + +<li>Teale, T. P., on cataract, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>.</li> + +<li>Tenotomy, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.</li> + +<li>Testicle, excision of, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>.</li> + +<li>Textor on amputation at elbow-joint, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>.</li> + +<li>Thigh, amputations of, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>.</li> + +<li>Thompson on lithotrity, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on stricture, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>.</li> + +<li>Thorax, operations on the, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>.</li> + +<li>Thyrotomy, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>.</li> + +<li>Toes, amputations of, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>.</li> + +<li>Tongue, excision of, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>.</li> + +<li>Tonsils, excision of, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>.</li> + +<li>Tracheotomy, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>-214.</li> + +<li>Trephining and trepanning, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>.</li> + +<li>Trichiasis, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>.</li> + +<li>Tripier's amputation, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.</li> + +<li>Trocar of Sir S. Wells described, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>.</li> + +<li>Tumours of scalp, removal of, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>.</li> +<li><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">{311}</a></span></li><li class="ind">of eyelids, removal of, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>.</li> + +<li>Tyrrell on treatment of brachial aneurism, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Upper extremity</span>, amputation of, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>.</li> + +<li>Urethra, stricture of, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Velpeau</span> on ligature of iliac, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on ligature of subclavian, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on amputation at elbow-joint, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on amputation at knee-joint, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on radical cure of hernia, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>.</li> + +<li>Vermale on amputation of thigh, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>.</li> + +<li>Verneuil on Chopart's amputation, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.</li> + +<li>Vessels of fore-arm, ligature of, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Wakley</span> on stricture, <a href="#Page_279">279</a>.</li> + +<li>Warren on fissure of hard palate, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>.</li> + +<li>Watson, Dr. P. H., on excision, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of elbow-joint, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on laryngectomy, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>.</li> + +<li>Wells, Sir Spencer, on ovariotomy, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>-229.</li> +<li class="ind">trocar, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">hernia, radical cure of, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>.</li> + +<li>White on amputation of leg, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on excision of joints, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>.</li> + +<li>Whitehead, Mr. W., on excision of tongue, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>.</li> + +<li>Willet on œsophagotomy, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>.</li> + +<li>Wood's statistics, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on joints, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">on radical cure of hernia, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>-251.</li> + +<li>Wry neck, operation for, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.</li> + +<li>Wrist-joint, amputation at, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>.</li> +<li class="ind">excision of, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>.</li> + +<li>Wützer on radical cure of hernia, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>.</li> + +<li>Wyeth, Dr., statistics, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Young, James</span>, tourniquet introduced by, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>.</li> + +<li class="gap"><span class="smcap">Zehender</span>'s statistics, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>.</li> +</ul> + +</div> + +<!-- {312} --> + +<!-- {313} --> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> This line is placed too low down; it should be in the +middle third of the thigh.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Erichsen, <i>Surgery</i>. Sixth edition, vol. ii. p. 121.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> The line 3 in <a href="#plate_i">Plate I.</a> shows the direction required. It +will not be necessary to carry the incision so far up for the external +as for the common iliac.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> <i>On the Arteries and Veins</i>, p. 421.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> <i>Cyclopædia of Practical Surgery</i>, vol. i. p. 277.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> John Bell's <i>Prin. of Surg.</i>, vol. i. 421; <i>Dublin Jour.</i>, +vol. iv. 321.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> <i>Observations in Clinical Surgery</i>, Syme, pp. 171-3.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> <i>Brit. Med. Jour.</i> 1867, Oct. 5.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> <i>International Encyclopædia of Surgery</i>, vol. iii. p. 466.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Poland, <i>Guy's Hosp. Report</i>, ser. iii. vol. vi.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Mr. W. Thomson's most interesting paper on this subject is +full of information down to the latest date.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> <i>Lancet</i>, Jan. 5, 1867.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> <i>Lancet</i>, May 1879.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> <i>Dublin Quarterly Journal</i>, Nov. 1867.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> W. Zehender—Monatsbl. für Augenheilkunde. 1868.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> Butcher, <i>Op. and Cons. Surgery</i>, p. 861.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> <i>Leçons Orales</i>, iv. 530.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> <i>Ed. Med. and Surg. Journ.</i> vol. xlv.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> <i>Observations in Clinical Surgery</i>, pp. 148, 149.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> <i>Edin. Med. Journal</i>, March 1879.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> See case of recurrence, Fergusson's <i>Practical Surgery</i> +1st ed. p. 222.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> <i>Operative Surgery</i>, p. 279.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> <i>Surgical Operations</i>, p. 50.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> For details see article "Amputation" in Cooper's <i>Surgical +Dictionary</i>, and the short sketch of the history in Mr. Lister's paper +in the third volume of Holmes's <i>System of Surgery</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> See a most interesting foot-note to Professor Lister's +paper on "Amputation," in Holmes's <i>System of Surgery</i>, vol. iii. pp. +52, 53.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> <i>Manuel d'Opérations chirurgicales.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Fig. <span class="smcap">iv</span>.</span> shows dorsal view of incision. <span class="smcap">Fig. <span class="smcap">iii</span>.</span> showsface of completed stump; R, radial; U, ulnar.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> As the surgeon will find it most convenient to stand on +his own right side of the limb to be removed, the knife will be entered +on the palmar side of the radius of the right arm, of the ulna of the +left.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> Teale, <i>On Amputation by Rectangular Flaps</i>, pp. 46-48.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> Johnson's folio ed., p. 342.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> Gross's <i>Surgery</i>, 6th ed. vol. ii. p. 1103.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> <i>International Encyclopædia of Surgery</i>, vol. i. p. 641.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> Spence's <i>Surgery</i>, pp. 800, 801.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> Gross's <i>Surgery</i>, 8vo., 6th ed., vol. ii., p. 1106.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> <i>Excision of Scapula</i>, p. 33.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> Hey's <i>Observations</i>, 3d ed. pp. 552, 556.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> Roux's <i>Parallel between English and French Surgery</i>. +Translation abridged from Cooper's <i>Surgical Dictionary</i>, p. 106.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> Syme's <i>Principles</i>, 4th edit. p. 145.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> <i>International Encyclopædia</i>, vol. 1. p. 655.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> <i>Observations in Clin. Surgery</i>, p. 48.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> <i>Monthly Journal of Medical Science for 1849</i>, vol. ix. p. +951.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> <i>Med. Times and Gazette</i>, June 3, 1865.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> <i>Operative Surgery</i>, p. 170.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> <i>Annali Universali de Medicina</i>, Milano, 1857.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> <i>Med. Chir. Transactions of London</i>, vol. liii., p. 175.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> Carden's (of Worcester) Pamphlet, pp. 5, 6; and <i>British +Medical Journal</i>, 1864.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> B. Bell's <i>Surgery</i>, 6th ed. vol. vii. pp. 336-339.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> In diagram the amputation is drawn as if for middle third +of thigh.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> Teale, <i>op. cit.</i>, pp. 34, 39.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> <i>Edin. Med. Journal</i>, for April 1863.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> <i>Edin. Medical Journal</i>, March 1879.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> <i>On Diseases and Injuries of Joints</i>, p. 121.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> For a very large amount of most interesting and valuable +information on the whole subject of excisions of joints, I would refer +to Dr. Hodge's most excellent work on this subject—<i>On Excisions of +Joints</i>. By Richard M. Hodge, M.D., Boston, Massachusetts.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> See Syme's <i>Observations on Clinical Surgery</i>, pp. 55, 57; +Hodge <i>on Excision of Joints</i>, p. 63.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> Maunder's <i>Operative Surgery</i>, 2d ed. p. 123.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> <i>Edin. Med. Journal</i>, May 1873.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> Quoted by Mr. Porter. <i>Dublin Quarterly Journal</i> for May +1867, p. 264.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58_58" id="Footnote_58_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> A-A. Deep palmar arch; B. Trapezium; C. Articular surface +of ulna; Dotted lines include the amount removed in Lister's earlier +operations; Unshaded portions are those removed by Lister in cases where +the disease is limited to the carpus. (Reduced from Lister's diagram in +<i>Lancet</i>, 1865.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59_59" id="Footnote_59_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> Skey, <i>Op. Surg.</i>, 2d ed. p. 438.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60_60" id="Footnote_60_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> Abridged from Butcher, <i>Op. and Con. Surgery</i>, p. 208.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_61_61" id="Footnote_61_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> <i>Science and Art of Surgery</i>, 3d ed. p. 745.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_62_62" id="Footnote_62_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> <i>On the Surgical Treatment of Children's Diseases</i>, pp. +454-6.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_63_63" id="Footnote_63_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> <i>Clinical Society's Transactions</i>, vol. xiii. p. 71.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_64_64" id="Footnote_64_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> Billroth of Vienna and Pelikan of St. Petersburg, quoted +from Heyfelder by Hodge <i>on Excision of Joints</i>, p. 161.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_65_65" id="Footnote_65_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> <i>Operative and Conservative Surgery</i>, pp. 28, 138.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_66_66" id="Footnote_66_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> <i>On Excision of Knee-Joint</i>, pp. 18, 20.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_67_67" id="Footnote_67_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> <i>Operative and Conservative Surgery</i>, p. 169.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_68_68" id="Footnote_68_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68_68"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> Mr. Jones of Jersey, <i>Med. Chir. Trans.</i>, vol. xxxvii. p. +68.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_69_69" id="Footnote_69_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_69"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> <i>Lancet</i>, Oct. 1, 1859.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_70_70" id="Footnote_70_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70_70"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> Barwell <i>On Diseased Joints</i>, p. 464.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_71_71" id="Footnote_71_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_71"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> Syme <i>On Excision of the Scapula</i>, pp. 13-26, 1864.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_72_72" id="Footnote_72_72"></a><a href="#FNanchor_72_72"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> Butcher's <i>Operative and Conservative Surgery</i>, p. 225.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_73_73" id="Footnote_73_73"></a><a href="#FNanchor_73_73"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> For an excellent case, see Annandale on <i>Diseases of the +Finger and Toes</i>, p. 261.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_74_74" id="Footnote_74_74"></a><a href="#FNanchor_74_74"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> Holmes's <i>Surgery</i>, 3d edition, vol. iii. p. 771.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_75_75" id="Footnote_75_75"></a><a href="#FNanchor_75_75"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> <i>Brit. and Foreign Med. Chir. Review</i> for July 1853.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_76_76" id="Footnote_76_76"></a><a href="#FNanchor_76_76"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> Mr. Holmes in <i>Lancet</i> for February 18, 1856.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_77_77" id="Footnote_77_77"></a><a href="#FNanchor_77_77"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i> for May 1865.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_78_78" id="Footnote_78_78"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78_78"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> Butcher, <i>Operative and Conservative Surgery</i>, p. 354.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_79_79" id="Footnote_79_79"></a><a href="#FNanchor_79_79"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> See Butcher, <i>Operative and Conservative Surgery</i>, p. +356.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_80_80" id="Footnote_80_80"></a><a href="#FNanchor_80_80"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> See case by the author in the <i>Edin. Med. Jour.</i> for June +1868.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_81_81" id="Footnote_81_81"></a><a href="#FNanchor_81_81"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> <i>a.</i> Elliptical incision for entropium; <i>b.</i> wedge-shaped +incision for ectropium.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_82_82" id="Footnote_82_82"></a><a href="#FNanchor_82_82"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> Fig. <span class="smcap">viii</span>. illustrates Streatfeild's operation for +entropium.—<i>a.</i> section of skin; <i>b.</i> section of levator palpebrae; +<i>c.</i> section of cartilage of lid; <i>d.</i> section of conjunctiva; <i>e.</i> +wedge-shaped portion excised.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_83_83" id="Footnote_83_83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_83_83"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> <i>Ophthalmic Hospital Reports</i>, vol. i. p. 121.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_84_84" id="Footnote_84_84"></a><a href="#FNanchor_84_84"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> Rough diagram of Bowman's operation, showing the grooved +director in the punctum, and the knife in the groove just before it +slits up the canaliculus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_85_85" id="Footnote_85_85"></a><a href="#FNanchor_85_85"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> Diagram of operations for convergent squint—<span class="smcap">A A</span>, line of +sub-conjunctival incision; <span class="smcap">B B</span>, line of Dieffenbach's operation; <span class="smcap">c</span>, wire +speculum.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_86_86" id="Footnote_86_86"></a><a href="#FNanchor_86_86"><span class="label">[86]</span></a> <i>The Radical Cure of Extreme Divergent Strabismus.</i> J. +Vose Solomon, F.R.C.S., 1864.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_87_87" id="Footnote_87_87"></a><a href="#FNanchor_87_87"><span class="label">[87]</span></a> <i>Ophthalmic Hospital Reports</i>, vol. iv. part ii. p. 197.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_88_88" id="Footnote_88_88"></a><a href="#FNanchor_88_88"><span class="label">[88]</span></a> <i>Biennial Retrospect</i> for 1865-66. Syd. Soc. pp. 363-4. +For a thorough discussion of the merits of this operation, see papers by +Von Graefe in <i>Brit. Med. Jour.</i> for 1867, vol. i. pp. 379, 446, 499, +657, 765.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_89_89" id="Footnote_89_89"></a><a href="#FNanchor_89_89"><span class="label">[89]</span></a> <i>Ophthalmic Hospital Reports</i>, vol. i. p. 224.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_90_90" id="Footnote_90_90"></a><a href="#FNanchor_90_90"><span class="label">[90]</span></a> Streatfeild on Corelysis. <i>Ophthalmic Hospital Reports</i>, +vol. ii. p. 309.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_91_91" id="Footnote_91_91"></a><a href="#FNanchor_91_91"><span class="label">[91]</span></a> <i>a</i> iris; <i>b</i> lens; <i>c</i> cornea. The hook is seen applied +to the adhesion between lens and iris.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_92_92" id="Footnote_92_92"></a><a href="#FNanchor_92_92"><span class="label">[92]</span></a> The staphyloma with the needles inserted, the lids held +asunder by a spring speculum. The elliptical dotted line shows the +amount to be removed; the vertical one, the position of the preliminary +incision with the Beer's knife.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_93_93" id="Footnote_93_93"></a><a href="#FNanchor_93_93"><span class="label">[93]</span></a> Resulting stump after the stitches are inserted.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_94_94" id="Footnote_94_94"></a><a href="#FNanchor_94_94"><span class="label">[94]</span></a> <i>Ophthalmic Hospital Reports</i>, vol. iv. part 1.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_95_95" id="Footnote_95_95"></a><a href="#FNanchor_95_95"><span class="label">[95]</span></a> Operation for formation of a new nose from the cheeks; <span class="smcap">a +a</span>, flaps approximated in middle line; <span class="smcap">B B</span>, outer part of bed of flaps +stitched up; <span class="smcap">C C</span>, triangle at each side left to granulate.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_96_96" id="Footnote_96_96"></a><a href="#FNanchor_96_96"><span class="label">[96]</span></a> <i>The Restoration of a Lost Nose by Operation</i>, p. 57; an +excellent monograph on the subject.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_97_97" id="Footnote_97_97"></a><a href="#FNanchor_97_97"><span class="label">[97]</span></a> Operation for formation of a new nose from the +forehead:—<i>a</i>, prominence of flap which is to be used as septum; <i>b</i>, +left-hand corner of flap, which is twisted and fastened at <i>c</i>; <i>d</i>, one +of the tubes or quills over which the nose is moulded.—(<i>Modified from +Bernard and Huette.</i>)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_98_98" id="Footnote_98_98"></a><a href="#FNanchor_98_98"><span class="label">[98]</span></a> Syme's <i>Observations in Clinical Surgery</i>, p. 132.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_99_99" id="Footnote_99_99"></a><a href="#FNanchor_99_99"><span class="label">[99]</span></a> Diagram of V-shaped incision; <span class="smcap">A B A</span>, dots showing points +for sutures.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_100_100" id="Footnote_100_100"></a><a href="#FNanchor_100_100"><span class="label">[100]</span></a> Diagram of incision for scooping out a shallow tumour by +scissors.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_101_101" id="Footnote_101_101"></a><a href="#FNanchor_101_101"><span class="label">[101]</span></a> Diagram of incisions:—<span class="smcap">C A C</span>, outline of incision for +removal; <span class="smcap">C A D</span>, outline of flap on each side; <span class="smcap">b</span>, prominence of chin; <span class="smcap">C +C</span>, dotted lines, showing incisions to enlarge mouth, if required.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_102_102" id="Footnote_102_102"></a><a href="#FNanchor_102_102"><span class="label">[102]</span></a> Diagram of flaps in position:—<span class="smcap">A A</span>, corners of flaps +brought up and approximated by <i>silver</i> sutures; <span class="smcap">C C</span>, new lip got by +lateral incisions, skin and mucous membrane being united by <i>silk</i> +threads; <span class="smcap">E E</span>, gap left to granulate.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_103_103" id="Footnote_103_103"></a><a href="#FNanchor_103_103"><span class="label">[103]</span></a> Fig. <span class="smcap">xxiii.</span> shows the incision bounding the cleft.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_104_104" id="Footnote_104_104"></a><a href="#FNanchor_104_104"><span class="label">[104]</span></a> Fig. <span class="smcap">xxiv.</span> shows the diamond-shaped wound before the +sutures are applied.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_105_105" id="Footnote_105_105"></a><a href="#FNanchor_105_105"><span class="label">[105]</span></a> Diagram of operation for double harelip:—<i>a</i>, stitch +through both sides and wedge-shaped portion, which also aids the septum; +<i>b</i>, other stitches approximating edges.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_106_106" id="Footnote_106_106"></a><a href="#FNanchor_106_106"><span class="label">[106]</span></a> Diagram of double harelip, with projecting bone:—<i>a</i>, +central piece of lip, dotted lines showing incision; <i>b</i>, projecting +bone bearing teeth, which are generally small and stunted.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_107_107" id="Footnote_107_107"></a><a href="#FNanchor_107_107"><span class="label">[107]</span></a> Diagram of operations on the jaws:—<span class="smcap">a</span>, incision for +removal of the whole upper jaw; <span class="smcap">b</span>, incision for removal of alveolar +portion and antrum; <span class="smcap">c</span>, incision for removing the larger half of lower +jaw; the opposite side is the one supposed to be operated on, and the +incision is crossing the symphysis and turning up at a right angle.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_108_108" id="Footnote_108_108"></a><a href="#FNanchor_108_108"><span class="label">[108]</span></a> <i>Operative Surgery</i>, p. 265.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_109_109" id="Footnote_109_109"></a><a href="#FNanchor_109_109"><span class="label">[109]</span></a> <i>Lancet</i>, July 1, 1865.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_110_110" id="Footnote_110_110"></a><a href="#FNanchor_110_110"><span class="label">[110]</span></a> Temporary compression of the facial can be easily +managed, in cases where it is of much importance to avoid loss of blood, +by passing a needle from the outside through the skin above the vessel, +then under the vessel, and out again through the skin below. A +figure-of-eight suture can then be thrown round both ends of the needle, +and the artery thus thoroughly compressed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_111_111" id="Footnote_111_111"></a><a href="#FNanchor_111_111"><span class="label">[111]</span></a> Syme, <i>Contributions to the Path. and Practice of +Surgery</i>, p. 21; Carnochan of New York, <i>Cases in Surgery</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_112_112" id="Footnote_112_112"></a><a href="#FNanchor_112_112"><span class="label">[112]</span></a> <i>Contributions to the Path. and Prac. of Surgery</i>, pp. +23, 24.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_113_113" id="Footnote_113_113"></a><a href="#FNanchor_113_113"><span class="label">[113]</span></a> <i>Lancet</i>, July 1, 1865.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_114_114" id="Footnote_114_114"></a><a href="#FNanchor_114_114"><span class="label">[114]</span></a> Rough diagram of operation for salivary fistula:—<span class="smcap">a</span>, +section of cheek close to buccal orifice; <span class="smcap">b</span>, section of zygoma, muscles, +etc.; <span class="smcap">c</span>, the duct of the parotid; <span class="smcap">d</span>, the fistulous opening of the cheek; +<span class="smcap">E E</span>, the thread knotted inside the mouth; <span class="smcap">f</span>, the palate.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_115_115" id="Footnote_115_115"></a><a href="#FNanchor_115_115"><span class="label">[115]</span></a> <i>Lancet</i>, Feb. 4, 1865.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_116_116" id="Footnote_116_116"></a><a href="#FNanchor_116_116"><span class="label">[116]</span></a> <i>Med. Times and Gazette</i> for Feb. 10, 1866.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_117_117" id="Footnote_117_117"></a><a href="#FNanchor_117_117"><span class="label">[117]</span></a> <i>Lancet</i>, April 20, 1872.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_118_118" id="Footnote_118_118"></a><a href="#FNanchor_118_118"><span class="label">[118]</span></a> <i>Transactions International Medical Congress</i>, 1881, vol. +ii. p. 460.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_119_119" id="Footnote_119_119"></a><a href="#FNanchor_119_119"><span class="label">[119]</span></a> Gross's <i>Surgery</i>, vol. ii. p. 472.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_120_120" id="Footnote_120_120"></a><a href="#FNanchor_120_120"><span class="label">[120]</span></a> Langenbeck, <i>Archiv</i>, ii. p. 657.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_121_121" id="Footnote_121_121"></a><a href="#FNanchor_121_121"><span class="label">[121]</span></a> <i>Med. Chir. Trans.</i> for 1867-8.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_122_122" id="Footnote_122_122"></a><a href="#FNanchor_122_122"><span class="label">[122]</span></a> Diagram of staphyloraphy, chiefly to illustrate the +passing of the threads:—<i>a</i>, the first thread; <i>b</i>, the second. The +dotted line at edge of fissure shows amount to be removed; the other +dotted lines showing size and position of the incision through the +mucous membrane above.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_123_123" id="Footnote_123_123"></a><a href="#FNanchor_123_123"><span class="label">[123]</span></a> Holmes's <i>Surgery</i>, vol. ii. pp. 504-513.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_124_124" id="Footnote_124_124"></a><a href="#FNanchor_124_124"><span class="label">[124]</span></a> <i>Edinburgh Medical Journal</i> for Jan. 1865, Mr. +Annandale's instructive paper on "Cleft Palate."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_125_125" id="Footnote_125_125"></a><a href="#FNanchor_125_125"><span class="label">[125]</span></a> Diagram of fissure of hard palate:—<i>a</i>, anterior +palatine foramina; <i>b</i>, posterior palatine foramina with groove for +artery; <i>c</i>, incisions requisite to free the soft structures.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_126_126" id="Footnote_126_126"></a><a href="#FNanchor_126_126"><span class="label">[126]</span></a> Holmes's <i>Diseases of Children</i>, p. 555.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_127_127" id="Footnote_127_127"></a><a href="#FNanchor_127_127"><span class="label">[127]</span></a> <i>Leçons sur la Trachéotomie</i>, p. 10.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_128_128" id="Footnote_128_128"></a><a href="#FNanchor_128_128"><span class="label">[128]</span></a> Rough diagram of larynx and trachea:—A, crico-thyroid +space, <i>laryngotomy</i>; B B, dotted outline of thyroid isthmus and lobes, +defines the upper and lower positions for <i>tracheotomy</i>; C, thyroid—D, +cricoid cartilages; E, dotted outline of thymus gland in child of two +years; F F, outline of clavicles and jugular fossa.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_129_129" id="Footnote_129_129"></a><a href="#FNanchor_129_129"><span class="label">[129]</span></a> <i>Surgical Observations</i>, p. 335. See also Harrison <i>On +the Arteries</i>, vol. i. p. 16.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_130_130" id="Footnote_130_130"></a><a href="#FNanchor_130_130"><span class="label">[130]</span></a> <i>Leçons sur la Trachéotomie</i>, p. 9.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_131_131" id="Footnote_131_131"></a><a href="#FNanchor_131_131"><span class="label">[131]</span></a> <i>Lectures on Surgery</i>, 3d ed., vol. ii. p. 900.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_132_132" id="Footnote_132_132"></a><a href="#FNanchor_132_132"><span class="label">[132]</span></a> <i>Clinical Surgery in India</i> (1866), p. 143.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_133_133" id="Footnote_133_133"></a><a href="#FNanchor_133_133"><span class="label">[133]</span></a> Mr. John Wood, <i>Path. Soc. Trans.</i>, vol. xi. p. 20.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_134_134" id="Footnote_134_134"></a><a href="#FNanchor_134_134"><span class="label">[134]</span></a> South's <i>Chelius</i>, vol. ii. p. 400; and case recorded by +Spence, in <i>Ed. Med. Journal</i>, for August 1862.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_135_135" id="Footnote_135_135"></a><a href="#FNanchor_135_135"><span class="label">[135]</span></a> <i>Med. Chir. Transactions of London</i>, 1872.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_136_136" id="Footnote_136_136"></a><a href="#FNanchor_136_136"><span class="label">[136]</span></a> <i>British Med. Journal</i> (Nos. 643, 644), 1873.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_137_137" id="Footnote_137_137"></a><a href="#FNanchor_137_137"><span class="label">[137]</span></a> Gross's <i>Surgery</i>, 6th ed., vol. ii. p. 342.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_138_138" id="Footnote_138_138"></a><a href="#FNanchor_138_138"><span class="label">[138]</span></a> <i>Guy's Hospital Reports</i> for 1858.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_139_139" id="Footnote_139_139"></a><a href="#FNanchor_139_139"><span class="label">[139]</span></a> Both in <i>Guy's Hospital Reports</i>, second series, vol. +ii.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_140_140" id="Footnote_140_140"></a><a href="#FNanchor_140_140"><span class="label">[140]</span></a> <i>Edinburgh Medical Journal</i> for June 1866.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_141_141" id="Footnote_141_141"></a><a href="#FNanchor_141_141"><span class="label">[141]</span></a> <i>Description of Sir Spencer Wells's Trocar.</i>—"It +consists of a hollow cylinder six inches long, and half an inch in +diameter, within which another cylinder fitting it tightly plays. The +inner one is cut off at its extremity, somewhat in the form of a pen, +and is sharp. The sharp end is kept retracted within the outer cylinder +by a spiral spring in the handle at the other end, but can be protruded +by pressing on this handle when required for use. When thus protruded it +is plunged into the cyst up to its middle; the pressure on the handle is +taken off, and the cutting edge is retracted within its sheath. The +fluid rushes into the tube, and escapes by an aperture in the side, to +which an india-rubber tube is attached, the end of which drops into a +bucket under the table. The instrument is furnished at its middle with +two semicircular bars, carrying each four or five long curved teeth like +a vulsellum. These teeth lie in contact with the outer surface of the +cylinder, but can be raised from it by pressing two handles. When the +cyst begins to be flaccid by the escape of the fluid, these side +vulsellums are raised, and the adjoining part of the cyst is drawn up +under the teeth, where it is firmly caught and compressed against the +side of the tube."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_142_142" id="Footnote_142_142"></a><a href="#FNanchor_142_142"><span class="label">[142]</span></a> For further details on the operations described above, +reference may be made to Sir Spencer Wells's work on ovarian disease, +and to the very valuable papers contributed by Dr. Thomas Keith to the +<i>Edinburgh Medical Journal</i>. To the latter especially the author is +indebted for much oral instruction, and for the opportunity of seeing +his careful and dexterous mode of operating.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_143_143" id="Footnote_143_143"></a><a href="#FNanchor_143_143"><span class="label">[143]</span></a> <i>Lect. on Surgery</i>, 3d ed., vol. ii. p. 998.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_144_144" id="Footnote_144_144"></a><a href="#FNanchor_144_144"><span class="label">[144]</span></a> <i>Operative Surgery</i>, p. 462.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_145_145" id="Footnote_145_145"></a><a href="#FNanchor_145_145"><span class="label">[145]</span></a> Rough diagram of abnormal course of obturator and its +relation to the neck of a hernia. Parts seen from the inside: <span class="smcap">h</span>, femoral +hernia; <span class="smcap">a</span>, femoral artery; <span class="smcap">v</span>, femoral vein; <span class="smcap">e</span>, epigastric artery; <span class="smcap">o</span>, +obturator from epigastric (dangerous); <span class="smcap">s o</span>, obturator from epigastric +(safe); <span class="smcap">n o</span>, normal course of obturator; <span class="smcap">i r</span>, internal inguinal ring; Sp +<span class="smcap">c</span>, spermatic chord and its vessels; <span class="smcap">g</span>, Gimbernat's ligament; +, in +triangle of Hesselbach.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_146_146" id="Footnote_146_146"></a><a href="#FNanchor_146_146"><span class="label">[146]</span></a> Holmes's <i>Surgery</i>, 3d ed., 1883, vol. ii. p. 837.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_147_147" id="Footnote_147_147"></a><a href="#FNanchor_147_147"><span class="label">[147]</span></a> <i>Clinical and Pathological Observations in India</i>, pp. +44, 325.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_148_148" id="Footnote_148_148"></a><a href="#FNanchor_148_148"><span class="label">[148]</span></a> Wood <i>On Rupture</i>, 1863.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_149_149" id="Footnote_149_149"></a><a href="#FNanchor_149_149"><span class="label">[149]</span></a> Diagram of an artificial anus, showing small sutures +which unite the edges of the gut and the skin, and the large ones +stitching up the wound beyond.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_150_150" id="Footnote_150_150"></a><a href="#FNanchor_150_150"><span class="label">[150]</span></a> Diagram of section of prostate seen from the inside:—<span class="smcap">pf</span>, +pelvic fascia or prostatic sheath; <span class="smcap">rr</span>, ring which must be cut; <span class="smcap">l</span>, +position of incision in the lateral operation; <span class="smcap">dd</span>, position of incisions +in the bilateral operation.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_151_151" id="Footnote_151_151"></a><a href="#FNanchor_151_151"><span class="label">[151]</span></a> Diagram of muscles of membranous portion of urethra seen +from the inside:—<span class="smcap">ss</span>, section of os pubis; <span class="smcap">u</span>, urethra; <span class="smcap">g</span>, Guthrie's +muscle, compressor urethræ; <span class="smcap">w</span>, Wilson's muscle, levator urethræ.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_152_152" id="Footnote_152_152"></a><a href="#FNanchor_152_152"><span class="label">[152]</span></a> <i>Boston Medical and Surgical Journal</i>, May 29, 1879.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_153_153" id="Footnote_153_153"></a><a href="#FNanchor_153_153"><span class="label">[153]</span></a> Gross, <i>Surgery</i>, 6th ed. vol. ii. p. 736.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_154_154" id="Footnote_154_154"></a><a href="#FNanchor_154_154"><span class="label">[154]</span></a> Holmes's <i>Surgery</i>, vol. iv. p. 392.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_155_155" id="Footnote_155_155"></a><a href="#FNanchor_155_155"><span class="label">[155]</span></a> See Miller's <i>Practice of Surgery</i>, p. 212.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_156_156" id="Footnote_156_156"></a><a href="#FNanchor_156_156"><span class="label">[156]</span></a> Solly's <i>Surgical Experiences</i>, pp. 537, 538, etc.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_157_157" id="Footnote_157_157"></a><a href="#FNanchor_157_157"><span class="label">[157]</span></a> <i>The Immediate Treatment of Stricture.</i> By Bernard Holt, +F.R.C.S. London. Third Edition, 1868.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_158_158" id="Footnote_158_158"></a><a href="#FNanchor_158_158"><span class="label">[158]</span></a> Holmes's <i>System of Surgery</i>, 1st ed. vol. iv. p. 403.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_159_159" id="Footnote_159_159"></a><a href="#FNanchor_159_159"><span class="label">[159]</span></a> Diagram of puncture of the bladder:—<span class="smcap">b</span>, bladder; <span class="smcap">sp</span>, +symphysis pubis; <span class="smcap">sc</span>, scrotum; <i>b</i>, bulb; <i>pr</i>, peritoneum; <span class="smcap">p</span>, prostate; +<span class="smcap">r</span>, rectum; <span class="smcap">s</span>, sacrum and coccyx.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_160_160" id="Footnote_160_160"></a><a href="#FNanchor_160_160"><span class="label">[160]</span></a> <i>Med. Chir. Trans.</i>, vol. <span class="smcap">xxxv</span>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_161_161" id="Footnote_161_161"></a><a href="#FNanchor_161_161"><span class="label">[161]</span></a> Diagram of operation for phymosis:—<i>a</i>, glans penis; <i>b +b</i>, mucous membrane exposed by retraction of the skin, and slit up; <i>c +d</i>, sutures introduced and ready to be tied, uniting the skin and mucous +membrane.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_162_162" id="Footnote_162_162"></a><a href="#FNanchor_162_162"><span class="label">[162]</span></a> To illustrate Teale's operation:—<i>c</i>, section of penis +<i>b</i>, thread inserted uniting mucous membrane and skin; <i>a</i>, thread +tied.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_163_163" id="Footnote_163_163"></a><a href="#FNanchor_163_163"><span class="label">[163]</span></a> <i>Med. Times and Gazette</i>, vol. xix. p. 354.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_164_164" id="Footnote_164_164"></a><a href="#FNanchor_164_164"><span class="label">[164]</span></a> Miller's <i>System of Surgery</i>, p. 1255.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_165_165" id="Footnote_165_165"></a><a href="#FNanchor_165_165"><span class="label">[165]</span></a> Miller's <i>System of Surgery</i>, p. 1256.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_166_166" id="Footnote_166_166"></a><a href="#FNanchor_166_166"><span class="label">[166]</span></a> Syme's <i>Pathology and Practice of Surgery</i>, p. 220.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_167_167" id="Footnote_167_167"></a><a href="#FNanchor_167_167"><span class="label">[167]</span></a> Holmes's <i>Surgery</i>, vol. iii. p. 573.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_168_168" id="Footnote_168_168"></a><a href="#FNanchor_168_168"><span class="label">[168]</span></a> Cross's <i>Surgery</i>, vol. ii. p. 273, 3d ed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_169_169" id="Footnote_169_169"></a><a href="#FNanchor_169_169"><span class="label">[169]</span></a> Miller's <i>System of Surgery</i>, p. 1339; Holmes's +<i>Surgery</i>, vol. iii. p. 571.</p></div> + +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A MANUAL OF THE OPERATIONS OF SURGERY***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 24564-h.txt or 24564-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/5/6/24564">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/5/6/24564</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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diff --git a/24564-h/images/f000.jpg b/24564-h/images/f000.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c9c2bad --- /dev/null +++ b/24564-h/images/f000.jpg diff --git a/24564-h/images/f001.jpg b/24564-h/images/f001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fbc0e1f --- /dev/null +++ b/24564-h/images/f001.jpg diff --git a/24564-h/images/f002.jpg b/24564-h/images/f002.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8bde4a9 --- /dev/null +++ b/24564-h/images/f002.jpg diff --git a/24564-h/images/f003.jpg b/24564-h/images/f003.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..897df21 --- /dev/null +++ b/24564-h/images/f003.jpg diff --git a/24564.txt b/24564.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0b8e4eb --- /dev/null +++ b/24564.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12116 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Manual of the Operations of Surgery, by +Joseph Bell + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: A Manual of the Operations of Surgery + For the Use of Senior Students, House Surgeons, and Junior Practitioners + + +Author: Joseph Bell + + + +Release Date: February 11, 2008 [eBook #24564] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A MANUAL OF THE OPERATIONS OF +SURGERY*** + + +E-text prepared by Michael Ciesielski, Pilar Somoza Fernández, and the +Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team +(https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 24564-h.htm or 24564-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/5/6/24564/24564-h/24564-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/5/6/24564/24564-h.zip) + + +Transcriber's note: + + Spelling mistakes have been left in the text to match the original, + except for obvious typographical errors. + + + + + +A MANUAL OF THE OPERATIONS OF SURGERY + +For the Use of Senior Students, House Surgeons, and +Junior Practitioners. + +Illustrated. + +by + +JOSEPH BELL, F.R.C.S. EDIN. + +Lecturer on Clinical Surgery, Surgeon to the Royal Infirmary and to +the Eye Infirmary, and Late Demonstrator of Anatomy +in the University of Edinburgh. + +FIFTH EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED. + + + + + + + +Edinburgh: Maclachlan & Stewart, +Booksellers to the University. +London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. +1883. + + + + +TO THE MEMORY OF +JAMES SYME, ESQ., F.R.C.S. AND F.R.S.E. +SURGEON TO THE QUEEN IN SCOTLAND + +PROFESSOR OF CLINICAL SURGERY +IN THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH +ETC. ETC. + +THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED +BY HIS OLD HOUSE-SURGEON AND ASSISTANT + +THE AUTHOR. + + + + +PREFACE TO FIFTH EDITION. + + +To retain the small size of the work and to keep it up to date have been +the Author's aim in the Fifth Edition. + + +20 MELVILLE STREET, EDINBURGH, +_August 1883._ + + + + +PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. + + +Having been asked, year after year, by the members of my Class for +Operative Surgery, to recommend to them some Manual of Surgical +Operations which might at once guide them in their choice of operations, +and give minute details as to the mode of performance, I have been +gradually led to undertake the production of this little work. + +My aim has been to describe as simply as possible those operations which +are most likely to prove useful, and especially those which, from their +nature, admit of being practised on the dead body. + +In accordance with this plan, neither historical completeness of detail, +nor much variety in the methods of performing any given operation, is to +be expected. Hence, also, many omissions which would be unpardonable in +the briefest system of Surgery are unavoidable. For example, excision of +tumours and operations for necrosis are hardly mentioned, because for +these no special instructions can well be given; for, while general +principles may guide us to _what_ should be done, the special +circumstances of each case must dictate _how_ it is to be done. + +In such a work as this, to attempt originality would be undesirable and +intrusive; a judicious selection, a faithful compilation, are all that +can be expected. + +That the selection of operations may sometimes show "Northern +Proclivities" is possible; and this is perhaps not unnatural to a +scholar and teacher in the Edinburgh School. + +An earnest endeavour has been used to make the references correct and +copious: for any mistakes or omissions the author would crave +indulgence. + +The four plates which precede the letterpress were drawn on wood (from +original photographs) by Mr. D.W. Williamson, Melbourne Place, and the +lines of incision for the various operations were added by the author. + +The rough woodcuts scattered through the work were drawn on wood by the +author, and for their roughness he, not his engraver, is responsible. He +also hopes that the references in the letterpress will be accepted as +sufficient acknowledgment of the true ownership, in those few instances +in which the idea of the diagram has been borrowed. + +It has been thought unnecessary to introduce woodcuts of surgical +instruments, as the illustrated catalogues lately published by Weiss, +Maw, and others, are sufficiently accurate. + +In excuse of the frequent baldness and brevity of the style, the author +must point to the size and price of the work. Its composition would have +been easier had its dimensions been greater. + +Though intended chiefly to guide the studies, on the dead subject, of +students and junior practitioners, the author ventures to hope that the +Manual may be useful to those who, in the public services, in the +colonies, or in lonely country districts, find themselves constrained to +attempt the performance of operations which, in the towns, usually fall +to the lot of a few Hospital Surgeons. + + + JOSEPH BELL. + +5 CASTLE TERRACE, EDINBURGH, + _July 1866._ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER I. + +LIGATURE OF ARTERIES. + + PAGE + +Ligature of Arteries--General Maxims--Ligature of +Aorta--Iliacs--Gluteal--Femoral--Popliteal--Innominate--Carotids-- +Lingual--Subclavian--Brachial, etc., 1-45 + + +CHAPTER II. + +AMPUTATIONS. + +Eras of Amputation--Flap and Circular compared--Special Amputation of +Arm and Leg, 46-107 + + +CHAPTER III. + +EXCISION OF JOINTS. + +Brief Historical Sketch--Comparison of Excisions with +Amputations--Special Excisions of the six larger Joints--Excisions of +smaller Joints and Bones, 108-146 + + +CHAPTER IV. + +OPERATIONS ON CRANIUM AND SCALP. + +Trephining--Excision of Wens, 147-150 + + +CHAPTER V. + +OPERATIONS ON THE EYE AND ITS APPENDAGES. + +Entropium and Ectropium--Trichiasis--Tarsal Tumours--On Lachrymal +Organs--Mr. Bowman's Operation--Pterygium--Strabismus, convergent +and divergent--Paracentesis of the Anterior Chamber--Operations +for Cataract by Displacement, Solution, and Extraction--Various +methods of Extraction--Operations for Artificial +Pupil--Iridesis--Corelysis--Iridectomy--Excision of Staphyloma--Excision +of Eyeball, 151-174 + + +CHAPTER VI. + +OPERATIONS ON THE NOSE AND LIPS. + +Rhinoplastic Operations from Cheek, Forehead, and elsewhere--Removal of +Nasal Polypi--Excision of Cancers of Lips--Cheiloplastic +Operations--Operations for Harelip, 175-187 + + +CHAPTER VII. + +OPERATIONS ON THE JAWS. + +Excision of Upper Jaw--Of Lower Jaw, 188-195 + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +OPERATIONS ON MOUTH AND THROAT. + +For Salivary Fistula--Excision of Tongue, complete and partial--Fissures +of the Palate, soft and hard--Excision of Tonsils, 196-205 + + +CHAPTER IX. + +OPERATIONS ON AIR PASSAGES. + +Larynx and +Trachea--Tracheotomy--Tubes--Laryngotomy--OEsophagotomy--[see +Addendum, p. 302], 206-217 + + +CHAPTER X. + +OPERATIONS ON THORAX. + PAGE +Excision of Mamma--Paracentesis Thoracis, 218-221 + + +CHAPTER XI. + +OPERATIONS ON ABDOMEN. + +Paracentesis Abdominis--Gastrotomy--Ovariotomy--Operation for +Strangulated Hernia--Inguinal--Femoral--Umbilical--Operations for the +Radical Cure of Hernia, 222-255 + + +CHAPTER XII. + +OPERATIONS ON PELVIS. + +Lithotomy--Varieties--Lithotrity--Operations for Stricture--Puncture of +the Bladder--Phymosis--Amputation of +Penis--Hydrocele--Haematocele--Castration--Operation for +Fistula--Fissure--Polypi of Rectum--Piles, 256-295 + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +TENOTOMY. + +On Tenotomy for Wry Neck and Club Foot, 296-298 + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +OPERATIONS ON NERVES. + +Nerve-stretching--Nerve-cutting--Nerve suture, 299-301 + + +ADDENDUM to Chapter IX., 302 + +INDEX, 303-311 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + +FIG. PAGE + +I. Amputations of Fingers, 50 + +II. Diagram of Finger showing Articulations, 50 + +III. Dubrueil's Amputation at Wrist (front view), 57 + +IV. " " (dorsal view), 57 + +V. Amputations of Toes, 69 + +VI. Excision of Wrist-joint--Lister's, 126 + +VII. Operations for Ectropium and Entropium, 151 + +VIII. Operation for Trichiasis--Streatfeild's, 151 + +IX. Operation for Epiphora--Bowman's, 155 + +X. Greenslade's Instrument for above, 156 + +XI. Operations for Squint, 157 + +XII. Linear Extraction of Cataract, 162 + +XIII. Flap Extraction of Cataract, 162 + +XIV. Operation of Corelysis--Streatfeild's, 171 + +XV. Operation for Staphyloma--Critchett's, 172 + +XVI. Result of above, 172 + +XVII. Rhinoplastic Operation from Cheek, 176 + +XVIII. " " Forehead, 177 + +XIX. Operation on Lip, V-shaped incision, 181 + +XX. Operation on Lip, by scissors, 181 + +XXI. Operation for a new Lip, incisions, 182 + +XXII. Operation for New Lip sewed up, 182 + +XXIII. Diagram of Partial Fissure (Harelip), 184 + +XXIV. Nelaton's Operation for ditto, 184 + +XXV. Operation for Double Harelip, 185 + +XXVI. Diagram of Double Harelip, 186 + +XXVII. Excision of Upper and Lower Jaws, 189 + +XXVIII. Operation for Salivary Fistula, 196 + +XXIX. Operation for Fissure in Soft Palate, 201 + +XXX. Operation for Fissure in Hard Palate, 203 + +XXXI. Diagram illustrating Operations on Air Passages, 207 + +XXXII. Diagram illustrating Operations for Hernia, 241 + +XXXIII. Diagram of an Artificial Anus, 253 + +XXXIV. Diagram of Section of Prostate, 257 + +XXXV. Diagram of Membranous portion of Urethra, 259 + +XXXVI. Diagram illustrating Puncture of Bladder, 284 + +XXXVII. Diagram of Operation for Phymosis, 286 + +XXXVIII. Diagram of Amputation of Penis, 287 + + +[Illustration] + + +PLATE I. + +1. Ligature of Aorta--Sir A. Cooper's incision. + +2. Ligature of Aorta--South and Murray's incision. + +3. Ligature of Common Iliac. + +4. Ligature of External Iliac--Sir A. Cooper's. + +5. Ligature of Femoral in Scarpa's triangle. + +6. Ligature of Femoral below Sartorius.[1] + +7. Ligature of Innominate. + +8. Ligature of third part of Left Subclavian. + +9. Ligature of Axillary in its first part. + +10. Ligature of Axillary in its third part. + +11. Ligature of Brachial. + +12. Amputation of Arm by double flaps. + +13. Amputation at Shoulder-joint (1st method), showing portion of skin +left uncut till the conclusion of the disarticulation. + +14. Amputation at Ankle-joint by internal flap--Mackenzie's. + +15-16. Amputation of Leg just above the Ankle-joint. + +17-18. Amputation below Knee--modified circular. + +19. Amputation through Condyles of Femur--Syme, and Pl. III. 5. + +20. Amputation at lower third of Thigh--Syme, and Pl. III. 6. + + +A. Excision of Head of Humerus. + +B. Excision of Knee-joint; semilunar incision. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] This line is placed too low down; it should be in the middle third +of the thigh. + + +[Illustration] + + +PLATE II. + +1. Amputation at lower third of Fore-arm--Teale's. + +2-2. Amputation at Shoulder-joint by large postero-external flap--2d +method. + +3-3. Amputation at Shoulder-joint by triangular flap from deltoid--3d +method. + +4-5. Amputation through Tarsus--Chopart's. + +6-7. Amputation at Knee-joint. + +8. Amputation by Single Flap--Carden's, and Pl. IV. 16. + +9-10. Amputation of Thigh--Teale's. + + +A. Excision of Hip-joint. + +B-B. Excision of Ankle-joint--Hancock's incisions. + + +[Illustration] + + +PLATE III. + +1. Ligature of Popliteal. + +2. Amputation at Elbow-joint--posterior flap. + +3. Amputation at Shoulder-joint--posterior incision of first method, and +Pl. I. 13. + +4. Amputation at Ankle-joint--Mackenzie's, and Pl. I. 14. + +5. Amputation through Condyles of Femur--Syme, and Pl. I. 19. + +6. Amputation at lower third of Thigh--Syme, and Pl. I. 20. + +7. Amputation at Knee--posterior incision. + +8. Amputation of Thigh--Spence's, and at Pl. IV. 18. + +9. Amputation at Hip-joint, and Pl. IV. 20. + + +A. Excision of Shoulder-joint--deltoid flap. + +B. Excision of Shoulder-joint by posterior incision. + +C. Excision of Elbow-joint--H-shaped incision. + +D. Excision of Elbow-joint--linear incision. + +E. Excision of Hip-joint--Gross's. + +F. Excision of Os Calcis. + +G. Excision of Scapula. + + +[Illustration] + + +PLATE IV. + +1. Ligature of Carotid. + +2. Ligature of Subclavian (3d stage)--Skey's incision. + +3. Amputation at Wrist-joint--dorsal incision. + +4. Amputation at Wrist-joint--palmar incision. + +5. Amputation at Fore-arm--dorsal incision. + +6. Amputation at Fore-arm--palmar incision. + +7. Amputation at Elbow-joint--Anterior flap, and Pl. III. 3. + +8. Amputation at Arm--Teale's method. + +9. Amputation at Shoulder-joint--1st method, and Pl. III. 3. + +10-11. Amputation of Metatarsus--Hey's. + +12-13. Amputation at Ankle--Syme's. + +14-15. Amputation of Leg--posterior flap--Lee's. + +16. Amputation at Knee-joint--Carden's, and Pl. II. 8. + +17. Amputation of Thigh--B. Bell's. + +18. Amputation of Thigh--Spence's, and Pl. III. 8. + +19. Amputation of Thigh in middle third. + +20-20. Amputation at Hip-joint, and Pl. III. 9. + + +A. Excision of Wrist--radial incision. + +B. Excision of Wrist--ulnar incision. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +LIGATURE OF ARTERIES. + + +LIGATURE OF ARTERIES.--In a work of this nature there is no room for any +discussion of the principles which should guide us in the selection of +cases, or of the pathology of aneurism, or the local effects of the +ligature on the vessels. One or two fundamental axioms may be given in a +few words:-- + +1. In selecting the spot for the application of the ligature, avoid as +far as possible bifurcations, or the neighbourhood of large collateral +branches. + +2. A free incision should be made through the skin and subjacent +textures, till the sheath of the artery is reached and fairly exposed. + +3. The sheath must be opened and the artery cleaned with a sharp knife +till the white external coat is clearly seen. The portion cleaned +should, however, be as small as possible, consistent with thorough +exposure, so that the ligature may be passed round the vessel without +force. + +4. As the artery should never be raised from its bed, it is generally +advisable to pass the needle only so far as just to permit the eye to be +seen past the vessel. The ligature should then be seized by a pair of +forceps and gently pulled through, the needle being cautiously +withdrawn. When catgut is used, it is better to pass the unarmed needle +till the eye is visible, then thread and withdraw it, thus pulling the +catgut through. + +5. As a rule, the needle should be passed from the side of the vessel at +which the chief dangers exist. This will generally be in the side at +which the vein is. + +6. The ligature should be single, and consist of strong well-waxed silk, +and should always be drawn as tight as possible, so as to divide the +internal and middle coats of the vessel. In cases where the wound is to +be treated with antiseptic precautions and an attempt at immediate union +made, the ligature may be of strong catgut properly prepared, and both +ends of it may be cut off. + +7. Before the ligature is tightened, it is well to feel that pressure +between the ligature and the finger arrests the pulsation of the tumour. + + +LIGATURE OF THE AORTA.--It has been found necessary in a few rare cases +to place a ligature on the abdominal aorta; no case has as yet survived +the operation beyond a very few days, but they have in their progress +sufficiently proved that the circulation can be carried on, and gangrene +does not necessarily result even after such a decided interference with +vascular supply. + +_Operation._--The ligature may be applied in one of two ways, the choice +being influenced by the nature of the disease for which it is done. + +1. A straight incision (Plate I. fig. 1) in the linea alba, just +avoiding the umbilicus by a curve, and dividing the peritoneum, allows +the intestines to be pushed aside, and the aorta exposed still covered +by the peritoneum, as it lies in front of the lumbar vertebrae. The +peritoneum must again be divided very cautiously at the point selected, +and the aortic plexus of nerves carefully dissected off, in order that +they may not be interfered with by the ligature. The ligature should +then be passed round, tied, cut short, and the wound accurately sewed +up. + +2. Without wounding the peritoneum. + +A curved incision (Plate I. fig. 2), with its convexity backwards, from +the projecting end of the tenth rib to a point a little in front of the +anterior superior spinous process of the ilium. At first through the +skin and fascia only, this incision must be continued through the +muscles of the abdominal wall, one by one, till the transversalis fascia +is exposed, which must then be scraped through very cautiously, so as +not to injure the peritoneum, which is to be detached from the fascia +covering the psoas and iliacus muscles, and must be held inwards and out +of the way by bent copper spatulae. The common iliac will then be felt +pulsating, and on it the finger may easily be guided up until the aorta +is reached. + +The really difficult part of the operation now begins: to isolate the +vessel from the spine behind, the inferior cava on the right side, and +the plexus of nerves in the cellular tissue all round. The cleaning of +the vessel must be done in great measure by the finger-nail, and much +dexterity will be required to pass the ligature without unnecessarily +raising the vessel from its bed, especially as the vessel itself may +very possibly be diseased, and the aneurism of the iliac trunk for which +the operation is required will displace and confuse the parts, and may +have set up adhesive inflammation. + +_Results._--Operation has been performed at least ten times. By the +first method by Sir Astley Cooper and Mr. James; by the second by Drs. +Murray and Monteiro, M'Guire, Heron Watson, and Stokes, and Mr. South, +and Czerny of Heidelberg. All the cases proved fatal; Dr. Monteiro's +survived for ten days, and eventually perished from haemorrhage; the rest +all died at shorter intervals. + + +LIGATURE OF COMMON ILIAC.--_Anatomical Note._--This short thick trunk +varies slightly in its relations on the two sides of the body. As the +aorta bifurcates on the left side of the body of the fourth lumbar +vertebra, the common iliac of the right side would have a longer course +to pursue than that on the left, if both ended at corresponding points. +However, this is not always the case, as has been pointed out by Mr. +Adams of Dublin, as the right common iliac often bifurcates sooner than +the left does. With this slight difference, the position of the two +vessels is precisely similar, each extending along the brim of the +pelvis from the bifurcation of the aorta towards the sacro-iliac +synchondrosis for about two inches. Sometimes the division takes place a +little higher, even at the junction of the last lumbar vertebra and the +sacrum. This variation depends chiefly on the length of the artery, +which, as Quain has shown, varies from one inch and a half to more than +three inches. + +The anterior surface of both arteries is covered by the peritoneum, and +each is crossed by the ureter just as it bifurcates into its branches. + +The artery of the right side is in close contact behind with its +corresponding vein, which at its upper part projects to the outside, and +below to the inner side. The artery of the left side is less involved +with its vein, which lies below it, and to the inside. The right is in +contact with a coil of ileum, the left with the colon. The inferior +mesenteric artery crosses the left one, while to the outside of both, +and behind them, lie the sympathetic and obdurator nerves. + +There are no named branches from the common iliac. + +_Operation._--The chief difficulties to be encountered are--1. The close +proximity of the peritoneum, and specially the risk there is that it has +become adherent to the sac of the aneurism; 2. The depth of the parts, +and tendency of the intestines to roll into the wound; 3. Specially on +the right side, the proximity of the great veins. With these exceptions +the passing of the ligature is not so difficult as in some situations, +the lax cellular tissue in which the vessel lies generally yielding much +more easily than the tough sheath which elsewhere, as in the femoral, +requires accurate dissection. + +_Incision._--(Plate I. fig. 3.)--From a point about half an inch above +the centre of Poupart's ligament, a crescentic incision should be made, +at first extending upwards and outwards, so as to pass about one inch +inside of the anterior superior spine of the ilium, and then prolonged +upwards and inwards, as far as may be rendered necessary by the size of +the aneurism or the depth of parts. It must extend through skin and +superficial fascia, exposing the tendon of the external oblique, which +must then be slit up to the full extent visible. The spermatic cord may +then be easily exposed under the edge of the internal oblique, and the +forefinger of the left hand inserted on the cord, and thus beneath the +internal oblique and transversalis muscles, the peritoneum being quite +safe below. + +On the finger these muscles may be safely divided to the full extent of +the external incision. The deep circumflex iliac artery if possible +should not be divided, but may bleed smartly and require a ligature. + +The peritoneum must then be very cautiously raised from the tumour, and +supported, along with the intestines, by copper spatulae. The surgeon +will rarely succeed in obtaining anything like a satisfactory view of +the vessel, but can expose it for the ligature by the aid of his +finger-nail. An ordinary aneurism-needle will generally suffice for the +conveyance of the ligature. + +The difficulties may occasionally be much increased by special +circumstances, such as great stoutness of the patient, and consequent +thickness of the abdominal wall; or large size of the aneurism, which +may cause alterations in the relation of parts and adhesion of the +peritoneum. The ureter generally gives no trouble, as in pressing back +the peritoneum it is adherent to it, and is removed along with it +towards the middle line. + +_Results._--Are not by any means satisfactory. + +Out of twenty-two cases in which the common iliac has been tied for +aneurism, eight recovered and fourteen died; while out of thirteen cases +where it required ligature for haemorrhage after amputation, rupture of +aneurism, etc., only one recovered. + + +LIGATURE OF INTERNAL ILIAC.--Little need be added to the account just +given of the operation for ligature of the common iliac, as precisely +the same incisions are required. The operator having reached the +bifurcation of the vessel, must, instead of tracing it upwards, +endeavour to trace it downwards, and the same time inwards, into the +basin of the pelvis. To do this his finger must cross the external iliac +artery, which will pulsate under the joint of the ungual phalanx, while +the pulp of the finger is touching the internal iliac,--the external +iliac vein, which occupies the angle formed by the bifurcation of the +artery, lying between these two points. The ligature should be applied +within three-quarters of an inch from the bifurcation. + +_Anatomical Note._--This short thick trunk extends backwards and inwards +(Ellis); downwards and backwards (Harrison), in front of the sacro-iliac +synchondrosis, as far as the upper extremity of the great sacro-sciatic +notch, a distance varying in the adult from one and a half to two inches +in length. It forms a curve with its concavity forwards, and at its +termination divides into, rather than gives off, its two or three +principal branches. Its corresponding vein is in close contact behind, +as also the lumbo-sacral nerve, the obdurator nerve to its outer side. +The peritoneum covers it anteriorly, and it is crossed just at its +commencement by the ureter. On the left side it is covered anteriorly by +the rectum. Of its anatomical relations, that of the external iliac vein +is perhaps the most important, as it is apt to interfere with the +passing of the needle. + +_Results._--This vessel has been tied for aneurism of one or other of +its branches, or for wound, about seventeen times.[2] Of these seven +recovered; in ten the operation proved fatal, in most of them from +secondary haemorrhage. In one case the haemorrhage occurred within twelve +hours after the operation. The circulation of the parts supplied after +the ligature is carried on mainly by the lumbar and lateral sacral +branches, which become much developed even before the operation, in +cases of aneurism. + + +LIGATURE OF EXTERNAL ILIAC.--_Anatomical Note._--This artery extends +from the bifurcation of the common iliac to the centre of Poupart's +ligament, where it leaves the abdomen, passing under the ligament, and +becomes the common femoral. Its upper extremity is thus not always +constant, varying in position from the sacro-lumbar fibro-cartilage to +the upper end of the sacro-iliac synchondrosis, or even a little lower +down. Thus, though the position of the lower end is at a fixed point, +the artery varies in length. In an adult male of moderate stature it is +from three and a half to four inches in length. On the surface of the +abdomen the position of this vessel would be indicated by a line drawn +from about an inch on either side of the umbilicus to the middle of the +space between the symphysis pubis and the crest of the ilium. Its +relations to neighbouring parts are as follows:--The peritoneum lies _in +front_ of it, separated from it only by a subperitoneal layer of loose +fascia, in which the artery and vein lie, which varies much in +consistence and amount, and which occasionally gives a good deal of +trouble in the operation of ligature. Near its origin it is sometimes +crossed by the ureter, and near its termination the genito-crural nerve +lies on it. The spermatic vessels cross it, and occasionally a quantity +of subperitoneal fat marks its course. _Externally._--The fascia-iliaca +and some fibres of the psoas muscle separate it from the anterior +crural nerve, which lies outside of the vessel, and at a somewhat deeper +level, hidden amid the fibres of psoas and iliacus. _Internally._--The +external iliac vein lies on the same plane, and to the inner side of the +artery, at Poupart's ligament, on both sides of the body. As we trace it +upwards we find that on the left side it lies internal to the artery in +its whole course, while on the right side it becomes posterior to the +artery as it approaches the bifurcation of the common iliac. Lastly, +just before the vessel reaches Poupart, the circumflex iliac vein +crosses it from within outwards. + +_Branches._--The two large branches to the wall of the abdomen, the +epigastric and the circumflex iliac, rise a few lines above Poupart's +ligament. Their position is unfortunately apt to vary upwards, to the +extent of an inch and a half or even two inches, and they are important, +as, besides being liable to be cut during the operation, their position +very materially modifies the prognosis, as, if too high up, they +interfere with the proper formation of the coagulum. + +_Operation._--Various plans of incision through the skin have been +recommended by various operators, the chief difference being with regard +to the part of the artery aimed at; the plan known as that of Mr. +Abernethy, with various modifications, being intended to expose the +artery pretty high up, and enable the surgeon to reach it from above; +while the method going by the name of Sir Astley Cooper's exposes the +lower part of the artery, and enables the surgeon to reach it from +below. Though the latter is in some respects easier, the former method +is generally to be preferred, being further from the seat of disease, +and especially more out of the way of the epigastric and circumflex +arteries. + +The higher operation (ABERNETHY'S modified).--An incision must be made +through the skin about four inches in length, but longer in proportion +to the amount of subcutaneous fat, and the depth of the pelvis, +extending from a point one inch to the inside of the anterior superior +spine of the ilium, to a point half an inch above the middle line of +Poupart's ligament. It must be slightly curved, with its convexity +looking outwards and downwards.[3] + +The subcutaneous cellular tissue and the tendon of the external oblique +may then be divided freely in the same line. Then at some one point or +other (generally easiest below), the internal oblique and transversalis +muscles must be cautiously scraped through with the aid of the forceps, +till the transversalis fascia is reached; they may then be freely +divided by a probe-pointed bistoury (guarded by the finger pushed up +below the muscles) to the required extent. The muscles being held aside +by flat copper spatulae, the fascia transversalis must be carefully +scratched through near the crest of the ilium, and thus the operator +will be enabled to push the peritoneum inwards, and by the forefinger +will easily recognise the pulsation of the artery lying on the soft brim +of the pelvis. + +A branch of the circumflex iliac artery will very likely be cut in +dissecting through the muscles, and must be secured, as also any +branches of the epigastric which may be divided in the incisions through +the abdominal wall (_ut supra_, p. 5). + +The operator should then, by pressing the peritoneum and its contents +gently inwards, endeavour to see the vessel; if, from the depth of the +pelvis, this cannot be done, the sense of touch will be in most cases +sufficient to enable him to isolate the artery by the point of his +finger-nail, or by the blunt aneurism-needle, from the vein. The +ligature should be passed from the inner side to avoid including the +vein, and thus there will be less chance of wounding the peritoneum +from the convexity of the needle being applied to it. If possible, the +genito-crural nerve should not be included in the ligature, but probably +such an accident would do no great harm. + +It is of much more consequence to avoid injuring the peritoneum. This is +sometimes very difficult, from the adhesions which are set up between +the peritoneum, the artery, and especially the aneurism, as the result +of pressure and inflammation. The accident of wounding the peritoneum +has happened to Keate, Tait, Post, and others, and in some cases with +perfect impunity. However, the peritoneum should be displaced as little +as possible from its cellular connections, as such displacement +increases the risk of diffuse inflammation of that membrane; and the +vessel itself should be raised and disturbed as little as possible, lest +destruction of the vasa vasorum cause ulceration of the weak coats and +secondary haemorrhage. + +The operation from below (Plate I. fig. 4), SIR ASTLEY COOPER'S, is thus +described by Mr. Hodgson:[4]--"A semilunar incision is made through the +integuments in the direction of the fibres of the aponeurosis of the +external oblique muscle. One extremity of the incision will be situated +near the spine of the ilium; the other will terminate a little above the +inner margin of the abdominal ring. The aponeurosis of the external +oblique muscles will be exposed, and is to be divided throughout the +extent, and in the direction of the external wound. The flap which is +thus formed being raised, the spermatic cord will be seen passing under +the margin of the internal oblique and transverse muscles. The opening +in the fascia which lines the transverse muscle through which the +spermatic cord passes, is situated in the mid space between the anterior +superior spine of the ilium and the symphysis pubis. The epigastric +artery runs precisely along the inner margin of this opening, beneath +which the external iliac artery is situated. If the finger therefore be +passed under the spermatic cord through this opening in the fascia, it +will come in immediate contact with the artery which lies on the outside +of the external iliac vein. The artery and vein are connected by dense +cellular tissue, which must be separated to allow of the ligature being +passed round the former." + +In comparing the two methods of operating, we find that while the latter +is in some respects easier, and the vessel in it lies more superficial, +it has certain disadvantages which more than counterbalance its +advantages. Thus, first, the epigastric artery is very likely to be +wounded. It may be said, Well, if so, the ends can be tied; but this +tying is sometimes very difficult; and, as shown in Dupuytren's case of +this accident, involves considerable interference with the peritoneum, +and a possibly fatal peritonitis. Besides this, by cutting the +epigastric you destroy an important agent which would have carried on +the anastomosing circulation, and thus greatly increase the risk of +gangrene. By this method, also, the artery is exposed too near to the +seat of disease; and if found to be enlarged and involved in the +aneurism, considerable difficulty may be experienced in reaching the +upper part of the vessel. Again, ligature of the lower third or half of +the vessel, which this method implies, is dangerous from the occasional +high origin of the circumflex or epigastric, or both, rendering the +formation of a clot much more difficult, and secondary haemorrhage much +more likely. + +The circumflex iliac vein must also be remembered, as it crosses the +artery from within outwards in the lower end of it, just before it goes +under Poupart's ligament. + +However, the method may occasionally vary with the individual case. In +every case of ligature of the great vessels of the abdomen, the bowels +should be carefully evacuated before the operation, and the bladder +emptied. A properly managed position, with the shoulders raised and the +knees semiflexed, will greatly facilitate the gaining access to the +vessel. + +In sewing up the wounds in the abdominal walls, advantage will be gained +by putting in a certain number of stitches so deeply as to include the +whole thickness of the muscles, and in the intervals between these deep +ones to insert others less deeply, so as accurately to approximate the +edges of the skin. This will both facilitate union and also render the +occurrence of hernia less probable. This latter accident did occur in a +case, otherwise successful, in which Mr. Kirby tied the external iliac. + +Both external iliacs have been tied in the same patient with success, on +at least two occasions, once by Arendt, with an interval of only eight +days between the operations; and a second time by Tait, at an interval +of rather more than eleven months. + +This operation is in the great majority of cases performed for femoral +aneurism, and naturally secondary haemorrhage is a too frequent result. +Wounds of these great vessels generally result in so rapid death from +haemorrhage as to give no time for surgical interference. One case, +however, is recorded,[5] in which the external iliac was cut in a lad of +seventeen by an accidental stab, and in which Drs. Layraud and Durand, +who were almost instantly on the spot, succeeded in stopping the +bleeding by compresses, till Velpeau arrived, who tied the vessel above +with perfect success. + +Of the first twenty-two cases collected by Hodgson, fifteen recovered--a +mortality of 31.81 per cent.; and of 153 in Norris's collection, +including Cutter's cases, forty-seven died--a mortality of only 32.5 per +cent.,--a very satisfactory result, considering the size of the vessel +and the importance of its relations. + + +LIGATURE OF GLUTEAL.--This vessel, though one of the branches of the +internal iliac, approaches the surface so nearly as to be occasionally +wounded. It is also, though very rarely, the subject of spontaneous +aneurism. The principle of treatment and the operation to be selected in +any given case, depends upon its origin, whether traumatic or +spontaneous. For if traumatic, the wound must almost necessarily be +accessible from the outside; the neighbouring part of the artery is +probably healthy, and hence the case can be treated by the old +operation, slitting up the tumour, and tying the vessel above and below +the wound. When the aneurism is spontaneous, there is no guide to tell +us where the aneurism may have first originated; it may be that it is +high up in the pelvis, and that the visible tumour is only its expansion +in the direction of least resistance, or the coats of the vessel may be +extensively diseased. The only chance is ligature of the internal iliac. + +1. The old operation, or ligature of the gluteal artery in the hip. + +_Anatomical Note._--The gluteal is the largest branch of the internal +iliac, and leaves the pelvis by the great sacro-sciatic notch just at +the upper edge of the pyriformis muscle. After a very short course, it +divides into superficial and deep branches opposite the posterior margin +of the glutens minimus, between it and the pyriformis muscles. + +Very precise rules have been given to enable the operator to hit on the +exact spot where the artery leaves the pelvis. These, though perhaps +interesting anatomically, are quite useless in a surgical point of view, +for the only reasons which could possibly induce a surgeon to cut down +upon the gluteal in the living body, are the existence either of a wound +of the vessel or an aneurism. In the first the flow of blood, in the +second the tumour, would give sufficient guidance. + +In cases of traumatic aneurism the operation should be something like +the following:--A free incision should be made into the tumour, dividing +it in its long direction; the contents should be rapidly scooped out, +and a finger placed on the bleeding point, just at the upper corner of +the sciatic notch. This will at once stop the haemorrhage till the vessel +can be secured. This sounds easy enough, and has been done several times +with success. Thus, John Bell, by an incision two feet long, as he tells +us in his hyperbolical language, was enabled to tie the vessel in the +case of the leech-gatherer who had punctured the artery by a pair of +long scissors. Carmichael of Dublin used a smaller incision, removed one +or two pounds of clots, and tied the vessel, in a case of wound by a +penknife.[6] + +Now, though both of these cases were eventually successful, both +patients lost during the operation a very large quantity of blood; John +Bell's especially could not be removed from the operating-table for a +considerable time after the operation. The period at which the great +loss of blood took place was the interval after the incision was made, +and before the artery was exposed to view, _i.e._ the interval in which +the surgeon was busy dislodging the clots from the cellular membrane, +the sac of the false aneurism. The procedure devised by Mr. Syme to +obviate this difficulty, and which was put in practice by him in several +very trying cases, is best given in his own terse description of an +operation in a case of traumatic gluteal aneurism:-- + +"The patient having been rendered unconscious, and placed on his right +side, I thrust a bistoury into the tumour, over the situation of the +gluteal artery, and introduced my finger so as to prevent the blood from +flowing, except by occasional gushes, which showed what would have been +the effect of neglecting this precaution, while I searched for the +vessel. Finding it impossible to accomplish the object in this way, I +enlarged the wound by degrees sufficiently for the introduction of my +fingers in succession, until the whole hand was admitted into the +cavity, of which the orifice was still so small as to embrace the wrist +with a tightness that prevented any continuous haemorrhage. Being now +able to explore the state of matters satisfactorily, I found that there +was a large mass of dense fibrinous coagulum firmly impacted into the +sciatic notch; and, not without using considerable force, succeeded in +disengaging the whole of this obstacle to reaching the artery, which +would have proved very serious if it had been allowed to exist after the +sac was laid open. The compact mass, which was afterwards found to be +not less than a pound in weight, having been thus detached, so that it +moved freely in the fluid contents of the sac, and the gentleman who +assisted me being prepared for the next step of the process, I ran my +knife rapidly through the whole extent of the tumour, turned out all +that was within it, and had the bleeding orifice instantly under +subjection by the pressure of a finger. Nothing then remained but to +pass a double thread under the vessel, and tie it on both sides of the +aperture." + +The bleeding in this case was thus rendered comparatively trifling, and +the patient made a speedy and complete recovery. He returned home within +six weeks after the operation.[7] + +2. In one case, at least, the gluteal artery has been tied with success +(for traumatic aneurism) just where it leaves the pelvis, without the +tumour being opened. This was in the practice of Professor Campbell of +Montreal. The operation was a very difficult one, and while possible +only in cases seen very early, and where the tumour is very small, does +not appear to have any advantage over the old method. + +Cases of spontaneous aneurism of the gluteal artery should be treated by +ligature of the internal iliac. Steven's and Syme's cases of ligature +of the internal iliac were of this nature. + +Manuals of operative surgery occasionally devote pages to the +description of special operations for the ligature of such arteries as +the sciatic, epigastric, circumflex ilii, and pudic. They do not require +ligature, except in cases of wound either of the vessels themselves or +their branches; and, according to the modern principles of surgery in +such cases, the ligature should be applied to the bleeding point, rather +than to the vessel at a distance above it. + + +LIGATURE OF FEMORAL.--Under this head we practically mean cases of +ligature of the superficial femoral, for the common femoral, or (as +called by some anatomists) the femoral, before the profunda is given +off, very rarely requires to be tied. If it is wounded, of course the +bleeding point must be sought, and the artery tied above and below it, +but if an aneurism on the superficial femoral renders ligature of that +trunk impossible, experience teaches that ligature of the external iliac +gives better results than ligature of the common femoral. Erichsen +asserts that out of twelve cases in which the common femoral has been +tied, only three have succeeded, the others dying from secondary +haemorrhage. The experience of the Dublin surgeons, Porter, Smyly, and +Macnamara, has been more satisfactory, as in eight cases of this +operation six were successful.[8] A ninth case was unsuccessful. Reasons +to explain the danger are not far to seek, for the numerous small +muscular branches, along with the superficial epigastric, circumflex, +and pudic trunks, reduce the chances of a good coagulum in the common +femoral to a minimum, even without taking into consideration the +shortness of the trunk before the great profunda femoris is given off. +For the common femoral artery is only from one to two inches in length, +and if there are some rare cases in which it is a little later in its +bifurcation, there are others in which it divides nearer to Poupart's +ligament. + +The superficial femoral is the name given to the main trunk between the +origin of the profunda, and the point at which, passing through the +tendon of the adductor magnus, it receives the name of popliteal. During +this long course it gives off no branch large enough or regular enough +to receive a name, except one, the anastomotica magna, which rises in +Hunter's canal, close to the end of the vessel, so in that respect it is +peculiarly suitable for the application of a ligature. Again, in the +upper part of its course, it is superficial, being covered only by skin +and fascia. A short notice of its most important anatomical relations is +necessary. + +For the first two inches or two inches and a half of its separate +existence, the superficial femoral lies in Scarpa's triangle, covered, +as we said, only by skin and fascia. This triangle is formed by the +sartorius and adductor longus muscles which meet at its apex, and by +Poupart's ligament, which defines its base. The artery lies almost +exactly in the centre of the space, and at the apex is covered by the +sartorius muscle. The spot where it goes under the sartorius is the one +selected for the application of the ligature. The femoral vein lies to +the inner side of the femoral artery in this triangle, but their mutual +relations vary with the portion of the limb; for, on the level of +Poupart's ligament, the artery and vein lie side by side on the same +plane, but in different compartments of their sheath; as the artery +dives below the sartorius, the vein is still on the inside, but on a +plane slightly posterior; while, by the time they reach Hunter's canal, +the vein has got completely behind the artery. The separate compartments +of the sheath in which the vessels lie are much less marked as the +vessels go down the limb, the septum between the artery and the vein +being in most cases very ill marked, even at the level where the +ligature is applied. The anterior crural nerve, which on the level of +Poupart's ligament lay outside of the artery and on a plane somewhat +posterior, has divided into numerous branches before it reaches the +point of ligature. One of its branches requires to be mentioned, and may +sometimes be noticed and avoided during the operation, namely the +internal saphenous nerve, which, first lying external to the artery, +crosses it in front, reaching its inner side just before it enters +Hunter's canal, where it leaves the vessel accompanying the anastomotica +magna branch. + + +OPERATION OF LIGATURE OF THE FEMORAL--SCARPA'S SPACE.--The patient being +placed on his back, and being brought very thoroughly under chloroform, +the knee of the affected limb should be bent at an angle of about 120 deg., +and supported on a pillow. Having previously ascertained the angle of +junction of the sartorius and adductor, the surgeon should make an +incision (Plate I. fig. 5) just over the pulsations of the vessel, in +the middle line of the space, having its lower end quite over the +sartorius muscle, and its upper one, at a distance from two and a half +to three and a half inches, varying according to the amount of fat and +muscle. The saphena vein can generally be recognised, and is almost +always safe out of the way of this incision at its inner side. + +The first incision should divide the skin, superficial fascia, and fat, +quite down to the fascia lata. The edges of the wound being held apart, +the fascia should be carefully divided, and the sartorius exposed; its +fibres can generally be easily enough recognised by their oblique +direction; once recognised, the fascia should be dissected from it till +its inner edge be gained, the corner of which should then be turned so +that it may be held outwards by an assistant with a blunt hook. The +sheath of the vessels is now exposed, and after having thoroughly +satisfied himself of the position of the artery by the pulsation, the +surgeon should carefully raise a portion of the sheath with the +dissecting forceps, and open it freely enough to allow the coats of the +artery to be distinctly seen. If the parts are deep, as in a fat or +muscular patient, great advantage will be gained by seizing one edge of +the sheath by a pair of spring forceps, and committing it to the care of +an assistant, while the operator holds the other in his dissecting +forceps; there is thus no fear of losing the orifice of the sheath, +which without this precaution may easily happen, from the parts being +confused with blood, or the position altered by movements of the +patient. Now comes the stage of the operation on which, more than on +anything else, success or failure depends. A _small_ portion of the +vessel must be cleaned for the reception of the ligature, and it must be +_thoroughly_ cleaned, so that the needle may be passed round it without +bruising of the coats, or rupture of an unnecessary number of the vasa +vasorum by rough attempts to force a passage for it. Hence all +compromises, such as blunted instruments, silver knives, and the like, +are dangerous, for in trying to avoid the Scylla of wounding the artery, +they fall into the Charybdis, on the one hand, of isolating too much of +the vessel and causing gangrene from want of vascular supply, or, on the +other, expose the vein to the danger of injury by the aneurism-needle in +their attempts to force it round an uncleaned vessel. + +The needle should in most cases be passed from the inner side, care +being taken to avoid including the vein which is on the inner side and +behind the vessel; the internal saphenous nerve, if seen, should be +avoided. The needle must not be passed quite round the vessel raising it +up, still less must the vessel be held up on the needle, as used to be +done, as if the surgeon was surprised at his own success, but the needle +should be passed just far enough to expose the end of the ligature, +which must be seized by forceps and cautiously drawn through. It must +then be tied very firmly and secured with a reef knot. + +The edges of the wound must be brought into accurate apposition, and +secured by one or two stitches. If antiseptics are used, drainage should +be provided for. + +From the very fact that ligature of the superficial femoral is a +remarkably successful operation in causing consolidation of the aneurism +and a rapid cure, there is also a corresponding danger that the limb be +not sufficiently supplied with blood at first. The limb may very +possibly become cold, and remain so for some hours at least after the +operation. To avoid this as far as possible, it should be wrapped in +cotton wadding, and very great care should be taken that it be not +over-stimulated by hot applications, friction, or the like, any of which +measures might very likely excite reaction, which would result in +gangrene. + +Complete rest of the limb and of the whole body must be enjoined; the +food must be nourishing and in moderate quantity. The chief danger is +from gangrene of the limb, which is especially apt to result when the +vein is wounded, or even too much handled during the operation. + +When properly performed, and in suitable cases, the operation is very +successful. Mr. Syme tied this artery for aneurism thirty-seven times, +and of these every one recovered. The statistics of Norris and Porta, +who collected all the cases in which ligature of the femoral had been +employed for _any_ cause, show a mortality of somewhat less than one in +four. Rabe's table up to 1869 with the additional cases collected by Mr. +Barwell to 1880 gives 297 cases with 53 deaths.[9] Mr. Hutchinson's +table, again, of fifty cases collected from the records of Metropolitan +Hospitals, shows the very startling result of sixteen deaths out of the +fifty cases, or a mortality, in round numbers, of one-third. + +Certain anomalies have been observed in the distribution of the femoral +vessels, of some importance as affecting the possibility of applying, +and the result of, ligature; such as--1. A high division of the branches +which afterwards become posterior tibial and peroneal. 2. A double +superficial femoral, both branches of which may unite and form the +popliteal, as in Sir Charles Bell's well-known case. 3. Absence of the +artery altogether, as in Manec's case, where the popliteal was a +continuation of an immensely enlarged sciatic. + +In such a case the absence of pulsation in front, and the presence of +increased pulsation behind the limb, ought to prevent any fruitless +attempt at search. + + +LIGATURE OF THE SUPERFICIAL FEMORAL BELOW THE SARTORIUS MUSCLE.--This +operation, though once common in France, and though the one recommended +by Hunter himself, is now comparatively little used in this country; and +rightly so; for while it has no advantage over the upper position, it is +at once nearer the seat of disease, and the vessel is more deeply buried +under muscles, and has a more distinct fibrous sheath, which requires +division. + +It is, however, by no means a difficult operation, and is thus +performed:-- + +The limb being laid as before on the outside, and slightly bent, the +skin shaved and the pulsation of the artery detected, an incision (Plate +I. fig. 6) must be made from the lower edge of the sartorius muscle just +as it crosses the vessel, along the course of the vessel, avoiding if +possible the internal saphena vein. + +The sartorius when exposed must be drawn inwards. The fibrous canal +filling the interspace between the abductor magnus and vastus internus +is then recognised, and must be fairly opened; the artery is now seen +lying in it, and over the vein which is posterior to it, but projects +slightly on its outer side; the internal saphenous nerve is lying on the +artery. The needle is best passed from without inwards so as to avoid +the vein. The anastomotica magna is sometimes a large trunk, and has +been mistaken for the femoral in this situation, and tied instead of it. + + +LIGATURE OF THE POPLITEAL.--This operation is now hardly ever performed +for aneurism, ligature of the superficial femoral having quite +superseded it, and it is very rarely required for wounds, from the +manner in which the vessel is protected by its position. + +Before the invention of the Hunterian principle of ligature at a +distance, the old operation for popliteal aneurism consisted in cutting +into the space, clearing out the contents of the aneurismal sac, and +tying both ends of the vessel; from the depth of parts and the close +connection of the popliteal vein, this operation was very rarely +successful, and is now quite given up. If the vessel is wounded the +bleeding point is the object to be aimed at, and is generally sufficient +guide. + +In cases of haemorrhage for suppuration of an aneurismal sac, it might +possibly be advisable, and there are certain cases of rupture of the +artery, without the existence of an external wound, in which attempts +have been made to save the limb by tying the vessel.[10] From the +complexity of the parts, the numerous tendons, veins, and nerves crowded +together in a narrow hollow, and chiefly from the great depth at which +the artery lies, any attempt at ligature is very difficult. It is least +so at the lower angle of the space, where, between the heads of the +gastrocnemius, the vessel comes more to the surface, but is still +overlapped by muscle. + +_Operation._--The patient lying on his face, a straight incision (Plate +III. fig. 1), at least four inches in length, should be made over the +artery, and thus nearer the inner than the outer hamstring; a strong +fibrous aponeurosis will require division after the skin and superficial +fascia are cut through, the limb is then to be flexed, and the tendons +drawn aside with strong retractors; fat and lymphatic glands must next +be dissected through, and then the vein and artery, lying on a sort of +sheath of condensed cellular tissue, are seen, the vein lying above the +artery and obscuring it. The vein must be drawn to the outside, and the +thread passed round the artery, which lies close to the bone, on the +ligamentum posticum of Winslowe. + +It is a very difficult subject to decide what operations should be +described in a work of this character, on the vessels of the leg and +foot. A very large number of distinct methods of operations on the +various parts of the three chief arteries of the leg have been described +by surgeons and anatomists, but specially by the latter. + +The fact is, however, that these complicated procedures are rarely +required, for aneurisms of the arteries of the leg and foot are almost +unknown, while in cases of wound of the vessel, or rupture resulting in +traumatic aneurism, the proper treatment is not to tie the vessel higher +up, but by dilating the wound and clearing out the clots, if required, +to secure the bleeding point, and tie the vessel above and below. + +Again, a wound of the sole of the foot often gives rise to very severe +and persistent haemorrhage, while the fasciae and complicated tendons +render ligature of the vessel at the spot very difficult; yet ligature +of either the anterior or posterior tibial would probably be +insufficient; and to tie both these vessels, with possibly the peroneal +and interosseous as well, would be a much more severe and dangerous +procedure than ligature of the superficial femoral; while probably +careful plugging of the wound, combined with flexion of the knee, will +be found to stop the haemorrhage sooner than either of the more +formidable methods. + +A competent knowledge of the anatomy of the part, and of the ordinary +methods of checking haemorrhage, such as ligatures, graduated compresses, +and styptics, aided by position, specially flexion of the knee after Mr. +Ernest Hart's method, will suffice to enable the surgeon to check any +haemorrhage of the foot or leg, without it being necessary to burden the +memory with the three positions in which to tie the peroneal, or the +various methods, more or less bloody and tedious, by which the posterior +tibial in its upper third may be secured. + + NOTE.--While, as a matter of surgical principle to guide our + practice on the living, I still hold very strongly the opinions + here expressed against special operations for ligature of the + arteries of the leg, and allow the sentences to stand as in the + first edition of this work, I insert in a note a brief description + of the more important ones, in deference to the advice of friends + and the urgent request of pupils, as these operations are used by + Examining Boards as tests of the operative dexterity of + candidates:-- + + 1. ANTERIOR TIBIAL ARTERY IN LOWER HALF OF LEG.--_Anatomical + Note._--This vessel is related on its tibial side to the tibialis + anticus, and on its fibular, to the extensor longus digitorum + above, and the extensor pollicis below. The anterior tibial nerve + lies first on its outer side, then crosses the artery, and + eventually reaches its inner side near the foot. _Operation._--An + incision, at least three inches long, parallel with the outer edge + of the tibia, and about three-quarters of an inch from it, exposes + the deep fascia. This being divided, the outer edge of the tibialis + anticus must be found, and will be the guide to the artery, which, + surrounded by its venae comites, lies very deeply between the + muscles. + + 2. Posterior Tibial.--_A._ In middle third of leg. Here the artery + is separated from the inner border of the tibia, by the flexor + longus digitorum, and is covered by the soleus. _Operation._--An + incision at least four inches long, along the inner margin of the + tibia, exposes the edge of the gastroenemius; then divide the + tendinous attachment, then expose the soleus, and divide its + attachment also; the deep fascia will then be seen; slit it up, and + the vessel will be found about an inch internal to the edge of the + bone. The nerve is there just crossing it. + + Guthrie's, or the direct operation, has the very high authority of + the late Professor Spence in its favour. An incision through skin + and fascia in the middle of the back of the leg allows the two + heads of the gastrocnemius to be separated to the same extent. The + soleus is then to be scraped through in same direction, and its + deep aponeurotic surface carefully slit up. The artery and vein are + then easily seen. + + B. In lower third of leg.--This is an easier and more scientific + operation, as it does not involve the division of great tendons. An + incision midway between the internal malleolus and the tendo + Achillis, parallel with both, will expose the very deep and strong + fascia in which the tendons lie. The artery, with its venae comites, + occupies a central position, having the tendons of the tibialis + posticus and flexor communis in front between it and the internal + malleolus, and the posterior tibial nerve behind it, while the + flexor longus pollicis lies still nearer the tendo Achillis. + + + TABLE illustrating anastomotic circulation after ligature of + arteries of lower limb. + + 1. AORTA.--Epigastric and mammary of both sides. Haemorrhoidal and + spermatic, with branches of pudic both deep and superficial. + + 2. COMMON ILIAC.--Internal iliac and branches, with those of the + other side, along with the following:-- + + 3. EXTERNAL ILIAC.--Internal mammary and deep epigastric. + + Iliolumbar and lumbar branches of aorta, with deep circumflex ilii. + + Pudic from internal iliac, with superficial pudic of common + femoral. + + Gluteal, sciatic, and obturator, with the circumflex and + perforating branches or deep femoral. + + 4. FEMORAL.--External circumflex, with external articular of + popliteal. + + Perforating, with branches of gluteal and sciatic. + + Profunda branches with anastomotica and articular branches. + + Obturator and internal circumflex with anastomotica and superior + internal articular. + + NOTE.--The importance of the articular branches of the popliteal + explain the danger of gangrene after a sudden rupture or increase + in size of a popliteal aneurism. + + +LIGATURE OF THE INNOMINATE.--The performance of this extremely +dangerous, in fact almost hopeless operation, is by no means so +difficult as might be expected. + +The patient lying down with the shoulders raised and head thrown well +back, the sternal attachment of the right sterno-mastoid must be very +freely exposed. This may be done by an incision (Plate I. fig. 7) along +its anterior edge from the upper edge of the sternum, as far as may be +necessary; another about the same length along the upper edge of the +clavicle, will meet the former at an acute angle, and will include a +triangular flap of skin, which must be carefully dissected up. The +sternal, and probably a portion of the clavicular attachment of the +right sterno-mastoid, must then be cautiously divided. This being done, +the sterno-hyoid and sterno-thyroid muscles require division immediately +above their sternal attachments. + +A dense process of cervical fascia (just becoming thoracic) now covers +the vessel, binding it on the right side to the right innominate vein, +and on the left maintaining the relation of the innominate artery to the +trachea. The inferior thyroid veins lie on this fascia, and must be +drawn aside, not cut. The fascia is then to be scraped through very +cautiously, exposing the root of the right carotid, which, being traced +downwards, will lead to the innominate. The following parts lie in close +relation to the vessel at the point of ligature, and must be +avoided:--1. The left innominate vein crosses the artery in front from +left to right, and must be drawn down. 2. The right innominate vein and +right pneumogastric are in close contact with the artery on the right +side; to avoid them the aneurism-needle must be entered on the outside +(right of the vessel). 3. The apex of the right pleura and the trachea +are in close contact behind, requiring the point of the needle to be +kept close to the artery in bringing the thread round. + +It might have been expected that the sudden arrest of so large a +proportion of the vascular supply of the body, so very near the heart, +would cause serious, or even fatal symptoms; this, however, is not the +case, no serious inconvenience of this sort being experienced; yet +hitherto every case has proved fatal, either from secondary haemorrhage +or inflammation of lungs and pleura. + +In fifteen well-authenticated, and in three more doubtful cases, the +ligature has been applied; all of these died at periods varying from +twelve hours (as in Hutin's case), to forty-two days as in Thomson's, +and sixty-seven days (Graefe's).[11] + +A successful case of ligature of the innominate along with the right +carotid and (after secondary haemorrhage) the right vertebral, in a +mulatto aged thirty-two, for a subclavian aneurism, has been put on +record by Dr. Smyth of New Orleans, in the _American Journal of Medical +Science_ for July 1866. + +And here we may also note that Mr. Heath has lately treated a case of +innominate aneurism by simultaneous ligature of the third part of the +subclavian and the carotid. Both ligatures separated on the eighteenth +day, and the tumour was much smaller some months afterwards.[12] + +Mr. R. Barwell has reported several most interesting cases in which +simultaneous ligature of carotid and subclavian have proved of marked +benefit in aortic as well as in innominate aneurisms.[13] + +In four cases the operation was attempted, but the operators had to +desist before the application of the ligature, in consequence of the +diseased state of the arterial coats. Of these, three died, and one +(Professor Porter's of Dublin) case recovered, the patient leaving the +hospital with the aneurism nearly consolidated. + +Dr. Peixotto of Portugal applied a precautionary ligature to the +innominate in a case where secondary haemorrhage occurred from the +carotid. The ligature was not tightened beyond what was necessary merely +to cause flattening of the vessel. The patient made a good recovery. + +Professor George Porter of Dublin records an interesting case of +subclavian aneurism, in which, after failing to close the axillary +artery by acupressure, he applied L'Estrange's compressor to the +innominate itself for three days, with temporary benefit. The patient +eventually died of haemorrhage.[14] + +For a very full and interesting account of ligatures of vessels in root +of neck we may refer to vol. iii. of the 1883 edition of _Holmes' +Surgery_, pp. 119-122. + + +LIGATURE OF COMMON CAROTID.--Though the anatomical relations of the +right and left carotid are different at their origin, they so precisely +resemble each other in the whole of that part of their course which is +at all amenable to surgical treatment, that one description will suffice +for both, and the necessary anatomy will be brought out quite +sufficiently in the description of each operation. + +From its giving off no collateral branches, the common carotid artery +may be tied at any part of its course. + +It has been tied successfully at the distance of only three-quarters, +or, in one case by Porter, hardly to be imitated, one-eighth of an inch +from the innominate, and up to an equal distance from its bifurcation. +In choosing the part of the vessel for operation, the operator must be +guided by the position of the aneurism, if on the vessel itself, but if +the aneurism be distant, as in scalp or orbit, he need have regard to +position simply as facilitating the operation. + +The easiest position in which to apply the ligature is just above the +omohyoid muscle, the vessel being there superficial. + + +LIGATURE ABOVE OMOHYOID.--Using the anterior border of the +sterno-mastoid as a guide, but leaving it gradually above to a little +nearer the mesial line, an incision (Plate IV. fig. 1), varying in +length according to the depth of fat and cellular tissue in the neck, +but with its central point opposite the upper border of the cricoid +cartilage, must be made through skin, platysma, and superficial fascia. +While making the incision the head should be held back, and the face +slightly turned to the opposite side; the parts being now relaxed by +position, the edges of the wound must be held apart by blunt hooks or +copper spatulae, and the deep fascia carefully divided over the vessel, +which will be recognised by the pulsation. It may be noted here that +even in thin subjects the sterno-mastoid edge _invariably_ overlaps the +vessel, though in many anatomical diagrams it would appear to be in part +subcutaneous. + +The descendens noni may possibly be seen, but this is by no means +invariably the case, crossing the sheath of the vessel very gradually +from without inwards in its progress down the neck. It must be carefully +displaced outwards. + +The sheath of the vessel is then to be cautiously opened to the extent +of about half an inch. The internal jugular vein, possibly much +distended, may overlap the artery on its outer side, and will require to +be pressed, emptied, and held out of the way. A small portion of the +artery being thoroughly separated from the sheath, the aneurism-needle +must be passed from without inwards to avoid the vein, and keep as close +to the artery as possible to avoid the vagus. + +The tendon of the omohyoid muscle, or, in muscular subjects, a portion +of its anterior fleshy belly, may be seen crossing the vessel from +above downwards and outwards at the lower angle of the wound. + +An enlarged lymphatic gland has occasionally given much trouble, by +being mistaken for the vessel and cleaned, while the ligature has even +been placed on a carefully isolated fasciculus of muscular fibres. + + +LIGATURE OF CAROTID BELOW THE OMOHYOID.--An incision in precisely the +same direction as the former, but at a slightly lower level, is +required, but the dissection is rather more difficult. The edge of the +sterno-mastoid when exposed must be drawn outwards; the sterno-hyoid and +thyroid inwards; the omohyoid upwards; the sheath opened, and the +descendens noni or its branches drawn to the tracheal side. The jugular +vein and vagus are both at the outer side, and must be avoided, while +the inferior thyroid artery and sympathetic nerve both lie behind the +vessel, and may be included in the ligature if care be not taken. + + VARIETIES.--_Sedillot's Operation._--To secure the artery still + lower in the neck: An incision two and a half inches long, from the + inner end of the clavicle obliquely upwards and outwards in the + interval between the sternal and clavicular attachments of the + sterno-mastoid; this divides the superficial textures; the two + portions of muscle must then be drawn apart. The internal jugular + vein lies in the interval, and must be drawn to the outside before + the artery can be seen at all, and it is this that makes this + operation very difficult and dangerous, especially on the left + side, where the vein is close to the artery, and probably even + crossing it from left to right. The thoracic duct is behind. + + _Malgaigne's modification of the above_ is an improvement: to + expose the external attachment of the muscle, to cut it through and + turn it to the outside, as in the operation for ligature of the + innominate, then to divide or pull inwards sterno-hyoid and + sterno-thyroid, thus exposing the sheath. The needle must be passed + from without inwards. + +_Results._--Pilz has collected 600 cases, of which 43.16 per cent. died. +The united tables of Norris and Wood give 188 cases, with a mortality of +sixty, or nearly one in three. These tables include cases in which the +vessel was tied for wounds, and as a preparatory step in the operation +of removal of tumours of the jaw, etc. Later statistics give a very much +lessened mortality, due chiefly to the use of animal ligatures. + +Of thirty-one cases in which it was tied for pulsating tumours of the +orbit, only two died from the operation.[15] Rivington's statistics to a +later date give forty-six cases on forty-four patients with six deaths. + +Both carotids have been tied in the same patient twenty-five times, at +intervals of less than a year; and it is a very remarkable fact that +only five of these fifty ligatures proved fatal,--two in which both were +tied on the same day, and three in which the operation was performed to +arrest haemorrhage from malignant disease of the face and jaws--from +gunshot wound,--and from syphilitic ulceration. + +The external carotid, and also most of its principal branches, have been +tied for aneurisms, wounds, goitres, enlargement of the tongue, vascular +tumours on occiput and other lesions; also as a first stage in the +operation of extirpation of the upper jaw, for the purpose of preventing +haemorrhage. However, such operations are rare, and will probably become +rarer still, and it is hardly necessary to describe the operations on +each _seriatim_. + +Aneurism of the external carotid or branches are rare; if idiopathic, +ligature of the common carotid will be found at once easier, not more +dangerous, and more effectual than ligature of the branch; if traumatic, +the aneurism itself should be attacked, and the bleeding point secured +by a double ligature. Wounds are common enough, but if accessible at +all, the injured vessel should be tied at the bleeding point; if +inaccessible (and under this head we may include wounds of the internal +carotid), the common carotid must be tied. + +No one would think of trying the superior thyroids for goitre, unless +they were so manifestly enlarged, tortuous, and pulsating, as to render +the operation so simple (from their superficial position) as to require +no special directions; besides this, the cases in which it has been +already done have given very little encouragement to repeat it. + +As cases may occur in which any diminution of the cerebral supply is +contra-indicated, and thus the more difficult ligature of the external +carotid may be preferred to the more simple operation on the common +trunk, and as the lingual may require ligature near its root, in +consequence of obstinate haemorrhage from the tongue, short directions +are given for the performance of both these operations. + + +1. LIGATURE OF EXTERNAL CAROTID.--Head in same position as for the +common carotid. A straight incision parallel with the anterior edge of +sterno-mastoid, but about half an inch in front of it, must begin almost +at angle of jaw, and extend downwards nearly to the level of the thyroid +cartilage. Cautiously divide skin, platysma, and fascia; the lower end +of the parotid must be pulled upwards, and the veins, which are +numerous, cautiously separated. The anterior border of the +sterno-mastoid must be pulled backwards, and the digastric and +stylo-hyoid forwards and inwards. The superior laryngeal nerve which +lies behind the vessel must be avoided. + + +2. LIGATURE OF LINGUAL.--To secure this vessel either before it becomes +concealed by the hyo-glossus, or after it is under the muscle, a curved +incision is necessary, following the line of the hyoid bone, and +especially of its greater cornu, but a line or two above its upper +border. After the skin and platysma are divided, the posterior belly of +the digastric must be recognised, which again will guide to the +posterior edge of the hyo-glossus. The edge of the sub-maxillary gland +may very probably require to be raised out of the way. The artery can +then be secured, either before it dips under the hyo-glossus muscle, or +after it has done so, by the division of a few of its fibres on a +director. Care is needed to avoid injury of the hypo-glossal nerve, +which lies above the muscle. + +The internal carotid artery occasionally, but very rarely, is the +subject of aneurism. It may, like any other artery, be wounded, +especially from the fauces. The treatment of either of these lesions is +ligature of the common carotid itself, in preference to ligature of the +internal carotid. Guthrie's operation for securing the bleeding internal +carotid at the injured spot, by dividing and turning up the ramus of the +lower jaw, has never been performed in the living body, and is so +difficult, dangerous, and unnecessary, as not to merit description. + + +LIGATURE OF SUBCLAVIAN.--_Note._--In consequence of the difference in +the origin, and variety in the anatomical relations of the right and +left subclavian arteries, in so far at least as their first stage is +concerned, it is necessary to give a very brief separate account of +each. + +_Right Subclavian._--The innominate artery divides into the right +subclavian and right carotid exactly behind the sterno-clavicular +articulation. The right subclavian extends from this point in an arched +form across the neck, between the scalene muscles, over the apex of the +pleura, till, passing under cover of the clavicle, it changes its name +to axillary at the lower end of the first rib. For convenience of +description, the artery is divided into three parts, which have very +various anatomical relations, and differ from each other much in their +amenability to surgical treatment by ligature. The anterior scalenus +muscle defines the three parts, the first extending to the inner border +of the muscle, the second being concealed by the muscle, and the third +reaching from its outer border to the lower border of the first rib. + +_Branches of the Subclavian._--While the deep relations of pleura, +veins, and nerves can be noticed under the head of each operation in +detail, one anatomical point must never be forgotten as influencing very +much the success of all surgical interference with the subclavian +arteries--_i.e._ the branches given off. To give any chance of success +in the application of a ligature to such a large vessel, so near the +heart, a large portion of artery free from branches is required, that +the clot may be long, firm, and undisturbed. The first part of the +subclavian gives off the vertebral, thyroid axis, and internal mammary; +the second, the superior intercostal; while the third part has in most +cases no branch whatever. In these anatomical differences we find the +reason for the almost invariable fatality resulting on any interference +with the first and second parts, and the comparative safety of ligature +of the third part, without requiring to account for the difference on +other grounds, such as depth of part, importance of nervous relations, +or nearer proximity to the heart. + +The second and third parts of both arteries are so similar to each +other, that a separate account is not required for the two sides. + + +LIGATURE OF RIGHT SUBCLAVIAN.--_First Part._--_Operation._--An incision +just at upper edge of sternum and right clavicle, extending from inner +edge of _left_ sterno-mastoid transversely to outer border of right +sterno-mastoid through skin, platysma, and exposing sterno-mastoid, to +be joined at an angle by a second incision, which, two, three, or even +four inches long, must extend along inner border of right +sterno-mastoid. Flap to be raised upwards and outwards. The sternal +attachment of the sterno-mastoid must then be cautiously divided, as +also part or the whole of its clavicular attachment, according as room +is required. The sterno-hyoid and thyroid muscles will then require +similar division. The internal jugular will then be seen very +prominent,[16] and will require to be drawn inwards or outwards, +according to circumstances. The carotid and right subclavian arteries +will then be felt lying close together crossed by the pneumogastric and +recurrent nerves, the latter turning behind the subclavian. The nerves +must be drawn inwards; the cardiac filaments of the sympathetic will +then be observed, and drawn outwards. The subclavian vein lies below, +concealed by the clavicle, and will probably not be seen during the +operation. The needle should be passed round the artery from below +upwards, care being taken not to injure the pleura, which lies beneath +and behind the artery. + +_Results._--Twelve cases, all of which died; ten of haemorrhage, one of +pleurisy and pericarditis, and one from pyaemia. Attempted in one case by +Mr. Butcher, but the artery was too much diseased to bear a ligature. +The patient died on the fourth day. + + +LIGATURE OF LEFT SUBCLAVIAN.--_First Part._--This operation, which has +been described by some as impossible, has, I believe, been only once +performed on the living body. _Operation._--Incisions as for the +preceding operation, except being on the opposite side. After the skin, +platysma, and muscles have been divided, as already described, the deep +cervical fascia requires division close to the inner edge of the +scalenus anticus. The artery lies excessively deep, and great difficulty +is experienced in avoiding injury to the pleura and the thoracic duct. + +_Results._--Once performed by Dr. Rodgers of New York; death from +haemorrhage on fifteenth day. + +_Anatomical Note._--The course of the left subclavian in its first stage +is much straighter, as its origin is much deeper, than on the right +side. The pneumogastric, phrenic, and cardiac nerves lie parallel to its +course; the oesophagus and thoracic duct lie behind it, and to its inner +side. + + +LIGATURE OF SUBCLAVIAN.--_Second Part._--This very rare operation hardly +requires a separate description, as the incisions necessary for ligature +of the artery in its third part will, with very slight modifications, be +sufficient for the purpose. + +It has, however, special elements of danger in it, involved in the +unavoidable division, of part at least, or probably the whole, of the +scalenus anticus. The phrenic nerve, from its position on that muscle, +requires special care to avoid dividing it, and in most cases the +internal jugular vein is also in the way. The branches of the thyroid +axis, which cross the neck, are quite in the line of the incision. The +lowest cord of the brachial plexus lies immediately behind the artery, +between it and the middle scalenus. The pleura lies just below it. The +subclavian vein is generally quite safe, running in front of the +scalenus anticus, and at a lower level. + +The presence of the superior intercostal branch adds greatly to the +danger of ligature of the vessel in this position, from its interfering +with a proper clot. + +_Results._--Dupuytren[17] performed it successfully for a traumatic +axillary aneurism. Auchincloss[18] did it for a large true aneurism, but +the patient died sixty-eight and a half hours after the operation. +Liston cut through the outer portion of the scalenus with success for an +idiopathic aneurism. Thirteen have been collected by Wyeth with four +recoveries and nine deaths. + + +LIGATURE OF SUBCLAVIAN.--_Third Part._--For this comparatively common +operation, various methods of procedure have been suggested and +employed. + +In the dead body, where the axilla is free from swelling, and in thin +patients, the artery in this third stage is tolerably superficial, and +can be secured with ease. But in very muscular men, with short necks and +well curved clavicles, and specially when the axilla is filled up with +an aneurism, and the shoulder cannot be depressed, the operation becomes +very difficult. + +_Operation of Ramsden, Liston, and Syme._--_Position._--The patient +lying on his back with his shoulders supported by pillows, and his head +lying back, and drawn to the opposite side; the shoulder of the affected +side must be depressed as much as possible. + +_Incisions._--(Plate I. fig. 8.)--One through skin, superficial fascia, +and platysma, along the upper edge of the clavicle, for at least three +inches from the anterior edge of the trapezius to the posterior border +of the sterno-mastoid, and in muscular subjects freely overlapping the +edges of both muscles. Another two inches in length along posterior +border of sterno-mastoid meets the first at an angle. On reflecting the +chief flap thus made upwards and backwards, the external jugular will be +seen, and, if possible, must be drawn to a side; if not, it must be +divided, and both ends tied. The lower edge of the posterior belly of +the omohyoid must then be sought; this leads at once to the posterior or +outer margin of the scalenus anticus. The connection of the deep fascia +to that muscle must then be very carefully scraped through, and by +tracing the muscle to its insertion to the first rib, the artery is at +once reached, lying behind the insertion. The pulsation of the vessel +between the forefinger and the first rib will prove a great assistance; +yet care is required, lest one of the branches of the brachial plexus be +secured instead of the artery. The lowest cord lies very close to the +vessel. The subclavian vein is not likely to give much trouble, from +its being on a lower level, and (unless very much dilated) nearly +concealed by the clavicle. The suprascapular artery is also hidden, but +the transverse cervical crosses the very line of incision, and may give +trouble, being occasionally much enlarged, so much so as even for a time +to have been mistaken for the subclavian itself. If possible, both these +branches should be saved, as being important means of carrying on the +anastomosis for the future support of the limb. + +An absorbent gland is occasionally in the way, and has even been +mistaken for the vessel and carefully cleaned. Such may be removed +without scruple. + +Care must be taken not to injure the pleura, which lies immediately +behind and below the vessel at the seat of ligature. Various +instrumental devices have been invented for passing the ligature. The +simplest seems still to be best, a common aneurism-needle with a +considerable curve. + + _Other methods of operating._--A single curved incision above the + clavicle, with its concavity upwards, of about three or four inches + long, with its inner end rather higher than the outer (Green, + Fergusson). + + A linear transverse incision in the same situation (Velpeau). + + A single linear incision perpendicular to the clavicle (Roux). + + An arched incision (Plate IV. fig. 2) with its convexity outwards, + and its base on the posterior edge of the sterno-mastoid, from + three inches above the clavicle to the clavicular attachment of the + muscle (Skey). + +_Results._--Dr. Wyeth's Tables in 1877 give 251 cases with 134 or 53 per +cent. of deaths. + + The late Mr. Furner of Brighton reported a most interesting case, + in which he tied both subclavian arteries at an interval of two + years in the same patient, for axillary aneurisms, with success. + + +LIGATURE OF AXILLARY.--_Anatomical Note._--This vessel, the next stage +in the continuation of the subclavian downwards, may be defined +surgically as extending from the clavicle to the lower border of the +teres major. From the depth of the vessel at its upper part, the +numerous nerves, and the close proximity of the vein, the surgeon has +carefully to study the anatomical relations. It, like the subclavian, is +commonly divided into three stages, and, also like the subclavian, these +stages are defined by the relations of the artery to a muscle, the +pectoralis minor. Surgically we may draw a very close parallel between +the two vessels, for we find that in the axillary, as in the subclavian, +the first stage is very deep, and very rarely amenable to ligature; the +second, still deeper and more rarely attempted, as in both the operation +involves division of a deep muscle; while the third stage in each is the +one most frequently chosen by the surgeon. + +_First Stage._--Between the lower edge of the first rib and upper border +of the pectoralis minor the vessel is deeply seated, contained in that +process of deep fascia called the costo-coracoid membrane, and covered +above by skin, platysma, and the clavicular portion of the pectoralis +major. It lies on the first intercostal muscle and the upper digitation +of the serratus magnus, while the cords of the brachial plexus are on +its acromial side, and the axillary vein in close contact with it on its +thoracic side, and frequently overlapping the artery. + +_Operation._--The great desideratum is free access. An incision (Plate +I. fig. 9), semilunar in shape, with its convexity downwards, must +extend from half an inch outside of the sterno-clavicular articulation +to very near the coracoid process, stopping just before it arrives at +the edge of the deltoid, in order to avoid injury of the cephalic vein. +It must include skin, fascia, and platysma, and the flap must be thrown +upwards. The clavicular portion of the pectoralis major must then be +divided right across its fibres, which will retract. The arm must then +be brought close to the side to relax the pectoralis minor, which must +be drawn aside. The artery will then be felt pulsating, but hidden by +the costo-coracoid membrane, which acts as its sheath. This must be +carefully scratched through, the nerves pulled outwards, the vein +avoided and pulled downwards and inwards, and the thread passed round +from within outwards. (Manec, Hodgson, and, with slight modification in +the incision through the skin, Chamberlaine.) + + Ligature has been performed in this position by separating the + pectoralis and deltoid muscles, without dividing the muscular + fibres (Roux, Desault). + + To attempt to gain access between the clavicular and sternal + portions of pectoralis major, as has been proposed by some, is + almost impracticable in the living body, from the position of the + vein, to which, rather than to the artery, this incision leads. + + +LIGATURE OF AXILLARY, _in its second stage_, is not an advisable +operation, when it is merely intended to throw a ligature round the +artery for an aneurism lower down. + +It has been performed at least twice by Delpech, but it is a rude +procedure; in his cases, after the muscle was cut, a dive with the +finger was made to collect the whole mass of vessels and nerves, and +bring them to the surface near the collar-bone; in this position it is +said the artery was easily isolated and tied. + +In Mr. Syme's operation of cutting into large axillary aneurisms, and +tying both ends of the vessel, the pectoralis minor may, indeed +generally has, to be divided, and must take its chance without any +special notice or precaution, in the sweeping, free incisions required. + + +LIGATURE OF AXILLARY _in its third stage_.--This is an operation very +much more common, more easy of accomplishment, and safer in its results +than either of the preceding; the artery in this stage being more +superficial, in fact almost subcutaneous. + +_Operation._--The arm being extended and supinated, an incision (Plate +I. fig. 10) two and a half or three inches long, must be made in the +base of the axilla over the artery, involving at first skin and +superficial fascia only; the deep fascia is then exposed and must be +carefully scraped through, avoiding injury of the basilic vein, if (as +sometimes occurs) it has not yet dipped through the fascia. The vessel +can now be felt; the median nerve which lies over the artery, or +slightly to its outer side, must be drawn outwards, and the axillary +vein, which lies at the thoracic side, but often overlaps the vessel, +must be carefully drawn inwards. The ligature must then be passed from +within outwards. + +When the patient is very fat or muscular, the coraco-brachialis muscle +may be required as a guide to the vessel; but in general its superficial +position renders any guide quite unnecessary, even in the dead body. + +_Anatomical Note._--While in each stage the axillary artery gives off +branches, those arising from the third stage are by far the most +important, especially the subscapular, which leaves it at the edge of +the muscle of the same name. To avoid these the ligature should be +applied as low down on the vessel as possible, and, in point of fact, +the operation called ligature of the third stage of the axillary is, +anatomically speaking, really ligature of the brachial high up, and +where there is room at all, there will be the less chance of secondary +haemorrhage, the greater the distance is between the ligature and the +great subscapular branch. + +_Mr. Syme's Operation for Axillary Aneurism._--Description of the +operation in his own words:-- + +"Chloroform being administered, I made an incision along the outer edge +of the sterno-mastoid muscle, through the platysma myoides and fascia of +the neck, so as to allow a finger to be pushed down to the situation +where the subclavian artery issues from under the scalenus anticus and +lies upon the first rib. I then opened the tumour, when a tremendous +gush of blood showed that the artery was not effectually compressed; +but while I plugged the aperture with my hand, Mr. Lister, who assisted +me, by a slight movement of his finger, which had been thrust deeply +under the upper edge of the tumour, and through the clots contained in +it, at length succeeded in getting command of the vessel. I then laid +the cavity freely open, and with both hands scooped out nearly seven +pounds of coagulated blood, as was ascertained by measurement. The +axillary artery appeared to have been torn across, and as the lower +orifice still bled freely, I tied it in the first instance. I next cut +through the lessor pectoral muscle close up to the clavicle, and holding +the upper end of the vessel between my finger and thumb, passed an +aneurism-needle, so as to apply a ligature about half an inch above the +orifice."[19] + +In a similar operation lately performed by the author for traumatic +aneurism, the result of a stab, very little blood was lost, though no +incision was made above the clavicle. The patient made a good +recovery.[20] + + +LIGATURE OF BRACHIAL.--To arrest haemorrhage from a wound of the artery +itself, no special directions are required, except to enlarge the wound, +and secure the vessel above and below the bleeding point. There are, +however, rare cases in which for bleeding in the palm (after all other +means have failed), or for aneurism lower down the arm, a ligature may +be necessary. + +_Operation._--The biceps muscle, at its inner edge, is the best guide to +the position of the incision, or if it be obscured by fat or oedema, a +line extending from the axilla, just over the head of the humerus to the +middle of the bend of the elbow will define its course. An incision +(Plate I., fig. 11) three inches in length, about the middle of the arm +(when you have the choice of position), through skin and superficial +fascia, will expose the deep fascia, and probably the basilic vein. +Drawing the latter aside, cautiously divide the deep fascia. The artery +is then exposed, but in close relation to various nerves; of these the +ones most likely to come in the way are--1. The median, which lies in +front of, but a little to the outside of the artery, though in some rare +cases it lies behind it; 2. The internal cutaneous; 3. The ulnar, both +of which ought to be rather to the inside of the artery. Two brachial +veins accompany and wind round the vessel, occasionally interlacing. +Pulsation will, in the living body, usually suffice to distinguish the +artery from the other textures, and the ligature may be passed from +whichever side is most convenient. + + _Note._--The relation of the median nerve to the vessel varies + according to the part of the arm--thus, as low as the insertion of + the coraco-brachialis it is to the outer side, as has been + described, it then crosses the vessel obliquely, and two inches + above the elbow it is on the inner side of the artery. Again, the + operator must never forget the possibility of there being a high + division of the artery. This occurs, Mr. Quain has shown, perhaps + once in every ten or eleven cases, and may necessitate ligature of + both trunks. + +In those cases (once much more frequent than at present) where an +aneurism has formed after a wound of the brachial at the bend of the arm +in venesection, the aneurism may be either circumscribed or diffuse. + +If circumscribed, it is advised by some surgeons, specially by the late +Professor Colles of Dublin, that the brachial should be tied immediately +above the tumour. In most cases of circumscribed, and in all such cases +of diffuse aneurism, the preferable operation is boldly to lay open the +tumour, turn out all the clots, seek for the wound in the artery, and +tie the vessel above and below. A tourniquet above, or, better still, a +trustworthy assistant, prevents all fear of haemorrhage, and such a +radical operation exposes the limb to far less chance of gangrene than +do any attempts at removing or lessening the tumour by pressure (as +recommended by Cusack, Tyrrell, Harrison), and is much more certain +than a mere ligature above.[21] + + +LIGATURE OF VESSELS IN FORE-ARM.--Here, as also we found is the case in +the leg, it is almost useless to go on giving exact directions as to the +method of throwing a ligature round the vessels in all possible +situations. + +For below the elbow spontaneous aneurism is almost unknown, and even +traumatic aneurisms are extremely rare. It is therefore for haemorrhage +only that the vessels are likely to require ligature, and it is a rule +in surgery that to enlarge the wound and to apply a ligature above and +below the bleeding point is better practice than to apply a ligature at +a distance. + +In the case of wounds of the palmar arch, it is extremely difficult, and +very apt to injure the future usefulness of the hand, thus to seek for +the bleeding point under the palmar fascia, and for _these_, ligatures +of radial and ulnar have occasionally been practised. However, as even +this has proved ineffectual, and the interosseous has proved sufficient +to continue the bleeding, ligature of the brachial at once is preferable +to ligature of so many branches in the fore-arm. + +The use of graduated compresses, carefully applied, combined with +flexion of the elbow over a bandage, will generally prove sufficient to +check such haemorrhage from the palm, without having recourse to either +of the above more severe measures. + + _Note._--As in the lower limb at page 24, and for the same reasons, + I here insert a brief account of the methods of tying the ulnar and + radial arteries. + + 1. LIGATURE OF ULNAR.--Only admissible in the lower half of its + course. _Operation._--Use the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris as + a guide, and make an incision along its radial edge, at least two + inches in length; expose the deep fascia of the arm and then + cautiously divide it; then bending the hand, the flexor carpi + ulnaris is relaxed, and the artery is found lying pretty deeply + between it and the flexor sublimis digitorum. The ulnar nerve lies + at its ulnar side, and the venae comites accompany the artery. In a + tolerably muscular arm, the incision will have to be about an inch + inside of the ulnar border of the limb. + + 2. RADIAL.--This artery lies more superficial than the preceding, + and may be tied at any part of its course. + + _A._ Operation in upper part of fore-arm. Here the artery lies in + the interval between the supinator longus and the pronator radii + teres. In a muscular arm, the edge of the former muscle is the best + guide; in a fat one, the incision may be made in a line extending + from the centre of the bend of the arm to the inner edge of the + styloid process of the radius. The deep fascia must be exposed and + opened, and the muscles relaxed and held aside. The radial nerve + lies on the radial side of the vessel. + + _B._ Operation in lower half of arm. Here the vessel is more + superficial, lying in the groove between the flexor carpi radialis + and supinator longus. An incision two inches in length, and + parallel with these tendons, easily exposes the artery. The nerve + is still on its radial side. + + _C._ Operation at first metacarpal. The artery may be tied easily + enough in the triangular space bounded by the extensors of the + thumb, on the dorsum of the proximal end of the first metacarpal + bone. Skey[22] recommends a transverse,--Stephen Smith[23] and + others, a longitudinal incision. The author had lately to secure + the radial in its lower third, the superficialis volae, and the + radial again in the triangular space, in a case where division of + the artery by a transverse cut had caused a large aneurism to form + close above the annular ligament. + + TABLE illustrating anastomotic circulation after ligature of + arteries of neck and upper limb. + + 1. Common carotid. + + (_a_) Across middle line: thyroids, linguals, facials, occipitals; + also terminal branches of external carotids; also internal carotids + by circle of Willis. + + (_b_) Of same side: occipital with vertebral; superior thyroid with + inferior thyroid, etc. + + 2. Subclavian, 3d part. + + Suprascapular with dorsal branches of subscapular; posterior + scapular with costal and muscular branches of subscapular. Thoracic + anastomosis between internal mammary and intercostals, with + branches of axillary. + + 3. Axillary and brachial. Anastomosis varies with the position of + the ligature, but is very free between the various muscular + branches of these vessels. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[2] Erichsen, _Surgery_. Sixth edition, vol. ii. p. 121. + +[3] The line 3 in Plate I. shows the direction required. It +will not be necessary to carry the incision so far up for the external +as for the common iliac. + +[4] _On the Arteries and Veins_, p. 421. + +[5] _Cyclopaedia of Practical Surgery_, vol. i. p. 277. + +[6] John Bell's _Prin. of Surg._, vol. i. 421; _Dublin Jour._, +vol. iv. 321. + +[7] _Observations in Clinical Surgery_, Syme, pp. 171-3. + +[8] _Brit. Med. Jour._ 1867, Oct. 5. + +[9] _International Encyclopaedia of Surgery_, vol. iii. p. 466. + +[10] Poland, _Guy's Hosp. Report_, ser. iii. vol. vi. + +[11] Mr. W. Thomson's most interesting paper on this subject is +full of information down to the latest date. + +[12] _Lancet_, Jan. 5, 1867. + +[13] _Lancet_, May 1879. + +[14] _Dublin Quarterly Journal_, Nov. 1867. + +[15] W. Zehender--Monatsbl. fuer Augenheilkunde. 1868. + +[16] Butcher, _Op. and Cons. Surgery_, p. 861. + +[17] _Lecons Orales_, iv. 530. + +[18] _Ed. Med. and Surg. Journ._ vol. xlv. + +[19] _Observations in Clinical Surgery_, pp. 148, 149. + +[20] _Edin. Med. Journal_, March 1879. + +[21] See case of recurrence, Fergusson's _Practical Surgery_ +1st ed. p. 222. + +[22] _Operative Surgery_, p. 279. + +[23] _Surgical Operations_, p. 50. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +AMPUTATIONS. + + +In ordinary surgical language the name Amputation is applied to all +cases of removal of limbs, or portions of limbs, by the knife, though in +strict accuracy it should be restricted to those cases in which a limb +is removed _in the continuity of a bone_, its removal _at a joint_ being +called a Disarticulation. + +The briefest outline of a history of amputation would fill a work much +larger than the present. I may be allowed in a few sentences to attempt +to show the principle on which such a sketch should be written, in +describing the three great eras of progress in improvement of the +methods of amputating.[24] + +I. Prior to the invention, or at least prior to the general +introduction, of the ligature and the tourniquet, the great barrier to +all improvement in operating was the impossibility of checking +haemorrhage during an operation, and after its conclusion. Many surgeons +would not amputate at all, others only through gangrenous parts; others +more bold, only at the confines of parts in which gangrene had been +artificially induced by tight ligatures. + +With the exception of Celsus, who in one place recommends a flap to be +dissected up, and the bone thus divided at a higher level, all were in +too great a hurry to get the operation completed to think of flaps. Cut +through all the parts at the same level with a red-hot knife, if you +will, like Fabricius Hildanus; by a single blow with a chisel and +mallet, like Scultetus; or by a crushing guillotine, like Purmannus: or +by two butchers' chopping-knives fixed in heavy blocks of wood, one +fixed, the other falling in a grove, like Botal; and then try to check +the bleeding by tying a pig's bladder over the face of the stump, like +Hans de Gersdorf; or tying it up in the inside of a hen newly killed; or +by plunging it at once into boiling pitch. + +We are the less surprised to read of Celsus's description of a flap +operation, when we remember that it is almost certain that Celsus _was_ +acquainted with the ligature as a means of checking haemorrhage.[25] + +II. A new era was ushered in when, about 1560, Ambrose Pare invented, or +re-introduced, the ligature as a means of arresting haemorrhage, but not +for more than a century after this did the full benefit of his discovery +begin to be felt, when the tourniquet was introduced by Morel at +Besancon in 1674, and James Young of Plymouth in 1678, and improved by +Petit in 1708-10. + +_Now_ surgeons had time to look about them during an amputation, and to +try to get a good covering for the bone, so that the stump might heal +more rapidly and bear pressure better. Great improvements were rapidly +made, and any history of these improvements would need to trace two +great parallel lines, one the circular method, the other the flap +operation. + +1. The old method in which the limb was lopped off by one sweep, all the +tissues being divided at the same level, might be called the true +circular. This, however, was soon improved-- + +_A._ By Cheselden and Petit, who invented the double circular incision, +in which first the skin and fat were cut and retracted, and then the +muscle and bone were divided as high as exposed. + +_B._ By Louis, who improved this by making the first incision include +the muscles also, the bone alone being divided at the higher level. + +_C._ By Mynors of Birmingham, who dissected the skin back like the +sleeve of a coat, and thus gained more covering. + +_D._ Then comes the great improvement of Alanson, who first cut through +skin and fat, and allowing them to retract, next exposed the bone still +further up by cutting the muscles obliquely so as to leave the cut end +of the bone in the apex of a conical cavity. + +_E._ An easier mode, fulfilling the same indications, is found in the +triple incision of Benjamin Bell of Edinburgh, who in 1792 taught that +first the skin and fat should be divided and retracted, next the +muscles, and lastly the bone. + +_F._ A slight improvement on _E_, made by Hey of Leeds, who advised that +the posterior muscles of the limb should be divided at a lower level +than the anterior, to compensate for their greater range of contraction. + +2. In the progress of the flap operation fewer stages can be defined. +Made by cutting from within outwards, after transfixion of the limb, the +flaps varied in shape, size, position, and numbers, from the single +posterior one of Verduyn of Amsterdam, to the two equal lateral ones of +Vermale, and the equal anterior and posterior ones of the Edinburgh +school. + +Then came the battle of the schools: flap or circular. + +_Flap._--Speedy, easy, and less painful; apt to retract, and that +unequally. + +_Circular._--Leaving a smaller wound, but more slow in performance, and +apt to leave a central adherent cicatrix. + +3. The last era in amputation began after the introduction of +anaesthetics. Now speed in amputation is no object, and the surgeon has +full time to shape and carve his flaps into the curves most suited for +accurate apposition, and suitable relation of the cicatrix to the bone. +It has also been brought clearly out that different methods of operating +are suitable for different positions, and also that even in the same +operation it is possible to unite the advantages of both the flap and +the circular method. + +In the modified circular, which is best suited for amputation below the +knee, in the long anterior flaps of Teale, Spence, and Carden, we have +illustrations of the manner in which the advantages of both the flap and +circular methods have been secured, without the disadvantages of either. +The long anterior flap, not like Teale's to fold upon itself, but like +Spence's and Carden's to hang over and shield the end of the bones, and +the face of a transversely-cut short posterior flap, seems to be now the +typical method for successful amputations. There may be exceptions, as +when the anterior skin is more injured than the posterior, or where an +anterior flap would demand too great sacrifice of length of limb, but as +a rule it will be found the best method for the patient. + + +AMPUTATION OF THE UPPER EXTREMITY.--The extreme importance of the human +hand, its tactile sensibility, its grasping power, and the irreparable +loss sustained by its removal, render the greatest caution necessary, +lest we should remove a single digit or portion of one that might be +saved. In cases of severe smashing injuries involving the fingers, it is +the surgeon's bounden duty not recklessly to amputate the limb with neat +flaps at the wrist-joint, but carefully to endeavour to save even a +single finger from the wreck, though at the risk of a longer +convalescence, or even of a profuse suppuration. While a toe or two, or +a small longitudinal segment of the foot, may be comparatively useless, +and a good artificial foot, with an ankle-joint stump, certainly +preferable, a single finger, provided its motions are tolerably intact, +will prove much more valuable to its possessor than the most ingeniously +contrived artificial hand. + +[Illustration: FIG. I.] + +However, while in cases of extensive smash we endeavour to save anything +we can, the case is very much altered when it is only one or two fingers +that are injured. Here we find another principle brought into play, and +our conservative surgery must be limited by the following consideration. +In endeavouring to save a portion of the injured finger or fingers, will +the saved portion interfere with the important movements of the +uninjured ones? These two principles--1. Generally to save as much as we +can; 2. Not to save anything which may be detrimental or in the +way,--will guide us in describing the amputations of the upper +extremity. + +[Illustration: FIG. II.] + +_Amputation of a distal phalanx._--This small operation is not very +often required. In cases of whitlow in which the distal phalanx alone +has necrosed, removal of the necrosed bone by forceps is generally all +that is necessary. In cases of injury, however, in which nail and distal +phalanx are both reduced to pulp, it will hasten recovery much to remove +the extremity. There is no choice as to flap, the nail preventing an +anterior one, so a flap long enough to fold over must be cut from the +pulp of the finger in either of two ways (Fig. I. 1):--1. Holding the +fragment to be removed in the left hand, and bending the joint, the +surgeon makes a transverse cut across the back of the finger, right into +and through the joint, cutting a long palmar flap from within outwards +as he withdraws the knife. + + _Note._--Some difficulty is often felt in making the dorsal + incision so as exactly and at once to hit the joint; the most + common mistake being, that the transverse incision is made too + high, and the knife, instead of striking the joint, only saws + fruitlessly at the neck of the bone above. To avoid this, the + surgeon should take as a guide to the joint, not the well-marked + and tempting-looking _dorsal_ fold in the skin, but the _palmar_ + one, which exactly corresponds with the joint between the proximal + and middle phalanges, and is only about a line above the distal + articulation.--(Fig. II.) + +2. Making the long flap by transfixion, it may be held back by an +assistant, and the joint cut into. + +_Amputation through the second phalanx._--If the distal phalanx be so +much crushed that a flap cannot be obtained, two short semilunar lateral +flaps may be dissected (Fig. I. 2) from the sides of the second phalanx, +which may then be divided by the bone-pliers at the spot required. + +In cases of injury which do not admit of either of the preceding +operations, it is quite possible to amputate either at the first joint, +or even through the proximal phalanx. Patients are sometimes anxious for +such operations in preference to amputation of the whole finger. The +surgeon should, however, never amputate through a finger higher up than +the distal end of the second phalanx, unless absolutely compelled by the +patient, for the resulting stump, being no longer commanded by the +tendons, will prove merely an incumbrance, and may possibly require a +secondary operation at no distant date for its removal. + +This rule is applicable in cases in which a single finger is injured, +and two or three complete ones are left; in cases where all the fingers +have been mutilated every morsel should be left, and may be of use. + +_Amputation of a whole finger._--(Fig. I. 3)--This is an operation of +great importance, from its frequency. + +If the third or fourth digits require amputation, it should be performed +as follows:--The vessels of the arm being commanded, an assistant holds +the hand, separating the fingers at each side of the one to be removed. +The surgeon holding the finger to be removed, enters the point of a long +straight bistoury exactly (some authorities say half an inch) above the +metacarpo-phalangeal joint, and cuts from the prominence of the knuckle +right into the angle of the web, then, turning inwards there, cuts +obliquely into the palm to a point nearly opposite the one at which he +set out. + + _Note._--While most authorities agree with the direction in the + text regarding the palmar termination of the incision, I believe, + in most cases, it is not necessary to go so far, and that the + incisions may fitly meet in the palm at a point midway between a + point opposite to the knuckle, and the centre of the well-marked + "sulcus of flexion." + +He then repeats this incision on the other side, makes tense the +ligaments, first at one side and then at the other, by drawing the +finger to the opposite side, and cuts them. The tendons being cut, the +finger is detached. The vessels being tied, one point of suture is put +in on the dorsal aspect, and the fingers on each side tied together at +their extremities, with a pad of lint between them. + + _Modification._--Lisfranc's method is too long in its minute + description to give in detail. The principle is to make a semilunar + flap at one side (the one opposite the operator's right hand), by + cutting from without inwards, then to open the joint from this cut, + and, still keeping the edge of the knife close to the head of the + phalanx, cutting the other flap from within outwards. This can be + very rapidly done, but the last flap is apt to be irregular and + deficient, especially in those common cases, in which, after + whitlow or the like, the tissues are hard and brawny, and the skin + does not play freely. + +It is quite unnecessary to remove the head of the metacarpal, either for +the sake of appearance, or to render healing more rapid, and its removal +weakens the arch of the hand; where the cartilage is eroded by disease, +the cartilage-covered portion can be scooped off by a gouge or removed +entire by pliers, without interfering with the broad end to which the +transverse ligament of the palm is attached. If required either for +injury or disease, the metacarpal head may be easily removed by a single +straight incision from the knuckle upwards, as far as the point at which +it may be deemed necessary to saw it through, or better still, divide it +with the bone-pliers. This incision should be made as a first step in +the first incision for amputation of the finger, and the finger should +not be disarticulated, but kept on, to aid by its leverage in separating +the metacarpal head. + +_Amputation of the index or little fingers._--This operation differs +from the preceding only in this, that care must be taken to make a good +large flap on the free side of each; making the incision, which begins +at the knuckle (Fig. I. 4), enclose a well-rounded flap, and not +allowing it to enter the palm till it reaches the level of the web +between the fingers. The metacarpal heads may here be cut obliquely with +the bone-pliers, to prevent undue projection. + +_Amputation of one or more metacarpals._--These operations may be +rendered necessary by disease or injury. If the latter demands their +performance, no rules can be given for incisions or flaps, they must +just be obtained where and how they can best be got. If for disease, a +single dorsal incision (Fig. I. 5) over the bone will allow it to be +dissected out of the hand. + +_N.B._--In no case, except that of the thumb, should any attempt be +made to save a finger while its metacarpal is removed. (See _Excisions +of Bones_.) + +_Amputation of first and fifth metacarpals._--Various special operations +have been devised for speedy and elegant removal of these bones. Their +disadvantages, etc., are fully detailed under _Amputations of the Foot_. + +The vascularity and consequent vitality of the tissues of the hand and +arm sometimes afford very encouraging and satisfactory results in +conservative operations. + +The following is an instance of what may be accomplished in a young +healthy subject. + +A. A., aet. 18, ploughman, was harnessing a vicious horse, when it caught +his right hand between its teeth, and gave a severe bite. On admission, +I found the middle and ring fingers completely separated at the +metacarpal joints, but each hanging on by a portion of skin, the middle +by the skin on its radial side, the ring by that on its ulnar. The back +and the palm were both stripped of skin up to the middle of the third +and fourth metacarpal bones, which were exposed, but not fractured. As +it was important for him to maintain the transverse arch of the hand +intact, I determined to make an attempt to save the metacarpals, and +finding that the skin on the radial side of the middle, and ulnar side +of the ring fingers, was still warm, and apparently alive, I carefully +dissected as long a flap as possible from each, and then folded them +down, one at the front, the other at the back of the hand. The flaps +survived, and the result was admirable, the patient being able in a very +few weeks to guide the plough. The sensation in his new palm and back of +the hand is very peculiar, they being still the fingers, so far as +nervous supply is concerned. + +In amputations involving the metacarpals for injury, it is always +important to avoid entering the carpo-metacarpal joint, hence if it can +be done it is best to saw through the bones at the required level, +rather than disarticulate. This rule should be observed even in those +cases in which the thumb alone can be saved, for notwithstanding the +isolation of the joint between the first metacarpal and the trapezium, +it is very important for the future use of this one digit that the +motions both of the wrist and carpal joints should be preserved entire. + +No exact rules can be given for the performance of these operations, as +the size and positions of the flaps must be determined by the nature of +the accident and the amount of skin left uninjured. + +In the rare condition where the greater part of the metacarpus is +destroyed, and yet carpal joints are uninjured, a most useful artificial +band, preserving the movements of the wrist, may be fitted on; and as +much as possible should be saved, but in cases of injury, where the +carpus is opened and the hand irreparably destroyed, the question +arises, Where ought amputation to be performed? To this we answer that +there appears no conceivable advantage to be gained by leaving all or +any of the carpal bones. If successful, it would result only in the +retention of a flapping joint, unless from there being no tendons to act +upon it, except the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris attached to the +pisiform, and there are several risks it would run in the inflammation +of all the carpal joints, and the almost certain spread of this +inflammation to the bursa underneath the flexor tendons, beyond the +annular ligament, and up the arm among the muscles. + + +AMPUTATION AT THE WRIST-JOINT.--This is an operation by no means +frequent, and it has the advantages of preserving a long stump, and +retaining the full movements of pronation and supination, in cases where +the radio-ulnar joint is sound and uninjured, but in practice it is +often found that fibrous adhesions limit to a great extent the motions +of the two bones on each other, specially in those cases where the +radio-ulnar joint has been diseased or injured. + +Another advantage is the extreme ease with which disarticulation may be +performed on emergency, no saw being required, and the ordinary bistoury +of the pocket-case being quite sufficient for cutting the flaps. + +_Operation._--By double flap. An incision (Plate IV. fig. 3) on the +dorsal surface, extending in a semilunar direction from one styloid +process to the other, will define a flap of skin only, which must be +raised; the joint must then be opened by a transverse incision, and a +long semilunar flap of skin and fascia should be shaped (Plate IV. fig. +4) from the palm. Disarticulation is facilitated by the surgeon forcibly +bending the wrist when he makes the transverse cut, and it will be found +easier to shape the palmar flap from the outside by dissection, than to +do it by transfixion after disarticulation, on account of the prominence +of the pisiform on the inner side of the palm. + + In the thin wasted wrists of the aged, or in any case where the + skin is very lax, this amputation may be very easily performed by + the circular method. While an assistant draws up the skin as much + as possible, the surgeon makes an accurate circular incision + through the skin, about an inch below the styloid processes, just + grazing the thenar and hypothenar eminences. Another circular sweep + just above the pisiform and unciform bones divides all the soft + textures, after which the joint may be opened, and, if necessary, + the styloid processes cut away with saw or pliers. + + Amputation by a long single flap, either dorsal or palmar, may be + rendered necessary by accident. The palmar one of the two is + preferable; indeed, rather than trust for a covering to the thin + skin of the back of the hand, with its numerous tendons, it is + better to amputate an inch or two higher up through the fore arm. + + The following amputation by external flap has been described (so + far as I can discover, for the first time) by Dr. Dubrueil, in his + work on operative Surgery:[26]--"Commencing just below the level of + the articulation, while the hand is pronated, the surgeon makes a + convex incision, beginning at the junction of the outer and middle + thirds of the arm behind, reaching at its summit the middle of the + dorsal surface of the first metacarpal, and terminating in front + just below the palmar surface of the joint, again at the junction + of the outer and middle thirds of the breadth of the arm. This flap + being raised, the wrist is disarticulated, beginning at the radial + side. A circular incision finishes the cutting of the skin." (Figs. + III. and IV.) + +[Illustration: FIG. III.[27]] + +[Illustration: FIG. IV.[27]] + + +AMPUTATION THROUGH THE FORE-ARM.--The method of operating must, in the +fore-arm, depend a good deal upon the part of the arm where you require +to amputate, the muscularity of the limb, and the condition of the skin +and subcutaneous cellular tissue. + +It must be remembered that a section of the fore-arm involves two bones, +not, like the tibia and fibula, on a constant permanent relation in +position to each other, but which rotate one upon another to an amount +which varies with the part of the limb divided, and which rotation is a +very important element in the future usefulness of the stump; again, +that two sets of muscles occupy, one the back, the other the front of +the limb, that these two are unequal in size, and that the outer sides +or rather edges of each bone are subcutaneous; again, that these sets of +muscles are comparatively fleshy in the upper two-thirds of the limb, +and almost entirely tendinous in the lower third. + +Remembering these points, we find that certain things require our +attention, and certain difficulties are present in amputation of the +fore-arm, from which amputation of the arm, with its single bone and +copious muscular covering on all sides, is completely free. + +Thus our flaps in the fore-arm must be antero-posterior; lateral flaps +are an impossibility. Great care is requisite to cut them at all equal, +from the inequality of the muscles on the two sides. In the lower third +we cannot obtain available muscular flaps. Lastly, care must be taken +lest, from the ever-varying relations of the two bones to each other in +the varying positions of the limb, the surgeon mistake their position +and pass his knife between them. + +The next question that arises is, Where are we to operate? In cases +where we have a choice, is there here, as in the leg, any "point of +election"? _No._ As a rule in the fore-arm, the surgeon should endeavour +to save as much as possible; especially when nearing the middle of the +fore-arm, he should try to save the insertion of the pronator teres, so +important in its function of pronating the radius. + + +AMPUTATION IN LOWER THIRD OF THE FORE-ARM.--By two flaps. These +antero-posterior flaps must consist of skin only, as the tendons are +only in the way, and thus should be made by dissection from without.[28] +Making the dorsal one first, the surgeon should enter his knife at the +palmar edge of the bone that is further from him, and cut a semilunar +flap of skin only, finishing the incision quite on the palmar edge of +the inner bone. The two ends of this incision must then be united by a +similar semilunar flap of skin on the palmar side. The two flaps having +been dissected back, he then clears the bones by a circular incision +through tendons and muscles, not forgetting to pass the knife between +the bones, and retracting all the soft parts, saws through the bones, at +least half or probably three-quarters of an inch higher up. It is +generally easiest to saw through both bones at once. + +_Long Dorsal Flap._--Where it is possible from laxity of the soft parts +and the wrist not being much destroyed, to get a long flap from the back +of the arm after Mr. Teale's method, a very good stump will result. This +rule is, "In tracing the long flap a longitudinal line is drawn over the +radius, so as to leave the radial vessels for the short flap (Plate II. +fig. 1). At a distance equal to half the circumference of the limb, +another line parallel to the former is drawn along the ulna. These are +then joined at their lower ends, across the dorsal aspect of the wrist +or fore-arm, by a transverse line equal in length to half the +circumference of the fore-arm. The short flap is marked by a transverse +line on the palmar aspect, uniting the long ones at their upper fourth. + +"The operator, in forming the long flap, makes the two longitudinal +incisions merely through the integuments, but the transverse one is +carried directly down to the bones. In dissecting the long flap from +below upwards, the tissues of which it is composed must be separated +close to the periosteum and interosseous membrane. The short flap is +made by a transverse incision through all the structures down to the +bones, care being taken to separate the parts upwards close to the +periosteum and membrane." The stump must be placed in the prone +position, "to allow the long dorsal flap to be the superior when the +patient is recumbent, and thus fall over the ends of the bones."[29] + +The principal objection to the long dorsal rectangular flap (which +makes an excellent covering) is, that unless it can be obtained from +over the wrist-joint it requires the bones to be sawn so very high up. +This may be avoided, to some extent, by making it shorter and rounded +off, as in Carden's Amputation, _q.v._ + + +AMPUTATION IN UPPER TWO-THIRDS.--Where the fore-arm is very fat or +fleshy, this amputation can be very easily performed by two equal +antero-posterior flaps made by transfixion. In most cases, however, from +the comparative leanness of the dorsal aspect of the limb, the following +method will have the best result. The surgeon must, as in the former +case, shape a rounded dorsal flap by dissection from without (Plate IV. +fig. 5), embracing the whole breadth of the limb down to the palmar edge +of both bones. Then at once he transfixes the two points of this dorsal +flap, and cuts out an equal one from the anterior aspect of the limb +(Plate IV. fig. 6). Dissecting up the dorsal flap he clears the bones at +least half an inch above as before, and applies the saw. + +_N.B._--This operation should be performed even in cases where only an +inch of radius can be retained, as the attachment of the biceps makes a +very small stump of fore-arm wonderfully useful. + + +AMPUTATION AT ELBOW-JOINT.--In cases where it is found impossible to +save any portion of the fore-arm, disarticulation at the elbow-joint may +be easily performed. This operation was proposed and performed so long +ago as the days of Ambrose Pare,[30] was much approved by Dupuytren, +Baudens, and Velpeau, had fallen into disuse for a time, but is now +again recommended by some excellent surgeons, especially by Gross[31] +and Ashhurst,[32] both of Philadelphia. + +It is tolerably easy to perform, and does not involve any sawing of +bones, but the flaps are apt to be cut too short, unless care be taken, +from the manner in which the trochlea projects downwards beyond the line +of the condyles, so that if the base of an ordinary-shaped flap be made +on a level with the condyles, it will prove insufficient to cover the +bone. It may be performed either by the circular method (Velpeau), oval +(Baudens), or by a long anterior and short posterior flap (Textor and +Dupuytren). Probably the best method is by a long anterior flap when it +can be obtained, thus:--The arm being placed in a slightly flexed +position, the surgeon transfixes in front of the joint, in a line +extending from the level of the external condyle to a point one inch +below the internal condyle (Plate IV. fig. 7); the tissue should be held +well forward at the moment of transfixion. The flap should be at least +two and a half inches deep at its apex, which must be rounded off. The +two ends of this flap may then be united behind by a semilunar incision +(Plate III. fig. 2), which will separate the radial attachments. The +ulna must then be cleared, and the triceps divided at its insertion. + + _Modifications._--Dupuytren used to saw through the ulna, leaving + the olecranon attached. Velpeau opposed this, but it is again + recommended by Gross, who leaves the olecranon, and at the same + time improves the shape of the stump by sawing off the "inner + trochlea" on a level with the general surface. + + +AMPUTATION OF THE ARM.--This amputation is best performed by double +flap, and is the typical instance which exhibits all the advantages of +two equal flaps made by transfixion, without any of the disadvantages of +that method. These advantages are, easiness of performance, rapidity, +excellent covering for the bone, with as little sacrifice of tissue as +is possible, while the fact that the cicatrix is opposite the end of the +bone is hardly a disadvantage in the arm (as it certainly is in the +leg), as no weight has to be borne on it. When they can be obtained, +anterior and posterior flaps are generally considered most satisfactory, +but Mr. Spence prefers lateral ones, lest the line of union should be +interfered with by the deltoid raising the bone. If the right arm has to +be amputated, the operator standing at the inner side raises the +anterior muscles with his left hand, and enters the knife just in front +of the brachial vessels (Plate I. fig. 12); keeping as close as possible +to the bone, he brings out the knife at a point exactly opposite, then +with a brisk sawing motion, cuts a semicircular flap, taking care to +bring out the knife more suddenly just at the end, in order to cut +through the skin as perpendicularly to the arm as possible. The knife is +again entered at the same point, carried behind the bone, and brought +out at the same angle, and an exactly corresponding flap cut from the +other side of the limb, the flaps are then retracted, the bone cleared +by circular incision and sawn through as high up as it is exposed. In +primary cases, where the muscles are firm and developed, the flaps +should be cut a little concave. + + _Modifications and Varieties._--Teale's method may of course be + used here as elsewhere. The internal line of incision (Plate IV. + fig. 8) should be made just in front of the brachial vessels. This + method requires the amputation to be performed higher up than would + otherwise be necessary (from the length of the anterior flap), and + this disadvantage is not counterbalanced by any special advantage + in the posterior retraction of the cicatrix. + + In feeble flabby arms, the true circular operation is very easily + performed, and with good results. A circular sweep of the knife is + made through the skin alone, which is drawn up by an assistant, + while the surgeon separates it from the fascia; another circular + cut through fascia and muscles exposes the bone, which must then be + cleared and cut through at a still higher level. + + +AMPUTATION AT THE SHOULDER-JOINT.--This operation, like that at the hip +joint, can, from the nature of the joint to be covered, and the abundant +soft parts in the normal state of the tissues, be performed on the dead +in very various ways, by single, double, or triple flaps, by transfixion +or dissection, rapidly or slowly. Hence manuals of operative surgery +might collect at least twenty different methods, most of which have some +recommendation, and all of which are practicable enough. + +When, however, we reflect that in the living body, in cases where +amputation at the shoulder-joint is required at all, the severity of the +accident, or the urgency of the disease, will, in general, leave no room +for selection, we shall see how utterly valueless is any knowledge of +mere methods of operating, and of how much greater importance it is that +we should be simply thoroughly familiar with the anatomy of the joint. + +For example, an accident which necessitates amputation so high up has, +in all probability, opened into the joint and destroyed the soft parts +on at least one aspect; in such a case the flaps must be cut from the +uninjured soft parts only. If an aneurism has rendered amputation +through it and through the joint a last resource, the flap must be +gained chiefly at least from the outside; a malignant tumour of the +humerus will almost certainly prevent any transfixion, and require flaps +to be made by dissection, wherever the skin is least likely to be +involved. Again, some of the most vaunted and most rapid operations +almost require for their success the integrity of the humerus, which has +to make itself useful as a lever in disarticulation, while in most cases +of accident we are amputating for compound injury of the humerus, almost +certainly implying fracture with comminution. + +From its proximity to the trunk, haemorrhage is one of the chief dangers +to be apprehended during this operation, especially from the axillary +artery. As far as possible to obviate this danger, most plans of +operating are based on the principle that the vessels and nerves should +be the last tissues to be cut; in some they are not divided till after +disarticulation. + +While a good assistant, to make pressure on the subclavian above the +clavicle, is a most advisable precaution, too much must not be trusted +to this pressure above, as the struggles of the patient and the +spasmodic movements of the limb, which are so apt to occur under the +stimulus of the knife, are apt to render futile the best efforts at +compression. + +The operator should trust rather to making the incisions in such a +manner that the great vessel be not divided till the hand of an +assistant, or in default of a suitable one, his own left hand, is able +to follow the knife and grasp the flap. + +The bleeding from the circumflex, subscapular, and posterior scapular +arteries can easily be arrested by a dossil of lint till the great +vessel is tied, and they can be secured. + +In cases where proper assistants cannot be had, temporary closure of the +axillary vessel could easily be made by carrying a strong silver wire or +silk ligature completely round the vessel by a curved needle before the +incisions are commenced, and by tying this firmly over a pad of lint. + +Pressure on the artery above the clavicle is best made by the thumb of a +strong assistant, who endeavours to compress it against the first rib; +where the parts are deep and muscular, the padded handle of the +tourniquet, or of a large door-key, will do as the agent of pressure. + +A brief notice of three of the best methods of operating will be quite +sufficient to show what should be aimed at in shoulder-joint +amputations:-- + +#1.# In cases where the surgeon can choose his flaps, the following +method will be found the most satisfactory, as resulting in the smallest +possible wound, in having less risk of haemorrhage during the operation +than any other method, and in providing excellent flaps. + +It is Larrey's method slightly modified. + +_Operation._--With a moderate-sized amputating knife an incision of +about two inches in length, extending through all the tissues down to +the bone, should be made from the edge of the acromion process to a +point about one inch below the top of the humerus; from this latter +point a curved incision, enclosing a semilunar flap, should be made on +each side of the limb to the anterior and posterior folds of the axilla +respectively (Plate IV. fig. 9, and Plate III. fig. 3). These flaps +should then be dissected back, including the muscles and exposing the +joint. When thoroughly exposed, the joint must then be opened from +above, and the bone separated. One small portion of skin lying above the +artery, vein, and nerves still remains to be divided (Plate I. fig. 13). +This may be done by an oblique cut from within outwards, in such a +direction as to form part of the anterior or internal incision, and with +the precaution of having an assistant to command the vessels before they +are divided. The resulting wound is almost perfectly ovoid, the flaps +come together with great ease in a straight vertical line, which admits +of easy and thorough drainage. Union is generally rapid. Larrey's +success by this method was very remarkable: ninety out of a hundred +cases in military practice were saved, notwithstanding the well-known +risks of such operations. + +#2.# As good as the former, and nearly as universally applicable, is the +method devised by Professor Spence, and practised by him in nearly every +case:--"With a broad strong bistoury I cut down upon the inner aspect of +the head of the humerus, immediately external to the coracoid process, +and carry the incision down through the clavicular fibres of the deltoid +and pectoralis major muscles till I reach the humeral attachment of the +latter muscle, which I divide. I then with a gentle curve carry my +incision across and fairly through the lower fibres of the deltoid +towards, but not through, the posterior border of the axilla. Unless the +textures be much torn, I next mark out the line of the lower part of the +inner section by carrying an incision through the _skin and fat only_, +from the point where my straight incision terminated, across the inside +of the arm to meet the incision at the outer part. This insures accuracy +in the line of union, but is not essential. If the fibres of the deltoid +have been thoroughly divided in the line of incision, the flap so marked +out, along with the posterior circumflex trunk, which enters its deep +surface, can be easily separated from the bone and joint, and drawn +upwards and backwards so as to expose the head and tuberosities, by the +point of the finger without further use of the knife. The tendinous +insertions of the capsular muscles, the long head of the biceps, and the +capsule, are next divided by cutting directly upon the tuberosities and +head of the bone; and the broad subscapular tendon especially, being +very fully exposed by the incision, can be much more easily and +completely divided than in the double-flap method. By keeping the large +posterior flap out of the way by a broad copper spatula or the fingers +of an assistant, and taking care to keep the edge of the knife close to +the bone, the trunk of the posterior circumflex is protected. In regard +to the axillary vessels, they can either be compressed by an assistant +before completing the division of the soft parts on the axillary aspect, +or to avoid all risk, the axillary artery may be exposed, tied, and +divided between two ligatures so as to allow it to retract before +dividing the other textures."[33] + + Another, but not so good method of making an external flap, is the + following:--(_a._) For the right arm.--The patient lying well over + on his left side, the surgeon stands to the inside of the arm to be + removed. Seizing the deltoid in the left, with the right he passes + an amputating knife, seven or eight inches in length, from a point + a little nearer the clavicle than the middle space between the + acromion and coracoid processes; then, transfixing the base of the + deltoid, and just grazing the posterior surface of the humerus, + thrusts the knife downwards and backwards till it protrudes at the + posterior margin of the axilla. When doing this, it is important + that the arm be held outwards and backwards, and even upwards, as + far as possible to relax the deltoid; without this it will be + impossible to make the flap of the full size. The flap must then be + cut of as full length as can be obtained, four or five inches at + least. An assistant then holds it upwards, while the surgeon, or + (if the arm is very muscular) another assistant, brings the arm + forwards well across the patient's chest, thus exposing the + posterior aspect of the joint. This may have very possibly been + already opened during the transfixion; the attachments of muscles + must now be divided, the knife passed behind the head of the bone, + which is dislocated forwards, and a suitable flap of the tissues in + front cut from within outwards. The assistant is to follow the + knife with his finger and compress the vessels. + + (_b._) If the left shoulder is to be amputated, the patient lying + on his right side, the surgeon stands behind him, and raising the + elbow of the limb to be removed from the side, and pulling it + slightly backwards, enters the knife at the posterior fold of the + axilla (Plate II. fig. 2), and passing the posterior aspect of the + head of the humerus, endeavours to protrude it as near the acromion + as possible; the flaps must be cut and the rest of the operation + performed in the manner we have just described for the other arm. + +#3.# Where the destruction of tissue has been chiefly below the joint, a +very good flap may be obtained from above, composed chiefly of the +deltoid muscle, and the skin over it. This may be made by transfixion at +its base, but is better obtained by dissection from without. + +The surgeon cuts (Plate II. figs. 3, 3) in a semilunar direction (with +the convexity downwards) from one side of the deltoid to the other, +viz., from the root of the acromion to near the coracoid process; he +then raises the large flap upwards and throws it back, opens the joint, +disarticulates, passes the knife behind the head of the bone, and cuts +out without attempting to save any flaps below, in a transverse +direction. By this means the artery is still almost the last structure +to be divided, and can be secured by a ready assistant. In cases where +much injury has been done to the floor of the axilla and wall of chest, +the deltoid flap must be made large in proportion, and triangular rather +than semilunar in shape. + +_N.B._--The statistics of amputation at the shoulder-joint bring out +some interesting facts: 1. That the primary amputations here are far +more successful than secondary ones. Guthrie records nineteen cases of +the former out of which only one died, while out of a similar number in +which the amputation was secondary, fifteen died. In the Crimea, British +surgeons had thirty-nine cases, with thirteen deaths; of thirty-three +primary, nine died; and of six secondary, four were fatal. + +S.W. Gross's[34] statistics confirm this: of one hundred and +seventy-eight primary, forty-six died--25.8 per cent.; ninety-five +secondary, sixty-one died--64.2 per cent. + + +AMPUTATIONS ABOVE THE SHOULDER-JOINT.--Under this head we may group the +comparatively rare cases in which, from accident or disease, the removal +of portions of the scapula and clavicle, or even the entire bones, is +rendered necessary. That it is quite possible to survive such injuries +has been frequently shown in cases of accident when the scapula along +with the arm has been torn off, and yet the patient recovered. + +Encouraged by such cases, Gaetani Bey of Cairo removed the whole of +scapula and part of the clavicle in a case where he had amputated at the +shoulder for smash. The patient recovered. Heron Watson has had a +similar case. Dr. George M'Lellan amputated arm and scapula in a youth +of seventeen for an enormous encephaloid tumour. Fifty-one such cases +are now on record. + +Syme amputated with success the arm along with the scapula and outer +half of clavicle, in a case in which he had previously excised the head +of the humerus for a tumour.[35] + +Gilbert, Mussey, Rigaud, Fergusson, and others have performed similar +operations, secondary to amputation at the shoulder-joint, for cases of +caries and malignant tumour. It is impossible to give any exact +directions for the incisions which must be planned for individual cases, +with two chief aims, to avoid haemorrhage as far as possible, and to +leave abundance of skin. In operations on the scapula, it should be +freely exposed by large enough incisions. (See _Excisions_.) + + +AMPUTATIONS OF LOWER EXTREMITY.--Commencing with the most distal, and +gradually working our way upwards, we find that partial amputations of +the toes are extremely rare. Only in the case of the great toe is such +an operation _ever_ admissible, for the other toes are so short, and the +stumps left by amputation are at once so useless from their shortness, +and so detrimental from the manner in which they project upwards and rub +against the shoe, that any injury requiring partial amputation of a +lesser toe is treated by its complete removal. + +[Illustration: FIG. V.] + + +AMPUTATION OF DISTAL PHALANX OF GREAT TOE.--This is comparatively rarely +required now. It used to be thought necessary for the cure of those not +uncommon cases of exostosis of the distal phalanx, but it is now found +that most of these can be cured by simply clipping off the exostosis. +When necessary, however, and when the choice of flaps is possible, the +best plan is by a long flap from the plantar surface (Fig. V. 4), as in +the similar operation on the thumb; laying the edge of the knife over +the dorsal aspect of the joint, cutting through it, and turning the edge +of the knife round close to the bone, so as to cut out a large flap from +the ball of the toe. + + +AMPUTATION OF A SINGLE LESSER TOE--_second_, _third_, _or fourth_.--This +operation is on exactly the same principle as that described for the +corresponding finger; but it must be remembered that the +metatarso-phalangeal joint is more deeply situated in the soft parts +than is the metacarpo-phalangeal; and thus the commencement of the +elliptical incision which is to surround the base of the toe must be +proportionally higher up (Fig. V. 1). On the other hand, as it is very +important to avoid as much as possible any cicatrix in the sole of the +foot, the plantar end of the incision need not be carried to a point +exactly opposite the one from which it set out, but it will be +sufficient if it reaches the groove between the toe and sole. A little +more care may thus be required in dissecting out the head of the first +phalanx, but this is quite repaid by the cicatrix in the sole being +avoided. Early division of flexor tendons renders disarticulation easy. + + +AMPUTATION OF THE FIRST AND FIFTH TOES.--The incisions are conducted on +the same principle as in the other operations, the operator being +careful to preserve as much as possible (Fig. V. 2) of the hard useful +pad of the inner and outer sides respectively. + +Most surgeons are now agreed that in these toes it is best not to remove +the head of the metatarsal bone with the toe. Cutting off the large +cartilaginous head obliquely with a pair of bone-pliers may prevent an +awkward unseemly projection, but it does diminish the strength of the +transverse arch of the foot. + + +AMPUTATION OF ONE OR MORE TOES WITH THEIR METATARSALS.--It is not +necessary to give very particular details regarding such operations, as +the surgeon must be guided in the individual cases by the specialties of +accident or disease. + +One or two guiding principles are important:-- + +1. Having made up your mind at what point you are to cut the metatarsal, +if the amputation be a partial one, or as to the exact position of the +joint, if you intend to disarticulate, commence your dorsal incision +(Fig. V. 3) at a point fully half an inch higher up than the selected +spot, as free access is of the very last importance. + +2. Whenever it is possible, cut the bone through its continuity rather +than disarticulate. Specially is this important in the case of the +metatarsal bone of the great toe, that the insertion of the tendon of +the peroneus longus may be saved. If, however, the terminal branch of +the _dorsalis pedis_ artery be wounded, it may be necessary to +disarticulate the first metatarsal to secure it rather than trust to +compression to stop the bleeding. + +3. In cutting through the first and fifth metatarsals, remember to apply +the bone-pliers obliquely, not transversely, so as to avoid unseemly +projection. + +4. As far as possible avoid cutting into the sole at all. + +The plantar cicatrix is almost a fatal objection to a plan of removing +the first and fifth toes and their metatarsals which has much otherwise +in rapidity and elegance to recommend it. In the great toe, for example, +it is performed as follows:--Seizing the soft parts of the inner edge of +the foot in his left hand, the surgeon draws them _inwards_, transfixes +just at the tarso-metatarsal joint, and, keeping as close as possible to +the inner edge of the metatarsal bone, cuts the flap as long as to the +middle of the first phalanx; then the soft parts of the foot being drawn +as far _outwards_ as possible by an assistant, the surgeon enters his +knife between the first and second toes, and succeeds in entering his +former incision so as to separate the metatarsal bone without removing +any skin. All that remains is to open the tarso-metatarsal joint. It is +a very neat-looking operation, leaves a very good covering for the +parts, and is performed with extreme rapidity. This last is not so much +required in these days of anaesthetics, and the cicatrix in the sole is a +very formidable objection to it. + +The simplest and shortest rule that can be given for the amputation of a +toe, with the part or whole of its metatarsal, is to make one dorsal +incision, commencing about a quarter of an inch above the spot at which +you intend to divide the bone or to disarticulate, extending downwards +in a straight line to the metatarso-phalangeal articulation, and then +bifurcating so as to surround the base of the toe at the normal fold of +the skin. The soft parts are then to be cleared from the +metatarso-phalangeal joint, and the toe still being retained on the +metatarsal bone, it should be carefully dissected up, avoiding any +pricking of the soft parts below, till the joint is reached, or the spot +at which the bone-pliers are to be applied is fully cleared. + + +AMPUTATION OF THE ANTERIOR PORTION OF THE FOOT AT THE TARSO-METATARSAL +JOINT--HEY'S OPERATION.--This operation, which is now comparatively +rarely performed, has been invested with a halo of difficulty and +complexity which is to a great extent unnecessary. + +There is no doubt that the anatomical conformation of the joints +involved, especially the manner in which the head of the second +metatarsal (Fig. V. C) projects upwards into the tarsus, and is locked +between the cuneiform bones, renders disarticulation in the healthy foot +rather difficult; but it must be remembered that in cases where for +accident we have to deal with previously healthy tissues, it is quite +unnecessary to disarticulate, a better result being attained by simply +sawing the foot across in the line of the articulation; and again, where +we have to operate for disease, the tissues are so matted, and the +bones so soft, that complete removal of the metatarsus is much easier +than it appears when practising on the dead subject. + +Very various plans of incision have been proposed. Mr. Hey's original +procedure has not been much improved upon. His short account of it has +at once surgical value and historical interest:-- + +"I made a mark across the upper part of the foot, to point out as +exactly as I could the place where the metatarsal bones were joined to +those of the tarsus. About half an inch from this mark, nearer the toes, +I made a transverse incision through the integuments and muscles +covering the metatarsal bones (Plate IV. figs. 10, 11). From each +extremity of this wound I made an incision (along the inner and outer +side of the foot) to the toes. I removed all the toes at their junction +with the metatarsal bones, and then separated the integuments and +muscles forming the sole of the foot from the inferior part of the +metatarsal bones, keeping the edge of my scalpel as near the bones as I +could, that I might both expedite the operation and preserve as much +muscular flesh in the flap as possible. I then separated with the +scalpel the four smaller metatarsal bones at their junction with the +tarsus, which was easily effected, as the joints lie in a straight line +across the foot. The projecting part of the first cuneiform bone which +supports the great toe I was obliged to divide with a saw. The arteries, +which required a ligature, being tied, I applied the flap which had +formed the sole of the foot to the integuments which remained on the +upper part, and retained them in contact by sutures.... + +"The patient could walk with firmness and ease; she was in no danger of +hurting the cicatrix by striking the place where the toes had been +against any hard substance, for this part was covered with the strong +integuments which had before constituted the sole of the foot. The +cicatrix was situated upon the upper part of the foot, and had very +little breadth, as the divided parts had been kept united after being +brought into close contact."[36] + +_Lisfranc's method_ has, briefly, the following modifications.--Having +fixed the position of the articulations of the first and fifth +metatarsals with the tarsus, the operator unites them by a curved +incision across the dorsum of the foot, with its convexity downwards. He +then divides the dorsal ligaments over the articulations, opens the +first from the inside, the fifth, fourth, and third from the outside, he +then with a strong narrow-bladed knife divides the interosseous +ligaments between the sides and end of the head of the second metatarsal +and the cuneiforms, thus completing the disarticulation; bending the +fore part of the foot downwards, he then keeps the edge of the knife +close to the lower surface of the bones, separating the plantar +ligaments, and cutting out a long plantar flap of skin and muscles. + +In every case it must be remembered that the upper end of the fifth +metatarsal projects far up along the outer edge of the foot. Allowance +must be made for this projection in commencing the incision. A rule +given by Mr. Syme to guide the disarticulation of the three outer +metatarsals will often be of service; it is this: "Having once entered +the joint of the fifth, the knife must be drawn along in a direction of +a line drawn towards the distal end of the first metatarsal; for the +fourth, the direction must be changed to the middle of the same bone; +and to open the third it will be necessary to come across the dorsum of +the foot as if intending to reach the proximal end." + +To avoid the difficulties of disarticulation, Skey recommends cutting +off the head of the second metatarsal with a pair of pliers. Baudens, +Guerin, and others approve of sawing all the bones across in the line +desired. + +Most surgeons are now agreed that in this operation it is better to make +both flaps by cutting from without, in preference to transfixion of the +plantar one from within. In cases where, from injury and disease, the +plantar flap is deficient in size, it may be necessary to make the +dorsal flap longer. However, the long plantar is preferable both from +its superior hardness, and also because from its length it permits the +cicatrix to be well on the dorsum of the foot, and therefore less likely +to be injured by the pressure of the boot in front. + + +AMPUTATIONS THROUGH THE TARSUS.--Various plans of amputating through the +tarsus have been devised and described at great length. The most +important of these is the operation of removal of the anterior portion +of the foot, at the joints between the astragalus and scaphoid, and os +calcis and cuboid, well known to the profession by the name of its first +describer, Chopart. + +It has been so completely superseded by the infinitely preferable +amputation at the ankle-joint of Mr. Syme, as rarely, if ever, to be +practised in this country. Indeed, amputation at the ankle-joint may be +said to have taken the place of all these amputations through the +tarsus; for though cases are occasionally met with in which the +limitation of the disease or injury may render Chopart's possible, and +though at first sight it appears to have an advantage in removing less +of the body, still the following objections are nearly fatal to its +chance of being selected:--1. In cases of injury, through leaving a long +stump, and, at first sight, a useful one, experience shows that the +tendo Achillis sooner or later (being unopposed by the extensors of the +toes) draws up the heel so as to make the end of the stump point, and +the cicatrix press on the ground, rendering it unable to bear any +weight. 2. In cases of removal for disease of the tarsus, the bones left +behind, though apparently sound at the time, are almost sure to become +eventually diseased. + +As it has an historical interest, and as this operation (defective as it +is) had been the means of saving many legs prior to the invention of +amputation at the ankle-joint, a brief description may be appended:-- + +Chopart's own manner of operation was briefly somewhat as follows:-- + +The tourniquet having been applied, the surgeon is to make a transverse +incision through the skin which covers the instep, two inches from the +ankle-joint. He is to divide the skin, and the extensor tendons, and the +muscles in that situation, so as to expose the convexity of the tarsus. +He is next to make on each side a small longitudinal incision, which is +to begin below and a little in front of the malleolus, and is to end at +one of the extremities of the first incision. After having formed in +this way a flap of integuments, he is to let it be drawn upwards by the +assistant who holds the leg. There is no occasion to dissect and reflect +the flap, for the cellular substance connecting the skin with the +subjacent aponeurosis is so loose, that it can easily be drawn up above +the place where the joint of the calcaneum with the cuboides and that +between the astragalus and scaphoides ought to be opened. The surgeon +will penetrate the last the most easily, particularly by taking for his +guide the eminence which indicates the attachment of the tibialis +anticus muscle to the inside of the os naviculare. The joint of the os +cuboides and os calcis lies pretty nearly in the same transverse line, +but rather obliquely forwards. The ligaments having been cut, the foot +falls back. The bistoury is then to be put down, and the straight knife +used, with which a flap of the soft parts is to be formed under the +tarsus and metatarsus, long enough to admit of being applied to the +naked bones, so as entirely to cover them. It is to be maintained in +position with three or four straps of adhesive plaster, etc.[37] + +Chopart's amputation, after an interval of comparative neglect, was +introduced into this country by Mr. Syme in 1829. His method of +performance is simpler and easier than Chopart's. He thus describes +it:--"The blade of the knife employed should be about six inches long, +and half an inch broad, sharp at the point and blunt on the back. The +tourniquet ought to be applied immediately above the ankle, having +compresses placed over the posterior and anterior tibial arteries. The +surgeon should measure with his eye the middle distance between the +malleolus externus and the head of the metatarsal bone of the little +toe, which is the situation of the articulation between the os cuboides +and os calcis. Placing his forefinger here, he ought to place his thumb +on the other side of the foot directly opposite, which will show him +where the os naviculare and astragalus are connected. An incision (Plate +II. figs. 4 and 5) somewhat curved, with its convexity forward, is then +to be made from one of these points to the other, when, instead of +proceeding to disarticulate, the operator should transfix the sole of +the foot from side to side at the extremities of the first incision, and +carry the knife forwards so as to detach a sufficient flap, which must +extend the whole length of the metatarsus to the balls of the toes. The +disarticulation may finally be completed with great ease, as the shape +of the articular surfaces concerned is very simple, and nearly +transverse."[38] Regarding the method of disarticulating at the +astragalo-calcaneal joint, and removing all the foot except the +astragalus, no detail need be given. Malgaigne advises an internal flap, +thus sacrificing the valuable pad of the heel. Roux, Verneuil, and +others endeavour to save the pad. This operation, however, has now +fallen almost completely into disuse. + + +SUBASTRAGALOID AMPUTATION has been highly recommended. In it the flap is +made as in Syme's, then anterior bones removed as in Chopart's, and os +calcis grasped by lion forceps and twisted off, its attachment and the +insertion of tendo Achillis being cautiously avoided. If flaps are +scanty, head of astragulus may be cut off with a small saw.--Hancock and +Ashurst. + + +TRIPIER'S AMPUTATION[39] is a modification of above, the skin incisions +being made as in Chopart's amputation, and then the calcaneum is sawn +through on a level with the sustentaculum tali on a plane at right +angles to the axis of the leg. + + +AMPUTATION AT THE ANKLE-JOINT, OR SYME'S AMPUTATION.--This operation is +one of much interest and great practical importance. In our cold +variable climate caries of the bones of the tarsus, and strumous disease +of the ankle-joint, are very common and very intractable maladies, and +for both of these, when far advanced, Syme's amputation is the only +justifiable procedure. When properly done, according to the _exact_ plan +of its proposer, it removes the whole of the diseased parts and not an +inch more, is an operation of very slight danger to life, and results +almost invariably in a thoroughly useful comfortable stump. Much of its +success depends on the manner in which it is performed, and as many +surgical manuals are not sufficiently full, some positively in error +regarding this point, and as very many modifications have been devised +diminishing in value and applicability very much in proportion as they +diverge from the original description, I think it advisable to describe +the operation minutely, and point out in detail the parts of it which +seem absolutely essential to success. + +_Operation._--The foot being held at a right angle to the leg, the point +of a straight bistoury, with a pretty strong blade, should be entered +just below the centre of the external malleolus (Plate IV. figs. 12, +13), (1.) and then carried right across the integuments of the sole, in +a straight line (or in the case of a prominent heel, slightly +backwards), (2.) to a point at the same level on the opposite side. (3.) +This incision should reach boldly through all the tissues down to the +bone. Holding the heel in the fingers of his left hand, the operator +then inserts his left thumb-nail into the incision, and pushes the flap +downwards, as with the knife kept close to the bone, and cutting on it, +he frees the flap from its attachments. The thumb-nail guards the knife +from in any way scoring the flap. (4.) This process is continued till +the tuberosity of the os calcis is fairly turned, and the tendo Achillis +nearly reached. Shifting his left hand he then extends the foot, and +joins the extremities of the first incision by a transverse one right +across the instep. (5.) Thus he opens the joint between the astragalus +and tibia, (6.) divides the lateral ligaments, disarticulates, and still +keeping close to the bone, removes the foot by the division of the tendo +Achillis. + +The lower ends of the tibia and fibula are then to be isolated from the +soft parts, and a thin slice, including both malleoli, to be removed. If +the disease of the joint has affected the lower end of the bone, slice +after slice may be removed, till a healthy surface of cancellated +texture is obtained. The vessels are then secured. + +_Dressing of the Stump._--From its peculiar shape and position, the +escape of any blood into the stump is much to be deprecated, for as it +cannot easily get out, on the one hand it gives pain, and may cause +sloughing from its pressure, and on the other it is sure eventually to +cause suppuration, and delay union. To avoid such results care must be +taken to secure every vessel that can be seen; if there is any general +oozing it is best merely to pass the sutures through the edges of the +flaps, but not bring them together, thus leaving the stump open for some +hours; then apply cold, and when the surfaces are fairly glazed over, +remove any clots and bring the flaps together.[40] + +Another plan introduced by Mr. Syme was to make a longitudinal slit in +the flap, through which all the ligatures are to be drawn; these give a +dependent drain to any pus that may be formed, and by their presence +greatly expedite the healing of the wound. Again, in cases where from +the amount of disease existing before the operation, and the gelatinous +thickening of the flap and neighbouring parts, much suppuration may be +looked for, probably it will be found best to keep the flaps quite apart +for some days, by stuffing the wound with lint, and aiming only at +secondary union by granulations. + +A drainage tube passed through the breadth of the flap, and brought out +at the angles, and retained for a few days, will do admirably. + + _Notes._--(1.) If commenced further forward, as in Pirogoff's + modification, it will be found difficult to turn the corner of the + heel; if further back, the nutrition of the flap is endangered. + + (2.) This is very important. In several well-known text-books, even + in the last edition of Gross's _Surgery_, the incision is figured + passing obliquely _forwards_. This is a fatal error, for besides + making a flap far too long, it forces the operator to cut fairly + into the hollow of the sole, quite off the prominence of the os + calcis, and he finds that it is utterly impossible to free his flap + without using great force, and inevitably scoring it in all + directions. Sloughing is almost inevitably the result. + + (3.) The incision is to stop at least half-an-inch below the + internal malleolus. Most surgical manuals, even when they profess + to describe Mr. Syme's own method of operating, say that the + incision should extend from malleolus to malleolus. If this is + done, the flap becomes unsymmetrical, too long, and also the + posterior tibial artery, on which much of the vascular supply of + the flap depends, is cut. When the incision is properly made, the + vessel is not cut till after its division into the plantar + arteries. + + (4.) Scoring the flap. Some may ask, Why do you object to a little + scoring, the tissues are thick enough, and besides, don't you + advise a slit in the flap yourself? Yes. One look at an injected + preparation will show that the vessels supplying this thick flap + come to it from its inner surface, and are inevitably cut across in + any scoring of it, and also, that scoring cuts across the vessels, + and _must_ divide dozens of them; the slit we make is parallel with + their course, and _may_ not divide one. + + (5.) Across the instep. Some authors recommend a semilunar anterior + flap; this is quite unnecessary, increases bagging and delays + union. It can be required only in cases where the heel flap has + been destroyed or lessened by disease, or by operators in whose + hands the heel flaps occasionally slough. + + (6.) It is not impossible that a careless operator may (by cutting + a little too low) miss the joint and get into the hollow of the + neck of the astragalus, where he may cut away for a long time + without making much progress. + +_Advantages._--1. It is wonderfully free of danger to life. It is very +hard to obtain exact statistical information, but my experience is that +the mortality is certainly not more than about 10 per cent., a very +remarkable result when compared with that of amputations through the +leg, the operation which used to be required for those cases which now +require only amputation at the ankle-joint. + +In the Statistical Report by the Surgeon-General of the United States, +9705 cases of amputation resulted in death, the proportions being as +follows:-- + + Amputation of hip, 85 per cent. died. + " thigh, 64 " + " knee, 55 " + " leg, 26 " + Amputation of ankle-joint, 13 per cent. died. + " shoulder, 39 " + " arm, 21 " + " fore-arm, 16 " + +2. It is the most perfect stump that can be made, in fact the only one +in the lower extremity which can bear pressure enough to support the +weight of the body; all the others require the weight to be distributed +over the general surface of the limb by means of apparatus. A good +ankle-joint stump can bear the whole weight of the body, as when the +patient hops on it without any artificial aid, or without even the +interposition of a stocking between the stump and a stone floor. More +than this, I have seen a patient who had both his feet amputated at the +ankle-joint run without shoes or stockings on the stone passages, +without even the aid of a stick, and with very great swiftness. + +The reason of this may be found in the nature of the flap itself, +originally intended to bear the weight of the body, there being no +cicatrix at the part on which pressure is borne. I have noticed that +perfection in walking on an ankle-joint stump has a certain relation to +the freedom of movement which the pad has over the face of the bone. +This ought to be pretty considerable. It is explained by the new +attachments formed by the tendons, and is under the control of the +patient, being elicited when he is told to move his toes. + +It has been objected to this operation that the flap is apt to slough. +When improperly performed, as when the flap is scored transversely in +its separation, and especially when the flap is cut too long (as has +been already noticed), this may occur; but that there is nothing +whatever in the position or condition of the flap itself that at all +necessitates its sloughing, is thoroughly proved by the following +remarkable case, given by Mr. Syme in his volume of _Observations in +Clinical Surgery_. I quote it entire:-- + +"P.C., aged thirty-three, was admitted into the hospital on the 25th +July 1860, in the following state:--He had been treated in the +Manchester Infirmary for popliteal aneurism by pressure, so decidedly +applied that it had caused an ulcer, of which the cicatrix remained; but +without producing the effect desired. The femoral artery was then tied +with success, in so far as the aneurism was concerned, but with the +unpleasant sequel, some months afterwards, of mortification in the foot, +which was thrown off, with the exception of the astragalus and os calcis +with their integuments, a large raw surface being presented in front +where the bone was bare. Although the patient was extremely weak, and +the parts concerned might be supposed more than usually disposed to +slough, I did not hesitate to perform the operation, with the speedy +result of a most excellent stump and complete restoration to +health."--Pp. 49, 50. + +The modifications of Mr. Syme's original operation have been very +various. It will be unnecessary even to name them all. One or two may +require notice. Retaining Mr. Syme's incisions in their integrity, some +operators prefer not to disarticulate the foot, but remove it by sawing +through the tibia and fibula at once, while still in connection with the +foot. That most excellent surgeon and first-rate operator, Dr. Johnston +of Montrose, used to prefer this method. + +In cases where the pad of the heel has been destroyed by disease or +accident, so as to be partially or entirely unavailable for the flap, +the late Dr. Richard Mackenzie[41] practised the following operation by +internal flap:--With the foot and ankle projecting from the table with +their internal aspect upwards, he entered the point of the knife (Plate +I. fig. 14) in the mesial line of the posterior aspect of the ankle, on +a level with the articulation, carried it down obliquely across the +tendo Achillis towards the external border of the plantar aspect of the +heel, along which it is continued in a semilunar direction. The incision +is then curved across the sole of the foot, and terminates on the inner +side of the tendon of the tibialis anticus, about an inch in front of +the inner malleolus. The second incision (Plate III. fig. 4) is carried +across the outer aspect of the ankle in a semilunar direction, between +the extremities of the first incisions, the convexity of the incision +downwards, and passing half an inch below the external malleolus. + +Precisely the same principle might supply the flap from the outer side +in cases where the internal flap as well as the heel was deficient, but +probably the nutrition of the external flap would be more doubtful. +Neither the one nor the other is nearly so good as the true heel flap, +and they are both only very poor substitutes for it when it cannot be +had. + +The modification devised by Dr. Handyside does not seem to have any +advantages over the original operation, and has not been adopted. + +The modification invented by Professor Pirogoff involves a much more +important principle than any of the preceding. Instead of dissecting the +flap from the posterior projecting portion of the os calcis, and +removing the tarsus entire, he sawed off the posterior portion of the os +calcis obliquely, leaving it in contact with the pad of skin, which is +retained. Immediately after making the cut which defines the posterior +flap and divides the tissues down to the bone, he opens the joint in +front, disarticulates, and then putting on a narrow saw immediately +behind the astragalus and over the sustentaculum tali, he saws the os +calcis obliquely downwards and forwards till he reaches the first +incision; then removes the ends of the tibia and fibula and brings up +the slice of os calcis into contact with them. + +_Advantages._--It is easy of performance, saving the dissection from the +heel, which some find so hard. It leaves a longer limb. It is said to +bear pressure better, and there is certainly not so much chance of +bagging of pus, and the mortality is exceedingly small, Hancock's +collected cases giving only 8.6 per cent.; in cases of injury it is +quite a warrantable operation. + +_Disadvantages._--It is contrary to sound principle in cases of disease, +for it wilfully leaves a portion of the tarsus, in which disease is +almost certain to return. It leaves too long a limb, for it is found +that the shortening in Mr Syme's method is just sufficient to admit of a +properly constructed spring being placed in the boot to make up for the +loss of the elastic arch of the foot. It brings the firm pad of the heel +too much forward, thus tending to lean the weight of the body on the +softer tissues behind the heel. It takes much longer to unite and +consolidate. + +The author has now, in a large number of cases of Syme's amputation for +disease, found advantage in leaving the periosteum in the heel flap, +_i.e._ he cuts fairly into the os calcis when dividing the skin of heel, +and then using a periosteum scraper instead of the knife, it is quite +easy to remove the whole of the periosteum from the bone; this results +in a large and more rounded pad of great strength and thickness. + +In cases where from disease or injury it is impossible to obtain either +a heel flap or a substitute lateral one, the question is, Where should +amputation be performed? + +It was for a long time the opinion of nearly all the best surgeons, and +still is the opinion of many, that amputation of the leg should be +performed at what was known as the "seat of election," just below the +knee, even in cases where abundance of soft parts could be obtained for +an amputation much lower down. The rule in surgery, to save as much of +the body as possible in every amputation, was in the leg believed to be +set aside by objections which militated strongly against all the other +operations in the leg except the one performed just below the knee. Very +briefly, these were somewhat as follows:--1. Just above the ankle you +have large bones with nothing to cover them except skin and tendons. 2. +Higher up in the calf you have plenty of muscle, but it is all on one +side, and that the wrong one; it is very heavy, very difficult to dress +and keep in position, and then when you have succeeded with it, the +muscle wastes away and the stump is flabby. 3. And chiefly, as in all +the amputations of the leg, the cicatrices are so much in the way, and +the bones are so ill covered, that the patient can never rest his leg on +the stump itself, but has either to rest his weight on his patella +impinging on the top of a bottle-shaped leg, or just to stick out his +stump behind him and kneel on the top of his wooden leg; therefore it is +no use to have a stump longer than a few inches; in fact, the longer the +stump is the more it is in the way. And more than this, many of the +stumps made near the ankle, or through the calf, are not only useless, +but positively painful. The skin becomes attached to the bones, the +cicatrix never properly firms at all, the patient can hardly bear the +pressure of a stocking, far less can he make use of the limb. For these +reasons, secondary amputations below the knee are of very common +occurrence. + +Now, this idea has been much modified, and a few isolated cases in the +past, and series of cases considerably more numerous in the present day, +show that under certain conditions, and as a result of certain +precautions in their performance, such operations are both warrantable +and successful. + +In the past, as we find in an erudite note in South's Chelius, Dionis, +White, and Bromfield had each of them many successful cases of +amputation just above the ankle, successful in so far that artificial +limbs could be used which preserved the motion of the knee, and gave +the patient much more command of the limb than is possible with the +short stump below the knee. + +A still more important point to be remembered is, that amputation just +above the ankle is a much less fatal amputation than that just below the +knee (Lister in _Holmes's Surgery_, 3d ed. vol. iii. p. 716; Gross, 6th +ed. vol. ii. p. 1113; Ben. Bell, 6th edit. vol. vii. p. 312). + +There is little doubt, however, that the principle so much in vogue in +the present day, of one long anterior or posterior flap, instead of two +equal flaps, or of circular amputations, has done very much to make +amputations at the ankle or through the calf justifiable and useful in +bearing the weight of the body. + + +AMPUTATION JUST ABOVE THE ANKLE.--Cases admitting of this operation must +always be rare, for disease of the tarsus or ankle-joint hardly ever +goes so far as to contra-indicate the performance of Mr. Syme's greatly +preferable operation; and an accident which would require this operation +from injury to the ankle would in most cases require an amputation a +good deal higher up from the splintering of the tibia so apt to occur. + +In a suitable case the plan of the operation should be as follows:--A +long anterior flap slightly rounded at the end should be cut (Plate I. +figs. 15, 16)--from the outside, not by transfixion,--and the anterior +muscles dissected up along with it. It should be long enough to fall +down over the face of the bones at the point of section, and easily +cover the point of the posterior flap, which is to be made by cutting +through all the tissues with one bold transverse stroke of the knife. +This operation, which is the plan of Mr. Teale of Leeds very slightly +modified, is equally applicable at any point of the leg, with this +difference only, that the length of the anterior flap must always be +carefully proportioned to the mass of the muscular flap behind it has to +cover in. + +This operation provides a skin covering, without any danger of the +cicatrix being pressed on or becoming adherent. + + The author has within the last few years operated nine times in + this manner, in cases of accident in which the heel flaps had been + completely destroyed; and seen a tenth case in which Mr. Syme did + so. All ten cases recovered completely and rapidly, and walked on + useful limbs, with the free movement of the knee-joint. + +Where from injury in a muscular patient a long anterior flap cannot be +had, recourse should be had at once to the operation at the seat of +election, rather than run the risk of pressure on the cicatrix by using +a double flap operation, or trust that broken reed, the long posterior +flap from the great muscles of the calf. + +In June 1865, Mr. Henry Lee described a method of operating which he +hoped would unite the benefits of Mr. Teale's method to the ease of +performance of the old flap from the calf. I append a short account of +his method. From its position, however, it has the great disadvantage of +retaining the discharges, and by its weight straining the stitches and +weighing down the cicatrix:-- + + +LEE'S AMPUTATION _of the Leg by a long rectangular flap from the +Calf_.--The operation described was performed according to Mr. Teale's +method, as far as the external incisions were concerned, but the long +flap was made from the back instead of from the front of the limb (Plate +IV. figs. 14, 15). Two parallel incisions were made along the sides of +the leg, these were met by a third transverse incision behind, which +joined the lower extremities of the first two. These incisions, which +formed the three sides of the square, extended through the skin and +cellular tissue only. A fourth incision was made transversely through +the skin in front of the leg so as to form a flap in this situation, +one-fourth only of the length of the posterior flap. When the skin had +somewhat retracted by its natural elasticity, an incision was made +through the parts situated in front of the bones, which were reflected +upwards to a level with the upper extremities of the first longitudinal +incisions. The deeper structures at the back of the leg were then freely +divided in the situation of the lower transverse incision. The conjoined +gastrocnemius and soleus muscles were separated from the subjacent +parts, and reflected as high as the anterior flap. The deeper layer of +muscles, together with the large vessels and nerves, were divided as +high as the incision would permit, and the bones sawn through in the +usual way. The flaps were then adjusted in the manner recommended by Mr. +Teale.[42] + +The patients were able to bear the weight of the body on the end of the +stump. + +In cases of chronic disease, where the muscles are atrophied and +condensed, the following posterior flap method may be used with +advantage. It is approved of by Mr. Spence. An incision is made across +the front of the leg from the _posterior edge_ of the fibula to the +_posterior edge_ of the tibia, or _vice versa_, according to the limb. +The limb is then transfixed behind the bones from the same points, and a +long and gently rounded posterior flap cut. The bones are then cleaned, +and cut through at a little higher level. + + +AMPUTATION IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE KNEE _at the_ "_true seat of +election_."--The principles on which this operation is founded are--1. +That a muscular flap is not necessary, skin being perfectly sufficient; +2. That as the muscles retract they must be cut at a lower level than +the bones, and as they retract unequally from their varying length, the +cuts must be made with due reference to that inequality; 3. That no more +of the tibia need be retained than what is just sufficient to retain +the attachment of the ligamentum patellae, and to insure its vitality; 4. +That the head of the fibula must be retained in every case, as in a +certain proportion the tibio-fibular articulation communicates with the +knee-joint. + +_Operation._--Two equal semilunar flaps of skin must be cut--from the +outside, not by transfixion,--one anterior and external, the other +posterior and internal, their extremities meeting at points about two +inches below the tuberosity of the tibia on either side (Plate I. figs. +17, 18). These must be reflected up, and with them a further extent of +skin, embracing the whole circumference of the limb, must be dissected +up (as if pulling off the fingers of a glove), so as to expose the bone +one inch below the tuberosity. The anterior muscles being very close to +their origin, and consequently being able to retract very slightly, must +be cut as high as exposed, and the posterior ones about the middle of +their exposed surface. + +The bones must then be sawn as high as exposed, with the following +precautions:--1. In order to prevent splintering of the fibula, +endeavour to saw it along with the tibia, so as to finish it first; 2. +To prevent projection of a sharp prominence of the edge of the tibia, +enter the saw obliquely a little higher up than where you intend to +divide the bone, then withdraw it, and enter the saw again at right +angles to the bone, and a line or two lower down. Some surgeons prefer +to make this section afterwards with a finer saw or the bone-pliers. + +This operation is very frequently required to remedy painful and +unhealed stumps, the result of amputations lower down, specially those +in which the long posterior flap from the muscles of the calf has been +used. In the above amputation the patient will not be able to rest the +weight of his body on the _face_ of the stump, but by putting the limb +into a well-padded case with soft rounded edges, the weight might be +borne partly on the sides of the stump, and partly on the lower edge of +the patella; and the patient will be able to walk with great comfort, +preserving the use of his knee-joint. + + +AMPUTATION AT THE KNEE-JOINT.--This "relic of ancient surgery," as Mr. +Skey calls it, has been revived only of late years, and seems in certain +cases to be a justifiable and successful operation. + +Practised by Fabricius Hildanus and Guillemeau in the sixteenth and +seventeenth centuries, it had fallen into disuse till revived by Hoin, +Velpeau, and Baudens, on the Continent, Professor Nathan Smith in +America, and Mr. Lane in London. + +It is not possible that this operation can be at all frequent, since the +cases in which it is applicable are comparatively rare; for, to be +successful, the following conditions are essential:--1. That there be +abundant skin in front of the knee-joint to make a long anterior flap; +2. That the patella and articular surface of the femur are healthy. +These conditions at once exclude nearly every case of disease or +accident. If the joint is diseased some amputation through the thigh +must be attempted; if injured, and the front of the knee is safe, it may +very likely be possible to amputate below the knee. Hence this operation +may be useful in cases where, for malignant disease, the _whole_ tibia +requires removal, and yet the knee-joint is sound, or for gunshot +injuries, in which the tibia is splintered but the soft tissues +comparatively uninjured. + +_Operation._--A long anterior flap should be cut with a semilunar end +(Plate II. figs. 6, 7), extending as far as the insertion of the +ligamentum patellae. This flap, including the patella, should be thrown +up, the joint cut into, and a short posterior flap made by transfixion. + +It is important to retain the patella, if possible, as it fills up the +hollow between the condyles; it sometimes becomes anchylosed, but in +other cases it remains freely mobile, and adds to the value of the +stump. + +Professor Pancoast has practised an amputation at the knee-joint by +three flaps, performed entirely by the scalpel, which, he says, results +in a good stump. One flap, the anterior one, is longest and semilunar in +shape, its convexity passing three inches below the tuberosity of the +tibia; the other two are much smaller, and postero-lateral.[43] + +_Advantages._--The bone is not cut into at all, there is a free drain +for matter, no tendency to retraction of the flaps, and the weight of +the body is borne on skin previously habituated to pressure. + + The statistics seem to be favourable: out of 55 cases, Continental, + American, and English, 21 died, a mortality of 38 per cent., while + in a table of 1055 cases of amputation of the thigh, 464 died, + being a mortality of 44 per cent. In some of the American cases the + articulating extremity of the femur seems to have been removed, as + in the following operation:-- + + +AMPUTATION THROUGH THE CONDYLES OF THE FEMUR.--In the _London and +Edinburgh Journal of Medical Science_ for 1845, Mr. Syme advocated a +method of amputation through the condyles of the femur as specially +suitable in case of diseased knee-joint. Amputation at this spot has +certain advantages:--1. The shaft of the bone being untouched, there is +no injury of the medullary cavity, and hence no fear of inflammation of +its lining membrane. 2. There is less risk of exfoliation, the +cancellated texture of the epiphysis not being liable to it. 3. Being +close to the joint, the muscles are cut through where they are +tendinous, thus very much diminishing the risk of retraction and +consequent protrusion of the bone. 4. A large broad surface of bone is +left to bear the weight of the body, and one which, like the ankle-joint +stump, will round off and afford a comfortable pad over which the skin +of the flap will freely play. + +One objection used to be urged against this mode of operating, the fear +lest the thickened, brawny, and often ulcerated textures in the +neighbourhood of a diseased knee-joint, would not make a good covering. +This, however, is no longer a bugbear, as we see in cases of resection, +where the diseased joint alone is taken away, how very soon all swelling +and disease departs, once its cause is removed. + +Mr. Syme's original operation was briefly as follows:--With an ordinary +amputating-knife make a lunated incision (Plate I. fig. 19) from one +condyle to the other, across the front of the joint, on a level with the +middle of the patella, divide the tissues down to the bones, and then +draw the flap upwards, then cut the quadriceps extensor immediately +above the patella. The point of the blade should then be pushed in at +one end of the wound, thrust behind the femur, and made to appear at the +other end; it should then be carried downwards (Plate III. fig. 5), so +as to make a flap from the calf of the leg, about six or eight inches in +length, in proportion to the thickness of the limb; the flap should then +be slightly retracted, and the knife carried round the bone a little +above the condyles to clear a way for the saw, which should be applied +so as to leave the section as horizontal as possible. + +This method is now hardly ever used, as the following seems a much +better one:-- + + +GRITTI'S[44] AMPUTATION.--In this two flaps are formed--an anterior long +one rectangular and a posterior short one. The condyles of the femur are +divided through their base, and the lower surface of patella is removed +by a small saw, and then the surfaces of bone approximated. + + +STOKES'S[45] MODIFICATION OF GRITTI'S AMPUTATION.--In this +"supracondyloid" amputation, the femur is sawn just above the condyles, +without going into the medullary canal. The anterior flap is oval, twice +as long as posterior, and the patella is brought up after denudation +against end of femur. + + +CARDEN'S AMPUTATION AT THE CONDYLES OF THE FEMUR.[46]--The operation +consists in reflecting a rounded or semi-oval flap of skin and fat from +the front of the knee-joint, dividing everything else straight down to +the bone, and sawing the bone slightly above the plane of the muscles, +thus forming a flat-faced stump, with a bonnet of integument to fall +over it. + +The operator standing on the right side of the limb, seizes it between +his left forefinger and thumb at the spot selected for the base of the +flap, and enters (Plate II. fig. 8) the point of the knife close to his +finger, bringing it round through skin and fat below the patella to the +spot pressed by his thumb; then turning the edge downwards at a right +angle with the line of the limb, he passes it through to the spot where +it first entered, cutting outwards through everything behind the bone +(Plate IV. fig. 16). The flap is then reflected, and the remainder of +the soft parts divided straight down to the bone; the muscles are then +slightly cleared upwards, and I saw it applied. + +I have ventured to make a slight change in the method of performing this +most excellent operation, for having found the posterior flap, as cut in +the method above described, rather scanty in the earlier cases in which +I have had occasion to perform it, after dissecting back the anterior +flap and cutting into the knee-joint, I shape a slightly convex +posterior flap of skin only, at least one and a half inches in length +in adult, and allow it to retract before dividing the muscles by a +circular cut to the bone, and have had every reason to be satisfied with +the change. + + +AMPUTATION OF THE THIGH.--Amputation of the thigh has been the favourite +battle-ground where flap and circular, antero-posterior and lateral, +long and short flaps, double, triple, and conical incisions, have +striven with each other; so were I to attempt to describe one quarter of +the various methods employed, I should need to rewrite the history of +Amputation. + +It will suffice merely to describe the _best_ modes of amputating the +thigh through its lower, middle, and upper thirds respectively, and at +the hip-joint. + +In one word, it may be stated that, with the exception of those +amputations performed through the lower third of the bone, the flap +method is to be preferred, and the flaps should in almost every case be +made by transfixion. + +In the lower third, however, the flap method, though exceedingly easy, +and capable of very rapid performance, has certain defects; the chief of +these being the tendency which the muscular flaps (the necessary result +of transfixion) have to cause undue retraction, and hence protrusion of +the bone. This is seen specially in the hamstrings, which from the great +distance of their origin, and the purely longitudinal direction of their +fibres, retract to a very great extent, much more than the anterior +muscles can do from the pennate direction of their fibres, and the +manner in which they are mutually bound down to each other and to the +bone. + +Even in this one position, the lower third of the thigh, the methods +that may be needed are various, and require separate notice;--for +operations here are extremely frequent from the frequency of strumous +disease of the knee-joint in our variable climate, and from the fact +that compound fractures or dislocations of the knee-joint so very often +necessitate amputation. + +In cases where the skin over the patella is uninjured and available, the +operation by long anterior flap (either by Teale's method, or by Mr. +Spence's modification of it, which curiously is almost exactly similar +to the amputation of Benjamin Bell by a single flap) is suitable enough. +But, I believe, preferable to either of these is the operation of Mr. +Carden, already described. In cases where the knee-joint is injured, and +the skin over the patella unavailable, and yet where it is not necessary +to go higher up the limb, the modified circular amputation of Mr. Syme +will be found very suitable. + +As it is in this lower third of the thigh that a very large proportion +of the cases requiring a long anterior flap is to be found, it affords +the best opportunity for comparing in their detail the three almost +similar plans of B. Bell, Teale, and Spence--after which Mr. Syme's +modified circular may be described. + + +BENJAMIN BELL'S FLAP OPERATION ABOVE THE KNEE (reported in his own +words, slightly abbreviated).--"When this operation is to be performed +above the knee, it may be done either with one or two flaps, but it will +commonly succeed best with one. The flap answers best on the fore part +of the thigh, for here there is a sufficiency of the parts for covering +the bones, and the matter passes more freely off than when the flap is +formed behind.... The extreme point of the flap should reach to the end +of the limb, unless the teguments are in any part diseased, in which +case it must terminate where the disease begins, and its base should be +where the bone is to be sawn. This will determine the length of the +flap, and we should be directed with respect to the breadth of it by the +circumference of the limb, for the diameter of a circle being somewhat +less than a third of its circumference, although a limb may not be +exactly circular, yet by attention to this we may ascertain with +sufficient exactness the size of a flap for covering a stump (Plate IV. +fig. 17). Thus a flap of four inches and a quarter in length will reach +completely across a stump whose circumference is twelve inches; but as +some allowance must be made for the quantity of skin and muscles that +may be saved on the opposite side of the limb, by cutting them in the +manner I have directed, and drawing them up before sawing the bone, and +as it is a point of importance to leave the limb as long as possible, +instead of four inches and a quarter, a limb of this size, when the +first incision is managed in this manner, will not require a flap longer +than three inches and a quarter, and so in proportion, according to the +size of the limb. The flap at its base should be as broad as the breadth +of the limb will permit, and should be continued nearly, although not +altogether, of the same breadth till within a little of its termination, +where it should be rounded off so as to correspond as exactly as may be +with the figure of the sore on the back part of the limb. This being +marked out, the surgeon, standing on the outside of the limb, should +push a straight double-edged knife with a sharp point to the depth of +the bone, by entering the point of it at the outside of the base of the +intended flap; and carrying the point close to the bone, it must here be +pushed through the teguments at the mark on the opposite side. The edge +of the knife must now be carried downwards in such a direction as to +form the flap, according to the figure marked out; and as it draws +toward the end, the edge of it should be somewhat raised from the bone, +so as to make the extremity of the flap thinner than the base, by which +it will apply with more neatness to the surface of the sore. The flap +being supported by an assistant, the teguments and muscles of the other +parts of the limb should, by one stroke of the knife, be cut down to +the bone, about an inch beneath where the bone is to be sawn; and the +muscles being separated to this height from the bone with the point of a +knife, the soft parts must all be supported with the leather retractors +till the bone is sawn," etc., arteries tied, and dressings applied.[47] + + +AMPUTATION OF THIGH BY RECTANGULAR FLAP--(Teale's).--I take the +opportunity here of describing fully, and as far as possible in his own +words, Mr. Teale's method of amputating, this being the situation where +his method is most frequently available. The same principle may be +applied to amputations at almost any other part of the body. + +After advising the surgeon to mark out the proposed line of incision +with ink before the operation, he gives the following directions for +fixing the exact size of the flap:--"Supposing the amputation to take +place (Plate II. figs. 9, 10) at the lower part of the middle third of +the thigh, the circumference of the limb is to be measured at the point +where the bone is to be divided.[48] Assuming this to be sixteen inches, +the long flap is to have its length and breadth each equal to half the +circumference, namely, eight inches. Two longitudinal lines of this +extent are then traced on the limb, and are met at their lower points by +a transverse line of the same length. The inner longitudinal line should +be first traced in ink as near as practicable to the femoral vessels, +without including them within the range of the long flap. The outer +longitudinal line, which is somewhat posterior, is next marked eight +inches distant from the former and parallel to it. These two lines are +then joined by a transverse line of the same extent, which falls upon +the upper border of the patella, or upon some lower portion of this +bone. The short flap is indicated by a transverse line passing behind +the thigh, the length of this flap being one-fourth that of the long +one; or, assuming the circumference of the limb to be sixteen inches, +and the length of the long flap eight inches, the length of the short +flap is two inches. The operator begins by making the two lateral +incisions of the long flap through the _integuments only_. The +transverse incision of this flap, supposing it to run along the upper +edge of the patella, is made by a free sweep of the knife through the +skin and tendinous structures down to the femur. Should the lower +transverse line of the flap fall across the middle or lower part of the +patella, the transverse incision can extend through the skin only, which +must be dissected up as far as the upper border of the patella, at which +place the tendinous structures are to be cut direct to the thigh-bone. +The flap is completed by cutting the fleshy structures from below +upwards close to the bone. The posterior short flap, containing the +large vessels and nerves, is made by _one sweep_ of the knife down to +the bone, the soft parts being afterwards separated from the bone close +to the periosteum, as far upwards as the intended place of sawing.... In +adjusting the flaps, the long one is folded over the end of the bone, +and brought, by its transverse line, into union with the short flap, the +two corresponding free angles of each being first united by suture. One +or two additional stitches complete the transverse line of union. Care +is now required in arranging the two lateral lines of union. As the long +flap is folded upon itself so as to form a kind of pouch for the end of +the bone, it is requisite that it should be held in its folded state by +a point of suture on each side. Another stitch on each side secures the +lateral line of the short flap to the corresponding part of the long +one. A longitudinal line of union thus passes at right angles each end +of the transverse line."[49] + +Mr. Teale's account of the resulting stumps is too long to quote entire, +but in a few words, we find that by retraction of the short posterior +flap, the cicatrix is drawn up quite behind and out of the way of the +bone, that a soft mass without any large nerves or vessels is the result +of the partial atrophy of the long flap, and that the patient is able to +bear one-half, two-thirds, or even in some cases the entire weight of +his body on the face of the stump. Such a power of support is to be +found in no other flap except in Mr. Syme's amputation at the +ankle-joint. + + +SPENCE'S AMPUTATION BY A LONG ANTERIOR FLAP.[50]--The method used by Mr. +Spence in amputations just above the knee-joint obtains the advantages +of Teale's method, and avoids many of its disadvantages. He makes two +flaps. The anterior one, which is to fall loosely over and cover in the +posterior segment of the stump, must have a breadth fully equal to +one-half of the circumference of the limb, and must be gently rounded at +its extremity, so as to adjust itself readily to the curve of the cut +margin of the posterior half of the stump. He begins the anterior +incision below, or on a level with, the lower margin of the patella, and +when the skin is retracted to a little above the patella, cuts down +_obliquely_ to the bone, so as to divide the soft parts up to the base +of the flap. For the posterior incision, he begins about two +fingers'-breadth below the base of the anterior flap, and the assistant +retracting the skin, the edge of the knife is carried obliquely up to +the bone (in Alanson's manner) and the posterior soft parts divided, the +bone is sawn through--or immediately above--the condyloid portion. Mr. +Spence does not advise or practise this method high up. The results are +good, for by these means the end of the bone has a thick covering, +including muscular fibres, over it, and the cicatrix is not pressed +upon in walking. The stump remains full, mobile, and fleshy, as in Mr. +Teale's method, without the disadvantage which it has, in requiring the +bone to be divided so far above the seat of injury or disease. This is +an exceedingly good method of operating in the lower third of the thigh, +in muscular patients the very best, and in all cases only equalled in +value by Carden's method. + +The next is now hardly ever used here, except in cases where the skin +over the patella is destroyed. + + +MODIFIED CIRCULAR AT LOWER THIRD OF THIGH (Syme's).--Two equal semilunar +flaps of skin should be cut (Plate I. fig. 20, Plate III. fig. 6), one +anterior, the other posterior, their convexities being towards the knee. +The skin and subcutaneous cellular tissue should be raised from the +fascia, and then retracted to a further distance of at least two inches; +the muscles should then be divided right down to the bone, on a level as +high as they are exposed in front, and as low as they are exposed +behind. This allows for the different amount of retraction at the two +sides of the limb, and leaves the muscles cut on a level; the whole mass +of muscles should then be drawn well up, and the bone exposed, and sawn +through at a level about two inches higher than where it was first +exposed by the anterior incision through the muscles. + +In very weak thin flabby limbs this process may be simplified by just at +once including the muscles in the skin flaps, and carefully exposing the +bone higher up. In performing the retraction the assistant should be +cautioned not to overdo it, lest he strip the periosteum from the bone +higher than is necessary. This is very easy to do in the weak limbs of +strumous patients, and may cause exfoliation, and greatly delay cure. + + +AMPUTATION IN THE MIDDLE THIRD OF THE THIGH.--A very short notice will +suffice here. The exact position, shape, and size of the flaps must in +every case be modified by the nature of the injury for which the +operation is performed, taking the flaps where they can be obtained. As +a general rule, a long anterior flap with a short posterior, on the +principle described above, should be preferred. In cases where the long +anterior cannot be obtained, two equal flaps should be made by +transfixion. The flaps should always be antero-posterior, the lateral +flaps introduced by Vermale, and indorsed by Chelius and Erichsen, +having the great disadvantage of allowing the bone, which is drawn up by +the psoas and iliacus, to project at the upper angle. + +Supposing the right thigh is to be amputated, the surgeon, standing on +the inside of the leg, should raise the skin and muscles of the front of +the limb in his left hand, and entering the knife just in front of the +vessels, should transfix the limb, the knife passing in front of the +bone, and including as nearly as possible an exact half of the limb +(Plate IV. fig. 19); having by a sawing motion brought out the knife and +cut a flap of the required length, the knife is re-entered at the same +place, and passing behind the bone, the point must be brought out at the +angle on the other side. Both flaps being then held back by an +assistant, the bone is cleared by a circular turn of the knife, and the +saw applied, the vessels are found cut high up in the inner angle of the +posterior flap. + +In muscular patients it is often better to make the incision through the +skin first and allow it to retract before transfixing; this is slower +and not so brilliant looking, but avoids redundancy of muscle. + + +AMPUTATION AT THE HIP-JOINT.--This operation, exceedingly dangerous from +the amount of the body removed, the great haemorrhage, and the risk of +pyaemia, is of comparatively modern invention. Though the proportion of +recoveries is at present to that of deaths about one to two or two and a +half, it is still a perfectly justifiable operation in many cases of +disease and injury. + +Like amputation at the shoulder, amputation at the hip has given rise to +very many various methods of performance. Under the heads of single +flap, double flap, oval, circular, and mixed flap and circular, at least +twenty distinct methods have been put on record, and, including +modifications, there are thirty-seven or thirty-eight different surgeons +who have each their own plan of operation. + +The reason of this fearful complexity in its literature depends on this +fact, that this amputation has generally been performed for cases of +such severe injury of the limb, that no milder amputation was possible, +and thus the flaps had to be taken just where the surgeon could get them +best. And this will have to be the guiding principle in most amputations +at this joint; the surgeon must just cut his coat according to his +cloth--get his flaps where and how he can. + +In cases, however, where it is possible to have a choice, and to select +the flaps, the following is, I believe, both the best and quickest +method:-- + +This is one of the very few operations in which quickness of performance +is a desideratum; the use of anaesthetics has, in most other cases, given +time for elaboration of flaps, and careful dissection; here the risk of +loss of blood, specially from the posterior flap, renders rapid +disarticulation imperative. + +_Amputation by double flap, anterior the longer._--In hip-joint +amputations, besides the ordinary sponge-squeezers, two assistants are +necessary, whose duties are exceedingly important. + +The first is to check haemorrhage. Pressing with a firm pad on the +external iliac just as it passes the bone, he must be prepared, the +instant the anterior flap is cut, to follow the knife and seize flap and +artery in his hand, and he is to hold it there till all the vessels in +the posterior flap are first tied. + +The second has to manage the limb, and on the manner in which he +performs his duty much of the success and nearly all the celerity of the +operation depend. While the surgeon is transfixing the anterior flap, +this assistant is to support the limb in a slightly flexed position, so +as to relax the muscles; the instant the flap is cut he is to extend the +limb forcibly, and at the same time be careful not to abduct it in the +least, but to turn the toes inward so as to bring the great trochanter +well forwards on a level with the joint; if this precaution is +neglected, the operator in making the posterior flap is almost certain +to lock his knife in the hollow between the head of the bone and the +great trochanter. + +If it is the left side, the operator, standing on the outside of the +limb, enters the point of a long straight knife midway between the +anterior superior spinous process of the ilium and the great trochanter, +and passes it as close to the front of the joint as possible, making the +point emerge close to the tuberosity of the ischium (Plate IV. fig. +20-20). With a rapid sawing movement he then cuts a long anterior flap, +avoiding any pointing of it, and endeavouring to make the curve equal. +The fingers of the assistant must be inserted so as to follow the knife +and seize the vessel even before it is divided. The flap being raised +out of the way, the surgeon, without changing his knife (as used to be +advised), opens the joint, divides the ligaments as they start up on the +limb being extended and adducted, the round ligament, and the posterior +part of the capsule; and then getting the knife fairly behind both the +head of the bone and the trochanter, cuts the posterior flap as rapidly +as possible. Instantly on the limb being separated, assistants should +be ready with large dry sponges or pads of dry lint to press against the +surface of the posterior flap, till the large branches, chiefly of the +internal iliac, which are cut in it, are tied one by one. + +The lever invented by Mr. Richard Davy, by which the common iliac is +compressed from the rectum, has in many cases proved of great service in +preventing haemorrhage, but has dangers of its own in cases of abnormal +position of rectum, or even in sudden movements of the patient. + +In every case the abdominal tourniquet will be found of great service in +checking haemorrhage, during the operation of amputation at the +hip-joint. It consists of an arch of steel fitted with a pad behind, +which rests against the vertebral column, and a pad in front playing on +a very fine and long screw, through an opening in the arch. When screwed +down tightly on the aorta just before the incisions are commenced, it +checks haemorrhage admirably without injuring the viscera. When this is +applied, a method of amputation once practised by Mr. Syme, though not +so rapid as the double-flap method by transfixion, will be found very +easy, and to result in most excellent flaps. He cut an anterior flap in +the usual manner by transfixion, then made a straight incision from its +outer edge down to about two inches below the great trochanter, thus +exposing it fully, and from the lower end of this incision transfixed +again, cutting a posterior flap nearly equal in size to the anterior; a +few strokes of the knife round the joint finished the disarticulation. +The resulting flaps came together with great accuracy, and were not +burdened with the great unequal masses of muscles so often noticed in +the posterior flaps which are made by cutting from within outwards +_after_ disarticulation. + +In some cases of amputation where the femur has been badly shattered, it +is a good plan to amputate through the upper third of thigh, tie all the +vessels, and then, aided by an incision at outer side, dissect out the +head of the bone. + +Mr. Furneaux Jordan of Birmingham carries out this principle by first +dividing the soft parts in circular direction low down the thigh, and +then dissecting out the head of the bone from the muscles by a long +incision on the outer aspect of the limb. + + _Note._--In severe cases of smash when both lower limbs have + required amputation, the author has derived much assistance from + the method of managing the operation detailed below:-- + + _Double Primary Amputation of (both) Thighs from railway + smash_--_Rapid recovery._--G., a healthy-looking man, aged + twenty-seven, but looking much older, while driving a horse near + Granton, caught his foot on the edge of a rail at a point, fell, + and both his legs were run over by several loaded wagons. A special + engine was procured, his thighs tightly tied up, and he was sent up + to hospital at once. + + I was in hospital at the time, so with as little delay as possible + he was placed on the operating table, and the necessity for + amputation being too evident, I obtained his leave to remove both + his legs above the knee; but his pulse was very feeble, and he was + intensely nervous, throwing his arms wildly about, panting for + breath, and looking very ill, cold, and exhausted. + + I determined that by great rapidity he might be got off the table + alive, so operated in the following manner:--Fixing the tourniquet + firmly near both groins, I first amputated the right leg by + Carden's method, and tied the femoral only, wrapped up the stump in + a towel wrung out of carbolic solution 1-20, then took off the + other limb by Mr. Spence's method,--it had been injured higher than + the right, so that I could not save the condyles of the + femur,--then tied the femoral there, and fixed it up with another + towel; then returning to the first, I tied one or two large + branches which spouted, and rolled it up again, then back to the + left one, doing the same, and getting the tourniquet off both + limbs. On going back to the right the surface was nearly dry and + glazed, so, asking Dr. Maclaren, who assisted me, to stitch it up + and insert a drainage-tube, I did the same for the left, so rapidly + that the patient was in his bed with his limbs dressed and bandaged + in 24-1/2 minutes from the time he entered the hospital gate. + + The strictest antiseptic precautions were observed, two engines + being used to furnish spray. Of course this great rapidity was due + to the fact that everything was ready, the assistants all in + hospital, admirably disciplined, and steam had been up in the spray + engines. Shock was comparatively trivial; his temperature once, and + only once, reached 100 deg.. His stumps healed by first intention, and + he was in the garden on the seventh day after the operation. + + I have now in three cases found the benefit of this mode of dealing + with double primary amputation in avoiding shock, lessening the + time needed, and greatly diminishing the number of vessels + requiring to be tied. In a previous case of double amputation for + railway smash at the knees, the patient was almost pulseless, and + had he been kept many minutes more on the table would not have left + it alive. He also rapidly recovered. + + The case is interesting also as showing that, when the assistants + know their work, the strictest adherence to antiseptic precautions + need not in itself make either the operation or the dressing + tedious, though it can easily be made an excuse for much fussing + and many delays.[51] + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[24] For details see article "Amputation" in Cooper's _Surgical +Dictionary_, and the short sketch of the history in Mr. Lister's paper +in the third volume of Holmes's _System of Surgery_. + +[25] See a most interesting foot-note to Professor Lister's paper on +"Amputation," in Holmes's _System of Surgery_, vol. iii. pp. 52, 53. + +[26] _Manuel d'Operations chirurgicales._ + +[27] FIG. IV. shows dorsal view of incision. FIG. III. shows face of +completed stump; R, radial; U, ulnar. + +[28] As the surgeon will find it most convenient to stand on his own +right side of the limb to be removed, the knife will be entered on the +palmar side of the radius of the right arm, of the ulna of the left. + +[29] Teale, _On Amputation by Rectangular Flaps_, pp. 46-48. + +[30] Johnson's folio ed., p. 342. + +[31] Gross's _Surgery_, 6th ed. vol. ii. p. 1103. + +[32] _International Encyclopaedia of Surgery_, vol. i. p. 641. + +[33] Spence's _Surgery_, pp. 800, 801. + +[34] Gross's _Surgery_, 8vo., 6th ed., vol. ii., p. 1106. + +[35] _Excision of Scapula_, p. 33. + +[36] Hey's _Observations_, 3d ed. pp. 552, 556. + +[37] Roux's _Parallel between English and French Surgery_. Translation +abridged from Cooper's _Surgical Dictionary_, p. 106. + +[38] Syme's _Principles_, 4th edit. p. 145. + +[39] _International Encyclopaedia_, vol. 1. p. 655. + +[40] _Observations in Clin. Surgery_, p. 48. + +[41] _Monthly Journal of Medical Science for 1849_, vol. ix. p. 951. + +[42] _Med. Times and Gazette_, June 3, 1865. + +[43] _Operative Surgery_, p. 170. + +[44] _Annali Universali de Medicina_, Milano, 1857. + +[45] _Med. Chir. Transactions of London_, vol. liii., p. 175. + +[46] Carden's (of Worcester) Pamphlet, pp. 5, 6; and _British Medical +Journal_, 1864. + +[47] B. Bell's _Surgery_, 6th ed. vol. vii. pp. 336-339. + +[48] In diagram the amputation is drawn as if for middle third of thigh. + +[49] Teale, _op. cit._, pp. 34, 39. + +[50] _Edin. Med. Journal_, for April 1863. + +[51] _Edin. Medical Journal_, March 1879. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +EXCISION OF JOINTS. + + +_Historical._--Beyond a passage ascribed to Hippocrates, but of very +doubtful authenticity, and slight allusions in the works of Celsus and +Paulus AEgineta, the ancients give us no information whatever on this +subject. + +Hippocrates says,--"Complete resections of bones in the neighbourhood of +joints both in the foot, in the hand, in the tibia up to the malleoli, +and in the ulna at its junction with the hand, and in many other places, +are safe operations, if that fatal syncope does not at once occur, and +continued fever does not attack the patient on the fourth day." + +Celsus and AEgineta both advise the removal of protruding ends of bone in +compound dislocations, but without giving any cases. + +From the days of these classic fathers of Surgery, we have hardly an +indication of any attention whatever having been paid to their hints +till quite within the last hundred years. + +The first distinct publication on the subject was by Henry Park of +Liverpool, in a letter to Percival Pott in 1783. He proposed the removal +of the articulating extremities of diseased elbow and knee-joints to +obtain cures. He says he was led to this by its having been the +invariable custom, for more than thirty years, at the Liverpool +Infirmary, to take off the protruded extremities of bones in cases of +compound dislocation. + +The chief credit, however, in practically elevating excisions into the +catalogue of recognised surgical operations, is owing, British surgeons +most cordially own, to two provincial surgeons of France, the Moreaus +(father and son) of Bar-sur-Ornain. They took the lead in the most +marked manner, having excised the shoulder in 1786, the wrist and elbow +in 1794, knee and ankle in 1792, and had followed this up so well that, +in 1803, the younger Moreau could boast, "the town has become in some +sort the refuge of the unfortunate afflicted with carious joints, after +they have tried all the means usually recommended by professional men, +or have had recourse to empirical nostrums, or when amputation seemed to +them the last resource." + +Moreau's papers and cases, which, between 1786 and 1789, he frequently +read to the French Academy, were, some violently opposed, others utterly +neglected by his compatriots, and many of them lost and buried in the +unpublished papers of that body. + +And though diseased joints did not decline in frequency, and though +injured ones were extremely numerous during these long years of European +war, excisions were but rarely performed. + +With the exception of the removal of head of humerus after gunshot +injury, hardly any British, and but very few French, limbs were saved by +excision taking the place of amputation. + +The limbs that were saved by Percy by excision of the head of the +humerus really owe their recovery and safety to the elder Moreau; for an +operation of his, at which he was assisted by that distinguished +military surgeon, gave the latter the hint, which he followed so +successfully, that by 1795 he had performed it nineteen times, and had +indoctrinated Sabatier, Larrey, and others, and elevated it into a +recognised operation of military surgery. + +So far, however, as the application of the great improvement of the +Moreaus to disease went, the French surgeons have little reason to +boast, for it is to English surgery, and especially to one Edinburgh +surgeon, that this class of operations owes nearly all its improvement +in methods and frequency of performance. + +For though (as we shall see under the special heads) here and there one +or two cases were performed, it was not till the publication of Mr. +Syme's monograph on the excision of diseased joints, in 1831, that the +importance and value of the discovery were fairly brought before the +profession; and the conservative surgery, of which excision as preferred +to amputation is the great type, must ever be associated with British +surgeons--Syme, Fergusson, Mackenzie, Jones of Jersey, Butcher of +Dublin. + +On the Continent--Langenbeck, Stromeyer, Heyfelder, Ollier, Esmarch of +Kiel, specially in the surgical history of the first Schleswig-Holstein +war, have followed up the example set them here. + +Before proceeding to describe the operations on the various joints, one +or two questions may be briefly asked and answered by way of +introduction. + +In what cases, or sorts of cases, are excisions suitable? + +1. In cases of compound injury or dislocation of a large joint, as used +by Filkin, Park, White, and other English surgeons long ago. In hospital +practice, or in private, where there is every advantage of rest, food, +and appliances, such operations will frequently be found suitable where +the joint is alone or chiefly the seat of injury, and where the general +health seems fit to bear a prolonged suppuration. But long and sad +experience has shown that, as a general rule in military practice, with +the difficulties of transport, the generally bad sanitary state of the +hospitals, and the want often of adequate dressings and attention, +excisions are much more fatal than amputations, and, except in elbow and +shoulder (_q.v._), should be as a general rule avoided. + +2. Excision for deformity (generally speaking for bony anchylosis) will +require for decision the consideration of many points, _i.e._ the joint +affected, the nature of the disease or injury which has caused the +anchylosis: and in each case--(1.) the state of health of the patient; +and (2.) his occupation, and the consequent position of limb which would +suit him best. As a general rule, I believe, experience will prove that +such operations on the lower extremity are almost absolutely +inadmissible, except under very special urgency on the part of the +patient, and a very high condition of health--while in the upper, the +elbow-joint is the only one which you will ever be likely to be asked to +remedy, or should comply with the request if asked; as the shoulder, +even if anchylosed, will (1.) from its own weight generally become so in +the most favourable position; and (2.) from the extreme mobility which +the scapula can acquire, its anchylosis will not be so much felt. + +The elbow, however, from the frequency of fractures of the condyles of +the humerus obliquely into the joint, and from the manner in which these +are so often neither recognised nor properly treated, very often becomes +anchylosed in the most awkward possible position, _i.e._ nearly +straight; and operations undertaken for such deformities are in general +both quite safe and very satisfactory. Mr. Syme had one case (resulting +from a fall, causing a double fracture), in which both arms were thus +firmly anchylosed in such a position that the sufferer could absolutely +perform none of the commonest duties of life without assistance. +Excision of both joints cured him. + +The author excised with success for disease the elbow-joint of a patient +whose other arm had required the same operation. + +The occupation of the patient must always be taken into consideration +when settling the position of an anchylosis, or the necessity or +advantage of a resection. + +Thus, Bryant[52] tells of a painter who wished his arm to be fixed in a +straight position, and of a turner whose knee at his own request was +permitted to stiffen at a right angle, as that position allowed him to +turn his wheel. + +3. _Excision for Disease of the Joint._--In our cold climate, so cursed +by scrofula, and specially among the children of the labouring poor, +such joint diseases are very prevalent, and whether the disease +commences in the synovial membrane, the articular cartilages, or the +heads of the bones, it frequently so disorganises the joint as to make +it a question whether something must not be done to preserve the very +life of the patient. + +The difficulty of diagnosing the cases in which excisions are suitable +or necessary is often very great; and we must balance its +performance--(1.) against the possibly good results of an expectant +treatment; (2.) against amputation of the limb. + +(1.) _Against expectant Treatment._--The patient has youth on his side, +could we give him fresh sea air, good diet, cod oil, etc., we might very +likely obtain anchylosis; true, but he may die while trying for this +anchylosis, and also this anchylosis, when got, may so lame or deform +him that resection may still be required. + +These points must all be considered, but as a general rule, I would say +that such attempts at preservation of the limb are much more +justifiable, and longer justifiable in the hip and knee-joints than in +the elbow or shoulder; for the results in the lower limb will probably +be as good, if the patient survive, if not better, than those obtained +by excision, while the danger of the operation is greater; while in the +upper limb, the danger to life in operating is less than that of leaving +the limb on, and the results obtained by a successful operation, with +well-managed after treatment, are far more satisfactory than the best +possible anchylosis. + +Another point bearing on this, of very great importance: In children, +the most frequent subjects of such disease, excision of the lower limb +may, by removing the epiphyses, cause to a very considerable degree +disparity in their length, thus rendering them nearly useless, while in +the upper such disparity is neither so extensive nor so injurious to the +usefulness of the limb, which is not required for purposes of +progression. + +In the hip-joint especially, all the resources of the art should be +tried in the expectant treatment, for amputation at the hip-joint is +hardly ever admissible for disease of the joint, while excision has +anything but satisfactory statistics. + +(2.) _Against Amputation._--Many questions must be considered, chiefly +under the heads of the separate joints:-- + +1. As to the difficulties and dangers of the operations contrasted. + +Such as the following:-- + +Excisions give the surgeon more trouble, require more manual dexterity; +take longer to perform; are very painful operations. Not valid +objections in these days of chloroform and operative surgery on the dead +body. + +Excisions have the special peculiarity and danger of dealing chiefly +with cancellated bone, broadened out, open, with numerous patulous +canals for large veins, tending on any irritation or inflammation to set +up a diffuse suppuration, and to culminate in phlebitis, myelitis, and +other pyaemic conditions. + +Excisions are performed through degenerate or disorganised, amputations +through healthy, tissue. + +Excisions require extreme care and absolute rest (_i.e._ in lower limb) +for many weeks and months after the operation. + +But, on the other hand,-- + +Amputations remove a portion of the body; excisions a much less one. +Amputations are always necessarily nearer the centre than the +corresponding excisions, and statistics show that the fatality of +operations increases in exact proportion as they approach the centre. + +A successful excision, especially in arm, saves a limb nearly perfect; +an amputation at best is only the stump for a wooden one. + +On the whole, there is actually very little difference in the mortality +of excisions and amputations. + +2. As to the results of the operation on the usefulness of the limb, +depending on joint involved, age of patient, and amount of bone +removed:-- + +A. _Joint involved._--These must be noticed separately, but one thing is +absolutely certain, that a much higher standard of usefulness, both in +equality of length, amount of anchylosis, and position, is needed in the +lower than in the upper limb. For a leg hanging like a flail, or +shortened by some inches, is not so good for purposes of locomotion as a +wooden leg is, while an arm, even though powerless at the elbow, and +perhaps much shortened, can be so strengthened and supported by slings +and bandages as to give a most useful hand, the complex movements and +uses of the fingers of which no mechanism can at all imitate. + +B. _Age of Patient._--It must be remembered that excision in a child +removes the epiphyses by which in great measure the growth of the bone +is to be managed, and the stunted limb, especially in the leg, will +eventually be of little advantage, though after the operation it looked +excellently well, if a few years later it be found to be seven or eight +inches shorter than its neighbour. + +C. _Amount of Bone removed._--From an erroneous view of the pathological +changes in the bone affected, far too much was removed by many of the +earlier operators, especially Moreau and Crampton. + +The reason that this is often still the case, is well seen in many +preparations. The bones are thickened to a considerable distance, and +covered with irregular warty excrescences. These, which used to be +considered evidences of disease, are only compact new healthy bone, +thrown out like the callus of a fracture in consequence of the +irritation. + +In a word, what we require to remove is the following:-- + +1. All the cartilage, dead or alive, healthy or diseased. + +2. Only the bone involving the articular extremities, in thin slices, or +with the occasional use of the gouge, till a healthy bleeding surface is +obtained. + +3. The synovial membrane, however gelatinous or thickened looking, +really requires very little care or notice; it will disappear of itself, +partly by sloughing, partly by absorption during the profuse +suppuration.[53] + + +EXCISION OF THE SHOULDER-JOINT.--Before considering the method of +operating, a word or two is required on the subject of how much is to be +removed, and in what cases the operation should be performed. The +shoulder and hip joints are the only ones in which partial excision is +ever admissible, indeed, in the shoulder excision of the head of the +humerus only is in many cases found to be all that is necessary, while +in all it is much less dangerous to life than when the glenoid cavity +also requires to be interfered with. + +It is rarely necessary to remove more of the bone than merely its +articular extremity (when performed for disease of the joint), and if +possible this should be done inside the capsule, _i.e._ through an +incision in the capsule, but without involving its attachment to the +neck of the bone. When the glenoid is also diseased, mere gouging or +scraping the cartilaginous surface will not suffice, but the neck must +be thoroughly exposed, so that the whole cup of the glenoid may be +removed by powerful forceps. + +_Cases suitable for Excision._--Cases of chronic disease of the head of +the humerus (generally tubercular), or of chronic ulceration of the +cartilages which has resisted counter-irritation. Cases of gunshot +injury of the joint, or of compound dislocation, or fracture involving +the joint. Cases of limited tumours affecting merely the head and upper +third of the bone, and non-malignant in character. Anchylosis very +rarely requires and would not be much benefited by such an operation. + +_Operation._--Though perhaps not the easiest, the following method is +the one followed by the best results. It is suited especially for cases +of caries or other disease of the joint, where the head of the humerus +is either alone or chiefly affected:-- + +A single straight incision (Plate I. fig. A.) is made from a point just +external to the coracoid process downwards along the humerus for at +least three inches. It corresponds almost exactly to the bicipital +groove, and has the advantage of avoiding the great vessels and nerves. +The long head of the biceps may then be raised from its groove, and +drawn to a side so as to be preserved. This is deemed of importance by +Langenbeck and others. Mr. Syme, however, did not attach much value to +its preservation, as it is often diseased. The capsule, which is often +much altered, perhaps in part destroyed, is then opened, and the tendons +of the muscles which rotate the head of the humerus divided in +succession, while the elbow is rotated first inwards and then outwards +by an assistant so as to put them on the stretch. The arm being then +forced backwards, the head of the bone can be protruded through the +wound, and sawn off at the necessary distance down the shaft. The +glenoid must then be carefully examined, and any diseased bone removed +by the cutting pliers. One or two small branches supplying the anterior +fold of the axilla are the only vessels divided, and may not even +require ligature, unless, indeed, from necrosis, or to remove a tumour, +a larger portion of the humerus than usual has been removed. If the +limit of capsule has been infringed on below, the circumflex vessels may +probably be cut, in which case the bleeding may be considerable. + +_N.B._--In cases of fracture of neck of humerus, or of compound gunshot +injury, or where the head has been separated by necrosis from the shaft, +or where, as has happened to Stanley and others, the bone broke in the +endeavour to tilt the head out, the surgeon will require to seize the +detached head with strong forceps, and dissect it out with care. + +_Other methods of Resection._--When from great thickening and induration +of the soft parts, enlargement of the head of the bone, or other reason, +the straight incision may be deemed insufficient for the purpose (and we +may remark that there are comparatively few cases in which it is +insufficient), access may be obtained to the joint by raising a flap +from the deltoid (Plate III. fig. A). Its shape--V-shaped, semilunar, or +ovoid--is not of much consequence, for there are no great nerves or +vessels to wound on the outside of the joint, and the surgeon should be +guided, as in all other operations on the joint, very much by the +position of any pre-existing sinuses. This flap being raised upwards +towards its base, very free access is gained to the joint. + +In these cases, fortunately comparatively rare, in which there is reason +to believe that the glenoid is chiefly involved in disease, and yet that +the disease can be removed without amputation, access will be gained +most easily by an incision (Plate III. fig. B.) on the posterior surface +of the joint, corresponding in size and direction to the linear incision +in front. This gives a much easier mode of access to the glenoid. I have +seen this practised in one very remarkable case by Mr. Syme, in which +the glenoid cavity and neck of the scapula were extensively diseased, +while the head of the bone was quite sound. + +_After-treatment_ is exceedingly simple; for the first day or two the +shoulder is to be supported on a pillow with a simple pad in the axilla, +if there is any tendency for the arm to drag inwards; after this the +patient should be encouraged to sit up and move about with his arm in a +sling, the elbow hanging freely down. + +_Results._--Hodge records ninety-six cases in which this excision was +performed for gunshot injury, of which twenty-five proved fatal, and +fifty for disease, of which only eight died,--results which are more +encouraging than those of amputation at the shoulder-joint for disease; +though for injury the mortality is much greater than Larrey's famous +Statistics of Amputation, _q.v._ p. 65. + +Spence had thirty-three cases, with three deaths. He generally made a +counter-opening behind to get rid of discharges, and inserted a +drainage-tube. + +Gurlt's statistics of excision for gunshot injury give of 1661 cases +1067 recoveries, 27 doubtful results, and 567 deaths, the mortality +being 34.70 per cent. + +EXCISION OF THE ELBOW-JOINT--_In what cases should it be performed?_--1. +For disease of the elbow-joint which has resisted ordinary remedies, and +is wearing down the patient's strength, including caries, ulceration of +cartilages, and gelatinous synovial degeneration. + +2. For wounds of the elbow penetrating the joint, the prognosis both as +to the patient's life and the usefulness of his arm is much better after +excision than after endeavours to save the joint without excision. This +is especially the case when the wound of the joint is small and +punctured, but if the case is seen early and treated by free drainage, +with antiseptic precautions, excision may not be required. + +3. For anchylosis, in cases where after disease or injury the limb has +stiffened in a bad position, especially when, with a straight elbow, +the hand is rendered almost perfectly useless. + +_How much should be removed?_--In the elbow-joint, more than any other +joint in the body, complete excision is absolutely necessary; any +portion of the articular surface being left proves a source of +unfavourable result. + +The surgeon is apt to err rather in removing too little than too much. +For the removal of too little bone is, on the one hand, apt to result in +long-standing sinuses, on the other, to induce anchylosis. + +In making the section of the bones, the saw ought to be applied to the +humerus transversely just at the commencement of its condyloid +projections, and to the radius and ulna, at least at a level with the +base of the coronoid process of the ulna. + +But while removing enough, we must not be led into the error of removing +too much. If this is done, as was done by Sir Philip Crampton in his +first case, and as happens occasionally of necessity in cases of +excision for gunshot wounds or other accidents, much of the power of the +arm is lost as a consequence of the shortening and excessive mobility. + +A mistaken pathology sometimes deceives in the examination of the state +of the bones, and causes an unnecessary amount to be removed. For in +many cases of disease the bones in the neighbourhood of the joint are +stimulated to an excessive amount of what is in reality Nature's effort +at repair, and while the cartilaginous surfaces are denuded of +cartilage, soft, and porous, the bones close by are roughened with a +stalactitic-looking growth, projecting in knobs and angles. Now, if this +be mistaken for disease and removed, too much will almost certainly be +taken away, and the result will be unsatisfactory. + +Much less care need be taken exactly to discriminate and remove the +diseased soft parts; indeed they may be left alone; the synovial +membrane in a state of gelatinous degeneration sometimes presents a +very formidable appearance of disease, but if the bones be properly +removed, all this swelling will soon go down, and a healthy condition of +parts succeed, without any clipping or paring on the surgeon's part. + +_Operation._--The back of the joint is of course chosen for the seat of +the incisions, both because the bones are there just under the skin, and +because the great vessels and nerves lie in front of the joint. The form +and number of the incisions vary considerably, and ought to vary +according to the nature of the case and the amount of disease or injury. + +Though it is now little used, for historical interest I retain the +description of the H-shaped incision (Plate III. fig. C.), used first by +Moreau, and re-introduced by Mr. Syme, and used by him for most of his +very numerous cases. + +The posterior surface of the joint being exposed, the surgeon, with a +strong straight bistoury, makes a transverse incision into the joint +just above the olecranon. It should begin just far enough outside of the +internal condyle to avoid the ulnar nerve, which the surgeon should +protect by the forefinger of his left hand, and should extend +transversely across to the outer condyle. From each end of this incision +the surgeon should next make at a right angle two incisions, each about +one inch and a half or two inches long, right down to the bone, thus +marking out two quadrilateral flaps. These should next be raised from +the bones, up and down, as much of the soft parts being retained in them +as possible, so as to add to their thickness. The olecranon is thus +exposed, and should be removed by saw or pliers by cutting into the +greater sigmoid notch; the lateral ligaments must then be cut, if they +are not already destroyed by the disease, and the humerus protruded, a +proper amount of which is then to be sawn off in a transverse direction. +The head of the radius is then easily removed by the bone-pliers, and +the ulna also protruded, the attachment of the brachialis anticus to the +coronoid process divided, and the bone sawn across just at the base of +that process. + +Few vessels, if any, will require ligature, and the arm being bent to +nearly a right angle, the transverse incision must be very carefully +sewed up with silver sutures closely set and deeply placed, as much of +the future success of the joint depends on the completeness of the +primary union of this incision. The external incision may also be +accurately adjusted, the internal one not so completely, to allow free +vent for the discharge, which is aided by the ligatures, if any are +required, being brought out at its lower angle. A figure-of-8 bandage +should be applied over pads of dry lint, and the limb laid on a pillow. +No splint is necessary; in a few days the patient will be able to rise +and walk about. + +Passive motion should be begun so soon as the first inflammatory +symptoms have passed off. + +If properly performed, in a tolerably healthy subject, the surgeon +should not be satisfied with any results short of almost perfect +restoration of motion in the joint. Flexion and extension to their full +extent, with a very considerable amount of pronation and supination, are +to be expected, with proper care, in a patient of average intelligence. + +Numerous cases are now on record where almost perfect performance of all +the duties of life was retained after excision of the elbow-joint.[54] + +In most cases it is possible, and in nearly all advisable, to excise the +joint by means of a less complicated incision. Thus one long vertical +incision at the posterior surface, with its centre about midway between +the ulna and the external condyle, with a transverse incision at right +angles to it, and reaching almost to the internal condyle, has been +often practised with a very good result. + +By nearly universal consent this single straight incision is now used, +and when it is properly dressed and _drained_ gives admirable results. + +A single vertical incision (Plate III. fig. D.) without any transverse +one, as long ago recommended by Chassaignac, is, in most cases, quite +sufficient to give access. It is most suitable in cases of anchylosis, +where there is little deposit of new bone, or in cases of disease of the +joint, accompanied with little swelling or thickening of surrounding +tissues. It has the advantage of avoiding the cicatrix of a transverse +incision, which doubtless may, if at all a broad one, somewhat interfere +with the future flexion of the limb, but, on the other hand, unless care +is taken, it does _not_ give such free egress for the discharge, and +when there is much delay in healing, the vertical incision may leave a +cicatrix nearly as troublesome as the other. + + The following modification, suggested and practised by the late Mr. + Maunder, seems to be a step in the right direction when it is + practicable. "After a longitudinal incision crossing the point of + the olecranon I next let the knife sink into the triceps muscle, + and divide it longitudinally into two portions, the inner one of + which is the more firmly attached to the ulna, while the outer + portion is continuous with the anconeus muscle, and sends some + tendinous fibres to blend with the fascia of the fore-arm. It is + these latter fibres that are to be scrupulously preserved. + + "Two points have to be remembered: first, the ulnar nerve, often + unseen, must be lifted from its bed, and carried over the internal + condyle to a safe place, and then the outer portion of the triceps + muscle with its tendinous prolongation, the fascia of the fore-arm + and the anconeus muscle must be dissected up, as it were, in one + piece, sufficiently to allow of its being temporarily carried out + over the external condyle of the humerus."[55] + + This method aids in retaining the power of _active_ extension of + the elbow-joint. + +Excision for osseous anchylosis in the extended position of the joint +may be sometimes rendered very difficult by the density, firmness, and +extensive hypertrophy of the bones, which become fused into one solid +mass. Any attempt to isolate the bones, and remove the anchylosed joint +entire, by incising the bones as if for disease, will both prove very +laborious, and also probably end in doing some damage to the vessels and +nerves in front. But by sawing through the anchylosis about its centre, +as was pointed out many years ago by Mr. Syme, the fore-arm may be +flexed, and the bones as easily displayed, cleaned, and removed, as in +the operation for disease. In this operation, as there is less +thickening of the skin and subjacent textures, and in consequence more +risk of deficiency and even sloughing of the flaps made by the H-shaped +incision, a single straight incision will serve the purpose admirably. + +Partial incisions of the elbow-joint are, as a rule, less successful and +more dangerous to life than complete ones, except in cases of excision +for anchylosis. Even in gunshot wounds, where the bones were previously +healthy, and where uninjured portions might have been left with some +hopes of success, this is the case. + + Dr. Heron Watson has devised the following operation for cases of + anchylosis the result of injury:--(1.) A linear incision over ulnar + nerve at inner side of olecranon. (2.) The ulnar nerve to be + carefully turned over the inner condyle. (3.) A probe-pointed + bistoury to be introduced into the elbow-joint in front of the + humerus, and then behind and carried upwards, so as to divide the + upper capsular attachments in front and behind. (4.) A pair of + bone-forceps to be next employed to cut off the entire inner + condyle and trochlea of the humerus, and then introduced in the + opposite diagonal direction so as to detach the external condyle + and capitulum of the humerus from the shaft. (5.) The truncated and + angular end of the humerus to be divided, turned out through the + incision, and smoothed across at right angles to the line of the + shaft by means of the saw, whereby (6.) room might be afforded, so + that partly by twisting and partly by dissection the external + condyle and capitulum are removed without any division of the skin + on the outer side of the arm.[56] Six cases have had satisfactory + results. + +The mortality from this operation is considerably less than that from +amputation of the arm. Of a series of excisions for disease, injury, and +anchylosis, 22.15 per cent. died, while out of a similar series of +amputations of the arm the mortality was 33.4 per cent.[57] Our +mortality of excision of the elbow here is certainly much less than the +above. All of the cases, between thirty and forty, in which I have done +it have recovered with but one exception, and Mr. Syme lost only one +during the time I was his assistant. + +Professor Spence lost only 16 in 189 cases, or 8.3 per cent. + +Gurlt's statistics for gunshot injury give a mortality of over 24 per +cent. + +Out of 82 cases where the joint was excised for injury in the +Schleswig-Holstein and Crimean campaigns, only 16 died; and out of 115 +cases in which the joint was excised for disease, only 15 died. + +The period after the injury at which the excision is performed seems to +be important. + + Deaths. + Thus of 11 cases within first twenty-four hours, 1 = 1-11 + " 20 " between second and fourth days, 4 = 1-5 + " 9 " " eighth and thirty-seventh, 1 = 1-9 + -- -- + 40 6 + + +EXCISION OF THE WRIST.--Very various methods have been proposed and +executed for the purpose of excising this joint. These vary much in +difficulty and complexity, in proportion to the endeavours made to save +the tendons from being cut. + +The principles which must guide all attempts at operative interference +with this joint are-- + +1. To remove all the diseased bone, including the cartilage-covered +portions of the radius, ulna, and of the metacarpal bones, as little of +these bones being removed as possible, beyond the cartilage-covered +portions. + +2. To disturb the tendons as little as possible, especially to avoid +isolating them from the cellular sheath. + +3. To commence passive motion of the fingers very soon after the +operation. + +It is rarely possible to remove the carpal bones as a whole, from the +diseased condition which renders the operation necessary, and the +digging out of the various bones piecemeal renders the operation very +tedious, especially if the proximal ends of the metacarpal bones are +involved and require to be removed, hence this operation was practically +impossible till after the discovery of anaesthesia. + +In describing the operation elaborated and described by Professor +Lister, the type of the various plans in which the tendons are saved is +given, while a very few words descriptive of the incisions used by +others who cut the tendons will suffice. + + +LISTER'S OPERATION OF EXCISION OF THE WRIST-JOINT.--Even an abridgment +of Mr. Lister's account of his operation must necessarily be long, +because the operation itself is so complicated and prolonged, and guided +by such precise principles, as to render much abridgment almost +impossible. + +A tourniquet is put on, to prevent oozing, which would conceal the state +of the bones; any adhesions of the tendons must be then broken down by +free movement of all the joints. + +_The radial incision_ (Plate IV. fig. A.) is then made. It commences at +the middle of the dorsal aspect of the radius, on a level with the +styloid process, passes as if going towards the inner side of the +metacarpo-phalangeal joint of the thumb, in a line parallel to the +extensor secundi internodii, but turns off at an angle as it passes the +radial border of the second metacarpal, and then longitudinally +downwards for half the length of that bone. The extensor carpi radialis +brevior tendon is divided in the incision. The soft parts at the radial +side are to be carefully dissected up, and the tendon of the extensor +carpi radialis longior divided at its insertion. The cut tendons, and +the extensor secundi internodii tendon and the radial artery can thus be +pushed outwards, enabling the trapezium to be separated from the carpus +by cutting-pliers. The extensor tendons being relaxed by bending back +the hand, the soft parts must be cleared from the carpus as far as +possible towards the ulnar side. + +[Illustration: FIG. VI.[58]] + +_The ulnar incision_ (Plate IV. fig. B.) extends from two inches above +the end of the ulna, in a line between the bone and the flexor carpi +ulnaris, straight down as far as the middle of the palmar aspect of the +fifth metacarpal. The dorsal lip of this incision is then raised, and +the tendon of the extensor carpi ulnaris cut at its insertion, and +reflected up out of its groove in the ulna along with the skin. The +extensor tendons are then raised from the carpus, and the dorsal and +lateral ligaments of the wrist divided, the tendons still being left as +far as possible undisturbed in their relation to the radius. In front +the flexor tendons are cleared from the carpus, the pisiform bone +separated from the others though not removed, and the hook of the +unciform divided by pliers. The knife must not go further down than the +base of the metacarpal bones, in case of dividing the deep palmar arch. +The anterior ligament of the wrist being now divided, the carpus and +metacarpus are to be separated by cutting-pliers, and the carpus +extracted by strong sequestrum forceps. By forcible eversion of the +hand, the ends of radius and ulna can be protruded at the ulnar +incision; as little as possible should be removed, consistent with +removing all the disease. The ulna should be cut obliquely, leaving the +base of the styloid process, and removing all the cartilage-covered +portion. A thin slice of the radius is then to be cut also with the saw, +so thin as to remove only the bevelled ungrooved portion, and leaving +the tendons as far as possible undisturbed in their grooves. The ulnar +articular facet is to be snipped off with bone-pliers. If the bones are +more deeply carious, the diseased parts must at all hazards be removed +with pliers or gouge. The metacarpal bones must then be treated in +precisely the same way, their ends sawn off and their articular facets +snipped off with the bone-pliers longitudinally. The trapezium is then +to be seized by forceps and carefully dissected out, the metacarpal bone +of the thumb pared like the others, the articular surface of the +pisiform removed, the rest of the bone being left if it is sound. The +radial incision is stitched closely throughout, and also the ends of the +ulnar incision, any ligature being brought out through the centre of the +ulnar incision, which is kept open with a piece of lint, which also +gives support to the extensor tendons. + +The after-treatment is important, the principal specialities being--(1.) +early and free movement of the fingers; (2.) secure fixing of the wrist +to procure consolidation. (1.) By passive motion of the joints of the +knuckles and fingers, commenced on the second day, and continued daily +after the operation; (2.) By a splint supporting the fore-arm and hand, +the fingers being held in a semiflexed position by a large pad of cork +fastened firmly on to the splint and made to fit the palm; this prevents +the splint from slipping up the arm, and by a turn of a bandage insures +fixation of the wrist-joint. The anterior part of this splint below the +fingers may be gradually shortened, allowing more and more passive +motion of the fingers, but the patient must wear it for months, indeed, +till he finds his wrist as strong without it as with it. + +Among the various operations that have been devised, the following +require notice:--Mr. Spence, Dr. Gillespie, Dr. Watson, and the author, +use a single dorsal incision with excellent results, and find it quite +easy to remove all the bones from it. Mr. Spence had sixteen cases +without a death. + + POSTERIOR SEMILUNAR FLAP, from carpal attachment of metacarpal of + index finger round to styloid process of ulna; dividing integuments + only, then separating the tendons of the common extensor + longitudinally, and drawing them aside by blunt hooks, the diseased + bones are removed piecemeal by curved parrot-bill forceps.[59] + + POSTERIOR CURVED FLAP.--An incision down to the carpal bones, + extended from a point two lines to the ulnar side of the extensor + secundi internodii pollicis, and from a quarter to half an inch + below the radio-carpal articulation, swept in a curvilinear + direction downwards, close to the carpal extremities of the + metacarpal bones, to a point just below the end of the ulna. The + flap thus marked out was dissected up, and consisted of the + integuments, areolar tissue, and extensor tendons of the four + fingers, together with large deposits of fibrine, the products of + repeated and prolonged inflammatory action. The tendon of the + second extensor and its soft parts around were separated from the + bones. The remains of the ligaments were cut, flexion of the hand + protruded the carious ends of radius and ulna. The bones were then + dissected out, leaving the trapezium, which was not diseased, and + hand placed on a splint.[60] + + +EXCISION OF THE HIP-JOINT.--The question as to the propriety of +performing this operation in any case is still debated by some surgeons, +and the selection of suitable cases for the operation is greatly +modified by the varying opinions of the different schools of surgery. +Enough here to describe the method of operating, and the amount of the +bone which is to be removed. + +As in the shoulder-joint, the head of the femur is much more liable to +disease, and, as a rule, much earlier attacked than is the acetabulum, +but unfortunately the acetabulum does eventually become affected also in +probably a much larger proportionate number of cases than the glenoid. +Caries of the head, neck, and trochanters of the femur is a very common +disease in this variable climate, and frequently connected with the +strumous taint. After much suffering, abscesses form and discharge, +giving considerable pain, and often end by carrying off the patient. As +a result of the abscess and destruction of the ligaments, the head of +the bone is apt to be displaced, and under some sudden muscular exertion +or involuntary spasm, consecutive dislocation of the femur (generally on +to the dorsum ilii) very often occurs. + +In such a case the operation of excision of the head of the femur is by +no means difficult, and not excessively dangerous, especially in young +children. + +_Operation._--It is hardly necessary, or indeed possible, to lay down +exact rules for the performance of this operation, in so far as the +external incisions are concerned, for the sinuses which exist ought in +general to be made use of. + +When the surgeon has his choice, a straight incision (Plate II. fig. +A.), parallel with the bone, extending from the top of the great +trochanter downwards for about two inches, and also from the same point +in a curved direction with the concavity forwards, upwards towards the +position of the head of the bone (see diagram), will be found most +convenient. The incisions should be carried boldly down to the bone, +which will often be felt exposed and bathed in pus, any remains of the +ligamentous structures must be cautiously divided with a probe-pointed +bistoury, and then by bringing the knee of the affected side forcibly +across the opposite thigh, with the toes everted, the head of the bone +is forced out of the wound. The head, neck, and great trochanter should +be fully exposed, and the saw applied transversely below the level of +the trochanter, so as to remove it entire. If this is not done, it +prevents discharge, protrudes at the wound, and besides this it is +almost invariably diseased along with the head. Chain saws are quite +unnecessary, it being in most cases easy to apply an ordinary one to the +bone, if it is properly everted. + +Great care in the after-treatment is required to prevent undue +shortening of the limb, or in the event of a cure to secure the most +favourable position for the anchylosis. The femur occasionally tends to +protrude at the wound, and hence may require to be counter-extended by +splints. If required at all, the splint should be made with an iron +elbow opposite the wound to admit of its being easily dressed. In most +cases counter-extension may be best managed by a weight and pulley. + +Various forms of hammock swings to support the whole body, and slings of +leather or canvas to support the limb only, have been found to aid +recovery, and render the patient much more comfortable. + +When the acetabulum is also diseased the prognosis is much more +unfavourable than when it is sound. + +The experiments of Heine and Jaeger on the dead body, and operations by +Hancock, Erichsen, and Holmes, on patients, have shown that in cases of +extensive disease of the acetabulum it is quite possible by a prolonged +and careful dissection to remove it all without injury of the pelvic +viscera. + +The details of incisions for such an operation need scarcely be given, +as they must vary in each case with the amount of bone diseased, and the +position of the already existing sinuses. The amount of bone that _may_ +be removed varies much. Erichsen in one case excised "the upper end of +the femur, the acetabulum, the rami of the pubis, and of the ischium, a +portion of the tuber ischii, and part of the dorsum ilii."[61] + +A less formidable proceeding may be useful in cases where the acetabulum +is diseased, but not deeply. The moderate use of an ordinary gouge may +succeed in removing the diseased bone. + +Experience and the cold evidence of statistics prove, however, that the +prognosis in any case is modified very much for the worse by the +presence of any disease of the acetabulum, more than one-half of the +cases proving fatal in which it is diseased, whether attempts to remove +the disease of the acetabulum be made or not, and that those cases do +best in which the head of the femur has been displaced, and lies outside +the joint almost like a loose sequestrum among the soft parts. + +The results of excision of the hip have as yet been very discouraging, +the mortality of the whole series of published cases being, according to +Dr. Hodge's careful table, very little under 1 in every 2 cases, viz., 1 +in 2-5/53. Later statistics are however more favourable. + +Like all other excisions, the mortality increases very much with the +patient's age. + +Thus of 103 completed cases in which the age is given, 53 recovered and +50 died, but dividing the cases at the end of the sixteenth year, we +find that of the children below this age 43 recovered and 29 died, a +mortality of 40.2 per cent.; of the adults, 10 recovered, and 21 died, +or a mortality of 67.6 per cent. + +If we remember the marvellous power of recovery from joint diseases we +find in childhood, under the influence of good diet, cod-liver oil, and +fresh air, we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that such results and +such a mortality are by no means encouraging. + +From an extensive experience in a special hospital for hip-disease, +where fresh air, abundant nourishment, and very excellent nursing are +provided, the author is learning more and more to trust to the power of +nature in the cure of even very advanced cases of hip-disease in +children, and he believes that operation is rarely necessary, or even +warrantable, except for the removal of sequestra. + + Mr. Holmes's[62] statistics are interesting. He has operated on no + fewer than nineteen cases. Of these seven died, one after secondary + amputation at the hip. Another required amputation and recovered. + Two others died of other diseases without having used their limb. + Of the remaining nine, three were perfectly successful, four were + promising cases, and two unpromising. + + Professor Spence in 19 cases had 6 deaths, or a mortality of 31.6 + per cent. + + Culbertson's collection gives out of 426 cases, 192 deaths, or 45 + per cent. + + Mr. Croft, whose skill and success as an operator are well known, + has recorded 45 cases of excision of hip in his own practice; of + these 16 died, 11 were under treatment, 18 had recovered, of which + 16 had moveable joints and useful limb; the other two are + "potentially cured."[63] + + Various other incisions have been devised for gaining access to the + joint. The most noticeable are those in which a flap is made + instead of a linear incision. Sedillot makes a semilunar or ovoid + flap, the base of which is just below the great trochanter, and + which includes it, the convexity being upwards and the flap being + turned down. Gross's modification of this is preferable, being + turned the opposite way, the convexity being downwards (Plate III. + fig. E.), and the flap thus being turned up. + +_Results in successful cases._--Of fifty-two in Hodge's table, +thirty-one had useful limbs, six indifferent, three decidedly useless, +four died within three years, and of the remaining eight no details are +given. + +The shortening is always considerable, a high-heeled shoe being required +in most cases; a stick is indispensable; in many, crutches are +necessary. + + Various operations have been devised for the treatment of osseous + anchylosis of the hip-joint when in a bad position. All are more or + less dangerous. Perhaps one of the least dangerous is the plan of + subcutaneous division of the neck of the femur by a narrow saw, + proposed by Mr. Adams of London. It is sometimes a very laborious + operation. + + +EXCISION OF KNEE-JOINT.--_Removal of Bone._--In every case the excision +of the joint ought to be complete. Some attempts have been made to save +one or other of the articular surfaces, but they have proved failures. +The patella has frequently been left when it was not diseased, as is +often the case, but the results have not been such as to recommend such +a practice. + +_Direction of Section of the Bones._--The bones should be cut +transversely, and, as far as possible, be in accurate and complete +apposition. A slight bevelling at the expense of the posterior margin +will produce an anchylosis of the limb in a very slightly flexed +position, which is found to aid the patient in walking. + +It has been proposed by some[64] to cut both bones obliquely, so as to +obviate the difficulty of making the transverse surfaces parallel. This +involves a still greater practical difficulty in keeping these oblique +surfaces in position during the after-treatment. + +This plan might possibly be valuable in cases where the disease was +limited to one or other edge of the bone. + +Among the various incisions recommended, the best seems to be the +_Semilunar Incision_. + +_Operation._--The limb being held in an extended position, a single +semilunar incision (Plate I. fig. B.) is made, entering the joint at +once, and dividing the ligamentum patellae. It should extend from the +inner side of the inner condyle of the femur to a corresponding point +over the outer one, passing in front of the joint midway between the +lower edge of the patella and tuberosity of the tibia. The flap is then +dissected back, the ligaments divided, when by extreme flexion of the +limb the articular surface of the tibia and femur are thoroughly +exposed. The crucial ligaments must then be divided cautiously, and the +articular portion of the femur cleaned anteriorly by the knife, +posteriorly by the operator's finger, so far as possible to avoid injury +of the artery. The whole articular surface of the femur must then be +removed by a transverse cut with the saw as exactly as possible at a +right angle with the axis of the bone. The amount of the femur which +will require removal will in the adult vary from an inch to an inch and +a half or even more. It _must_ involve all the bone normally covered by +cartilage; and this being removed, if the section shows evidence of +disease, slice after slice may require removal till a healthy surface is +obtained. Occasionally, if the diseased portion appears limited, though +deep, the application of a gouge may succeed in removing disease without +involving too great shortening of the limb. Specially in children, it is +of great importance to avoid removing the whole epiphysis. The tibia +must then be exposed in a similar manner, and a thin slice removed; if +the bone be tolerably healthy, even less than half an inch will prove +quite sufficient. + +This method has an immense advantage in that it provides an excellent +anterior flap for the amputation, which may be required in cases where +the disease of bone is found too extensive to admit of the excision +being practised. + +This method, with slight deviations, is substantially that of Richard +Mackenzie of Edinburgh, Wood of New York, Jones of Jersey. + +Haemorrhage must then be stopped, and that as thoroughly as possible, by +torsion, cold, and pressure, and the flap brought accurately together +with sutures. + +In some rare cases, it may be found necessary to divide the hamstring +tendons to rectify spastic contraction of the muscles; but this can +generally be done quite well from the original wound. + +Holt makes a dependent opening in the popliteal space for drainage. This +is unnecessary if the incisions are made sufficiently far back, and if +the wound is properly drained. It is unsafe, as approaching so close to +the artery and veins. If much bagging takes place, the use of a +drainage-tube will prove quite sufficient. + +_After-treatment._--Wire splints lined with leather and provided with a +foot-piece; special box-splints with moveable sides, as Butcher's;[65] +plaster-of-Paris moulds are used by Dr. P.H. Watson[66] of Edinburgh and +others; this last form of dressing is the best, and allows the limb to +be suspended from a Salter's swing. + +H-_shaped incision._--The internal incision should commence at +a point about two inches below the articular surface of the tibia, and +in a line with its inner edge; it should then be carried up along the +femur in a direction parallel to the axis of the extended limb, so as to +pass in front of the saphena vein, and thus avoid it, for a distance of +five inches. The external incision, commencing just below the head of +the fibula, must be carried upwards parallel to the preceding for the +same distance. Both incisions must be made by a heavy scalpel with a +firm hand, so as to divide all the tissues down to the bone. The +vertical incisions are then united by a transverse one passing across +just below the lower angle of the patella. The flaps thus formed must +then be dissected up and down, and the internal and external lateral +ligaments divided, thus thoroughly opening the joint and exposing the +crucial ligaments. These must be divided carefully, remembering the +position of the artery. The bones are then to be cleared and divided, as +in the operation already described. This is the method of Moreau and +Butcher.[67] + +_Patella and Ligamentum Patellae retained._--"A longitudinal incision, +full four inches in extent, was made on each side of the knee-joint, +midway between the vasti and flexors of the leg; these two cuts were +down to the bones, they were connected by a transverse one just over the +prominence of the tubercle of the tibia, _care being taken to avoid +cutting by this incision the ligamentum patellae_; the flap thus defined +was reflected upwards, the patella and the ligament were then freed and +drawn over the internal condyle, and kept there by means of a broad, +flat, and turned-up spatula; the joint was thus exposed, and after the +synovial capsule had been cut through as far as could be seen, the leg +was forcibly flexed, the crucial ligaments, almost breaking in the act, +only required a slight touch of the knife to divide them completely. The +articular surfaces of the bones were now completely brought to view, and +the diseased portions removed by means of suitable saws, the soft parts +being hold aside by assistants."[68] + +Results of Excision of Knee-joint:--Holmes's Table of recent cases from +1873-1878-- + + 245 cases; 25 deaths, and 47 failures. + Spence's--33 cases; 22 recovered, 11 died. + + +BUCK'S OPERATION FOR ANCHYLOSED KNEE-JOINT.--The principle of this +operation is to remove a triangular portion of bone, which is to include +the surfaces of the femur and tibia, which have anchylosed in an awkward +position, and by this means to set the bones free, and enable the limb +to be straightened. Access to the joint may be obtained by either of +the two methods already described. Sections of the bones are then to be +made with the saw, so as to meet posteriorly a little in front of the +posterior surface of the anchylosed joint, and thus remove a triangular +portion of bone; the portion still remaining, and which still keeps up +the deformity, is then to be broken through as best you can, either by a +chisel, or a saw, or forced flexion. The ends are to be pared off by +bone-pliers, and the surfaces brought into as close apposition as +possible. The operation is a difficult one, a gap being generally left +between the anterior edges of the bones, from the unyielding nature of +the integuments behind, and the difficulty of removing the posterior +projecting edges from their close proximity to the artery. Of twenty +cases on record, eight died, and two required amputation. + +_Relation of Age to result in Excision of Knee-Joint from Hodge's +Tables._ + +Of 182 complete cases:-- + + 68 below 16 years: 50 recovered--18 died; or 26 per cent. died. + 114 above 16 years: 55 recovered--59 died; or 51.7 per cent. died. + + +EXCISION OF THE ANKLE-JOINT.--_In what cases is it to be done, and how +much bone is to be removed?_ + +In cases of compound dislocation of the ankle-joint, the tibia and +fibula are apt to be protruded either in front or behind. When this +happens it is a dislocation generally very difficult to reduce, and when +reduced to retain in position. In such cases, if there seems to be any +chance of retaining the foot, excision of the articular ends of tibia +and fibula greatly add to the probabilities in its favour. It may be +done without any new wound, and, in general, by an ordinary surgeon's +saw. + +When the astragalus does not protrude, it seems to matter little for the +future result whether its articular surface be removed or not. When, on +the other hand, it protrudes, as a result either of the displacement of +the entire foot, or of a dislocation complete or partial of the +astragalus itself, there is no doubt that excision either of its +articular surface or of the entire bone will give very excellent +results. Jaeger reports twenty-seven such cases, with only one fatal, and +one doubtful result. + +_In cases of disease of the Ankle-joint._--Excision has been performed a +good many times, and should in most cases be complete. A work like this +is not the place to discuss the propriety of operations so much as the +method of performing them, but one remark may be permitted. Few points +of surgical diagnosis are more difficult than it is to tell whether in +any given case disease is confined to the ankle-joint, and whether or +not the bones of the tarsus participate. If they do even to a slight +extent, no operation which attacks the ankle-joint only has any +reasonable chance of success. It may look well for a time, but sinuses +remain, the irritation of the operation only hastens the progress of the +disease of the bone, and the result will almost certainly be +disappointing, amputation being almost the inevitable _dernier ressort_. + +_Methods of Operating_:-- + +_Mr. Hancock_ has been very successful by the following method:-- + +Commence the incision (Plate II. figs. B.B.) about two inches above and +behind the external malleolus, and carry it across the instep to about +two inches above and behind the internal malleolus. Take care that this +incision merely divides the skin, and does not penetrate beyond the +fascia. Reflect the flap so made, and next cut down upon the external +malleolus, carrying your knife close to the edge of the bone, both +behind and below the process, dislodge the peronei tendons, and divide +the external lateral ligaments of the joint. Having done this, with the +bone-nippers cut through the fibula, about an inch above the malleolus, +remove this piece of bone, dividing the inferior tibio-fibular +ligament, and then turn the leg and foot on the outside. Now carefully +dissect the tendons of the tibialis posticus and flexor communis +digitorum from behind the internal malleolus. Carry your knife close +round the edge of this process, and detach the internal lateral +ligament, then grasping the heel with one hand, and the front of the +foot with the other, forcibly turn the sole of the foot downwards, by +which the lower end of the tibia is dislocated and protruded through the +wound. This done, remove the diseased end of the tibia with the common +amputating saw, and afterwards with a small metacarpal saw placed upon +the back of the upper articulating process of the astragalus, between +that process and the tendo Achillis, remove the former by cutting from +behind forwards. Replace the parts _in situ_; close the wound carefully +on the inner side and front of the ankle; but leave the outside open, +that there may be a free exit for discharge, apply water-dressing, place +the limb on its outer side on a splint, and the operation is completed. + +Skin, external, and internal ligaments, and the bones are the only parts +divided, no tendons and no arteries of any size.[69] + +_Barwell's_ method by _lateral incisions_ is briefly as follows:-- + +On the outer side, an incision over the lower three inches of the fibula +turns forward at the malleolus at an angle, and ends about half an inch +above the base of the outer metatarsal. The flap is to be reflected, +fibula divided about two inches from its lower end by the forceps, and +dissected out, leaving peronei tendons uncut. A similar incision on the +inner side terminates over the projection of the internal cuneiform +bone; the sheaths of the tendons under inner angle are then to be +divided, and the artery and nerve avoided; the internal lateral +ligament is then to be divided, the foot twisted outwards, so as to +protrude the astragalus and tibia at the inner wound. The lower end of +the tibia and top of the astragalus are to be sawn off by a +narrow-bladed saw passing from one wound to the other.[70] + +Dr. M. Buchanan of Glasgow has described an operation by which the joint +can be excised through a single incision over the external malleolus. + +_Results._--So far as can be gathered from cases already published, the +results are very often (at least in one out of every two cases) +unsatisfactory. Sinuses remain, which do not heal, the limbs are +useless, and amputation is in the end necessary. + +Langenbeck has performed it sixteen times during the last +Schleswig-Holstein war (in 1864), and the Bohemian war in 1866, with +only three deaths. In these cases the operation was subperiosteal. + + +EXCISION OF THE SCAPULA.--More or less of the scapula has in many cases +been removed along with the arm, and even with the addition of portion +of the clavicle. + +Excision of the entire bone, leaving the arm, has been performed in two +instances by Mr. Syme. The procedure must vary according to the nature +and shape of the tumour on account of which the operation is performed. +Mr. Syme operated as follows:-- + +In the first case, one of cerebriform tumour of the bone, he "made an +incision from the acromion process transversely to the posterior edge of +the scapula, and another from the centre of this one directly downwards +to the lower margin of the tumour. The flaps thus formed being reflected +without much haemorrhage, I separated the scapular attachment of the +deltoid, and divided the connections of the acromial extremity of the +clavicle. Then, wishing to command the subscapular artery, I divided +it, with the effect of giving issue to a fearful gush of blood, but +fortunately caught the vessel and tied it without any delay. I next cut +into the joint and round the glenoid cavity, hooked my finger under the +coracoid process, so as to facilitate the division of its muscular and +ligamentous attachments, and then pulling back the bone with all the +force of my left hand, separated its remaining attachments with rapid +sweeps of the knife." (Plate III. fig. G.) + +Mr. Syme's second case was also one of tumour of the scapula; the head +of the humerus had been excised two years before. + +He removed it by two incisions, one from the clavicle a little to the +sternal side of the coracoid, directed downwards to the lower boundary +of the tumour, another transversely from the shoulder to the posterior +edge of the scapula. The clavicle was divided at the spot where it was +exposed, and the outer portion removed along with the scapula.[71] + +The author has in a case of osseous tumour removed the whole body of the +scapula, leaving glenoid, spine, acromion and anterior margin with +excellent result and a useful arm. + +Large portions of the shafts of the humerus, radius, and ulna have been +removed for disease or accident, and useful arms have resulted; but as +the operative procedures must vary in every case, according to the +amount of bone to be removed, and the number and position of the +sinuses, no exact directions can be given. + +For very interesting cases of such resections reference may be made to +Wagner's treatise on the subject, translated and enlarged by Mr. Holmes, +and to Williamson's _Military Surgery_, p. 227. + + +EXCISION OF METACARPALS AND PHALANGES.--To _excise_ the metacarpal +implies that the corresponding finger is left. Except in cases of +necrosis, where abundance of new bone has formed in the detached +periosteum, the results of such excisions do not encourage repetition, +the digits which remain being generally very useless. It is quite +different, however, if it is the thumb that is involved; and every +effort should, in every case, be made to retain the thumb, even in the +complete absence of its metacarpal bone. For the good results of a case +in which Mr. Syme excised the whole metacarpal bone for a tumour, see +his _Observations in Clinical Surgery_, p. 38. + +The operation is not difficult, and requires merely a straight incision +over the dorsum, extending the whole length of the bone. + +In the same way the proximal phalanx of the thumb may be excised, and +yet, if proper care be taken, a very useful limb be left. I quote entire +the following case by Mr. Butcher of Dublin:-- + + +EXCISION OF PROXIMAL PHALANX OF THE THUMB.-- + +The thumb of the right hand was crushed by the crank of a steam-engine. +The proximal phalanx was completely shivered; its fragments were +removed, the cartilage of the proximal end of the distal phalanx, and +also of the head of the metacarpal bone, were pared off with a strong +knife. The digit was put up on a splint fully extended. In about a month +cure was nearly complete, a firm dense tissue took the place of the +removed phalanx, and the power of flexing the unguinal was nearly +complete.[72] + + +EXCISION OF THE JOINTS OF THE FINGERS.--These operations may be +performed for compound dislocation, specially when the thumb is injured; +no directions can be given for the incisions.[73] + +In cases of disease it is rarely necessary or advisable to attempt to +save a finger, but if the metacarpo-phalangeal joint of the thumb be +affected, excision should be performed with the hope of saving the +thumb. A single free incision on the radial side of the joint will give +sufficient access. + + +EXCISION OF THE OS CALCIS.--In those comparatively rare cases in which +the os calcis is alone affected, the rest of the tarsus and the +ankle-joint being healthy, a considerable difference of opinion exists +as to the proper course to be followed. By some surgeons it is +considered best merely to gain free access to the diseased bone, and +then remove by a gouge all the softened and altered portions, leaving a +shell of bone all round, of course saving the periosteum and avoiding +interference with the joint. This operation requires no special detailed +instruction. We find many surgeons, among them Fergusson and Hodge, +supporters of this comparatively modest operation. The author has many +times performed this operation with excellent results. Even when nothing +but periosteum is left, the new bone becomes strong and of full size. + +Excision of the whole of the diseased bone at its joints, with or +without an attempt to leave some of the periosteum, has been deemed +necessary by others. Holmes, who has had considerable experience, +removes the bone at once by the following incisions, without paying any +reference to the periosteum:-- + +_Operation._--An incision (Plate III. fig. F.) is commenced at the inner +edge of the tendo Achillis, and drawn horizontally forwards along the +outer side of the foot, somewhat in front of the calcaneo-cuboid joint, +which lies midway between the outer malleolus and the end of the fifth +metatarsal bone. This incision should go down at once upon the bone, so +that the tendon should be felt to snap as the incision is commenced. It +should be as nearly as possible on a level with the upper border of the +os calcis, a point which the surgeon can determine, if the dorsum of the +foot is in a natural state, by feeling the pit in which the extensor +brevis digitorum arises. Another incision is then to be drawn vertically +across the sole, commencing near the anterior end of the former +incision, and terminating at the outer border of the grooved or internal +surface of the os calcis, beyond which point it should not extend, for +fear of wounding the posterior tibial vessels. If more room be required, +this vertical incision may be prolonged a little upwards, so as to form +a crucial incision. The bone being now denuded by throwing back the +flaps, the first point is to find and lay open the calcaneo-cuboid +joint, and then the joints with the astragalus. The close connections +between these two bones constitute the principal difficulty in the +operation on the dead subject; but these joints will frequently be found +to have been destroyed in cases of disease. The calcaneum having been +separated thus from its bony connections by the free use of the knife, +aided, if necessary, by the lever, lion-forceps, etc., the soft parts +are next to be cleaned off its inner side with care, in order to avoid +the vessels, and the bone will then come away.[74] + +Attempts may occasionally be made in such an operation to save a portion +of periosteum in attachment to the soft parts, but success or failure in +this seems to have very little effect on the future result. + + _Hancock's Method._--A single flap was formed in the sole, with the + convexity looking forwards, by an incision from one malleolus to + the other. + + _Greenhow's Method._--Incisions made from the inner and outer + ankles, meeting at the apex of the heel, and then others extending + along the sides of the foot, the flaps being dissected back so as + to expose the bone and its connections.[75] + + +EXCISION OF ASTRAGALUS.--A curved incision on the dorsum of the foot +extending from one malleolus to the other, and as far forwards as the +front of the scaphoid. The chief caution required is to divide all +ligaments which hold the bone in place, and dissect it clean on all +other parts before meddling with its posterior surface where the groove +exists for the flexor longus pollicis tendon near which the posterior +tibial vessels and nerve lie.[76] + + +EXCISION OF ASTRAGALUS AND SCAPHOID.--An incision similar to the +anterior one in Syme's amputation at the ankle. The flap was then turned +back from the dorsum of the foot. The joint was then opened, the lateral +ligaments of the ankle-joint divided, the foot dislocated so as to show +the astragalo-calcanean ligaments, and allow them to be divided. The +bones were then grasped with the lion-forceps and pulled forwards, while +the posterior surface of the astragalus was very cautiously cleaned, so +as to avoid the posterior tibial artery.[77] + + +EXCISION OF METATARSO-PHALANGEAL JOINT OF GREAT TOE.--Butcher performs +it by splitting up the sinuses leading to the carious joint, exposing it +and cutting off with bone-pliers the anterior third of the metatarsal +bone, and the proximal end of the first phalanx. He also cuts +subcutaneously the extensor tendons to prevent them from cocking up the +toe.[78] Pancoast prefers a semilunar incision. A lateral incision is +usually to be preferred. + +The author has performed this excision frequently for disease; when the +whole cartilages are removed and the wound is freely drained, an +admirable result is obtained. + +In cases of compound dislocation of the head of the metatarsal bone, it +will occasionally be found necessary to excise it either by the +original, or a slightly enlarged wound. + +The author lately excised one-half of shaft of metatarsal and the +corresponding half of proximal phalanx of great toe for exostosis, with +antiseptic precautions. The result was a useful toe with a _mobile +joint_. + + +EXCISION OF METATARSAL BONE OF GREAT TOE.--For this operation a +quadrilateral flap has been recommended, but this is quite unnecessary. +A single straight incision along the inner border of the foot, extending +the whole length of the bone, renders it very easy to remove the whole +bone from joint to joint. This is an operation, however, which is rarely +needed, and which would leave a very useless flail of a toe. The +operation, which is at once more commonly required, and also gives +promise of a more satisfactory result, is the one performed for +cario-necrosis of the shaft only, and in the following manner:-- + +A straight incision through all the tissues, including the periosteum, +right down to the bone; then with nail or handle of the knife to +separate the periosteum from the bone; then with a pair of bone-pliers +or a fine saw to divide the shaft from both its extremities and remove +it entire.[79] + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[52] _On Diseases and Injuries of Joints_, p. 121. + +[53] For a very large amount of most interesting and valuable +information on the whole subject of excisions of joints, I would refer +to Dr. Hodge's most excellent work on this subject--_On Excisions of +Joints_. By Richard M. Hodge, M.D., Boston, Massachusetts. + +[54] See Syme's _Observations on Clinical Surgery_, pp. 55, 57; Hodge +_on Excision of Joints_, p. 63. + +[55] Maunder's _Operative Surgery_, 2d ed. p. 123. + +[56] _Edin. Med. Journal_, May 1873. + +[57] Quoted by Mr. Porter. _Dublin Quarterly Journal_ for May 1867, p. +264. + +[58] A-A. Deep palmar arch; B. Trapezium; C. Articular surface of ulna; +Dotted lines include the amount removed in Lister's earlier operations; +Unshaded portions are those removed by Lister in cases where the disease +is limited to the carpus. (Reduced from Lister's diagram in _Lancet_, +1865.) + +[59] Skey, _Op. Surg._, 2d ed. p. 438. + +[60] Abridged from Butcher, _Op. and Con. Surgery_, p. 208. + +[61] _Science and Art of Surgery_, 3d ed. p. 745. + +[62] _On the Surgical Treatment of Children's Diseases_, pp. 454-6. + +[63] _Clinical Society's Transactions_, vol. xiii. p. 71. + +[64] Billroth of Vienna and Pelikan of St. Petersburg, quoted from +Heyfelder by Hodge _on Excision of Joints_, p. 161. + +[65] _Operative and Conservative Surgery_, pp. 28, 138. + +[66] _On Excision of Knee-Joint_, pp. 18, 20. + +[67] _Operative and Conservative Surgery_, p. 169. + +[68] Mr. Jones of Jersey, _Med. Chir. Trans._, vol. xxxvii. p. 68. + +[69] _Lancet_, Oct. 1, 1859. + +[70] Barwell _On Diseased Joints_, p. 464. + +[71] Syme _On Excision of the Scapula_, pp. 13-26, 1864. + +[72] Butcher's _Operative and Conservative Surgery_, p. 225. + +[73] For an excellent case, see Annandale on _Diseases of the Finger and +Toes_, p. 261. + +[74] Holmes's _Surgery_, 3d edition, vol. iii. p. 771. + +[75] _Brit. and Foreign Med. Chir. Review_ for July 1853. + +[76] Mr. Holmes in _Lancet_ for February 18, 1856. + +[77] _Ibid._ for May 1865. + +[78] Butcher, _Operative and Conservative Surgery_, p. 354. + +[79] See Butcher, _Operative and Conservative Surgery_, p. 356. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +OPERATIONS ON CRANIUM AND SCALP. + + +TREPHINING AND TREPANNING are the names given to operations for the +removal of portions of the cranium by circular saws which play on a +centre pivot. When the motion is given to the saw simply by rotation of +the hand of the operator, as is common in this country, it is called +_trephining_; when (as used to be the case in this country, and still is +on the Continent) the motion is given by an instrument like a +carpenter's brace, the operation is called _trepanning_. + +The nature of the operation varies according to the nature of the case +for which it is performed. Thus (1.) it may be performed through the +uninjured cranium in the hope of evacuating an abscess of the diploe or +dura mater, or of relieving pressure caused by suppuration in the brain +itself, or by extravasation into the brain or membranes; or (2.) it may +be required in cases of punctured and depressed fracture for the purpose +of removing projecting corners of bone and allowing elevation of the +depressed portions; or (3.) it is sometimes used to remove a circular +portion of bone in cases of epilepsy in which pain or tenderness is felt +at some limited portion of the cranium. + +1. _In cases where the cranium and its coverings are entire._--There are +certain positions where, if it is possible, the trephine should _not_ be +applied. These are the longitudinal sinus, the anterior inferior angle +of the parietal bone, where the middle meningeal artery is in the way, +the occipital protuberance, and the various sutures. These being +avoided, a crucial incision is to be made through the skin, and its +flaps reflected. The pericranium should then be raised from the centre, +for a space large enough to hold the crown of the trephine. The +pericranium should never be removed, but carefully raised and preserved, +as its presence will greatly aid in the restoration of bone.[80] The +centre pin should then be projected for about the eighth of an inch and +bored into the bone. On it as a centre the saw is then worked by +semicircular sweeps in both directions alternately, till it forms a +groove for itself. Whenever this groove is deep enough the pin should be +retracted, lest from its projection it pierce the dura mater before the +tables of the skull are cut through. Were the cranium always of the same +thickness, and even of similar consistence, the operation would always +be exceedingly easy; but in both these particulars different skulls vary +much from each other, and thus by a rash use of the instrument the dura +mater may possibly be injured. The tough outer table is more difficult +to cut than the softer and more vascular diploe, and the inner table is +denser than either, but more brittle. In many old skulls, however, the +diploe is wanting altogether, and the two tables are amalgamated, and +often very thin. + +Great care must be taken in every case to saw slowly, to remove the +sawdust, and examine the track of the saw by a probe or quill, lest one +part should be cut through quicker than another. The last turns of the +instrument must specially be cautious ones. When the disk of bone does +not at once come away in the trephine, the elevator or the special +forceps for the purpose will easily remove it. If the abscess, +extravasation, or exostosis be then discovered and removed, all that +remains is to remove any sawdust or loose pieces of bone, and possibly +to smooth off any sharp edges of the orifice by an instrument called the +lenticular. This is very seldom required, and now hardly ever used. + +2. _In cases of depressed or punctured fracture_ the trephine is +occasionally required (when symptoms of compression are present) for the +purpose of enabling the depressed portion to be elevated. It is unsafe +to apply it to the depressed or fractured bone, lest the additional +pressure of the instrument should cause wound of the dura mater or +brain. It is generally applied on some projecting corner of sound bone +under which the depressed portion is locked, and hence it is rarely +necessary to remove a complete circular portion. In fact very many cases +of such displacement may be remedied more easily by a pair of strong +bone-forceps, or a Hey's saw, applied to remove the projecting portion +of sound bone. The same precautions must be used as in the operation +already described, and the sawing must be done even more cautiously, as +it is rarely more than a semicircle that requires cutting. + +In former days trephining was a much more frequent operation than it is +now, and apparently more successful. The reason of the greater apparent +success can easily be found in the fact that it was performed in many +cases merely as a precautionary measure against dreaded inflammation of +the brain, which probably never would have appeared at all, and that the +operation itself is one by no means dangerous. Very numerous +applications of the trephine have been made in the same individual--two, +four, six, and even in one case twenty-seven disks having been removed +from the same skull, and yet the patients have survived. + + +TUMOURS OF THE SCALP, _Removal of_.--By far the most frequent are the +encysted tumours, or wens. These consist of a thick firm cyst-wall, +which contains soft, curdy, or pultaceous matter, sometimes almost +fluid, at others dry and gritty. They are loosely attached in the +subcutaneous cellular tissue, and unless they have become very large, or +have been much pressed on, are non-adherent to the skin. + +The treatment is thus very simple. They should merely be transfixed by a +sharp knife, the contents evacuated, and the cyst seized by strong +dissecting forceps and twisted out. + +If they have once become adherent, they must be dissected out in the +usual manner, after the adherent portion of skin has been defined by +elliptical incisions. + +In the case of large wens on visible parts of scalp or face, the author +avoids scar, by the following plan:-- + +Make a small incision, two lines at most, through skin only, then with a +blunt probe separate the cyst from the skin subcutaneously; then, +pulling it to the wound with catch-forceps, empty the cyst and gradually +pull it out, as if taking out an ovarian cyst. No scar but a dimple will +remain. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[80] See case by the author in the _Edin. Med. Jour._ for June 1868. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +OPERATIONS ON EYE. + +_Operations on the Eye and its Appendages._ + + +OPERATIONS ON THE LIDS.-- + +[Illustration: FIG. VII.[81]] + +[Illustration: FIG. VIII.[82]] + +1. FOR ENTROPIUM OR INVERSION OF THE LIDS, OFTEN COMBINED WITH +TRICHIASIS, IRREGULARITY OF THE CILIAE.--As in many cases the entropium +seems to depend partly on a too great laxity of the skin of the lid, +combined occasionally with spasm of the orbicularis, the simplest and +most natural plan of operation is (_a_) to remove (Fig. VII. _a_) an +elliptical portion of skin, extending transversely along the whole +length of the affected lid, including the fibres of the orbicularis +lying below it, and then to unite the edges with several points of fine +suture. (_b_) An improvement on this in obstinate cases is proposed by +Mr. Streatfeild (Fig. VIII.) He continues the same incision, but in +addition removes a long narrow wedge-shaped portion of the tarsal +cartilage, grooving it without entirely cutting it through, in such a +manner that the retraction of the skin bends the cartilage backwards, +thus everting to a very considerable extent the previously inverted +ciliae.[83] + +2. ECTROPIUM is the opposite condition from entropium; in it the eyelids +are everted and the palpebral conjunctiva is exposed. + +If the result of cicatrix, of a burn, or of disease of bone, the +treatment must be varied according to circumstances, and in many cases, +skin must be transplanted to fill the gap. + +In the more usual cases resulting from chronic inflammation the +following simple operations are required:--1. In mild cases the excision +of an elliptical portion of conjunctiva may suffice, the edges must not +be left to contract, but should be brought carefully together. 2. In +more chronic cases, where all the tissues of the lid are very lax, it is +necessary to remove (Fig. VII. _b_) a V-shaped portion of lid and skin, +and then stitch it very carefully up with interrupted sutures. + + +TUMOURS OF EYELIDS.--1. _Encysted tumours; cysts of the lids; tarsal +tumour._--Under these and similar names are recognised a very frequent +form of disease, chiefly in the upper lid: small tumours which rarely +exceed half a pea in size, convex towards the skin, which is freely +moveable over them; they give no pain, and are annoying only from their +bulk and deformity. + +_Operation._--Evert the lid, incise the conjunctiva freely over the +tumour, insert the blunt end of a probe and roughly stir up the contents +of the cyst, thus evacuating it. If the tumour is large and of old +standing it may be requisite to cut out an elliptical or circular +portion of its conjunctival wall. The probe may require to be reapplied +once or twice at intervals of two or three days, and in certain rare +cases it may be necessary as a last resource freely to cauterise the +inside of the cyst with the solid nitrate of silver. + +In _no_ case is it ever necessary to excise the tumour from the outside +of the eyelid; when this has been done in error there frequently remains +an awkward and unsightly scar. + +2. _Fibrous cysts_, frequently congenital, are met with in one +situation, just over the external angular process of the frontal bone. +These are larger in size than the preceding, ranging from the size of a +barley pickle to that of an almond. Their treatment is excision by a +prolonged and careful dissection from the periosteum, to which they +almost invariably are adherent. + + +OPERATIONS ON THE LACHRYMAL ORGANS.--In a system of ophthalmic surgery, +various operative procedures might be detailed under this head, +authorised and sanctioned by old custom. Excision of a diseased +lachrymal gland, and removal of stones in the gland or ducts, need no +special directions for their performance, and the operation immediately +to be described, under the head of Mr. Bowman's operation, is applicable +in almost every one of the diseased conditions of the lachrymal canal, +sac, and nasal duct, to the exclusion of all the older methods. + +_Mr. Bowman's Operation._--In cases of obstruction of the punctum, +canaliculus, and nasal duct, resulting in watery eye, accumulation of +mucus in the canal, and dryness of the nose, great difficulty used to be +experienced in the treatment. To pass a probe along the punctum was +extremely difficult, in fact, possible only with a very small one, while +the common operation of opening the dilated sac, through the skin, and +then passing probes through this artificial opening, was found quite +useless from the rapid closure of the wound, unless the treatment was +followed up by the insertion and retention of a style in the nasal +duct. This was painful, unsightly, often unsuccessful; and even in some +cases dangerous, from the amount of irritation, suppuration, and even +caries of the nasal bones which is set up. + +The principle of Mr. Bowman's most excellent operation is, that the +punctum, canaliculus, and nasal duct resemble in many respects the +urethral passage, and in cases of stricture require to be treated on the +same principle. If, then, it were possible to pass instruments gradually +increasing in size through the seat of stricture, it would be gradually +dilated. It is, however, in the normal state of parts, impossible to +pass any instrument beyond the size of a human hair past the curve which +the canaliculus makes on its entrance to the duct, hence the proper +dilatation cannot be performed. Again, it is found that the puncta, +specially the lower one, are themselves very often to blame, in cases of +watery eye, sometimes because they are inverted or everted, more often +because, sympathising with the lid, they are turgid, angry, and +inflamed, pouting and closed like the orifice of the urethra in a +gonorrhoea. + +Mr. Bowman found that by slitting up the inferior punctum and +canaliculus as far as the caruncula, several advantages were +gained:--(1.) The swollen, angry, displaced punctum no longer impeded +the entrance of the tears; (2.) and chiefly when the canaliculus was +slit up, the curve, or rather angle, which impeded the passage of +probes, was done away with, and the nasal duct could be readily and +thoroughly dilated. + +_Operation._--The surgeon stands behind the patient, who is seated, and +leans his head on the surgeon's chest. The affected lid is then drawn +gently downwards on the cheek, so as to evert and thoroughly expose the +lower punctum. Into this the surgeon introduces a fine probe of steel +gilt, the first inch of which is very thin, especially at the point, and +deeply grooved on one side, exactly like a small (and straight) Syme's +stricture director. + +Keeping the canal relaxed by relaxing his hold on the lid, the surgeon +now gently wriggles the probe along the canaliculus, gradually +stretching it as the probe advances, so as to avoid catching of the +sides of the canal before the point of the instrument, till he is +satisfied that it has fairly entered the nasal duct. He then stretches +the eyelid, brings the handle of the probe out over the cheek so as to +evert the punctum as much as possible, and then with a fine +sharp-pointed knife enters the groove (Fig. IX.), and fairly slits up +the punctum and the canal to the full extent. The incision should be as +straight as possible, and through the upper wall of the canaliculus. A +dexterous turn of the instrument upwards on the forehead will generally +enable it to be passed at once fairly into the nose through the nasal +duct, the usual rule being observed of passing it downwards and slightly +backwards, the handle of the probe passing just over the supraorbital +notch. + +[Illustration: FIG. IX.[84]] + +For several days after the operation the probe will have to be passed, +both to prevent the wound in the canaliculus from healing up, which it +is too apt to do, and also to gradually dilate the nasal duct if it has +been previously strictured. Probes and directors of various sizes are +required; in fact very much the same instruments (in miniature) as are +required for the treatment of stricture of the urethra. + +Mr. Greenslade has invented a very ingenious little instrument, of +which, through his kindness, I am able to show a woodcut (Fig. X.), for +slitting up the canaliculus without having to fit the knife in the +groove. + +[Illustration: FIG. X.] + +PTERYGIUM, the reddish fleshy triangular growth, with its base at the +inner canthus, and its apex spreading to and often over the cornea, +requires invariably a small operation for its removal. In most cases it +will be found sufficient merely to raise the lax portion over the +sclerotic with forceps, and divide it freely, removing a transverse +portion. If it has encroached upon the cornea, the portion interfering +with vision must be dissected off with great care and removed. + +In some cases, however, it has been found that after removal of a large +pterygium, a retraction of the caruncle and the semilunar fold is apt to +take place, which renders the eyeball unpleasantly prominent. To avoid +this the pterygium may be carefully dissected up from its apex to near +its base, and then displaced laterally either upwards or downwards, its +apex and sides being stitched to a previously prepared site of +conjunctiva. + + +OPERATION FOR CONVERGENT STRABISMUS.--_Division of the internal +rectus._--_Subconjunctival operation._--The spring-wire speculum (C) +separating the lids, the surgeon divides the conjunctiva by a pair of +scissors in a horizontal line (Fig. XI. A A) from the inner margin of +the cornea, a little below its transverse diameter to the caruncle, +then snipping through the sub-conjunctival tissue, he passes a blunt +hook bent at an obtuse angle under the tendon of the internal rectus, +and endeavours by depressing the handle to project the point of the hook +at the wound. Then with successive snips of the scissors he divides the +tendon on the hook, close to its sclerotic margin. Lest it should not be +freely divided, various dips with the hook may be made to catch any +stray fibres left untouched; but very great care should be taken not to +wound the conjunctiva beyond the first horizontal cut in it. The tendon +being divided satisfactorily, the edges of conjunctiva should be +replaced, and the eye closed for a few hours. + +[Illustration: FIG. XI.[85]] + +The original operation of Dieffenbach, now rarely practised, consisted +in making an incision, B B, across the tendon, then, by cutting the +areolar tissue exposing the insertion of the tendon, and dividing it +freely; after which the sclerotic in the neighbourhood was to be cleaned +and any band of fibres divided. There are risks on the one hand of a +most unseemly exophthalmos with divergent squint, and on the other of a +retraction of the semilunar fold, so that the sub-conjunctival operation +is always preferable. + + +OPERATIONS FOR DIVERGENT SQUINT.--This very serious deformity is often +the result of the operation for convergent squint, and is associated +with a fixed, leering, and prominent eye, and frequently with most +annoying double vision. + +1. In a simple case of primary divergent strabismus (very rare) it is +sufficient simply to divide the external rectus in the manner already +described for division of the internal. + +2. If secondary to an operation for convergent squint, the indication is +to restore the cut internal rectus to a position on the sclerotic a +little behind its previous one, as the cause of the divergence is found +in a complete detachment of the internal rectus. This is attempted in +various ways. + +(1.) _Jules Guerin_ carefully divided the conjunctiva over it, and +sought for the remains of the internal rectus, freeing it from its +attachments. He then passed a thread through the sclerotic on the +_outer_ side of the globe, and by pulling on it and fixing it across the +nose, rotated the eye inwards, in the hope that the remains of the +internal rectus would secure a new attachment. + +(2.) _Graefe's modification_ of this is more certain. Without any minute +dissection he merely separated the internal rectus, along with the +conjunctiva, and fascia over it, so that it can be pulled forwards, then +cut the external rectus, and inverted the eyeball to a sufficient extent +by means of a thread passed through the portion of the tendon of the +external rectus, which remains attached to the sclerotic. The risk of +all these operations, in which both muscles are divided, is protrusion +of the eyeball from the removal of muscular tension. + +(3.) _Solomon's operation for the radical cure of extreme divergent +strabismus_,[86] is at first sight a very curious one. Without going +into all the details, the steps are as follows:-- + +_a._ A square-shaped flap, with its attached base at the nasal side, is +raised, containing the remains of the inner rectus and its adjacent +parts. + +_b._ A flap similar in shape and size, but different in the position of +its attached base, is made on the other side of the cornea. It is made +by dividing the external rectus just behind its tendon, and then +reflecting forwards the tendon with its conjunctiva. + +_c._ These two flaps are united over the vertical meridian of the cornea +by sutures, three generally being sufficient. This entirely hides the +cornea for a time, but eventually shrivels and contracts, and the +remnants are to be cut off with scissors three weeks after the +operation. + + +PUNCTURE OF THE CORNEA.--_Paracentesis of the Anterior +Chamber._--_Tapping of the Aqueous Humour._--This very simple operation +is in many cases extremely useful. In cases of corneal ulcer, the result +either of injury or disease, where there is much pain in the bone, and +evidence of tension of the globe, it gives great relief, and when +repeated at short intervals greatly hastens a cure. Sperino of Turin +recommends its frequent use in cases of chronic glaucoma. + +_Operation._--The surgeon stands behind the patient, who is seated; the +lids being fixed, the upper by the surgeon's left hand, and the lower by +an assistant, the cornea is punctured a little in front of the sclerotic +margin, either with a broad needle, or, what is as good, a well-worn +Beer's knife. Care must be taken on entering the knife, on the one hand, +not to wound the iris, which is sometimes arched forwards in the cases +of commencing glaucoma, and, on the other, fairly to enter the anterior +chamber, not merely split up the layers of the cornea. On withdrawing +the cataract knife, the aqueous humour gets out by its side, aided by a +slight turn of the knife, sometimes with great force, and in much larger +quantity than usual. If the operation has been done by a needle, a blunt +probe requires to be introduced on the removal of the needle. Once +punctured, the remarkable fact is that the same wound suffices for many +succeeding tappings, which are effected by pressing the probe into the +wound day after day, sometimes several times a day, with great relief +to the symptoms. If the probe is to be used for succeeding evacuations, +the operator must be careful to remember the exact spot at which the +needle or knife was entered. To facilitate remembering it, it is best, +when nothing prevents it, to operate always in the same spot. Sperino +chooses the horizontal meridian of the cornea at the temporal side, at +the junction of the cornea and sclerotic. + + +CATARACT OPERATIONS.--Here we cannot enter into any discussion of the +pathology of cataract and the varieties of it. Enough for our purpose to +know that the lens is in some cases hard, in others soft, and that thus +in the latter it may be removed piecemeal, and by a small incision, +while in the former, removal must be almost entire, and by a larger +opening. + +In cataract, the lens, which should be transparent, has become opaque, +and the object of treatment is to get it out of the line of sight, to +prevent it from obstructing, now that it can no longer assist sight. + +The operations used for this end may be classed under three heads:-- + +1. _Operations for the removal of the lens out of the way without its +removal from the eye._--These used to be extensively practised under the +name couching, and are of two kinds,--_Depression_, where the lens is +simply pushed down from its place by a needle; _Reclination_, in which +it is shoved backwards (turning on its transverse axis) as well as +downwards. These are relics of old surgery, and very rarely practised by +any oculists of eminence, as, though easy to perform, and with very +flattering immediate results, the risks of chronic inflammation of the +whole globe and injury to the retina are very great. + +2. _For solution._--THE NEEDLE OPERATION.--Suitable (among other cases) +especially in congenital cataracts in infants, and in cases of diabetic +cataract. + +The principle of this operation is that the lens, once the capsule is +freely opened in front and the aqueous humour admitted, is found rapidly +to become absorbed and disappear, if the cataract has been a soft one. + +_Operation._--A needle with a lance-shaped head is to be used. It should +be so made that the rounded shaft of the needle is just large enough to +play freely in the wound made by the broader point, and yet not so small +as to allow the aqueous humour to escape rapidly. The pupil has been +dilated, the patient is lying on his back, and the globe is fixed by +forceps attached to the conjunctiva of the inner side of the eye, and +held by an assistant. The surgeon then enters the needle close to the +sclerotic margin of the cornea, carries it fairly on in the anterior +chamber, till the centre of the pupil is reached. He then, by bringing +forward the handle, projects the point backwards against the anterior +capsule, which he freely lacerates with the point and edge in several +directions. + +In infants, where processes of repair go on very rapidly, the whole lens +may be freely broken up. In diabetic cataract, or indeed in all cases of +solution, where the patient is adolescent or adult, or the eye at all +weak, only a small portion of the lens should be attacked at one +sitting. + +The needle should then be withdrawn gradually and with great care, that +the broad axis of the blade be in exactly the same position in which it +entered, _i.e._ flat and parallel with the iris, lest the iris be +wounded, entangled, or prolapsed. + +The eye is then to be closed for twenty-four hours; if there is much +pain, atropia must be freely used. + +_Varieties in the Operation._--Some use two needles at once for breaking +up the lens. Some surgeons prefer to enter the needle through the +sclerotic; this complicates the operation and renders it less certain, +as the point of the needle is of course out of sight in its progress +between the iris and the lens. + +Even in children this operation requires in most cases to be repeated at +least once, while in adults it may be required at short intervals for +many months. + +3. _By Extraction._--In these operations the lens is at once removed +from the eye-- + +(1.) By linear, or perhaps, more correctly, rectilinear incision. This +method is specially suited for cases of soft cataract. + +_Operation._--A fine spear-shaped needle is very cautiously introduced +through the cornea, about a line from its outer margin, and the anterior +capsule lacerated, and the lens broken up, great care being taken not to +injure the posterior capsule. The pupil must then be kept freely +dilated, the wound heals at once, and the aqueous humour reaccumulates. + +[Illustration: FIG. XII.] + +[Illustration: FIG. XIII.] + +From three to six days after this first operation, a linear incision +(Fig. XII.) is made in the outer side of the cornea by a straight stab +from a double-edged knife, or rather spear. The size of the incision +must vary with the size and consistence of the lens, and can be +regulated by the breadth of the knife and the distance to which it is +entered. By careful withdrawal of the knife, in many cases a large +portion of the soft lens can be removed along with it, and then what +remains must be cautiously lifted out by a flat spoon introduced through +the wound, and behind the remains of the lens. + +Care must be taken lest any of the lens substance remain in the wound; +with this precaution the incision generally heals rapidly, and with much +less risk of general inflammation of the ball than in the ordinary flap +operation of extraction. + + EXTRACTION OF SOFT CATARACT BY SUCTION.--Mr. T. P. Teale, of + Leeds,[87] has invented an instrument by which the removal of soft + cataract is made more easy, through a linear incision by suction, + applied through the medium of a hollow curette furnished with an + india-rubber tube and mouth-piece. + + The curette is of the usual size, but is roofed in (instead of + being merely grooved) to within one line of its extremity, thus + forming a tube flattened above, but terminating in a small cup. + This is screwed into an ordinary straight handle, which is hollow + for a short distance, far enough to join with a second tube fixed + at right angles to the handle, and into which the india-rubber pipe + and mouth-piece, through which suction is to be made, is attached. + In many cases it seems to serve its purpose extremely well. + + Certain points require attention:--1. That the puncture to admit + the curette is large enough; 2. That its end be sufficiently + rounded; 3. Its open end must be held in the area of the pupil, and + not allowed to pass behind the iris, else there is great risk of + the iris being drawn in. Among other advantages claimed by its + inventor, the chief seems to be a more thorough removal of the lens + than by the ordinary means, and consequently less risk of opaque + deposit in the posterior capsule. + +(2.) EXTRACTION BY FLAP.--When properly performed in a suitable subject, +and when free from accident, this operation is one of the most +thoroughly beautiful and satisfactory in the whole domain of surgery; +but it is difficult, and liable to many risks which neither skill nor +caution can completely guard against. + +It is required in many cases of hard cataract, which are amenable +neither to solution nor linear extraction. + +_Operation_ must be considered in various stages:-- + +_a._ To make a flap of cornea large enough to permit of the removal of +the entire lens without pressure or bruising. To make it of cornea only, +to prevent the escape of the vitreous, and to avoid injury of the iris. + +The great difficulty in making the required section of the cornea is, +that we are debarred from using scissors or any ordinary knife or +scalpel in making it, for this reason, that the sawing movements +required in all ordinary cutting are inadmissible here, as any +withdrawal of the blade, however slight, would permit evacuation of the +aqueous humour, and at once be followed by prolapse of the iris before +the knife. Hence we are compelled to make the requisite flap by one +steady push of a knife, which, too, must be of such a shape as in its +entrance constantly to fill up the wound it makes. Very various shapes +and sizes of knives have been proposed, the one called Beer's knife +being the sort of model or common parent from which all the others are +derived. It is triangular in shape, with a straight back, about 12-10ths +of an inch in length, and 4-10ths broad at the base of the blade, +tapering at a straight edge from its base to its point, and also +diminishing in thickness to the point. + +Considerable difference of opinion exists as to the relative merits of +an upper or lower section of the cornea. The general view at present +seems to be that an upper section is to be preferred; but in cases where +the surgeon is not ambidexterous, it is better that he should make the +section which lies easiest to his hand than attempt an upper section in +a less favourable position. + +The patient should be placed flat on his back, the lids should be gently +opened, the upper one by the surgeon, the lower one by his assistant, +who is to press the lid downwards against the malar bone without +exercising any pressure on the ball. The eye should be still further +steadied by the conjunctiva and subjacent cellular tissue on the inner +side being seized by a pair of catch-forceps, still with no downward +pressure on the ball. The point of the knife must then be introduced +about a line from the outer sclerotic margin of the transverse diameter +of the cornea (Fig. XIII.), the blade being held parallel with the +fibres of the iris, pushed steadily across the anterior chamber, and +protruded as nearly as possible at the corresponding spot at the inner +side of the cornea. The aqueous humour should not escape till the +section is completed. If it does, the iris is almost certainly projected +forwards and entangled in the blade of the knife, a most annoying +accident, and one which is not easily remedied. The books tell us of +various manoeuvres by pressure or otherwise, by which the iris may be +pushed back. Practically, however, if it has once occurred it is not +easily saved from being cut. If a small portion only is involved, it is +not of much consequence; if a large portion be in danger, it is +sometimes necessary to withdraw the knife before the section is +completed, and finish it with a probe-pointed, curved bistoury. + +If, however, the flap is safely finished, the lids should be gently +allowed to close for a few seconds. + +On opening them again the surgeon must decide whether the corneal flap +is sufficiently large to allow the lens to come out without force; if +not, he must enlarge it either by the narrow probe-pointed "secondary +knife" or by a pair of sharp scissors. Occasionally the lens, and even a +little vitreous humour, may escape at once on the section being +completed, but this is not to be desired. + +_b._ _Laceration of the Capsule of the Lens._--This is performed by +insinuating a sharp curved needle under the corneal flap, avoiding the +iris, and then tearing up the anterior capsule through the dilated +pupil, the chief point to be attended to being that the capsule be +lacerated in its entire length. + +_c._ _Removal of the Lens._--This must be done with the most extreme +caution and gentleness, lest the vitreous humour be also evacuated. The +surgeon's object is to tilt the lens so as to turn it slightly on its +transverse axis, and cause the edge nearest the section to rise out of +the capsule and appear at the wound. This is best done by gentle +pressure at the required spot by the back of the needle, or by a common +probe. When the lens begins to protrude the pressure must be very, +gentle, lest it be forced out suddenly and the vitreous follow it. + +Soft portions of the lens are apt to remain adherent to the wound in the +cornea. These must be removed by scoop or probe. + +_Varieties in the method of Flap Extraction._--Jacobsen of Koenigsberg in +every case gives chloroform. He always makes his flap in the boundary +line of the cornea and the sclerotic, through a vascular structure, and +he believes that union is on this account more rapid, and after +extraction removes that portion of the iris which appears to have been +most exposed to bruising during the exit of the lens. + +The operation of extraction may in many cases be either preceded or +followed by iridectomy, as proposed by Mooren, Von Graefe, and others. +The following operation seems to diminish the risks to a very great +extent:-- + + _Professor Von Graefe's Operation._--The lids are separated by a + speculum, and the eyeball is drawn down by forceps placed + immediately below the cornea. The point of a small knife, of which + the edge is directed upwards, is inserted at a point fully half a + line from the margin of the cornea near its upper part, so as to + enter the anterior chamber as peripherally as possible. The point + should not be directed at first towards the spot for + counterpuncture; nor till the knife has advanced fully three and a + half lines within the visible portion of the anterior chamber, + should the handle be lowered and the point directed so as to make + a symmetrical counterpuncture, which will give the external wound + a length of four and a half or five lines. As soon as the + resistance to the point is felt to be overcome, showing that the + counterpuncture is effected, the knife must at once be turned + forward, so that its back is directed almost to the centre of the + ideal sphere of the cornea, whether the conjunctiva is transfixed + or not, and the scleral border is divided by boldly pushing the + knife onwards and again drawing it backwards. This portion of the + operation is concluded by the formation of a conjunctival flap a + line and a half or two lines in length. A section thus made is + almost perpendicular to the cornea, a circumstance much + facilitating the passage of the lens, and the line of incision is + nearly straight, so that the wound does not gape. The iris should + be excised to the very end of the wound, and the capsule most + freely opened by a V-shaped laceration. Any lens, even the hardest, + may then be removed without the introduction of an instrument into + the eye, but Von Graefe's experience shows it to be advisable to + assist the evacuation by the hook in about one case in eight. In a + certain number of cases the lens will escape without difficulty + when the operator presses on the posterior lip of the wound, + especially when the back of the spoon is made to glide along the + sclera; should this not occur, Von Graefe uses a peculiar blunt + hook, or occasionally, though rarely, a spoon. A compressing + bandage is applied, and replaced at intervals.[88] + +We are recommended to perform it in two sets of cases:-- + +1. Those in which the eye is known to be unhealthy and liable to +inflammations, specially of iris, retina, or choroid. In cases where the +patient has already lost an eye, Von Graefe thinks iridectomy should +always precede extraction. In the above, then, it is a precautionary +measure, and, if convenient, should be performed three, four, or even +six weeks before the extraction. + +2. It is recommended to be performed at the same time as extraction in +all cases in which the operation has presented any special difficulties, +or has not gone smoothly, _e.g._ in cases where the lens has required +much force to expel it, either from the flap of cornea being too small, +or from adhesions between the lens and capsule; or, again, in cases in +which there is a tendency to prolapse of the iris, in which any of the +cortical substance has been necessarily left behind, or in which old +adhesions had existed between the iris and capsule, or between the +cornea and iris. + + +OPERATIONS FOR ARTIFICIAL PUPIL.--The cases are by no means unfrequent +in which it is necessary to remove or destroy a portion of the iris to +admit light to the retina. In cases of excessive prolapse of the iris +after extraction of the lens, where the iris has formed adhesions to the +wound, and still more frequently in cases where central opacities of the +cornea have fairly occluded the natural pupil, the only chance for +vision is to enlarge the old one, or make a new pupil by removal of the +iris. + +Very various operations have been proposed, and exceedingly numerous and +complicated instruments invented for this purpose. We can notice here +only one or two of the most approved procedures:-- + +1. _Incision_ is the simplest. + +This is practicable and effectual only in cases where the iris is so far +healthy as still to retain its contractile power, and so far free from +adhesions as to be able to make use of it. The best example of such a +case is that of a cataract, in which after extraction a prolapse of the +iris has occurred to such an extent as to obliterate the pupil, and +where, at the same time, the only adhesions are to the wound, none to +the cornea. + +_Operation._--A double-edged needle is introduced through the cornea +near its margin; on arriving at the place where the pupil ought to be, +one edge is drawn against the iris, and divides it transversely, if +possible, without injuring the lens; the fibres of the iris start back, +contract, so that a sufficiently large central pupil may be obtained. + +2. _Excision._--In the far more frequent cases in which there exist +adhesions between iris and cornea, or iris and anterior capsule, +incision is not sufficient, and it is necessary to excise a portion of +the iris. + +The simplest and safest operation is the following:-- + +The patient recumbent, and the lids held apart by a speculum, the +eyeball should be steadied by the forceps of an assistant. A broad +cutting needle should then be introduced at the lower or outer edge of +the corneal margin. This must be very gently withdrawn so as to retain +as much aqueous humour as possible. Into the wound thus made the surgeon +must introduce the blunt hook (known as Tyrrell's) at first with its +point forwards, then, on arriving opposite the edge of the pupil, which +it is intended to enlarge or replace, with its point turned backwards, +so as to hook over the edge of the iris and thus drag on it. Once the +hook has fairly got hold, it must again be rotated forwards, and +withdrawn in the same direction as it was put in. The iris thus pulled +out of the wound is to be cut off with a pair of fine scissors, so as to +remove a sufficient amount to make a new pupil of the required size. + +But in those cases in which the whole or greater part of the pupillary +margin is adherent, the blunt hook will not do, because there exists no +edge round which to hook it. One of two plans is generally chosen to +remedy this:-- + +(1.) A free incision made with a double-edged needle; through this a +pair of canula forceps is introduced, with which a portion of iris is +seized and dragged to the external wound; it can then either be cut off +or tied (see _Iridesis_); or, + +(2.) A previous attempt may be made to free a portion to form an edge to +catch hold of, either by incision or by _Corelysis_ (_q.v._) + + +IRIDESIS.--_Critchett's Operation of Ligature._[89]--Patient being put +under chloroform, the ball is fixed by the wire speculum, and also by a +fold of conjunctiva being seized by forceps. An opening is then made +with a broad needle through the margin of the cornea, _close_ to the +sclerotic, just large enough to admit the canula forceps, with which a +small portion of iris close to its ciliary attachment is seized and +drawn out; a piece of fine floss silk, previously tied in a small loop +round the canula forceps, is slipped down and carefully tightened round +the prolapsed portion. This speedily shrinks, and the loop may generally +be removed about the second day. The chief advantage claimed for this +method is the ease with which the size of the new pupil can be +regulated. It is also suitable in cases of conical cornea, where it is +wished to change the form of the pupil into a narrow slit. + +_N.B._--The ends of the ligature must be left sufficiently long to avoid +any risk of their being drawn out of sight into the substance of the +cornea, or even into the ball, by retraction of the fibres of the iris. + + +CORELYSIS.--_Freeing of the Pupil._--An operative procedure for +separating posterior adhesions of the iris to the lens. In it the +surgeon hopes to act, not on the iris, as in the operations for +artificial pupil, but only on the bands of false membrane which distort +the pupil. + +The operation is briefly as follows:--The eye being firmly held by a +wire speculum, and forceps pinching up the conjunctiva, a broad needle +is passed rapidly through the cornea at a point which may give easy +access to the adhesion to be torn through. This point is generally at +the opposite margin of the irregular pupil, so that the needle may pass +through the cornea in front of the one side of the iris, then through +the orifice of the pupil, so as to reach the back of the other side. The +needle is withdrawn gradually, so as to lose as little of the aqueous +humour as possible, and then the spatula hook, called after the inventor +of the operation, Mr. Streatfeild, is introduced. It is used first as a +spatula, that is, with its blunt, though polished edge, to separate the +adhesions, and if this is unsuccessful, as a hook (FIG. XIV.), so as to +catch and tear them. In cases which resist the instrument used in both +of these ways, Mr. Streatfeild has used very fine canula-scissors to cut +the adhesions.[90] Such a further complication of the operation +practically alters its character into an operation for artificial pupil, +_q.v._ + +[Illustration: FIG. XIV.[91]] + + +IRIDECTOMY.--In cases of acute glaucoma, irido-choroiditis, and all deep +inflammations of the eye in which the ocular tension is increased, also +in certain cases of flap extraction already alluded to, the operation of +iridectomy as originally proposed by Von Graefe will be found of use. + +_Operation._--The patient recumbent, and the eye absolutely fixed by +speculum and forceps, a linear incision, varying in length from +one-sixth to one-fourth of an inch, is made just at the margin of the +cornea. The point of election is the upper pole of the cornea. The lens +must not be wounded. The best instrument for making the section is an +ordinary linear extraction knife, bent at an angle to admit of its being +introduced from above. The iris will protrude through the wound, or, if +adherent, must be drawn out by forceps, and then is to be cut off with +scissors. The operation is rarely successful, unless a third, or at +least a fourth, of the iris be removed. + + +EXCISION OF A STAPHYLOMATOUS CORNEA.--There are certain cases in which +the whole or greater part of the cornea bulges forward in a great blue +projecting tumour. It is very ugly as it protrudes between the lids and +prevents their closure; besides this, from its exposure it frequently +inflames, even ulcerates, and has a most injurious effect on the other +eye. In the cases suitable for operation vision is completely gone, +without hope of its restoration by any operative procedure. + +The best thing for the patient is to have just enough of the staphyloma +removed to enable the remains of the eyeball to form a good stump for an +artificial eye. Various means have been suggested for doing this, +varying in extent and severity from a mere shaving off the apex of the +staphyloma to excision of the whole eyeball. + +By far the best method of operating is the one proposed and practised by +Mr. Critchett. + +[Illustration: FIG. XV.[92]] + +[Illustration: FIG. XVI.[93]] + +The object of it is to remove an elliptical portion of the front of the +staphyloma, or the whole staphyloma, when it is possible, and at the +same time to prevent as far as possible the escape of the vitreous. + +_Operation._--Three, four, or five small curved needles armed with +thread are passed through the staphyloma from above downwards, being +each entered a little above the line of the intended upper incision, and +brought out a little below the line of the intended lower one (Fig. XV.) + +To remove the included elliptical portion, Mr. Critchett pierces the +sclerotic with a Beer's knife, just in front of the tendinous insertion +of the external rectus. Through this incision a pair of probe-pointed +scissors is introduced, and the piece cut just within the points of the +needles. On the removal, the needles, which have retained the vitreous +by their pressure, are drawn through and the threads cautiously tied. + +Union by first intention very often occurs, and an excellent stump is +left with a narrow depressed transverse cicatrix[94] (Fig. XVI.) + + +EXTIRPATION OF THE EYEBALL.--1. _Of the Eyeball only._--A circular +incision should be made with curved scissors through the conjunctiva, a +little beyond the corneal margin, then, beginning with the external +rectus, muscle after muscle should be raised with the forceps, and +divided, after which the optic nerve is cut through with the scissors. A +slight preliminary extension outwards of the optic commissure will +facilitate the dissection, and must be secured with metallic sutures; +any vessels should be tied, and the orbit filled up with a light +compress of charpie secured with a bandage. + +2. _Of the contents of the Orbit._--This may be required for malignant +disease, but with a very poor prognosis. The optic commissure should be +freely divided, and then, by bold strokes of curved scissors, or curved +probe-pointed bistoury, the orbit may be fairly emptied by scooping out +its contents. Even the periosteum may require to be scraped off, and the +optic nerve divided as far back as possible. The haemorrhage may be +pretty smart, but can generally be easily checked by compresses; if +necessary, these can be soaked in the solution of the perchloride of +iron. + +The author has done this operation many times, in cases extensive and of +old standing, for malignant disease, melanotic and encephaloid. All have +recovered, and in no instance has there been any trouble in stopping the +bleeding. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[81] _a._ Elliptical incision for entropium; _b._ wedge-shaped incision +for ectropium. + +[82] Fig. VIII. illustrates Streatfeild's operation for entropium.--_a._ +section of skin; _b._ section of levator palpebrae; _c._ section of +cartilage of lid; _d._ section of conjunctiva; _e._ wedge-shaped portion +excised. + +[83] _Ophthalmic Hospital Reports_, vol. i. p. 121. + +[84] Rough diagram of Bowman's operation, showing the grooved director +in the punctum, and the knife in the groove just before it slits up the +canaliculus. + +[85] Diagram of operations for convergent squint--A A, line of +sub-conjunctival incision; B B, line of Dieffenbach's operation; C, wire +speculum. + +[86] _The Radical Cure of Extreme Divergent Strabismus._ J. Vose +Solomon, F.R.C.S., 1864. + +[87] _Ophthalmic Hospital Reports_, vol. iv. part ii. p. 197. + +[88] _Biennial Retrospect_ for 1865-66. Syd. Soc. pp. 363-4. For a +thorough discussion of the merits of this operation, see papers by Von +Graefe in _Brit. Med. Jour._ for 1867, vol. i. pp. 379, 446, 499, 657, +765. + +[89] _Ophthalmic Hospital Reports_, vol. i. p. 224. + +[90] Streatfeild on Corelysis. _Ophthalmic Hospital Reports_, vol. ii. +p. 309. + +[91] _a_ iris; _b_ lens; _c_ cornea. The hook is seen applied to the +adhesion between lens and iris. + +[92] The staphyloma with the needles inserted, the lids held asunder by +a spring speculum. The elliptical dotted line shows the amount to be +removed; the vertical one, the position of the preliminary incision with +the Beer's knife. + +[93] Resulting stump after the stitches are inserted. + +[94] _Ophthalmic Hospital Reports_, vol. iv. part 1. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +OPERATIONS ON THE NOSE AND LIPS. + + +RHINOPLASTIC OPERATIONS.--The operations for the restoration or repair +of lost or mutilated noses are so various, and the minuteness of detail +necessary for full description of them so great, that a complete account +in a manual such as this is impossible; a brief notice of some of the +most important varieties of the operation is all that can be given. + +_Principles._--1. It is necessary in every case that a suitable edge be +prepared on which to fix the flap of skin, however obtained. To be +suitable, this edge, should be (_a_) made in healthy skin, not in old or +weak cicatrices; hence no trace of the original disease should be left; +(_b_) it should be made thoroughly raw, by the removal of an appreciable +amount of its edge; it should be pared, not merely scraped. + +2. It is useless to attempt to restore a nose unless the patient is in +good general health, well nourished, and perfectly free from all remains +of disease in the nose or its neighbourhood. The flaps which are to form +the new nose may be obtained either from (1.) the cheeks; (2.) the +forehead; (3.) a distant part either of the patient or of another +person. + +(1.) _From the Cheeks._--When the cheeks are healthy, and specially if +they are tolerably full and lax, the flaps from the cheeks produce much +the most satisfactory result. As performed by Mr. Syme, the operation +consists in the shaping of two equal flaps (A, A) from the skin of the +cheek at each side, having the attachment above. A site for each flap is +formed by the careful paring away of the whole thickness of the edge of +the cavity of the lost organ (see Fig. XVII.) + +[Illustration: FIG. XVII.[95]] + +The flaps are then raised from their attachments to the upper jaw-bone, +and approximated in the middle line by several points of metallic suture +and the outer edges stitched to the raw surface on each side at a proper +distance from the nasal orifice. If any septum remains of the old nose, +it may be made very useful as a fixed point, a straight needle being +thrust through one flap close to its outer lower edge, then through the +septum, and out at a corresponding point of the other flap. The edges of +the wound left in the cheek at each side can generally be, to a certain +extent, approximated by silver stitches (B, B) and the triangular +portion (C, C), which is necessarily left to heal by granulation, proves +an advantage, as by its depression it enhances the apparent height and +prominence of the new organ. The cavity should be very gently distended +with lint, and may be supported by the blades of a small pair of +forceps, applied so as to embrace the nose. + +(2.) _From the Forehead._--The Indian operation may be used as a last +resource, in cases where, from disease, the cheeks also have suffered, +and are not to be trusted to for flaps. + +_Operation._--1. It should be decided as to the shape and size of the +portion of skin necessary, by fitting on pieces of soft leather or +moulding wax. To allow for shrinking, the flap should be made at least +one-third larger than is at first apparently necessary. The exact +boundaries of the flap to be raised should then be marked out on the +forehead by lightly pencilling it with nitrate of silver, the mark from +which is not effaced by blood, as is sure to be the case with an ink +line. Various shapes have been proposed for the flap varying in length +of neck, in the shape of the angles, and especially in the arrangements +made for the formation of a columna. Some (as Liston) prefer afterwards +to provide for the columns separately, by a flap raised from the upper +lip in a subsequent operation. The flap is then to be raised from the +forehead, care being taken not to injure the periosteum. The incision is +to be carried lower down on the side (generally the left), to which the +flap is to be twisted. The flap is then to be brought round (Fig. +XVIII.) and carefully fitted on to the edges previously prepared for its +reception. The neck must be left as lax as possible, lest by tight +twisting the supply of blood be cut off, and the flaps thus deprived of +nourishment. Both silk and metallic sutures are recommended. Hamilton of +Dublin,[96] after a large experience of both, prefers the former. + +[Illustration: FIG. XVIII.[97]] + +There are various risks; sloughing of the whole flap at once, shrinking +of it after weeks or even months; certain inevitable drawbacks, as the +cicatrix on the forehead, the very various and ludicrous changes of +colour to which the new organ is subject,--these cannot be remedied by +further operation. Two points generally require a second use of the +knife a few weeks after:--(1.) The neck of the flap is sure to be +redundant and prominent, but can be pared. (2.) The columna almost +always requires improving, and, in Liston's method, to be made. He pared +the inner surface of the apex of the nose, and then raised a central +flap of the lip in the middle line, about a quarter of an inch broad, +and extending from the remains of the old septum to the free border, +raising it from the gum, and stitched the free end of it to the prepared +apex, bringing together the two divided portions of the lip by ordinary +harelip sutures. Tho columna, if redundant, could be shaved down, and it +was found that the mucous surface very quickly became like skin on +exposure. + +For other points with regard to the operation, reference may be made to +the works of Liston and Skey, and Hamilton's monograph, referred to +above. + +_Note._--The tongue and groove suture proposed by Professor Pancoast, +and recommended by Professor Gross, is said to be specially suitable for +such plastic operations. It is very complicated, as it requires one edge +to be bevelled to a wedge shape, the other being grooved to include the +wedge, thus opposing four raw surfaces, which are retained in contact by +being transfixed by fine silk sutures. + +(3.) There are certain cases in which neither cheeks nor forehead are +available for flaps, and yet the patients press very much for some +operation. If they have patience and determination, the Taliacotian or +Italian operation may be attempted. + +Without going into detail, the principle of it is as follows:--1. A +piece of skin of suitable size was marked out over the left biceps, and +defined by two longitudinal incisions, and raised from the subcutaneous +cellular tissue, thus being left attached by its two ends only; a piece +of linen was pulled below it. 2. After a few days the upper end was also +divided, and the flap thus contracted. In a few days more the sides of +the old nose were made raw, and the upper free surface of the flap also +made raw and stitched to them, the arm being fastened up by a most +elaborate series of bandages. 3. After a fortnight in this position, the +last attachment of the flap to the arm was severed, and the new nose +could then be modelled at pleasure. + +The literature of the subject is exceedingly curious, especially the +cases in which the new material was obtained from an accommodating +friend or servant. + + +OPERATIVE TREATMENT OF LUPUS.--We may here notice a mode of treatment +which has admirable results. The patient being put deeply under an +anaesthetic, the surgeon with a sharp spoon carefully pares away all the +diseased tissues, and then destroys the base either by nitric acid or a +strong solution of chloride of zinc. The author has done this in a great +number of cases with excellent effect. + + +NASAL POLYPI, _Removal of._--Of these there are different kinds. + +1. ORDINARY MUCOUS POLYPI.--These grow from the spongy bones, generally +the superior one, are non-malignant in their character, soft and +vascular, often fill up the whole of both nasal cavities, and frequently +hang down behind into the pharynx. The practical point to remember is +that, however large and numerous they may be, they _invariably_ have +their origin from a comparatively limited spot, the edge of the spongy +bone, and _always_ hang from a narrow neck. Hence the treatment is easy +and satisfactory, if the neck be attacked, and not the body of the +tumour. + +Slightly curved, narrow-bladed forceps should be passed along by the +side of the superior spongy bone, with their blades open, till the neck +of the polypus is seized. Holding it firmly, the forceps should then be +slowly twisted round till the neck is destroyed and the polypus +detached. This should be repeated till the patient can blow freely +through both nostrils. If attempts are made to seize the body of the +polypus, it will break down under the forceps, bleed, and give much +trouble. + +2. THE FIBROUS POLYPUS.--This form is fortunately much more rare than +the other. It is almost invariably single, is attached to the posterior +margin of the nares by a narrow but very strong root, is extremely firm +in consistence, may grow to a large size so as to obstruct both +nostrils, generally gives rise to severe and frequent haemorrhages. The +haemorrhage _during_ any attempt to remove it is generally of the most +severe character, but ceases _immediately_ on its complete detachment. + +We owe nearly all that we do know about the treatment of this form of +polypus to Mr. Syme. His method is--By the ordinary polypus forceps +described already, he seized the tumour through the nostril, and then +with the fore and middle fingers of the left hand introduced behind the +soft palate, he attacked the point of attachment, and by his nails, +aided by the forceps, detached it from its narrow base.[98] + +3. MALIGNANT POLYPI should not be meddled with unless it is absolutely +certain that the whole of the bone from which they grow can be removed +also. This is very rarely the case. (See _Excision of Superior +Maxilla_.) + + +OPERATIONS ON THE LIPS.--1. Epithelial cancers of the lower lip are very +frequent, and require removal. + +If the tumour or ulcer is small, and involves a considerable thickness +of the lip, it is most easily removed by a V-shaped incision (Fig. XIX. +A B A). Its shape permits the most accurate apposition of the cut +surfaces; and if the lips are full and the tumour small, very slight +trace of the operation will remain. + +[Illustration: FIG. XIX.[99]] + +Again, if the tumour be more extensive, involving a large portion of the +prolabium, and yet not extending deeply into the substance of the lip, +it may be very easily removed by a pair of curved scissors, applied in +the direction shown in the diagram (Fig. XX. A B). The skin must then be +stitched to the mucous membrane by numerous points of interrupted +suture. + +[Illustration: FIG. XX.[100]] + +But if the tumour be at once extensive and deep, mere removal is not +sufficient, but some provision must be made for supplying the blank left +by the operation. + +In cases where a third, or even a half, of the lower lip has thus been +removed, it may be found sufficient freely to dissect what is left of +the lip from the gums, and thus approximate the cut surfaces in the +middle line. + +This alone, however, would so much diminish the buccal orifice, and +twist its corners, as to cause great deformity. The addition of an +incision horizontally outwards, at one or both angles of the mouth, +will do away with such risk, and allow the surfaces to come together +without puckering; while by stitching the skin and mucous membrane +together in the course of these horizontal incisions, we can increase +the size of the buccal orifice almost _ad libitum_. + +Lastly, when the lower lip has been entirely removed, it is still +possible to supply its place in the following manner, which was devised +by Mr. Syme: The tumour being fairly isolated by a V-shaped incision +(Fig. XXI.) C A C including the whole thickness of the lip, each of the +incisions should be prolonged downwards and outwards, as shown by the +dotted lines A D, A D. The flaps thus marked out must be separated from +the bone, brought upwards, and approximated in the middle line. Possibly +it may be necessary still further to enlarge the buccal orifice by short +lateral incisions, C C. Whether these are required or not, silk +stitches are to be introduced to unite the skin and mucous membrane +along the lines A C. The gap left between D B D must be left to +granulate, but in most cases may be very much diminished in size by +additional sutures at its outer corners, near D. The granulating surface +E E very rapidly heals up, leaving a dimple on each side, which rather +improves the appearance, by adding to the prominence of the chin, B. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXI.[101]] + +[Illustration: FIG. XXII.[102]] + +THE OPERATIONS FOR HARELIP, though all conducted on the same general +principles, vary considerably in extent required according to the +position and size of the fissure or fissures to be remedied. + +1. _For Single Harelip._--Where the fissure extends only from the +prolabium up to the attachment of the lip to the gums: this is very +easily remedied, the chief risk being lest the surgeon should not remove +enough of the edges of the fissure. + +_Operation._--Bleeding being controlled by an assistant, the surgeon +fixes a pair of spring artery forceps into the mucous membrane and skin +at the salient angle at each side of the fissure. Taking one of these in +his left hand, he puts the edge to be pared on the stretch, and then +with a sharp narrow straight bistoury he transfixes the lip at the point +just beyond the upper angle of the fissure, and cuts outwards, being +careful to remove the whole thinner part of the lip, and to leave the +edge rather concave than convex. If left convex, or even quite straight, +there is a risk that, after union has taken place, an angle remain +showing the position of the cleft. The same is then to be done on the +other side. The bleeding is then to be controlled by twisting the larger +vessels, and if oozing still continues from the smaller ones, a pad of +lint should be placed in the wound, and a few minutes' delay given, as, +to facilitate immediate union, it is of the greatest importance that all +haemorrhage should have ceased before the edges are brought together. + +When the bleeding has ceased, the edges should be approximated by two or +more points of interrupted metallic suture inserted very deeply through +the tissues, and taking a good hold of the edges of the wound. If the +edges do not fit accurately, one or two horse-hair sutures will help. +Some surgeons still prefer the old harelip needles secured by a +figure-of-eight suture. A silk suture inserted through the prolabium is +of great advantage, as it keeps the inner surface of the wound closed, +which without it is very apt to be kept open by the pressure of the +teeth or gums, and in infants by the movements of the tip of the tongue. + + Various methods have been devised to utilise, if possible, the + portion of the edge of the lip which is separated during the + operation of refreshing the edges, for the purpose of filling up + the sort of cleft or gap which is apt to be noticed at the edge of + the prolabium. The most ingenious and simplest of these is that + proposed by M. Nelaton, for use in cases where the fissure does not + extend so far up as the nose. It consists in leaving the two + portions which are pared off (Fig. XXIII.) the sides of the cleft + attached to each other as well as to the free edge of the lip, then + pulling them down, so as to bring their bleeding surfaces into + apposition, and make a diamond-shaped wound instead of a triangular + cleft (Fig. XXIV.) When brought together by sutures a projection is + left at the edge of the lip; this, in most cases, disappears; if it + does not, it can easily be pared down. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXIII.[103]] + +[Illustration: FIG. XXIV.[104]] + +2. When the fissure, though single, extends upwards into the nose, the +operation is more difficult, and the result frequently less +satisfactory. The first thing to be done is to separate the lips from +the gums, so as to make them more freely mobile. The whole edges of the +cleft require refreshing. + +3. _Double Harelip_, without bony deformity, and where the intervening +portion of the skin is vertical, does not project, and can be made +useful for the new lip. Such cases are not very common, but when they do +occur the question arises, How are they to be managed--in two separate +operations or at once? I believe, in every case, at once. The central +wedge-shaped portion is not large enough to extend downwards as far as +the prolabium, but still should not be removed altogether, as it may be +of great use, especially in bearing the columna nasi, and allowing its +full development. The edges should be pared in the same way, and to the +same extent as in single harelip, with the addition that the intervening +portion should have its edges completely removed, and be left in the +form of a wedge, with its apex downwards. The highest suture should be +passed through first one side, then the base of the wedge, and then the +other side; the second one through both, and the apex of the wedge; and +a third should unite the prolabium, not including the wedge. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXV.[105]] + +4. _Double Harelip_ combined with fissures of the hard palate, and +projection of a central bone. This is the analogue of the +inter-maxillary bone in the lower animals, and bears the two middle +incisor teeth, and projects very variously in different cases. In some +it projects horizontally forwards in the most hideous manner, in others +it lies at an angle more or less oblique; in very few does it maintain +its proper position; when projecting forwards, and as the teeth also +share in its projection, it entirely prevents approximation of the edges +of the fissures by operation, so it must first be dealt with in one of +two ways, either-- + +[Illustration: FIG. XXVI.[106]] + +(1.) It may be at once removed with bone-pliers, the piece of skin over +it being saved. This is the best that can be done in cases of old +standing after the first year or two, though attempts have been made to +break the neck of the projecting portion, and thus permit of its being +shoved back. + +(2.) By gradual pressure by a spring truss, strapping, or a bandage, it +may be forced back. This is possible only in cases where the deformity +has been comparatively slight, and the patient has been seen early. The +edges must then be pared and approximated as directed above. + +One or two points about the operation for harelip require a special +notice:-- + +1. _When to operate._--Great differences in opinion exist. Some say not +before two or three years, others within two or three days, or even +_hours_, after birth. + +Probably the safest time is not much earlier than the second month in +very strong children, the fifth in weakly ones, up to the commencement +of the first dentition; and when once dentition has commenced it is not +so safe to operate till it is over. + +Prior to dentition the operation is attended with rather more risk, but +again, if delayed, there is great risk that the teeth do not come in +properly. + +2. With regard to the most delicate part of the operation, _the +management of the prolabium_.--Some are satisfied, and I believe +rightly, with careful apposition by a silk suture after a _sufficient_ +amount of the edges has been removed; others have proposed various plans +to obviate any risk of an angle remaining. + +Malgaigne proposes to retain a small portion of the parings of the edge +to make small flap at each side; Lloyd a single one from the long half +of the lip, and brings it up under the opposite one, securing it with a +stitch. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[95] Operation for formation of a new nose from the cheeks; A A, flaps +approximated in middle line; B B, outer part of bed of flaps stitched +up; C C, triangle at each side left to granulate. + +[96] _The Restoration of a Lost Nose by Operation_, p. 57; an excellent +monograph on the subject. + +[97] Operation for formation of a new nose from the forehead:--_a_, +prominence of flap which is to be used as septum; _b_, left-hand corner +of flap, which is twisted and fastened at _c_; _d_, one of the tubes or +quills over which the nose is moulded.--(_Modified from Bernard and +Huette._) + +[98] Syme's _Observations in Clinical Surgery_, p. 132. + +[99] Diagram of V-shaped incision; A B A, dots showing points for +sutures. + +[100] Diagram of incision for scooping out a shallow tumour by scissors. + +[101] Diagram of incisions:--C A C, outline of incision for removal; C A +D, outline of flap on each side; B, prominence of chin; C C, dotted +lines, showing incisions to enlarge mouth, if required. + +[102] Diagram of flaps in position:--A A, corners of flaps brought up +and approximated by _silver_ sutures; C C, new lip got by lateral +incisions, skin and mucous membrane being united by _silk_ threads; E E, +gap left to granulate. + +[103] Fig. XXIII. shows the incision bounding the cleft. + +[104] Fig. XXIV. shows the diamond-shaped wound before the sutures are +applied. + +[105] Diagram of operation for double harelip:--_a_, stitch through both +sides and wedge-shaped portion, which also aids the septum; _b_, other +stitches approximating edges. + +[106] Diagram of double harelip, with projecting bone:--_a_, central +piece of lip, dotted lines showing incision; _b_, projecting bone +bearing teeth, which are generally small and stunted. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +OPERATIONS ON THE JAWS. + + +1. EXCISION OF THE UPPER JAW.--With regard to the morbid conditions for +which this operation is undertaken, it may be sufficient here to +observe, that in no case can the operation be called justifiable in +which the disease extends beyond the upper jaw-bone and the +corresponding palate-bone, for unless the morbid growth be entirely +removed, recurrence is inevitable, and no advantage is gained by the +operation. It is undertaken for the removal of tumours of the antrum and +of the alveolar margins, in all which cases the section for its removal +must be made through healthy bone, and wide of the disease, so as to +insure that the whole is removed. There are other cases in which the +whole or part of the upper jaw has been removed for the purpose of +giving access to disease behind, for example, to naso-pharyngeal polypi +with extensive attachments. + +In describing the operation for the excision of the entire upper jaw, we +have to consider--(1.) what incisions through the soft parts will expose +the tumour best, and with least deformity; (2.) what bony processes +require to be divided, and where. Very various incisions have been +recommended by various authors; some describing three, in various +directions, forming flaps of different sizes, while others, again, are +satisfied with a very small division of the upper lip into the nose, or +even attempt removal of the bone without any incision through the skin +at all. These discrepancies depend in great measure on different views +of what constitutes excision of the upper jaw, the more complicated ones +contemplating removal of the whole bone anatomically so called, +including the floor of the orbit, while the less complicated ones are +suitable for cases in which a much less extensive removal is required. + +To remove the whole bone, an incision (Fig. XXVII. A) of the skin must +extend from the angle of the mouth upwards and outwards in a slightly +curved direction with its convexity downwards, as far on the malar bone +as half an inch outside of the outer angle of the eye. The flaps must +then be raised in both directions, the inner one specially dissected off +the bones, so as to expose thoroughly the nasal cavity. It is of great +importance thoroughly to display the floor of the orbit, so that the +attachment of the orbital fascia may be accurately cut through, the +inferior oblique muscle divided at its origin, and the eye and the fat +of the orbit cautiously raised from its floor. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXVII.[107]] + +Three processes of bone then require attention and division. + +(1.) The articulation with the opposite bone in the hard palate. To +divide this, one incisor tooth at least must be drawn, the soft palate +divided by a knife to prevent laceration, and the thick alveolar portion +sawn through in a longitudinal direction from before backwards. + +(2.) The articulation with the malar bone at the upper angle of the +incision through the skin. This must be notched with a small saw in a +direction corresponding to the articulation, and then wrenched asunder +by a pair of strong bone-pliers. + +(3.) The nasal process of the upper jaw must now be divided by the +pliers, one limb of which is cautiously inserted into the orbit, the +other into the nose. If the disease extends high up in this process, it +may be necessary partially to separate the corresponding nasal bone, and +thus reach the suture between the nasal process and the frontal bone. +The pliers must now be inserted into the groove already made by the saw +on the hard palate, and the separation continued to the full extent +backwards. A comparatively slight force exerted on the tumour either by +the hand, or (when the tumour is small) by a pair of strong claw +forceps, will suffice to break down the posterior attachments of the +bone and remove it entire. The necessary laceration of the soft parts +behind is so far an advantage, as it lessens the risk of haemorrhage from +the posterior palatine vessels. + +The haemorrhage from this operation was at one time much dreaded, but is +rarely excessive; very few vessels require ligature, except those +divided in the early stages in making the skin flaps; the hollow left +should be stuffed with lint, which may be soaked in the perchloride of +iron should there be any oozing. + +The incisions recommended for this operation have been very various, and +a knowledge of some of them may occasionally be useful, on account of +specialities in the shape and size of the tumour. Liston "entered the +bistoury over the external angular process of the frontal bone, and +carried it down through the cheek to the corner of the mouth. Then the +knife is to be pushed through the integument to the nasal process of the +maxilla, the cartilage of the ala is detached from the bone, and lip cut +through in the mesial line; the flap thus formed is to be dissected up +and the bones divided."[108] Dieffenbach made an incision through the +upper lip and along the back or prominent part of the nose, up towards +the inner canthus, from whence he carried the knife along the lower +eyelid, at a right angle to the first incision as far as the malar bone. + +In cases where the tumour is of moderate size, Sir W. Fergusson +found[109] it sufficient to divide the upper lip by a single incision +exactly in the middle line, this incision to be continued into one or +both nostrils, if required. The ala of the nose is so easily raised, and +the tip so moveable as to give great facilities to the operator for +clearing the bone even to the floor of the orbit. + +In cases where the tumour is larger, or the bones more extensively +affected, Sir W. Fergusson preferred an extension of the foregoing +incision (Fig. XXVII. B) upwards along the edge of the nose almost to +the angle of the eye, and thence at a right angle along the lower +eyelid, as far as may be necessary, even to the zygoma. The advantages +claimed for such procedures are that the deformity is less and the +vessels are divided at their terminal extremities. + + +2. EXCISION OF THE LOWER JAW.--Removal of portions, greater or smaller, +of the lower jaw, for tumours, simple or malignant, are now operations +of very frequent occurrence, while in some few cases the whole bone has +been removed at both its articulations. + +The operative procedures vary much, according to the amount of bone +requiring removal, and also the position of the portion to be excised. + +(1.) _Of a portion only of one side of the body of the bone._--This is +perhaps the simplest form of operation, and is frequently required for +tumours, specially for epulis. + +_Incision._--If the parts are tolerably lax and the tumour small, a +single incision just at the lower edge of the bone, of a length rather +greater than the piece of bone to be removed, will suffice; this will +divide the facial artery, which must be tied or compressed,[110] while +the surgeon, dissecting on the tumour, separates the flaps in front, +cutting upwards into the mouth, and then detaches the mylohyoid below, +and clears the bone freely from mucous membrane. He then, with a narrow +saw, notches the bone beyond the tumour at each side, and, introducing +strong bone-pliers into the notches, is enabled to separate the required +portion. The wound is then stitched up, and a very rapid cure generally +results with very little deformity, as the cicatrix is in shadow. If +from the size of the tumour more room is needed, it can easily be got by +an additional incision from the angle of the mouth joining the former. + +To prevent deformity, which is apt to result from the centre of the chin +crossing the middle line, it is often a wise precaution to have a silver +plate prepared fitting the molar teeth of both jaws on the sound side, +and thus acting as a splint. Such a precaution may be required in any +operation in which the lower jaw is sawn through. + +_N.B._--There are certain cases in which the epulis is small and +confined to the alveolar margin, in which an attempt may be made to +retain the base of the jaw entire, and remove the tumour without any +incision of the skin. The mucous membrane on both sides being carefully +dissected from the affected part, the bone may be sawn as before, but +only through the alveolar portion, the groves of the saw converging as +they penetrate, then by a pair of strong curved bone-pliers, the +affected alveolar portion is to be scooped out without injuring the +base. This proceeding, which has been practised by Syme, Fergusson, +Pollock, the author in many cases, and others, leaves no deformity, but, +it must be owned, is much more liable to the risk of recurrence of the +disease, and for this reason is strongly condemned by Gross. + +_Note._--In this, as in all other operations on the jaws, the very first +thing to be done is to draw the teeth at the spots at which the saw is +to be applied. + +(2.) _Excision of a portion involving the Symphysis._--Free access is of +importance. The best incision is probably one which (Fig. XXVII. C) +commences at the angle of the mouth opposite the healthy portion of jaw, +extends down to the place at which the saw is to be applied and then +along the base of the jaw past the middle line to the other point of +section. The flap is to be thrown up and the bone cleared. The next +point to be noticed is, that when, in clearing the bone behind, the +muscles attached to the symphysis are divided, the tongue loses its +support, and unless watched may tend to fall backwards, embarrassing +respiration and even perhaps choking the patient. The tongue, being +confided to a special assistant, must be drawn well forwards. Various +plans have been devised for keeping it in position, as stitching it to +the point of the patient's nose; putting a ligature into its apex, and +fastening it to the cheek by a piece of strapping, and transfixing its +roots with a harelip needle, used to stitch up a central incision in the +chin. The tendency to retraction very soon ceases, new attachments are +formed by the muscles, and after the first five or six days there is +very little risk of the tongue giving rise to any untoward consequences +by its displacement. + +(3.) _Disarticulation of one, or both Joints._--When the portion of bone +implicated involves disarticulation for its complete removal, the +difficulty of the operation is much increased. The remarkably strong +attachments of the joint, especially the relation of the temporal muscle +to the coronoid process, and the close proximity of large arteries and +nerves, especially the internal maxillary artery and the lingual nerve, +render this disarticulation very difficult. + +The chief points to be attended to seem to be (1.) that the incision +through the skin should extend quite up to the level of the +articulation; (2.) that the bone should be sawn through at the other +side of the tumour, and freely cleared from all its attachments, before +any attempt be made at disarticulation, for by means of the tumour great +leverage can be attained, so as to put the muscles on the stretch, and +allow them to be safely divided; (3.) that the articulation should +always be entered from the front, not from behind, and the inner side of +the condyle should be very carefully cleaned, the surgeon cutting on the +bone so as to avoid, if possible, the internal maxillary artery; (4.) +free and early division of the attachment of the temporal muscle to the +coronoid process. + +Disarticulation of the entire bone has been very rarely performed.[111] +If necessary, it can be performed without any incision into the mouth, +by one semilunar sweep from one articulation to the other, passing along +the lower margin of each side of the body, and just below the symphysis +of the chin. + +_Disarticulation of the Ramus without opening into the cavity of the +Mouth._--That this operation is possible, though it may not be often +required, is shown by the following case by Mr. Syme. It was a tumour of +the ramus, extending only as far forwards as the wisdom-tooth:-- + +"An incision was made from the zygomatic arch down along the posterior +margin of the ramus, slightly curved with its convexity towards the +ear, to a little way beyond the base of the jaw. The parotid gland and +masseter muscle being dissected off the jaw, it was divided by +cutting-pliers immediately behind the wisdom-tooth, after being notched +with a saw. The ramus was then seized by a strong pair of tooth-forceps, +and notwithstanding strong posterior attachments, was drawn outwards, +its muscular connections divided and turned out entire. There was thus +no wound of the mucous membrane of the mouth, the masseter and pterygoid +muscles were not completely divided, and the facial artery was +intact."[112] + +Fergusson[113] holds that even the very largest tumours of the lower jaw +may be successfully removed without opening into the orifice of the +mouth at all by division of the lips. A large lunated incision below the +lower margin of the bone, with its ends extending upwards to within half +an inch of the lips, will give free access, and yet avoid both +haemorrhage and deformity, as the labial artery and vein are not cut, and +there is no trouble in readjusting the lips. Some tumours of lower jaw +can be removed without any wound of skin. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[107] Diagram of operations on the jaws:--A, incision for removal of the +whole upper jaw; B, incision for removal of alveolar portion and antrum; +C, incision for removing the larger half of lower jaw; the opposite side +is the one supposed to be operated on, and the incision is crossing the +symphysis and turning up at a right angle. + +[108] _Operative Surgery_, p. 265. + +[109] _Lancet_, July 1, 1865. + +[110] Temporary compression of the facial can be easily managed, in +cases where it is of much importance to avoid loss of blood, by passing +a needle from the outside through the skin above the vessel, then under +the vessel, and out again through the skin below. A figure-of-eight +suture can then be thrown round both ends of the needle, and the artery +thus thoroughly compressed. + +[111] Syme, _Contributions to the Path. and Practice of Surgery_, p. 21; +Carnochan of New York, _Cases in Surgery_. + +[112] _Contributions to the Path. and Prac. of Surgery_, pp. 23, 24. + +[113] _Lancet_, July 1, 1865. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +OPERATIONS ON MOUTH AND THROAT. + + +SALIVARY FISTULA, _Operation for._--After a wound or abscess of the +cheek, in which the parotid duct is implicated, a salivary fistula is +very apt to remain. The saliva thus discharges in the cheek, giving rise +to considerable annoyance, as well as injury to the digestion. It is by +no means easy to cure this. Perhaps the best operation is the one of +which a rude diagram is given (Fig. XXVIII.). The duct (C) communicates +with the fistula (D). One end of a thread, either silken or metallic, +should be passed through the fistula, and then as far backwards as +convenient through the cheek into the mouth; the needle should then be +withdrawn, the thread being left in. The other end being threaded should +then be re-inserted at the fistula, and carried forwards in a similar +manner; the needle should be again unthreaded in the mouth and +withdrawn; the two ends should then be tied pretty tightly inside, and +allowed to make their way by ulceration into the cavity of the mouth. A +passage will thus be obtained for the saliva into the mouth, and every +possible precaution should be taken to enable the external wound to +close. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXVIII.[114]] + + +EXCISION OF THE TONGUE, for malignant disease of the organ, may be +either complete or partial. Complete excision affords a hope of +permanent and complete relief from the disease, but it is an operation +of extreme difficulty and danger. It may be performed in either of the +following methods. The first is the only one in which absolute +completeness of removal is insured. + +1. _Syme's method of excision._--The patient being seated on a chair, +chloroform was not administered, so that the blood might escape +forwards, and not pass into the pharynx. The operation is thus +described:[115]-- + +"Having extracted one of the front incisors, I cut through the middle of +the lip and continued the incision down to the os hyoides, then sawed +through the jaw in the same line, and insinuating my finger under the +tongue as a guide to the knife, divided the mucous lining of the mouth, +together with the attachment of the genio-hyoglossi. While the two +halves of the bone were held apart, I dissected backwards, and cut +through the hyoglossi, along with the mucous membrane covering them, so +as to allow the tongue to be pulled forward, and bring into view the +situation of the lingual arteries, which were cut and tied, first on one +side, and then on the other. The process might now have been at once +completed, had I not feared that the epiglottis might be implicated in +the disease, which extended beyond the reach of my finger, and thus +suffer injury from the knife if used without a guide. I therefore cut +away about two-thirds of the tongue, and then being able to reach the os +hyoides with my finger, retained it there while the remaining +attachments were divided by the knife in my other hand close to the +bone. Some small arterial branches having been tied, the edges of the +wound were brought together and retained by silver sutures, except at +the lowest part, where the ligatures were allowed to maintain a drain +for the discharge of fluids from the cavity." The patient was able to +swallow from a drinking-cup with a spout on the day following the +operation, and was able to travel upwards of 200 miles within four weeks +of the operation. + +2. _By the Ecraseur._--Nunneley of Leeds has recorded cases in which he +made a small incision through the skin, and mylohyoid and geniohyoid +muscles, and through this passed a curved needle bearing the chain of +the ecraseur completely round the base of the tongue. In one case the +chain was unsatisfactory, but strong whipcord was introduced as it was +withdrawn, and tied with all possible force. The organ eventually +sloughed away, with a cure which lasted at least for some months. + +Sir James Paget operates as follows:-- + +The patient is placed under the influence of chloroform, and the mouth +held widely open. The tongue is then drawn forwards, the mucous membrane +and soft parts of the floor of the mouth, including the attachment of +the genio-hyoglossi to the symphysis being divided close to the bone. +The steel wire of an ecraseur is then passed round its root as low down +as possible, slowly tightened, and the tongue thus divided through its +whole thickness in a very few minutes. The bleeding is slight, being +almost entirely from the parts cut with the knife. Recovery has been +rapid in the recorded cases.[116] + +To Dr. George Buchanan of Glasgow the credit is due of the invention of +the operation of removal of the half of the tongue in the median line. +In at least one instance the cure after five years is still permanent. + +Partial excisions of the tongue are as unsatisfactory in their results +as they are unsound in principle, yet many cases present themselves, in +which, while the patient urges some operative measure for his relief, +the tumour is so limited as not to warrant the exceedingly dangerous +operation of complete excision. + +Portions may be removed in various ways:-- + +1. By the knife. If in the apex, by a V-shaped incision; if in the +lateral regions, by a bold free incision with a probe-pointed bistoury +round the tumour. + +2. By ligature, drawn as tightly as possible, and, if the portion +included be large, in successive portions. + +3. By the ecraseur. + +Mr. Furneaux Jordan has removed the whole tongue with success by means +of two ecraseurs worked at the same time.[117] + +4. By the galvano-caustic wire. + +5. The author has in nine cases removed the affected half of the tongue +by means of the thermo-cautery, first splitting it in the middle line +and then cutting through the base with a curved platinum knife at a low +red heat. In one only was there any trouble from haemorrhage, and all +made good recoveries. + +Mr. Barwell has recorded (_Lancet_, 1879, vol. i.) an easy, safe, and +comparatively painless mode of removing the tongue by ecraseurs. + +Mr. Walter Whitehead,[118] of Manchester, has had a very large +experience of an operation devised by himself, in which, after pulling +the tongue well forward by a string previously introduced near its apex, +and the mouth being held open by a gag, he detaches the organ from jaw +and fauces by successive short snips with scissors, and then in same +manner divides the muscles, tying or twisting the vessels as they bleed. +His success has been very great by this method, though others who have +tried it have sometimes found bleeding troublesome. + +It is comparatively seldom now necessary to split the jaw and perform +Syme's operation, and in all operations on the tongue the thermocautory +(Paquelin's) is of great use. + +Regnoli's method[119] may deserve a brief notice. A semilunar incision +along the base of the jaw, from one angle to the other, detaches the +muscles and soft structures, and is thrown down; the tongue is then +drawn through the opening, and can be freely dealt with either by knife +or ligature. After removal the flap is replaced. + + +FISSURES IN THE PALATE.--The operations requisite for the cure of +fissures in the soft and hard palates are so complicated in their +details, that a small treatise would be required thoroughly to describe +the various procedures. + +Different cases vary so much in the nature and amount of their +deformity, that at least five different sets of cases have been +described. It is sufficient here merely to describe the absolutely +essential principles of the operations for the cure of fissures of the +hard and soft palate respectively. + +In all operations on the palate, two conditions used to be considered +requisite for success:--1. That the patient should have arrived at years +of discretion, at twelve or fourteen years at least; that he be +possessed of considerable firmness, and be extremely anxious for a cure, +so as to give full and intelligent co-operation. 2. That for some days +or weeks prior to the operation the mouth and palate should have been +trained to open widely and to bear manipulation, without reflex action +being excited. Professor Billroth of Vienna,[120] and Mr. Thomas +Smith[121] of London, have had cases which prove the possibility of +performing this operation in childhood, under chloroform, with the +assistance, in the English cases, of a suitable gag, invented by Mr. +Smith. The effect of the operation on the voice of the child has been +very encouraging, as much more improvement takes place than in cases +where the operation is performed late in life. + +_Fissure in the soft palate only_ appears as a triangular cleft, the +apex of which is above, the base being a line between the points of the +bifid uvula, which are widely separated. To cure this it is required-- + +1. That the edges of the fissure should be brought together without +strain or tightness. In small fissures this can generally be done easily +enough; but where the fissure is extensive, some means must be used to +relieve tension. For this, Sir William Fergusson long ago proposed the +division of the palatal muscles, the levator, tensor, and +palato-pharyngeus muscle of each side. The incisions in the palate for +this purpose certainly aid apposition, but many surgeons entertain +doubts whether the division of the muscles has much to do with the good +result, and believe that the simple incisions in the mucous membrane, in +a proper direction, are all that is required (see Fig. XXIX.). + +[Illustration: FIG. XXIX.[122]] + +2. That the edges of the fissure be made raw, so as to afford surfaces +which will readily unite. Complicated instruments, such as knives of +various strange shapes, have been devised for this purpose; an ordinary +cataract knife, very sharp, and set on a long handle is perhaps the +best. It greatly facilitates the section if the parts are tense, so the +point of the uvula should be seized by an ordinary pair of spring +forceps, and drawn across the roof of the mouth, while the knife should +enter in the middle line, a little above the apex of the fissure, and +make the cut downwards as in harelip. + +3. That sutures should be inserted to keep the edges in apposition, yet +not so tightly as to cause ulceration. They may be either of metal, +silver being preferable, or of fine silk well waxed. The metallic +sutures are now generally preferred. Some dexterity is required in their +introduction, and various instruments have been devised; the best seems +to be a needle with a short curve fixed on a long handle, which should +be entered on the (patient's) left side of the fissure in front, and +brought out on the right side. + +If silk sutures be used, the chief difficulty, that of passing the +thread through the second side from behind forwards, can be avoided in +the following manner.[123] A curved needle is passed through one side of +the fissure, and then towards the middle line, till its point is seen +through the cleft. One of the ends of the thread is then seized by a +long pair of forceps, and drawn through the cleft; the needle is then +withdrawn, leaving the thread through the palate, and both ends are +brought outside at the angle of the mouth. Another needle is then passed +through a corresponding point at the opposite side of the palate, till +its point again appears at the cleft; this time a double loop of the +thread is also brought out through the cleft by the forceps into the +mouth. If then the single thread of the first ligature which is in the +cleft be passed through the loop of the second one also in the cleft, it +is easy, by withdrawing the loop through the palate, to finish the +stitch (see Fig. XXIX.). All the stitches should be passed and their +position approved before any one be tied, and it is most convenient to +secure them from above downwards. To prevent confusion, each pair of +threads after being inserted should be left very long, and brought up +to a coronet fixed on the brow, which is fitted with several pairs of +hooks numbered for easy reference. This will prevent twisting of the +threads or any mistake in tying. + + +FISSURE OF THE HARD PALATE.--This may vary in extent from a very slight +cleft in the middle line behind, up to a complete separation of the two +halves of the jaw, including even the alveolar process in front, and +sometimes complicated with harelip. + +To close such fissures by operation is difficult, as the breadth of the +cleft is so great as to prevent the apposition of the edges when +prepared, without such extreme tension as quite prevents any hope of +union. Through the researches of Avery, Warren, Langenbeck, and others, +a method has been discovered of closing such fissures by operation, +which, though certainly not easy, is, when properly performed, generally +successful. + +_Operation._--In addition to the usual paring of the edges of the cleft, +an incision is made on each side of the palate, extending "from the +canine tooth in front to the last molar behind,"[124] along the alveolar +ridge (Fig. XXX.). The whole flap between the cleft and this incision on +each side is then to be raised from the bone by a blunt rounded +instrument slightly curved. With this the whole mucous membrane and as +much of the periosteum as possible should be completely raised from the +bone, attachments for nourishment of the flap being left in front and +behind where the vessels enter. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXX.[125]] + +The flaps thus raised will be found to come together in the middle line, +sometimes even to overlap, and, when united by suture, form a new +palate at a lower level than the fissure, experience having shown that +in cases of fissure the arch of the palate is always much higher than +usual. The flaps do not slough, being well supplied with blood, unless +they have been injured in their separation. + +The edges must be carefully united by various points of metallic suture, +and the fissure of the soft palate closed at the same sitting, unless +the patient has lost much blood, or is very much exhausted with the +pain. The stitches may be left in for a week, or even ten days, unless +they are exciting much irritation. The patient must exercise great +self-control and caution in the character of his food and his manner of +eating for ten days or a fortnight after the operation. + + +EXCISION OF TONSILS.--To remove the whole tonsil is of course impossible +in the living body, the operation to which the name of excision is given +being only the shaving off of a redundant and projecting portion. When +properly performed it is a very safe, and in adults a very easy +operation, but in children it is sometimes rendered exceedingly +difficult by their struggles, combined with the movements of the tongue +and the insufficient access through the small mouth. Many instruments +have been devised for the purpose of at once transfixing and excising +the projecting portion; some of them are very ingenious and complicated. +By far the best and safest method of removing the redundant portion is +to seize it with a volsellum, and then cut it off by a single stroke of +a probe-pointed curved bistoury; cutting from above downwards, and being +careful to cut parallel with the great vessels. + +The ordinary volsellum is much improved for this purpose by the addition +of a third hook in each tonsil placed between the others, with a shorter +curve, and slightly shorter; this ensures the safe holding of the +fragment removed, and prevents the risk of its falling down the throat +of the patient. + +If both tonsils are enlarged they should both be operated on at the same +sitting, and the pain is so slight that even children frequently make +little objection to the second operation. Bleeding is rarely troublesome +if the portion be at once fairly removed, but if in the patient's +struggles the hook should slip before the cut is complete, the partially +detached portion will irritate the fauces, cause coughing and attempts +to vomit, and sometimes a troublesome haemorrhage. + +The plentiful use of cold water will generally be sufficient to stop the +bleeding, though cases are on record in which the use of styptics, or +even the temporary closure of a bleeding point by pressure, has been +necessary. + +M. Guersant has operated on more than one thousand children, with only +three cases of any trouble from haemorrhage, while four or five out of +fifteen adults required either the actual cautery or the sesqui-chloride +of iron.[126] + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[114] Rough diagram of operation for salivary fistula:--A, section of +cheek close to buccal orifice; B, section of zygoma, muscles, etc.; C, +the duct of the parotid; D, the fistulous opening of the cheek; E E, the +thread knotted inside the mouth; F, the palate. + +[115] _Lancet_, Feb. 4, 1865. + +[116] _Med. Times and Gazette_ for Feb. 10, 1866. + +[117] _Lancet_, April 20, 1872. + +[118] _Transactions International Medical Congress_, 1881, vol. ii. p. +460. + +[119] Gross's _Surgery_, vol. ii. p. 472. + +[120] Langenbeck, _Archiv_, ii. p. 657. + +[121] _Med. Chir. Trans._ for 1867-8. + +[122] Diagram of staphyloraphy, chiefly to illustrate the passing of the +threads:--_a_, the first thread; _b_, the second. The dotted line at +edge of fissure shows amount to be removed; the other dotted lines +showing size and position of the incision through the mucous membrane +above. + +[123] Holmes's _Surgery_, vol. ii. pp. 504-513. + +[124] _Edinburgh Medical Journal_ for Jan. 1865, Mr. Annandale's +instructive paper on "Cleft Palate." + +[125] Diagram of fissure of hard palate:--_a_, anterior palatine +foramina; _b_, posterior palatine foramina with groove for artery; _c_, +incisions requisite to free the soft structures. + +[126] Holmes's _Diseases of Children_, p. 555. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +OPERATIONS ON AIR PASSAGES. + + +OPERATIONS ON THE LARYNX AND TRACHEA.--The great air passage may be +opened at three different situations, and to the operations at these +different places the following names have been given:-- + +_Laryngotomy_, when the opening is made in the interval between the +cricoid and thyroid cartilages, through the crico-thyroid membrane. + +_Laryngo-tracheotomy_, when the cricoid cartilage and the upper ring of +the trachea are divided. + +_Tracheotomy_, when the trachea itself is opened by the division of two, +three, or more rings. + +Of these the last, _tracheotomy_, is by far the most frequent, +important, difficult, and dangerous, and requires a very detailed +description. Chassaignac[127] says "the only really rational operation +for the opening of the air passages by the surgeon is tracheotomy." + + +TRACHEOTOMY.--_Anatomy._--Between the cricoid cartilage and the level of +the upper border of the sternum, the middle line of the neck is occupied +by the upper portion of the trachea. Its depth from the surface varies, +gradually increasing as the trachea descends, and varying very much +according to the fatness, muscularity, and length of the neck. It is, +however, almost subcutaneous at the commencement below the cricoid, and +on the level of the sternum it is in most cases at least an inch from +the surface, in many much deeper. Again, its length varies, even in the +adult, from two and a half to three, or even four inches. This is +important, as affecting the simplicity of the operation, which, as a +rule, is easier the longer the neck is. + +The trachea has most important and complicated anatomical +relations--some constant, others irregular. + +1. The carotid arteries and jugular veins lie at either side, but, where +these are regular in their distribution, do not practically interfere in +a well-conducted operation. + +2. The thyroid gland lies in close relation to the trachea, one lobe +being at each side (Fig. XXXI. B B), and the isthmus of the thyroid +crosses the trachea just over the second and third cartilaginous rings. +In fat vascular necks, or where the thyroid is enlarged it may occupy a +much larger portion of the trachea. The position of the isthmus +practically divides the trachea into two portions in which it is +possible to perform tracheotomy. Both have their advocates, but the +balance of authority tends to support the operation below the thyroid. A +separate notice of each will be required immediately. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXXI.[128]] + +3. The _muscles_ in relation to the trachea are the sterno-hyoid and +sterno-thyroid of each side. The latter are the broadest, are in close +contact across the trachea by the inner edges below, but gradually +diverge as they ascend the neck. In thick-set, muscular necks, however, +they are in close contact for a considerable distance, and require to +be separated to give access to the trachea. + +The _arteries_ are in most cases unimportant; no named branch of any +size ought to be divided in the operation. However, occasionally very +free bleeding may result from the division of an abnormal _thyroidea +ima_ running up the trachea to the thyroid body from the innominate, or +even from the aorta itself. + +The _veins_ are very numerous and irregularly distributed. There is +generally a large transverse communicating branch between the superior +thyroid veins just above the isthmus. The isthmus itself has a large +venous plexus over it. Below the isthmus the veins converge into one +trunk (or sometimes two parallel ones) lying right in front of the +trachea. + +4. The last anatomical point which may give trouble in normal necks is +the thymus, which is present in children below the age of two, and +covers the lower end of the trachea just above the level of the sternum. +Where this is not only not diminished, but enlarged, as it sometimes is +in unhealthy children, it may give a very great deal of trouble, rolling +out at the wound and greatly embarrassing proceedings. + +Abnormalities are very various and sometimes very dangerous: vessels +crossing the trachea, as the innominate did in Macilwain's case,[129] or +where two brachiocephalic trunks are present, as recorded by +Chassaignac.[130] One of the most frequent dangers to be guarded against +is a possible dilatation of the aorta or aneurism of the arch. This may +very possibly, as happened in one case to the author, give rise to +suffocative paroxysms from its pressure on the recurrent laryngeal +nerves. Tracheotomy may be deemed necessary, and there is a great risk, +unless proper precautions be taken, of wounding the aorta, where it +passes upwards in the jugular fossa. In the author's case the vessel had +actually to be pushed downwards by the pulp of the forefinger while the +trachea was opened, the knife being guided on the back of the nail of +the same finger. + + +THE OPERATION.--In a work of this kind it would be utterly impossible to +go at all into the subject of what diseases, injuries, etc., warrant or +require the operation. It is enough to describe the various methods of +operating, their dangers and difficulties. + +1. _The operation above the isthmus of the thyroid._--A spot about a +quarter or half of an inch in vertical diameter between the cricoid +cartilage (Fig. XXXI.) and thyroid isthmus. + +_Advantages._--It is near the surface, the vessels are few and +comparatively small. It is most suitable in cases of aneurism. + +Professor Spence[131] gives his sanction to the high operation in adults +with thick short necks when the operation is performed for ulceration or +papilloma of larynx or for spasm from aneurism, the low operation being +still best in cases of croup or diphtheria. + +_Disadvantages._--The space is too small, requires very considerable +disturbance of the thyroid isthmus, or actual division of it. It is too +near the point where the disease is; so much so, that in most cases of +croup or diphtheria it would be perfectly useless. However, if required, +or if the operation lower down be contra-indicated, this may be +performed easily enough. A straight incision being made in the middle +line about one inch and a half in length, expose the upper ring by +careful dissection, if possible draw aside the veins, and depress the +thyroid isthmus, divide the rings thus exposed, and introduce the tube. + +_The operation below the isthmus._--This, though more difficult in its +performance, is a much more scientific and satisfactory operation. +Considerable coolness and a thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the +part are absolutely required. + +The patient being in the recumbent posture, the shoulders should be well +raised, and the head held back so as to extend the windpipe, and thus +bring it as near as possible to the surface. A pillow, or the arm of an +assistant, behind the neck will be of service. + +_N.B._--Be careful lest too great extension by an anxious assistant, +accompanied by closure of the mouth, should choke the patient (whose +breathing is of course already much embarrassed) before the operation be +begun. + +Chloroform may occasionally be given, and, if well borne, renders the +operation very much easier than it would otherwise be. An incision must +then be made exactly in the median line of the neck, from a little below +the cricoid cartilage, almost to the upper edge of the sternum; at first +it should be through skin only, then the veins will be seen, probably +turgid with dark blood; the larger ones should be drawn aside, if +necessary divided, the bleeding stopped by gentle pressure. The deep +fascia must then be cautiously divided, great care being taken to keep +exactly in the middle line, and the contiguous edges of sterno-thyroid +muscles separated from each other by the handle of the knife. A quantity +of loose connective tissue, containing numerous small veins, must now be +pushed aside, the thyroid isthmus pressed upwards, still with the handle +of the knife. The forefinger must then be used to distinguish the rings +of the trachea. If there is much convulsive movement of the larynx and +trachea, they should be fixed by the insertion of a small sharp hook +with a short curve, just below the cricoid cartilage, and this should be +confided to an assistant. The surgeon should then, with the forefinger +of his left hand, fix the trachea, and open it by a straight +sharp-pointed scalpel, boldly thrusting it through the rings with a jerk +or stab, the back of the knife being below, and divide two or three of +the rings from below upwards. Any attempt to enter the trachea slowly +with a blunt knife or trocar will probably be unsuccessful, as the +rings, especially in children, give way before the knife, which merely +approximates the sides of the trachea without opening it. + +_Question of Haemorrhage._--It is often a question of some importance, +and one which sometimes it is not easy to settle, how far attempts +should be made completely to arrest the venous haemorrhage before opening +the trachea. + +_On the one hand_, if not arrested, besides the risk of weakening the +patient, we have to dread the much more serious complication of the +admission of blood into the wound. And this is very serious in a patient +whose respiration has already been much impeded, whose lungs are +probably engorged, and who has certainly, by the mere existence of a +wound in his trachea, lost the power of coughing properly; it must never +be forgotten that a quantity of blood so trifling as to be at once +ejected by a single cough in the case of a healthy chest, may be a fatal +obstacle to respiration in one already weakened by disease. Thus any +well-marked arterial haemorrhage from cut branches, or from the isthmus +of the thyroid, must certainly be arrested prior to opening the trachea. +Besides this, blood once having entered the bronchi is apt to extend +into their smaller ramifications and prove a cause of death, by acting +as a local irritation, and setting up intra-lobular suppurative +pneumonia. The author has found this to be the case both after +tracheotomy and still more frequently in suicide by cut throat. + +But, _on the other hand_, it is equally true that there is almost always +a considerable amount of oozing from small venous radicles divided +during the operation, which depends simply on the great venous +engorgement resulting from the obstruction to the respiration, so that +while to attempt to tie every point would be simply endless, we may be +almost certain that the oozing will cease whenever the trachea is +opened, and respiration fairly improved. Slight pressure on the wound is +generally sufficient to stop the bleeding till the venous engorgement +has disappeared. + +Of late years many tracheotomies have been done bloodlessly by use of +the thermo-cautery, for division of the soft parts, but the subsequent +sloughing of the wound is a great objection to this method. + +In cases of extreme urgency, all such minor considerations as +suppression of venous oozing must be ignored, and the trachea simply +opened as rapidly as possible. I had once to perform the operation after +respiration had entirely ceased, and no pulse could be felt at the +wrist, with no assistance except that of a female attendant. Merely +feeling that no large arterial branch was in the way, I cut straight +through all the tissues, opened the trachea, and commenced artificial +respiration. The patient eventually recovered. + +_Question of Tubes, etc._--Once the trachea is opened, the next question +is, How is the opening to be kept pervious? For the moment the handle of +the scalpel is to be inserted in the wound, so as to stretch it +transversely; this will probably suffice to allow of the escape of any +foreign body. But where, to admit air, the wound is to be _kept_ open, +how is this to be done? It used to be advised that an elliptical portion +of the wall of the trachea be removed; this, though succeeding well +enough for a time, was unscientific, as the wound always tended to +cicatrise, and ended of course in permanent narrowing of the canal of +the trachea. It may be necessary thus to excise a portion of the +trachea, in cases where it is very intolerant of the presence of a +tube. Such a case is recorded by Sir J. Fayrer of Calcutta.[132] Not +much better is the proposal to insert a silk ligature in each side of +the wound, and by pulling these apart thus mechanically to open the +wound. This also is evidently a merely temporary expedient. + +Various canulae and tubes have been proposed. The ones recommended by the +older surgeons had all one great fault; they were much too small, and +were many of them straight, and thus liable to displacement. The +smallness of their bore was their greatest objection, and Mr. Liston +conferred a great benefit on surgery by his insisting upon the +introduction of tubes with a larger bore, and with a proper curve, so as +thoroughly to enter the trachea. The tube ought to be large enough to +admit all the air required by the lungs, without hurrying the +respiration in the least. + +There is a mistake made in the construction of many of the tubes even of +the present day; the outer opening is large and full, while for +convenience of insertion the tube tapers down to an inner opening, +admitting perhaps not one-half as much air as the outer one does. + +It must be remembered that for some days there is great risk of the tube +becoming occluded, by frothy blood or mucus, especially in cases of +croup, and in children. To prevent this a double canula will be found of +great service, providing only that it be remembered that the inner +canula, not the outer merely, is to be made large enough to breathe +through, and that the inner should project slightly beyond the outer +one. + +The inner one can thus be removed at intervals and cleansed, by the +nurse, without any risk of exciting spasm or dyspnoea by its absence +and reintroduction. + +_After-treatment._--The after-treatment of a case in which tracheotomy +has been performed demands great care and many precautions. For the +first day or two the constant presence of an experienced nurse or +student is always necessary to insure the patency of the tube. The +temperature of the room should be equable and high, and it seems of +importance that the air should be kept moist as well as warm by the use +of abundance of steam. + +A piece of thin gauze, or other light protective material, should be +placed over the mouth of the tube, to prevent the entrance of foreign +bodies. + +In cases where the operation has been performed for some temporary +inflammatory closure of the air passage, retention of the tube for a few +days may suffice. It may then be removed, but it must be remembered that +the wound will generally close with great rapidity, so that it is as +well to be quite sure of the patency of the natural passage before the +artificial one is allowed to close by the removal of the tube. + +In cases where from long-standing disease or severe accident the larynx +is rendered totally unfit for work, and the tube has to be worn during +the rest of the patient's life, care must be taken (1.) lest the tube do +not fit accurately, in which case it may ulcerate in various directions, +even into the great vessels;[133] (2.) lest the tube become worn, and +lest the part within the windpipe fall into the trachea and suffocate +the patient.[134] + + +LARYNGOTOMY.--As a temporary expedient in cases of great urgency, where +proper instruments and assistants are not at hand, laryngotomy is +occasionally useful, though from the want of space without encroaching +on the cartilages of the larynx, and from its close proximity to the +disease, laryngotomy is by no means a suitable or permanently successful +operation. + +In the adult, especially in males with long spare necks, the operation +itself is exceedingly easy to perform. The crico-thyroid space (Fig. +XXXI. A) is so distinctly shown by the prominence of the thyroid +cartilage, and is so superficial that it is quite easy to open it in the +middle line with a common penknife, there being merely the skin and the +crico-thyroid membrane to be cut through, with very rarely any vessel of +any size. The opening can then be kept patent by a quill or a small +piece of flat wood. This simple operation has in many cases, where a +foreign body has filled up the box of the larynx, succeeded in saving +life, and even in cases of disease I have known it useful in giving time +for the subsequent performance of tracheotomy. + +Easy as it appears and really is, cases are on record in which the +thyro-hyoid space has been opened instead of the crico-thyroid, such +operations being of course perfectly useless. + +The incision is best made transversely. + + +LARYNGO-TRACHEOTOMY.--This modification consists in opening the air +passage by the division of the cricoid cartilage vertically in the +middle line, along with one or two of the upper rings of the trachea. + +It seems to combine all the dangers with none of the advantages of the +other methods of operating. It is close to the disease, involves cutting +a cartilage of the larynx, and almost certain wounding of the isthmus of +the thyroid; and it is not easy to see what corresponding advantages it +has over tracheotomy in the usual position. + + +THYROTOMY is an operation by which the larynx is opened in the middle +line by a vertical incision, and its halves separated, while any morbid +growths are excised from the cords or ventricles. The merits and dangers +of this operation have been discussed at length by Mr. Durham[135] and +Dr. Morell Mackenzie.[136] + + +LARYNGECTOMY OR EXCISION OF THE LARYNX, first performed by Dr. Heron +Watson in 1866, has been lately frequently performed for carcinoma and +sarcoma. Each case presents its own difficulties, which vary according +to the amount and extent of the disease for which it is done. + +The trachea must be divided and tamponed by a Trendelenburg canula, +after which the larynx must be carefully dissected out. The immediate +mortality, _i.e._ in first ten days, is fifty per cent., and Dr. Gross +holds that life has not been prolonged by the operation.[137] + + +OESOPHAGOTOMY.--This operation is very rarely required, and has as yet +been performed only for the removal of foreign bodies impacted in the +oesophagus, and interfering with respiration and deglutition. To cut +upon the flaccid empty oesophagus in the living body would be an +extremely difficult and dangerous operation, from the manner in which it +lies concealed behind the larynx, and in close contact with the great +vessels. When it is distended by a foreign body, and specially if the +foreign body has well-marked angles, the operation is not nearly so +difficult. It has now been performed in forty-three cases at least, of +which eight or nine have proved fatal. Seven, along with another in +which he himself performed it with success, were recorded by Mr. Cock of +Guy's Hospital.[138] Three others were performed by Mr. Syme, with a +successful result. Of the seven cases collected by Mr. Cock only two +died, one of pneumonia, the other of gangrene of the pharynx. + +_Operation._--Unless there is a very decided projection of the foreign +body on the right, the left side of the neck should be chosen, as the +oesophagus normally lies rather on the left of the middle line. An +incision similar to that required for ligature of the carotid above the +omohyoid should be made over the inner edge of the sterno-mastoid +muscle; with it as a guide, the omohyoid may be sought and drawn +downwards and inwards, the sheath of the vessels exposed and drawn +outwards, the larynx slightly pushed across to the right, the thyroid +gland drawn out of the way by a blunt hook, the superior thyroid either +avoided or tied. The oesophagus is then exposed, and if the foreign +body is large, it is easily recognised; if the foreign body be small, a +large probang with a globular ivory head should then be passed from the +fauces down to the obstruction; this will distend the walls of the +oesophagus, and make it a much more easy and safe business to divide +them to the required extent. The wound in the oesophagus should be +longitudinal, and at first not larger than is required to admit the +finger, on which as a guide the forceps may be introduced to remove the +foreign body, or, if necessary, a probe-pointed bistoury still further +to dilate the wound. + +For some days or even weeks the patient must be fed through an elastic +catheter introduced through the nose and retained, or by an ordinary +stomach-tube through the mouth. In introducing the latter there is +always a risk of opening the wound. No special sutures for the wound in +the oesophagus are required, nor is it advisable too closely to sew up +the external wound. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[127] _Lecons sur la Tracheotomie_, p. 10. + +[128] Rough diagram of larynx and trachea:--A, crico-thyroid space, +_laryngotomy_; B B, dotted outline of thyroid isthmus and lobes, defines +the upper and lower positions for _tracheotomy_; C, thyroid--D, cricoid +cartilages; E, dotted outline of thymus gland in child of two years; F +F, outline of clavicles and jugular fossa. + +[129] _Surgical Observations_, p. 335. See also Harrison _On the +Arteries_, vol. i. p. 16. + +[130] _Lecons sur la Tracheotomie_, p. 9. + +[131] _Lectures on Surgery_, 3d ed., vol. ii. p. 900. + +[132] _Clinical Surgery in India_ (1866), p. 143. + +[133] Mr. John Wood, _Path. Soc. Trans._, vol. xi. p. 20. + +[134] South's _Chelius_, vol. ii. p. 400; and case recorded by Spence, +in _Ed. Med. Journal_, for August 1862. + +[135] _Med. Chir. Transactions of London_, 1872. + +[136] _British Med. Journal_ (Nos. 643, 644), 1873. + +[137] Gross's _Surgery_, 6th ed., vol. ii. p. 342. + +[138] _Guy's Hospital Reports_ for 1858. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +OPERATIONS ON THORAX. + + +EXCISION OF MAMMA.--When the whole breast is to be removed, two +incisions, inclosing an elliptical portion of skin along with the +nipple, must be made in the direction of the fibres of the pectoralis +muscle. The distance between the incisions at their broadest must depend +upon the nature of the disease for which the operation is performed, and +the extent to which the skin is involved; in every case the whole nipple +should be removed. The incisions should, if possible, be parallel with +the fibres of the pectoralis major, and extend across the full diameter +of the breast. During the operation the arm should be extended so as to +stretch both skin and muscle. The lower flap should be first raised and +dissected downwards, with care that the cuts are made in the +subcutaneous fat, and wide of the disease; the upper flap is then thrown +open, and the edge of the gland raised, so that the fibres of the +pectoralis are exposed below it. These should be cleanly dissected, so +as to insure removal of the whole gland. + +Any bleeding during the operation can easily be checked by the fingers +of an assistant, and if the arteries entering the gland from the axilla +be divided last, they can be at once secured. If there are many bleeding +points, the application of cold for a few hours before the wound is +finally closed is a wise precaution. + +The requisite stitches may be inserted while the patient is under +chloroform, but not tightened. The arm should then be brought down to +the side, and a folded towel laid over the wound after it is finally +closed. Great benefit results from the free use of drainage-tubes in +most cases; for this purpose a dependent opening in the lower flap is +often made. + +Surgeons now operate even when the axillary glands are diseased, and by +a very free dissection and removal, even in hopeless-looking cases, life +may be prolonged. To insure the removal of the lymphatic vessels as well +as the glands, it is best not to separate the breast at its axillary +margin, but keep it attached by the tail of lymphatics surrounded by +fat, which will lead up to the glands. Section of the great pectoral +muscle will aid the dissection. + + When the tumour is very large, and the skin has been much stretched + and undermined, more complicated incisions may be necessary; these + must be governed a good deal by the presence and positions of + adhesions or ulcerations of the skin. The best direction, when the + surgeon has his choice, that these incisions can take, is that of + radii from the nipple, bisecting the flaps made by the original + elliptical incision. + +_N.B._--In operating for malignant disease, the one paramount +consideration is that _all_ the disease be excised, however curious, +inconvenient, or awkward, even insufficient, the flaps may look. Partial +excisions are worse than useless. + + +PARACENTESIS THORACIS, for the relief of pleurisy, acute and chronic, +and empyema, is an operation of extreme simplicity. + +The proper selection of cases, the settling of the suitable position for +the tapping, and the choosing of the suitable time for it, are more +difficult, and not within the scope of the present work. On these +subjects much information may be obtained from the papers of Dr. +Bowditch of Boston, of Dr. Hughes and Mr. Cock,[139] and an exceedingly +interesting and valuable paper by Dr. Warburton Begbie.[140] + +_Where_ is it to be performed? Not _above_ the sixth rib, else the +opening is not sufficiently dependent; very rarely _below_ the eighth on +the right side, and the ninth on the left. The intercostal space +generally bulges outwards if fluid is present, and this bulging acts as +an aid to diagnosis. As the intercostal artery lies under the lower edge +of the upper rib in each space, the trocar should be entered not higher +than the middle of the space; and because the artery is largest near the +spine, and also the space is there deeply covered with muscle, the +tapping should never be _behind_ the angle of the rib. In most of the +manuals we are told to select a spot midway between the sternum and +spine for the puncture; but Bowditch, Cock, and Begbie, who have had +large experience, prefer, and I believe rightly, a position considerably +behind this, _an inch_ or two below the angle of the scapula, between +the seventh and eighth, or between the eighth and ninth ribs. + +The operation may be performed with a simple trocar and canula, round, +about an eighth of an inch in diameter, and at least two inches in +length. The point must be sharp, and it must be pushed in with +considerable quickness, so as to penetrate, not merely push forwards, +the pleura, which may be tough, and thicker than usual. Once the skin is +pierced, the instrument must be directed obliquely upwards, so as to +make the opening and position of the trocar dependent. When the trocar +is withdrawn the fluid may be allowed to flow so long as it keeps in a +full equable stream; whenever it becomes jerky and spasmodic, the canula +should be removed _before_ the sucking noise of air entering the chest +is heard. + +In more chronic cases, where the quantity of fluid is large, and +especially if it is thick and curdy, the exhausting syringe of Mr. +Bowditch is an improvement on the simple trocar and canula. + +It consists of a powerful syringe, which fits accurately to the trocar +with which the puncture is made. There is a stop-cock between the trocar +and syringe, and another at right angles to the syringe. The trocar +being introduced, it is held firmly in position by an assistant, by +means of a strong cross handle; the first stop-cock is then opened, and +the syringe worked slowly till it is filled with fluid through the +trocar, the other delivery stop-cock being closed. The first is then +closed, and the second opened; the syringe is then emptied through the +second into a basin. By a repetition of this process, the fluid can be +removed at pleasure, without any risk of the entrance of air. + + Dieulafoy's aspirateur, which the author has now used in a very + large number of cases, will be found the best method yet devised of + safely removing the fluid in cases of serous effusion. But in + severe cases of empyema the pus is sure to be reproduced in the + great majority, and then a free incision, with strict antiseptic + precautions, will be needed, and subsequent free drainage. + + The author has used with great benefit silver tubes, like long + narrow trachea-tubes, with broad shields, to insure free drain. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[139] Both in _Guy's Hospital Reports_, second series, vol. ii. + +[140] _Edinburgh Medical Journal_ for June 1866. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +OPERATIONS ON ABDOMEN. + + +PARACENTESIS ABDOMINIS.--To withdraw fluid from the abdominal cavity is +an exceedingly simple operation in itself, though certain precautions +are necessary to render it safe. + +_Trocar._--The usual instrument used to be a simple round canula with a +trocar, the point of which should be very sharp, and in the shape of a +three-sided pyramid. It should be about three inches in length, and a +quarter of an inch in diameter. It may for convenience have an +india-rubber tube fixed to its side or end, for the purpose of conveying +the fluid to the pail or basin, but any other additions or alterations +have not been improvements. Lately surgeons have been diminishing the +size of the tube so as to withdraw the fluid more slowly, and taking +many precautions to insure the wound being kept aseptic. + +_Where to tap._--In the linea alba, midway between the umbilicus and +pubes, or rather nearer the umbilicus. Here, there are no muscles nor +vessels, the opening is a dependent one, and the bladder is quite out of +the way of injury. + +_N.B._--It is a wise precaution, in every case where there is a +possibility of doubt as to the state of the bladder, to pass a catheter. +I have myself known at least one case in which a surgeon was asked to +tap an over-distended bladder, as a case of ascites. + +_The Operation._--As there is great risk of syncope coming on during the +operation, from the sudden relief to the pressure on the organs, a broad +flannel bandage should be applied to the belly, the ends of which are +split into three at each side, and crossed and interlaced behind. An +assistant should stand at each side to make gradual pressure by pulling +on the ends of the bandage, thus assisting the flow, and maintaining the +pressure. A hole should be cut in the bandage at the spot where the +puncture is to be made, and the trocar inserted by one firm push, +without any preliminary incision, unless the patient is inordinately +fat. As the trocar is withdrawn, the canula should be pushed still +further in. The surgeon should be ready at once to close the canula with +his thumb, if the flow begins to cease, lest air should be admitted. If +the flow ceases from any cause before all the fluid seems to be +evacuated, the trocar should _not_ be re-introduced, lest the intestines +be wounded, but a blunt-headed perforated instrument fitting the canula +should be inserted. + +When all the fluid that can be easily obtained is evacuated, the canula +may be withdrawn, and a pad of lint secured over the wound by strapping. + + +GASTROTOMY.--Cutting into the stomach for the extraction of a foreign +body has now been performed at least ten times, and all but one +recovered. A typical example is that by Dr. Bell of Davenport, who +removed a bar of lead one pound in weight and ten inches in length, by +an incision four inches in length from the umbilicus to the false ribs. +The opening into the stomach was as small as possible, and required no +sutures. + + +GASTROSTOMY has within the last few years been practised very +frequently. Gross has collected 79 cases, 57 of which were for carcinoma +of oesophagus, all of which died within a few weeks, except eight who +survived for periods varying from three to seven months. The results in +cases of cicatricial and syphilitic strictures are more +favourable.--Howse's method seems the best, consisting of two stages. + +1. A curved incision is made through the parietes parallel with, and a +finger-breadth below, the lower margin of chest wall on left side, the +peritoneum should be opened at the linea semilunaris, the stomach sought +for, and then attached to the abdominal wall by an outer ring of sutures +and to the edge of the wound by an inner ring. It should then be dressed +with carbolised lint and supported by a bandage. + +2. A small opening should be made four or five days after the first +stage and the patient should be fed through this opening. + +For full details, see Mr. Durham's paper in vol. i. of Holmes's Surgery, +edition of 1883, pp. 801-4. + + +GASTRECTOMY.--Excision of whole or part of the stomach is one of the +latest developments of operative daring, first done as a regular +operation by Pean in 1879, it has now been repeated sixteen times; four +cases have survived the operation for more than ten days. The chief +points to be attended to are prevention of death from shock and +haemorrhage, and very careful stitching up of the wound. Considering the +difficulty of the diagnosis, the danger of the operation, and the almost +certain recurrence of the disease, the propriety of such operation seems +very doubtful. + + +OVARIOTOMY.--For the pathology of ovarian disease we must refer to Sir +Spencer Wells's work on the subject, and to the smaller Monograph on +Ovarian Pathology, by the late lamented Dr. Charles Ritchie, junior. + +Even the modifications in the method of operating which have been +devised are so various and numerous, that if collected from the medical +journals of the last ten years they would fill a large volume. Besides +this, the operation of ovariotomy is one attended by so many +complications, that individual cases vary from each other as much as do +individual cases of hernia and tracheotomy; and as the specialities of +each case require to be met by specialities of treatment, there is +hardly any operation in surgery which requires greater readiness of +invention, or more individual sagacity in the operator. + +To lay open the abdominal cavity from the sternum to the pubes, and +rapidly dissect out of this cavity an enormous tumour with a narrow +neck, the operator's only embarrassment being the peristaltic movements +of the bowels, and his only care being to tie the neck of the tumour +firmly with strong string, sew up the wound, and trust to nature, was an +operation very easy to perform, and requiring free cutting rather than +dexterity, and rashness more than true surgical insight. + +Such were the ovariotomies prior to 1857. + +An ovariotomy in 1883 is a very different business, varying in certain +important particulars. + +(1.) Instead of the incision extending from sternum to pubes, it is now +made as short as possible. + +(2.) Instead of being removed entire, the cyst is now emptied with the +greatest possible care (prior to its removal), and none of the contents +allowed to enter the peritoneal cavity. + +(3.) The pedicle is brought to the surface, and in every case where it +is possible is secured outside the wound. + +Besides these three important and cardinal points, there are other minor +matters almost equally essential; these are--(1.) The proper management +of the adhesions and the thorough prevention of all haemorrhage from +them; (2.) the stitching up of the external wound, including the +peritoneum; (3.) the treatment of the patient during the first few days +of convalescence. + +_Operation_ in a typical case, after the method of Sir Spencer Wells and +Dr. Thomas Keith.--The patient having had her bowels gently opened on +the previous day, and being as far as possible in her usual state of +health, should be warmly clad in flannel, both in body and limb, and +laid on an operating table of convenient height, in or near the room she +is to occupy. No carrying from ward to operating theatre and back again +is admissible. It will be found both cleanly and convenient to have a +large india-rubber cloth over the whole abdomen, cut out in the centre +so as to expose so much of the tumour as is necessary, but gummed on or +otherwise secured to the sides of the abdomen, and thus protecting the +clothes, and hanging down over the edge of the table; this will prevent +all wetting of the clothes and unnecessary exposure of the patient's +person, and can be easily removed after the operation. Chloroform being +administered, the bladder is evacuated by means of a catheter, and the +patient's head and shoulders are elevated on pillows. An incision is +then made in the linea alba, between the umbilicus and pubes, for about +four inches in length at first, so as to be large enough to admit the +hand, through all the tissues down to and through the peritoneum. Care +is necessary in dividing the peritoneum, on the one hand, not to divide +too much, in which case the cyst-wall will be penetrated, and the +contents effused into the peritoneal cavity; or, on the other hand, too +little, in which case the peritoneum may be mistaken for the cyst, and +separated from the transversalis fascia under the idea that adhesions +exist. Once the peritoneal cavity is opened, the incision through the +peritoneum must be extended to the full length of the external wound by +a probe-pointed bistoury. + +The operator's hand must now be passed into the abdomen, and the tumour +isolated from its connections as far as possible. When no adhesions +exist it is extremely easy to pass the hand quite round the tumour, +ascertain its relations to the uterus and Fallopian tubes, and the +length and thickness of its pedicle. The presence of adhesions adds very +seriously to the danger and duration of the operation. We will suppose +at present that none exist in this typical case, and that the pedicle is +found of a satisfactory size and shape. The surgeon now protrudes the +anterior portion of the cyst-wall through the wound, and pierces it with +a large trocar,[141] to which is attached an india-rubber tube, by means +of which the effused fluid can be easily got rid of in any direction. +During the escape of the fluid from the cyst a special assistant keeps +up the tension by careful pressure on the abdomen. In cases where the +cyst is multilocular, and thus only a portion of the contents of the +tumour is at first evaluated, the operator should, by partially +withdrawing the trocar, without removing it entirely from the cyst, +endeavour to pierce and evacuate the other cysts, still through the +original opening in the first one. + +While doing this, great care must be taken lest he pierce the external +wall of the tumour, and let any of the contents escape into the +abdominal cavity; to guard against this, the punctures should be made +by the right hand, while the left, re-inserted into the abdomen, +supports the cyst-wall. + +The tumour having been as far as possible emptied of its fluid contents, +must now be dragged out of the wound, care being still taken lest any of +its fluid contents escape into the peritoneal cavity. In favourable +cases the pedicle is now brought easily into view. This may vary very +much in length and thickness. It is sometimes entirely absent, the +tumour being sessile on the broad ligament of the uterus; sometimes it +is thick and strong, sometimes long and slender. The manner in which it +is to be managed depends on its length and thickness. Varieties in +treatment will be noticed immediately. We will suppose that it is four +inches in length and one or two fingers in breadth. This is quite a +suitable case for the use of the clamp, the principle involved in the +use of which is, that the pedicle should be brought quite out of the +abdomen through the wound and secured on the surface. The best form +seems to be one made like a carpenter's callipers, with long but +removable handles, and a very powerful fixing-screw. + +The blades of this clamp being protected by pads of lint should be made +to embrace the pedicle close to the cyst, in a direction at right angles +to the abdominal wound, and lying across it, the handles should then be +removed, and pads of lint placed below the clamp to protect the skin. +The cyst may now be cut away at some little distance above the clamp, +enough being left to prevent all danger of its slipping. Further to +avoid this danger, the pedicle may be transfixed by one or two needles +above the clamp. + +The wound is now to be sewed up by several points of interrupted suture, +some inserted very deeply through all the tissues, including even the +peritoneum, others in the intervals of the first, including little more +than the skin. They may be either of iron, silver, platinum, +telegraph-wire (Mr. Clover's copper, coated with gutta-percha), or silk. +It seems of very little consequence which is used. Sir Spencer Wells, +after many trials, uses silk, as being removed with least pain to the +patient, and really causing no more suppuration than the metallic ones +do, if only removed early enough, viz., about the second or third day, +by which time the union of the wound should be firm. + +The after-treatment should be very simple. Except under special +circumstances, stimulants are rarely necessary, and indeed, to avoid +vomiting, as little as possible should be given by the mouth during the +first twenty-four hours. The patient should be allowed to suck a little +ice to allay thirst, and opiate and nutritive enemata will be found +quite sufficient to keep up the strength in ordinary cases. The urine +should be drawn off by the catheter every six hours. The room should be +kept quiet, and the temperature equable, so long as there is no +interference with a plentiful supply of fresh air. + +Some of the specialities and abnormalities involving special risks may +now be briefly noticed:-- + +1. _Adhesions._--These vary much in amount, in position, in +organisation, and danger. + +_a._ _In amount._--In certain cases no adhesions exist, while in others, +omentum, intestines, tumour, uterus, and abdominal wall may be all +matted together in one common mass. + +_b._ _In organisation._--Occasionally they are so soft and friable as to +break down under the finger with ease, and so slightly organised as not +to bleed at all in the process, while again they may be so firm and +close as to require a careful and prolonged dissection, and so vascular +as to require many points of ligature to be applied to large active +vessels. + +_c._ There are special _dangers_ connected with the presence of these +adhesions, and varying much in different cases. Thus adhesions to the +intestines can generally be separated with comparative ease, and seem, +as a rule, to require the application of fewer ligatures than those +which unite the tumour to the abdominal wall. Adhesions to the wall are +sometimes so firm as to be quite inseparable, and thus to necessitate +some of the cyst-wall being left adherent. In Sir Spencer Wells's cases, +adhesions to the liver and gall-bladder occasionally occurred, requiring +careful dissection to separate them, and yet the patients all survived, +while pelvic adhesions, especially to the bladder and uterus, on more +than one occasion prevented the completion of the operation. + +Vascular adhesions to the wall which require many ligatures certainly +add to the dangers of the case, while adhesions to the anterior wall of +the abdomen render the operation, especially its first stages, much more +difficult, preventing the cyst from being recognised. + +2. _The condition of the pedicle_ is of great importance. If it is too +short, it prevents the use of the clamp, as if applied it is apt either +to pull the uterus up, or, pulling the clamp down, to make undue +traction on the wound, and rupture any adhesions. This is especially the +case where much flatus is generated, or where the patient is naturally +stout. + +_Treatment._--Where the pedicle is just long enough to allow the clamp +to be applied, and yet too short to leave room for any distension of the +abdomen without undue tension, the best plan is to transfix it with a +stout double thread just below the clamp, tie it in two halves, and +bring the threads out past the clamp, so that, if tension does occur, +the clamp may be removed, the part beyond it cut off, and the rest +allowed to slip back into the pelvis, the ligatures being kept out at +the mouth of the wound. + +Or again, it is sometimes possible, after applying one clamp firmly as +near the tumour as possible, to apply another above it when the greater +part of the tumour has been cut away; when the second is firmly fixed +it may then be safe to remove the first, and thus an artificially +elongated pedicle is obtained. + +When still shorter, two plans remain for selection--(1.) to transfix the +pedicle in one or more points, then, securing it in two, three, or more +portions, cut it off above the ligatures and return it, leaving the +ligatures at the lower end of the wound. This gives a free drain for +pus, but theoretically the sloughing pedicle might be expected to set up +peritonitis; (2.) to transfix and tie the pedicle with one or more loops +of stout string, cut the ends off short, and return the whole affair, +closing the external wound at once. Theoretically there are grave +objections to this plan, but it has proved very successful, especially +in the hands of Dr. Tyler Smith. + +Another ingenious modification, sometimes useful in a short narrow +pedicle, is to tie it as close to the cyst as possible, bring the +ligature out at the wound, and then with a strong harelip needle +transfix the pedicle, along with both sides of the wound, just below the +ligature. + +When the pedicle is excessively broad and stout, it should be transfixed +by strong needles and double threads in various places, and thus tied in +several portions. Absence of the pedicle greatly adds to the danger in +any given case. Various plans have been tried, as cutting the attachment +through slowly by the ecraseur, ligature of each vessel separately, so +many as twelve being sometimes required, and cauterising the stump. The +latter, as used by Mr. Baker Brown, has met with a large measure of +success, and is much used now.[142] + +Dr. Keith for a time operated with antiseptic precautions, but has now +(1883) entirely given up the use of the spray, which he believes has +especial dangers in abdominal surgery. + + +OPERATION FOR STRANGULATED INGUINAL HERNIA.--The great rule to be +remembered with regard to this, as well as all other operations for +hernia, is, that the earlier it is performed the better chance the +patient has. Once a fair trial has been given to the taxis, aided by +proper position of the patient, the warm bath, and specially chloroform, +the operation should be performed. + +The patient should be placed on his back with his shoulders elevated, +and the knee of the affected side slightly bent. The groin should then +be shaved, and the shape and size of the tumour, with the position of +the inguinal canal, carefully studied. The surgeon should then lift up a +fold of skin and cellular tissue, in a direction at right angles to the +long axis of the tumour, and holding one side of this raised fold in his +own left hand, commit the other to an assistant. He then transfixes this +fold with a sharp straight bistoury, with its back towards the sac, and +cuts outwards, thus at once making an incision along the axis of the +hernia without any risk of wounding the sac or bowel. Any vessel that +bleeds may now be tied. This incision will be found sufficiently large +for most cases; if not, however, it can easily be prolonged either +upwards or downwards. The surgeon must now devote his attention to +exposing the neck of the sac, and in so doing, defining the external +inguinal ring. The safest method of doing so is carefully to pinch up, +with dissecting forceps, layer after layer of connective tissue, +dividing each separately by the knife held with its flat side, not its +edge, on the sac, and then by means of the finger or forceps raising +each layer in succession and dividing it to the full extent of the +external incision. It is not always an easy matter to recognise the +sac, especially as the number of layers above it, which are described in +the anatomical text-books, are often not at all distinct. + +The thickness of the connective tissue of the part varies immensely; +sometimes six layers or even more can be separately dissected, while, +again, one only may be found before the sac is exposed. + +If small and recent, the sac may be recognised by its bluish colour, and +by the fact that it is possible to pinch up a portion of it between the +finger and thumb, and thus to rub its opposed surfaces against each +other. + +If large and of old standing, it is sometimes so thin as not to be +recognisable, or again so enormously thickened, and so adherent, as to +be defined with great difficulty. + +If it is small, _i.e._ when the whole tumour is under the size of an +egg, it ought to be thoroughly isolated, and its boundaries everywhere +defined. If large, and specially if adherent, the neck alone should be +cleared. + +The sac thus being reached, the external abdominal ring should be +clearly defined, and the finger passed into it so as if possible to +determine the presence or absence of any constriction in it. If it feels +tight, the internal pillar of the ring should then be cautiously divided +on the finger by a probe-pointed narrow bistoury, in a direction +parallel to the linea alba. + +At this stage the question comes to be considered as to whether the sac +should or should not be opened. Much has been said and written on both +sides. + +Not to open the sac avoids the risk of peritonitis, and of injury to the +bowel; but, on the other hand, exposes the patient to the danger of the +hernia being returned unreduced; for in many cases the stricture is to +be found in the sac itself, and adhesions very rapidly form between +coils of intestine in the sac and the inner wall. Again, not to open the +sac prevents us from discovering the condition in which the bowl is; it +may possibly be gangrenous, in which case such a return _en masse_ would +be almost necessarily fatal. + +A general rule or two may be given here:-- + +1. The sac should be opened in every case where there is any reason for +doubt about the condition of the bowel, where there has been +long-continued vomiting, or much tenderness on pressure. + +2. Even in cases in which there is every reason to believe the bowel is +perfectly sound, the sac should be opened, unless the whole contents can +be easily and completely reduced out of the sac into the belly, as in +cases where this cannot be done there probably exist either a stricture +in the neck of the sac itself, or adhesions of the bowel to the sac. We +should endeavour to avoid opening the sac in cases of old scrotal hernia +of large size, where the symptoms have not been urgent, especially in +large unhealthy hospitals, as the risk of peritonitis is so great. +Antiseptic precautions seem considerably to diminish the risk of opening +the sac. + +If the sac then is not to be opened, the rest of the operation is very +simple. Endeavour to reduce the bowel out of the sac, and then return +the sac itself, unless the hernia is of old standing, and adhesions +prevent its reduction. A few silver stitches to close the wound and a +carefully adjusted pad are now all that is requisite. + +If the sac is to be opened, how can it be done with least danger to the +bowel? + +If the hernia is small, and it is possible to define it all, the sac +should be opened at its lower end, as _there_ a small quantity of serous +fluid which intervenes between the sac and the bowel will be found. +Where this is present, there is no danger of wounding the bowel, as the +sac can be easily pinched up; but this is by no means invariably the +case, so great care should always be taken. A small portion of the wall +being thus pinched up should be divided in the same manner as the +layers of cellular tissue were divided in exposing the sac. A few drops +of serum will then escape, and the glistening surface of the bowel be +exposed; the finger should then be introduced at the opening, and the +incision enlarged by a probe-pointed bistoury. If the hernia is small +the sac should be slit up to its full extent; if large, only a +sufficient portion of the neck should be opened. As soon as the opening +in the sac is large enough to admit the point of the operator's +forefinger, it should be inserted so as to protect the intestines, and +the remainder of the sac slit up on it as a guide. + +The sac thus opened, the next step is to divide the constriction, +wherever it be. It is most likely to be found at the neck of the sac, +just where it protrudes through the internal ring in an oblique hernia, +or through the tendons of the transversalis and internal oblique, where +the hernia is direct. Now, this constriction might be divided in any +direction were it not for the risk of wounding the epigastric artery, +and also of injuring the spermatic cord, which is in close relation to +the neck of the sac of an oblique hernia. + +Wound of the epigastric artery is the chief danger, for in _all_ cases +it is close to the neck of the sac. Were its position in relation to the +neck of the sac constant, it might be easily avoided by an incision in +the opposite direction; but as this relation varies according to the +nature of the hernia, an element of danger is introduced. Thus, in +oblique inguinal ruptures, where the sac passes out through the internal +ring (Fig. XXXII. IR), the artery will always be found to the inside of +the neck of the sac; while in direct herniae, where the bowel has made +its escape through the triangle of Hesselbach (Fig. XXXII. +), and +passed through the conjoint tendon straight to the external ring, the +epigastric artery will be found on the outside of the neck of the sac. +In recent herniae the differential diagnosis is comparatively easy, but +in those of old standing and large size, in which the obliquity of the +canal has been much diminished, it is almost impossible to tell of what +kind the hernia originally was, and consequently to determine in which +direction it is safe to incise the neck of the sac. + +Such being the case, the best rule is to incise the neck of the sac +directly upwards, _i.e._ in a line parallel with the linea alba, and +also to cut it very cautiously bit by bit, in every case, if possible, +with the finger inserted as a guide to the position of a vessel and a +protection to the gut. + +The spermatic vessels lie sometimes behind, sometimes on either side of +the sac, and in very old herniae may be separated from each other so as +really to surround the sac. The cut directly upwards is also the safest +for them. + +All constrictions being overcome, it is not sufficient merely to push +back the gut into the belly. Its condition must be carefully examined, +and it must be decided whether the constriction has caused gangrene or +not. To examine this properly, it is generally best to pull down an inch +or two more of the gut, so as thoroughly to bring into view the +constricted portion, as _it_ is most likely to be fatally nipped. + +It is not always easy to decide as to the condition of the bowel. +Certain points must be observed:-- + +(1.) _Colour._--There may be very great alteration in the colour of the +bowel from congestion, and yet no gangrene. It may be dark red, claret, +purple, or even have a brownish tint, and yet recover; where it is +black, or a deep brown, the prognosis is unfavourable. + +(2.) _Glistening._--So long as the proper glistening appearance of the +bowel remains, there is hope for it, even when the colour is bad; if it +has lost it, and especially if, instead of being tense and shining, it +is dull and flaccid and in wrinkles, the bowel is almost certainly +gangrenous. + +(3.) _Thickness._--If much thickened, and especially if rough on the +surface, the bowel has probably been forming adhesions to the sac, or to +contiguous coils, and the prognosis is less favourable. + +(4.) _Smell._--The peculiar gangrenous odour on opening the sac is very +characteristic. In cases where ulceration and perforation have occurred, +the odour is faecal. + +1. If, then, the bowel is tolerably healthy-looking, though discoloured, +it should be returned gradually, not _en masse_, into the abdomen, the +wound sewed up, and a pad of lint put on, with a bandage. + +2. If there are adhesions of bowel to sac or to a neighbouring coil, or +of omentum to sac, the stricture should be freely divided, the +protruding coils of intestine should be emptied of their contents, but +no rash attempt made to force their return. Especially is this rule to +be observed with protruded, swollen, or adherent omentum, for +considerable risks attend any attempt at excision of the protruded +portion--risks of haemorrhage, peritonitis, and ulceration of the +contiguous bowel. + +If the bowel be returned, or even the continuity of the canal restored +by the cutting of the stricture, though the bowel be not returned, no +great risks accrue from the retention of a piece of omentum in the sac, +in a position which it may possibly have already occupied for years. + +3. If the bowel is absolutely gangrenous, even in a very small portion +of its length, no reduction should be attempted, but the gangrenous +portion should be kept outside, with the hope that adhesive inflammation +may be set up, so as to glue the bowel to the abdominal wall, prevent +faecal extravasation, and form a temporary artificial anus. If the +gangrenous portion be very full of faeces or flatus, incisions may be +made into it. This should be avoided in cases where the patient is +already much prostrated, as I have seen cases in which the opening of +the bowel seemed to inflict a fatal shock. + +Enterectomy or excision of the gangrenous portion has recently been +recommended and performed by some surgeons. The very high authority of +the late Professor Spence is against such procedure.[143] + +Cases of gangrene of even large portions of bowel are by no means +necessarily fatal. They may recover with an artificial anus, the remedy +of which by surgical means we must notice in its proper place. + + +OPERATION FOR STRANGULATED FEMORAL HERNIA.--While the general principles +guiding treatment and ruling the conduct of the operation are the same +as in inguinal, there are some differences in points of detail which +render a brief separate description necessary. + + A single word on the anatomy. Tracing a femoral rupture from within + outwards, we find that its first stage is to push its way through + the weak point of the arch formed by Poupart's ligament, that is, + the spot called the crural arch, bounded on its outer side by the + sheath of fascia which surrounds the femoral vein; above by + Poupart's ligament; on its inner side by the curved fibres of + Poupart's ligament, which, curving backwards, are inserted into the + ilio-pectineal line, have a sharp falciform edge, and have been + dignified by the special name of Gimbernat's ligament (Fig. XXXII. + G); and below by the os pubis itself. This arch or ring thus + bounded is, in the normal state of parts, filled by a layer of + fibrous texture, a little fat, and occasionally a small gland. + These parts are pushed forwards in the descent of the hernia, and + in a small recent one may be said to form a sort of inner covering; + in a larger and older one they are split by the hernia, and, while + forming a constriction round its neck, leave the fundus of the sac, + so far as they are concerned, quite uncovered. + + A femoral hernia may stop there, satisfied with merely coming + through the ring, and, if sudden and recent in a healthy, well-knit + subject, such a rupture is exceedingly dangerous, the constriction + being very severe, and the consequent gangrene of the bowel very + rapid if unrelieved. In most cases, however, it makes its way still + further out, and the next covering it gains is from the cribriform + fascia. This is the layer of fibres, pierced (as its name implies) + with orifices for the passage of veins and lymphatics, which + stretches between the two curved edges of the saphenous opening. It + varies much in strength; when the rupture has been slow and + gradual, it will certainly add a covering of greater or less + thickness, but where the hernia is large and old we must not expect + to find many traces of the cribriform fascia, at least over the + fundus of the tumour. + + The ordinary superficial fascia of the part, with its fat, nerves, + veins, and lymphatics, and the thin skin of the groin, are the only + remaining coverings. It is very remarkable how exceedingly thin all + the so-called coats become in large femoral herniae of long + standing, especially in thin old people. + +_Operation._--Various incisions are recommended. The one which gives +freest access and exposes the sac best, is shaped like a T, the +horizontal limb of which is oblique, the direction of the obliquity +varying on the two sides. The horizontal incision should be made just +over Poupart's ligament, and parallel to it, the centre of the incision +corresponding to the neck of the sac, and its length varying according +to the size of the tumour and the depth of the parts; the other should +extend downwards from the centre of the former, as far as is necessary +to display the whole sac. The first should be made by pinching up and +transfixing the skin, the second by ordinary incision, to the same depth +as the first. The small flaps thus made must now be thrown back; any +vessels that have been divided are to be tied. Now, with great care and +caution the surgeon is to pinch up and divide any layers of condensed +cellular tissue which may still cover the sac, till it is thoroughly +exposed to its full extent, and remove any glands which may intervene. + +The neck of the sac being exposed, it may be possible in some very +exceptional cases to give the patient the benefit of the minor +operation, which consists in leaving the sac unopened. In such a case +(to be described immediately), the surgeon passes his finger along the +neck of the sac as far as possible into the ring, and then with a +probe-pointed bistoury very cautiously nicks the upper edge of +Gimbernat's ligament, in one or more places, being careful to feel for +any pulsation before dividing a single fibre. He may then be able to +empty the sac of its contents, and return the bowel and omentum, still +retaining the sac outside. + +On the other hand, where it is determined to open the sac, the pinching +up of the sac must be managed with great care, to avoid injury of the +bowel. There is generally a little fluid to be found at the fundus, +which will protect the bowel. In one case in which Liston operated, he +tells us, "there was no possibility of pinching up the sac, either with +the fingers or forceps; it contained no fluid, and was impacted most +firmly with bowel; very luckily the membrane was thin; and, observing a +pelleton of fat underneath, I scratched very cautiously with the point +of the knife in the unsupported hand, until a trifling puncture was +made, sufficient to admit the blunt point of a narrow bistoury."[144] If +the sac contains bowel and omentum, it is safer to open it over the +omentum than over the bowel. When a small opening is made, an escape of +the contained fluid takes place, and then the sac should be slit up as +far as its neck by a probe-pointed bistoury, guided by the finger, +introduced to protect the bowel, whenever the opening is sufficiently +large. The forefinger must now be cautiously insinuated into the neck of +the sac, the nail being directed to the bowel, the pulp to the +crescentic margin of Gimbernat's ligament, and any constriction very +cautiously divided. The bowel should then be drawn down a little, the +constricted point carefully examined, and then returned or not, +according to its condition. + +Two points require a brief separate notice:-- + +1. In what direction is the crural arch to be divided? Not outwards +certainly, on account of the vein, nor downwards, as the bone prevents +that direction. Is it to be upwards or inwards? Not upwards, for such +an incision would endanger the spermatic cord or round ligament, besides +greatly weakening the abdominal wall by the division, partial or +complete, of Poupart's ligament. Inwards then it must be; and little +more need be said about it, were it not for the occasional existence of +an abnormal course and distribution of the obturator artery. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXXII.[145]] + +The usual origin of this vessel is from the internal iliac, in which +case (Fig. XXXII. N O) it never comes near the sac at all. In certain +cases (1 in 3-1/2) it rises from the epigastric, and in a very few (1 in +72) from the external iliac. If rising from either of the two last, it +most commonly passes downwards at the outer side of the hernia, in which +case (Fig. XXXII. S O) no harm can possibly result; but in a few rare +cases, perhaps 1 in every 60 of those operated on, the vessel winds +round the hernia (Fig. XXXII. O), crossing at its inner side, and thus +may be (and has actually been) divided by a rash incision. With due +care, however, and by cutting a very little at a time, even this danger +may be avoided. + +2. Under what circumstances is it possible or justifiable to reduce a +femoral hernia, without previously opening the sac? Only in certain very +select cases, where the hernia is recent, the constricting parts lax, +the general symptoms very mild, and where there is reason to believe the +bowel has completely escaped injury by compression or the taxis. There +are both difficulties and dangers in this so-called minor operation:--1. +_Difficulties_, For it is not easy to divide the constriction without +the assistance of the finger in the sac, and it is not easy to reduce +the contents with the sac unopened, except through a much freer opening +than is necessary when the bowel has been fairly exposed. 2. _Dangers_, +Of reducing sac and viscera, together with the strangulation still kept +up by tightness in the neck of the sac; or of supposing the sac is +emptied while a knuckle of bowel still remains in it, and is +strangulated; or, lastly, of reducing the intestine which has already +become gangrenous. It is very remarkable how very soon gangrene may come +on, in a case of a small recent femoral hernia, in which the fibrous +tissues constricting the neck of the sac are tense and undilatable. A +protrusion for eight hours has been sufficient to destroy the life of a +knuckle of bowel. + + A note here on a certain condition very frequent in femoral herniae, + which may occasionally give a good deal of trouble. Symptoms of + strangulation have been well marked, yet when the sac is opened + nothing is to be seen except a mass of omentum, perhaps tolerably + healthy-looking. To reduce this _en masse_ would be very unsafe; + it is necessary carefully to unravel it, and disengage the knuckle + of bowel which is almost certainly included in it, and which has + given rise to the symptoms of strangulation. + + +OPERATION FOR STRANGULATED UMBILICAL HERNIA.--The operation is +practically the same, whether the hernia is a true umbilical one, or one +which with more strict accuracy might be called ventral. True umbilical +hernia is a disease of infancy and childhood, being almost always +congenital, and the viscera protrude through the umbilical aperture. +This rarely requires operation, as it may generally be returned with +ease, and even cured by a proper bandage and compress. Ventral hernia, +commonly called _umbilical_, is generally a protrusion of viscera +through a new preternatural aperture in the fibrous tissues close to the +navel, may often attain a large size, is liable to strangulation, and is +not easily palliated or cured. + +In either case the operation requires a very brief description. If the +hernia is small, under the size of a hen's egg, a crucial incision +through the thin skin which covers it will thoroughly expose the sac +when the flaps are dissected back. The forefinger should then be +inserted in the round opening, and the edges cautiously incised in +several directions, each incision however being very small. + +If the rupture is large, a single linear, or a T-shaped incision, +exposing the base of the tumour, will be sufficient to allow the +requisite dilatation of the opening to be made. It is not at all +necessary in every case to open the sac of the peritoneum. If required, +it must be done with great caution, as the sac is generally very thin. +In cases where the hernia is chiefly omental, the sac should be opened, +lest a knuckle of bowel be inclosed and strangulated in the omentum. + + +OBTURATOR HERNIA is an extremely rare lesion, and a large proportion of +the recorded cases were discovered only after death. When diagnosed +during life and strangulated, some have been reduced by taxis, and only +a very few cases have been operated on, some with success. It is not +likely that a diagnosis could be made, except in very emaciated +patients, in whom pain at the obturator foramen was a prominent symptom, +and in whom it could be ascertained positively that the crural ring was +empty. An incision over the tumour, sufficient to allow the pectineus +muscle to be exposed and divided, is necessary. The hernia may then be +reduced without opening the sac, if recent; if of long standing, the sac +must be opened. One case is recorded by Dr. Lorinzer, in which, after +strangulation for eleven days, he opened the sac and found the bowel +gangrenous. The patient had a faecal fistula; but survived the operation +for eleven months. Nuttel, Obre, and Bransby Cooper have each diagnosed +and treated such cases.[146] + +Other forms of hernia are so rare, and the treatment of each case must +necessarily vary so much in its circumstances, as not to require or +admit of any detailed account of the operations requisite for their +relief. + + +OPERATIONS FOR THE RADICAL CURE OF HERNIA.--The inconveniences and +discomfort caused by even the best-adjusted trusses or bandages, the +unsatisfactory support they afford, and the risk of their slipping and +allowing the hernia to escape, have given rise to many attempts to cure +hernia by operation. + +Even to enumerate these would be quite beyond the limits of the present +volume; suffice it to classify a few of the most important of them +according to the principle involved in each, and then give a very brief +account of the method of operating which seems to be at once the most +scientific, least dangerous, and most permanently useful. + +The question at issue is briefly this. We have, in a hernia, the +following condition:--The walls of a great cavity are at one or more +points specially weak, the contained viscera have protruded, either by +extension and stretching of a natural opening, or by the formation of a +new breach in the walls, and, in protruding, they have brought with them +as a covering a serous membrane, extremely extensible, highly sensitive +to injury, and, when injured, certain to resent it by severe, spreading, +and dangerous inflammation. + +Do we desire to remedy this protrusion, we may act-- + +1. On the intestines themselves; but for all surgical purposes, they are +out of our reach. We cannot do more than, by diminishing their contents, +diminish their volume, and by position and rest reduce to the utmost +their tendency to protrude. This includes the medical and prophylactic +treatment of hernia, or rather of the tendency to hernia. + +2. We may try what can be done with the _sac_ which the intestines have +pushed down before them. Can it be obliterated? If it can, perhaps the +intestines may be retained in their cavity. Very many plans of dealing +with the sac have been tried. + +To cause obliteration of its cavity many methods have been proposed:--by +ligature of it along with the spermatic cord, involving loss of the +testicle, either by gradual separation, by sloughing, or by immediate +removal;--by cutting into it, and then stitching it up;--by constricting +it with wire, as in the _punctum aureum_; by pinching sac and coverings +up, by passing needles under them as they emerge from the external ring, +as Bonnet of Lyons did; by constricting sac alone with a double wire, by +subcutaneous puncture, as Dr. Morton of Glasgow has done;--by severe +pressure from the outside with a strong tight truss and a pad of wood, +as proposed by Richter; by setons of threads or candlewicks, as proposed +by Schuh of Vienna;--by injection of tincture of iodine or cantharides, +as by Velpeau and Pancoast;--by the introduction into the sac of thin +bladders of goldbeaters' skin, which were then filled with air, and were +intended to excite inflammation, as in the radical cure of hydrocele; or +by the still more severe method of Langenbeck, consisting in exposing +the sac by a free incision at the superficial ring, separating it from +the cord, and passing a ligature round the sac alone, leaving the +ligatured portion in the scrotum either to become obliterated or to +slough out. Schmucker of Berlin varied this, by cutting away the +constricted portion below the ligature. + +The objections to these methods are various: the more gentle are +uncertain and inefficient; of the more severe, some involve mutilation, +by the loss or removal of the testicle; others, as those of Langenbeck +and Schmucker, are very dangerous and fatal, by the inflammation +spreading to the peritoneal cavity (20 to 30 per cent. died); while all +of these methods afford at best only temporary relief. And this is only +what might have been expected, for the sac was only a _result_ of the +protrusion, not a _cause_; and so long as the weakness and insufficiency +of the parietes of the abdomen remain, so long will the extensible +loosely-attached peritoneum continue to furnish new sacs for visceral +protrusions. + +3. We have now only the canal left to act upon; and the operations on +the canal may be divided into two great classes:-- + +(_a._) Those in which the operator attempts to plug up the dilated +canal. (_b._) Those in which he tries to constrict it, by reuniting its +separated sides. + +(_a._) Attempts to plug the canal have, in most cases, been made by +invagination of the skin of the scrotum and its fascia. These have been +very numerous and various in their adaptation of mechanical appliances, +but have all been designed with the same object. Dzondi of Halle, and +Jameson of Baltimore, incised lancet-shaped flaps of skin, and +endeavoured to fix them by displacement over the ring. Gerdy invaginated +a portion of scrotum and fascia into the enlarged canal, by the +forefinger pushed it up, and secured it in its place by a thread passed +from the point of his finger first through the invaginated skin, then +through the abdominal walls, endeavouring to include the walls of the +inguinal canal, causing the point of the needle to project some lines +above the inguinal ring; the same process being effected with the other +end of the thread on the other side of the finger, and the two ends +which have been brought out near each other on the abdominal wall, being +tied tightly over a cylinder of plaster. The ensheathed sac was then +painted with caustic ammonia to excite inflammation, and a pad put on +over all. + +Signoroni modified this by fixing the invaginated skin by a piece of +female catheter, retained in its place by transfixion by three harelip +needles, tied by twisted sutures. + +Wuetzer of Bonn, again, modified this, by substituting a complicated +instrument, consisting of a stout plug in the inguinal canal, held in +position by needles which are passed through the anterior wall of the +canal in the groin. Compression between plug and compress, with the +intention of causing adhesion between skin, fascia, and sac, is then +managed by means of a screw. The plug is retained for about seven days. + +Modifications of this method have been tried by Wells, Rothmund, and +Redfern Davies, all aiming in the direction of simplicity; but by far +the most simple and efficacious method on the Wuetzer principle yet +devised is that of Professor Syme, which he described in the pages of +the _Edinburgh Medical Journal_ for May 1861, in which the invagination +of integument is both simply and securely managed by strong threads, as +in Gerdy's method, while a piece of bougie or gutta-percha, to which +the threads are fixed, replaces Wuetzer's expensive and complicated +apparatus. Sir J. Fayrer of Calcutta has had a very large experience of +Wuetzer's method, and also of a plan of his own. Out of 102 cases by the +latter method, 77 were cured, 9 relieved, 14 failed, and 2 died.[147] + +Mr. Pritchard of Bristol has proposed an additional step in operations +on the invagination principle, consisting in the stripping of a thin +slip of skin from the orifice of the cutaneous canal, and then putting a +pin through the parts to get them to unite, and thus close the aperture +completely. + +Now, what results follow these operations? At first they are almost +invariably successful, but the complaint is that, in most cases, the +rupture recurs. The principle is to plug up the passage by the +mechanical presence of the invaginated skin, the plug being retained in +position by adhesive inflammation between it and the edges of the +dilated ring. But the ring is left dilated, or, indeed, generally its +dilatation is increased; and as, on continued pressure from within, the +new adhesions give way, or, as often happens, a new protrusion takes +place in the circular _cul-de-sac_ necessarily left all round the apex +of the invagination, the still lax ring and canal offer no resistance to +the protrusion. + +(_b._) The principle of constriction of the canal by reuniting its +separated sides. This is the principle of the various methods introduced +by Mr. Wood of King's College, and described by him in his most able and +exhaustive work.[148] + +He applies sutures through the sides of the dilated inguinal or crural +canals, or umbilical openings, in such a manner as to insure their +complete closure. + +1. _For inguinal hernia._--To stitch together the two sides of the canal +with safety requires attention to several points--(1.) That it be done +nearly, if not entirely, subcutaneously. (2.) That the protruding bowel +should be kept out of the way, and not be transfixed by the needle. (3.) +That the spermatic cord should be protected from injurious pressure. + +These different indications are attained by Mr. Wood by a very ingenious +mode of operating, which I can describe here only briefly, and for a +full description of which I must refer to Mr. Wood's own monograph +already alluded to. + +For his first twenty cases Mr. Wood used strong hempen thread for the +stitches; of late, however, he has proved the greater advantage of +strong wire. + +When a large old hernia in an adult is the subject of operation, it is +thus performed by Mr. Wood:--The pubes being shaved, and the patient put +thoroughly under the influence of chloroform, the rupture is reduced, +and the operator's forefinger forced up the canal so as to push every +morsel of bowel fairly into the abdomen. An assistant then commands the +internal ring by pressure, to prevent return of the rupture. + +An incision is made in the scrotum over the fundus of the sac, large +enough to admit a forefinger and the large needle used in the operation; +the edges of the skin are to be separated from the fascia below for +about one inch all round. The forefinger is then to be passed in at the +aperture and pushed upwards, invaginating the detached fascia before it, +and it must be made to enter the inguinal canal far enough to define the +lower border of the internal oblique muscle stretched over it. A large +curved needle (unarmed) is then passed on the finger as a guide, through +the internal oblique tendon, the internal portion of the ring, and the +skin of the abdomen; it is then threaded and withdrawn. Again, the +needle (now with a thread) is guided by the finger and pushed through +Poupart's ligament and the external pillar of the ring as before; while +by a little manipulation its point is made to protrude through the same +opening in the skin as before, a loop of thread is now left there, and +the needle, still threaded, is again withdrawn. The next stitch, still +guided on the finger, takes up the tendinous layer of the triangular +aponeurosis covering the outer border of the rectus tendon close to the +pubic spine; the point of the needle is then turned obliquely, so as to +protrude through the original puncture in the skin a third time, the +needle is then freed from the thread and withdrawn, thus leaving two +ends and one intermediate loop of thread all at the one opening. These +are so arranged that when they are tightened they draw together the +sides of the canal; they are then secured over a compress of lint. The +compress is removed and the stitches loosened, at dates varying from the +third to the seventh day. + +Mr. Wood now uses wire instead of thread. It has the advantage of +greater firmness, excites less suppuration, and may be left much longer +_in situ_, in consequence of which there is less risk of suppuration or +pyaemia, and more chance of a good consolidation of the parts. + + In congenital herniae, and small ruptures in children and young + boys, Mr. Wood uses rectangular pins in the following manner:--The + scrotum being invaginated (without any incision through the skin) + as far as possible up the canal, a rectangular pin, with a + slightly-curved spear-pointed head, is passed through the skin of + the groin to the operator's forefinger; guided by it, it is brought + safely down the canal, and brought out through the skin of the + scrotum just over the fundus of the hernial sac. A second pin is + passed from the lower opening (still guided by the finger) in an + upward direction, transfixing in its course the posterior surface + of the outer pillar of the superficial ring, its point being + brought out through, or at least close to, the first puncture made + by the first pin. The pins are then locked in each other's + loops--the punctures and skin protected by lint or adhesive + plaster,--and the whole is retained by lint and a spica bandage. + The pins should generally be withdrawn about the tenth day. + +The author has now in many cases stitched with catgut the edges of the +ring after the ordinary operation for hernia with the best effect. + +2. _For Femoral Rupture._--Cases suitable for operation are very +infrequent; but should such a one be met with, Mr. Wood proposes the +following operation on the same plan as the preceding. The hernia being +fully reduced and the parts relaxed by position, an incision about an +inch long should be made over the fundus of the tumour, and its edges +raised so as to admit the finger fairly into the crural opening. The +vein is then to be pushed inwards, and the needle passed through the +pubic portion of the fascia lata of the thigh, and then through +Poupart's ligament, appearing on the skin of the abdomen, a wire is then +passed through the eye of the needle and hooked down, appearing through +the wound, it is then withdrawn, and the needle again passed through the +pubic portion of the fascia lata, but about three-quarters of an inch to +the inside of the first puncture, then through Poupart's ligament again, +and protruded through the same orifice in the skin; the other end of the +wire is then hooked down as before, leaving a loop above, at the needle +orifice, and two ends at the wound in the skin below. Both loops and +ends must be managed as before. + + The author after operating for the relief of strangulation in a + case of very large femoral hernia in a girl aged 23, stitched up + the neck of the sac, and also stitched it to Gimbernat's ligament. + The result for some months was admirable, though the hernia had + been a very difficult one to replace from its size, and had been + long in the habit of coming down. Eventually protrusion occurred to + a very slight extent, but a truss keeps it completely up. + +3. _For Umbilical Rupture._--The principle involved in Mr. Wood's +operation for umbilical rupture is precisely the same as for inguinal +and crural. It consists in stitching the two edges of the tendinous +aperture by wire; the needle is passed on a sort of small scoop or +broad grooved director, which at once invaginates the skin and protects +the bowel. Two stitches are thus inserted on each side. For the +ingenious method by which they are introduced subcutaneously, I must +refer to the detailed description in Mr. Wood's monograph. The wires are +thus twisted and tightened over a pad of lint or wood, drawing together +the edges of the opening in the tendon. + + +OPERATIONS FOR ARTIFICIAL ANUS.--In children the condition known as +imperforate anus may sometimes be remedied by exploratory operations in +the perineum, guided by the protrusion caused by the distended +intestine. There are other cases, however, in which the rectum, as well +as the anus, seems to be deficient, and in which, from the want of +protrusion, there is no warrant for attempting an operation there; in +these the only chance of life that remains is in an attempt to open the +bowel higher up. + +In adults, again, absolute closure of the rectum and anus, and complete +obstruction, may be the result of malignant disease, or even, very +rarely, of simple organic stricture. + +In such cases, where the patient is tolerably strong and yet evidently +doomed from the complete obstruction, an attempt at the formation of an +artificial anus is warrantable, and in many cases afford great relief, +and prolongs life for months. + +Without going into all the various positions proposed for such +operations, I select the two most warrantable, which have borne the test +of experience. These are--1. Colotomy in the left loin. This is +applicable in the case of adults with rectal obstruction. 2. Colotomy in +the left groin applicable in cases of imperforate anus and deficiency of +rectum in infants. + +1. _Colotomy in the left loin_, generally known by the name of +_Amussat's operation_.--The patient is laid upon his face, a pillow +placed under the abdomen, rendering the left flank prominent. A +transverse incision should then be made at a level about two +finger-breadths above the crest of the ilium, extending from the outer +edge of the erector spinae muscle forward for four or five inches, +according to the fatness of the patient; the muscles must then be +carefully divided till the transversalis fascia is exposed. It is then +to be pinched up and divided, as in the operation for strangulated +hernia. The muscular wall of the colon uncovered by peritoneum is then +in most cases very easily recognised from its immense distension. The +bowel should then be hooked up by a curved needle, two or three points +at least secured to the margins of the wounds by stitches, and then the +bowel should be opened by a longitudinal incision of at least an inch in +length. When the distension has been great, there is generally a rush of +fluid faeces, which must be provided for, special care being taken lest +any get into the cavity of the peritoneum. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXXIII.[149]] + +2. _Colotomy in the left groin_, for absence of anus and deficiency of +rectum in newly born infants.--The dissections of Curling, Gosselin, and +others have shown that in infants the operation of lumbar colotomy is +very difficult, and its results uncertain, while it is comparatively +easy to open the colon in the left groin. Huguier, again, has shown that +in certain cases the colon is not to be found in the left groin, but is +accessible in the right groin. This abnormality seems, as shown by +Curling, to occur not oftener than once in every ten cases. + +_Operation._--An oblique incision from an inch and a half to two inches +in length should be made in the left iliac region above Poupart's +ligament, extending a little above the anterior-superior spinous process +of the ilium. The fibres of the abdominal muscles should be divided on a +director passed beneath them, and the peritoneum should next be +cautiously opened to a sufficient extent. The colon will most likely +protrude, but if small intestine appear the colon must be sought for +higher up. A curved needle armed with a silk ligature should be passed +lengthways through the coats of the upper part of the colon, and another +inserted in the same way below, and the bowel, being drawn forwards, +should then be opened by a longitudinal incision. The colon must +afterwards be attached to the skin forming the margin of the wound by +four sutures at the points of entry and exit of the needles. + + +OPERATION FOR THE REMOVAL OF AN ARTIFICIAL ANUS, in cases where the +bowel is patent below.--After the operation for hernia in a case where +the bowel is gangrenous, the only hope of the patient's recovery +consists in the formation of adhesions between the bowel and the +external wound, and the presence, for a time at least, of an artificial +anus. If adhesions do form, and the patient recovers, it becomes a +matter of great importance for his future comfort that the canal of the +intestine should be re-established, and the fistulous opening allowed to +close. This, however, is by no means easy, as even when the portion of +intestine destroyed has been very small, a septum or valve remains which +directs the contents of the bowel outwards, and so long as it exists is +an effectual obstacle to any of the faecal contents passing into the +distal portion of the bowel. This septum or eperon is formed by the +mesenteric side of the two ends of the bowel. To destroy this without +causing peritonitis is the aim of the surgeon, and it is not an easy +matter to accomplish. To cut it away would at once open the peritoneal +cavity, so the mode of treatment now adopted in the rare cases where it +is necessary is that recommended by Dupuytren. The principle of it is to +destroy the eperon by pressure so gradual as to cause adhesive +inflammation between the two surfaces, and thus seal up the cavity of +the peritoneum, before the continuance of the same pressure shall have +caused sloughing of the septum. This is managed by the gradual +approximation by a screw of the blades of a pair of forceps, to which +Dupuytren gave the name Enterotome. The process, which extends over days +and weeks, must be carefully watched lest the inflammation go too far. + +Plastic operations are occasionally required to close the opening after +the passage is restored. For a good example of such an operation see +_Edin. Med. Journal_ for August 1873, in which Mr. John Duncan describes +a case. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[141] _Description of Sir Spencer Wells's Trocar._--"It consists of a +hollow cylinder six inches long, and half an inch in diameter, within +which another cylinder fitting it tightly plays. The inner one is cut +off at its extremity, somewhat in the form of a pen, and is sharp. The +sharp end is kept retracted within the outer cylinder by a spiral spring +in the handle at the other end, but can be protruded by pressing on this +handle when required for use. When thus protruded it is plunged into the +cyst up to its middle; the pressure on the handle is taken off, and the +cutting edge is retracted within its sheath. The fluid rushes into the +tube, and escapes by an aperture in the side, to which an india-rubber +tube is attached, the end of which drops into a bucket under the table. +The instrument is furnished at its middle with two semicircular bars, +carrying each four or five long curved teeth like a vulsellum. These +teeth lie in contact with the outer surface of the cylinder, but can be +raised from it by pressing two handles. When the cyst begins to be +flaccid by the escape of the fluid, these side vulsellums are raised, +and the adjoining part of the cyst is drawn up under the teeth, where it +is firmly caught and compressed against the side of the tube." + +[142] For further details on the operations described above, reference +may be made to Sir Spencer Wells's work on ovarian disease, and to the +very valuable papers contributed by Dr. Thomas Keith to the _Edinburgh +Medical Journal_. To the latter especially the author is indebted for +much oral instruction, and for the opportunity of seeing his careful and +dexterous mode of operating. + +[143] _Lect. on Surgery_, 3d ed., vol. ii. p. 998. + +[144] _Operative Surgery_, p. 462. + +[145] Rough diagram of abnormal course of obturator and its relation to +the neck of a hernia. Parts seen from the inside: H, femoral hernia; A, +femoral artery; V, femoral vein; E, epigastric artery; O, obturator from +epigastric (dangerous); S O, obturator from epigastric (safe); N O, +normal course of obturator; I R, internal inguinal ring; Sp C, spermatic +chord and its vessels; G, Gimbernat's ligament; +, in triangle of +Hesselbach. + +[146] Holmes's _Surgery_, 3d ed., 1883, vol. ii. p. 837. + +[147] _Clinical and Pathological Observations in India_, pp. 44, 325. + +[148] Wood _On Rupture_, 1863. + +[149] Diagram of an artificial anus, showing small sutures which unite +the edges of the gut and the skin, and the large ones stitching up the +wound beyond. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +OPERATIONS ON PELVIS. + + +LITHOTOMY.--However interesting and even instructive it might be, any +history of the various operations for the removal of calculi from the +bladder would be quite out of place in a manual such as this. It will be +sufficient here to describe the operations recommended and practised in +the present day. + +There are three different situations in which the bladder may be entered +for the purpose of removing a calculus:-- + +1. The perineum, where access is gained through the urethra, prostate, +and neck of the bladder. + +2. Above the pubes, where the portion of bladder not covered by +peritoneum is opened from above. + +3. From the rectum. + + +1. LITHOTOMY THROUGH THE PERINEUM, by far the most frequent position for +the operation.--Very various methods for its performance have been +devised, differing in the nature and shape of the instruments employed, +the direction and size of the incisions, the nature of the wound; but +all resemble each other in certain very cardinal and important +particulars. Thus all agree that it is absolutely necessary to enter the +bladder at _one_ spot--the neck of the bladder; and that to do this +safely the urethra must be opened, and some instrument previously +introduced by the urethra is to be used as a guide for the knife. But an +instrument in the urethra and bladder is surrounded for at least an inch +of its course by the prostate; and thus the knife, gorget, or finger, +which, guided by the instrument in the urethra, is intended to cut or +dilate the entrance to the bladder for the purpose of allowing the +calculus to be removed, cannot do this without also cutting or dilating +this prostate gland. Experience has proved that much of the success of +the operation depends upon the position and amount of incision made in +this prostate gland. But it might be asked, Why can we not enter the +bladder by one side, avoiding altogether its neck and this prostate +gland? For this, among other reasons, that the bladder normally +contains, and so long as the patient lives must contain, a certain +quantity of a very irritating fluid. It is surrounded by the loose +areolar tissue of the pelvis, into which, if any of this fluid escapes, +abcesses will form and death probably ensue; this result will almost +certainly follow any opening made into the bladder except at one spot. +This spot is the neck of the bladder. Why does urinary infiltration not +occur there? Because the fascia of the pelvis (which when entire can +resist infiltration) is prolonged forwards at the neck of the bladder, +over the prostate (Fig. XXXIV. PF), for which it forms a very strong +funnel-like sheath. So long as this sheath is not cut where it covers +the sides of the prostate, urinary infiltration of the pelvis is +impossible, the urine being carried forwards and fairly out of the +pelvis in this urine-tight funnel. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXXIV.[150]] + +But it may now be said, If this be the case, we are very much limited in +the size of the incision we may make into the bladder. We cannot remove +a large stone, for the prostate ought not to be larger than a good-sized +chestnut, and any cut we might make through a chestnut without cutting +out of its side must be very small. Very true; but fortunately the +sheath of the prostate, unlike the rind of the chestnut, is very freely +dilatable, and will allow the passage of a very considerable stone. + +Again, an inquirer might ask, If it is so dilatable, why should we run +the risk of cutting the prostate at all? Why should we not introduce +instruments gradually increasing in size into the membranous portion of +the urethra, and thus dilate prostate and neck of bladder? For this +reason, that the urethral canal passing through the prostate is itself +lined immediately outside of the mucous membrane by a firm membranous +sheath (Fig. XXXIV. RR), which resists dilatation to the utmost. +Experience tells us that any attempts to dilate or even forcibly to tear +this ring of fibrous texture are both ineffectual and dangerous, while a +clean cut into it and through it into the substance of the prostate is +at once effectual and comparatively safe. + +In a word, we can describe the relation of the prostate to the operation +of lithotomy somewhat in this manner:--Its fibrous sheath surrounding +the urethra must be cut freely. The gland substance may be cut and +freely dilated by the finger. Its fibrous envelope must, as far as +possible, be preserved intact, but this interferes the less with the +operation, as it is comparatively freely dilatable. + +The firm lining of the urethra, which must be cut, is specially strong +at its base, forming a tough resisting band just at the aperture of the +bladder, which, unfortunately, is often so high up in the pelvis in +tall patients, or in cases in which the prostate is much enlarged, as to +be almost out of reach of the finger, and so far up the staff as perhaps +to escape division. You will be warned of such an occurrence by the +urine in the bladder failing to make its appearance; and if any attempt +be made to dilate the opening and introduce the forceps without further +incision of the base of the prostate, the result will very likely be +fatal, generally from pyaemic symptoms depending on a suppurative +inflammation of the prostatic plexus of veins (Fig. XXXIV.). In fact, +upon a recognition of this fact is founded the aphorism, "that cases in +which the forceps have been introduced before the bladder fairly begins +to empty its contents are generally fatal." + +[Illustration: FIG. XXXV.[151]] + +We have thus traced the necessary guiding principles as to our incisions +from the bladder outwards through the prostatic portion of the urethra. +We have next to discover what sort of an opening is necessary in the +membranous portion of the urethra consistent with the fulfilment of the +same conditions, namely, freedom of escape for the urine, and room +enough to remove the stone. Both of these are gained at once by a free +incision of the membranous portion, dividing especially those anterior +fibres of the great sphincter muscle of the pelvis, the levator ani, +which embrace the membranous portion, under the special names of +compressor (Fig. XXV.) and levator urethrae (Guthrie's and Wilson's +muscles). + +The principles which guide the position and size of the preliminary +incisions which enable the urethra to be opened are very simple:--(1.) +The wound in the perineum should be large enough to give free access to +the urethra, and easy egress to the stone; (2.) It should be conical, +with its base outwards, so as to favour escape of urine and prevent +infiltration; (3.) It should not wound any important organ or vessel; +that is, it must avoid the rectum, the corpus spongiosum, especially the +bulb, if possible, the artery of the bulb, and in every case should +leave the pudic artery intact. + +So far for broad general principles, which must guide all methods of +successful lithotomy. + + +THE LATERAL OPERATION.--_Operation of Cheselden._--(1.) _Instruments +required._--A staff with a broad substantial handle, and a longer curve +than the ordinary catheter requires, furnished with a very deep and wide +groove, which occupies the space midway between its convexity and its +left side. The one used should invariably be large enough to dilate +fully the urethra. + +A knife, with its blade three or four inches in length, but sharp only +for an inch and a half from its point, its back straight up to within a +sixth of an inch of its point, and there deflected at an angle to the +point, which again curves to the edge. The angle from the back to the +point permits the knife to run more freely along the groove in the +staff. + +A probe-pointed straight knife with a narrow blade may occasionally be +useful in enlarging the incision in the prostate, when this is required +by the size of the stone. + +Forceps of various sizes and shapes, some with the blades curved at an +angle to reach stones lying behind an enlarged prostate, all with broad +blades as thin as is consistent with perfect inflexibility, the blades +hollowed and roughened in the inside, but without the projecting teeth +sometimes recommended, which are dangerous from being apt to break the +stone. + +A scoop to remove fragments or small stones, sometimes useful with the +aid of the forefinger in lifting out a large one. + +A flexible tube of at least half an inch calibre, and about six inches +long, rounded off and fenestrated above, fitted at its outer end with a +ring and two eyelet-holes for the tapes, with which it is tied into the +bladder. + +Prior to the operation the patient's health should be attended to, the +stomach and bowels regulated, and any disorder of the kidneys or bladder +as far as possible alleviated. If his health has been good and habits +active, three or four days' confinement to his room on low diet, with a +full purge the evening before the operation, is all the preparatory +treatment that is necessary. + +It is of the utmost importance for the safety of the operation and the +patient's comfort after it, that the rectum be completely unloaded +before the operation, and the bowels so far emptied as to permit three +or four days after the operation to elapse without any movement of the +bowels being necessary. If there is any doubt as to the effect of the +laxative, a large stimulant enema should be administered on the morning +of the operation. + +_Position._--Much depends on the proper tying up of the patient. He +should be placed with his breech projecting over the edge of a narrow +table, with head slightly raised on a pillow, but the shoulders low. The +hands are then to be secured each to its corresponding foot, by a strong +bandage passing round wrist and instep, or by suitable leather anklets, +the knees should be wide apart, and on exactly the same level, so that +the pelvis may be quite straight. An assistant should be placed to take +charge of each leg. + +The staff is next introduced and the stone felt; if there is little +water in the bladder a few ounces may be injected, but this is rarely +necessary, for the patient should be ordered to retain as much water as +possible, and when he cannot retain it, injection of water may do harm, +and will probably not be retained, but at once come away along the +groove in the staff. The staff is then committed to a special assistant, +who must be thoroughly up to his duty, and attend to the staff alone. + +Some surgeons direct the assistant to make the convexity of the staff +bulge in the perineum, to enable the groove to be struck more easily. It +will be, however, safer both for the rectum and the bulb, if the staff +be hooked firmly up against the symphysis pubis, as advised by Liston. +The same assistant can also keep the scrotum up out of the way. + +If the perineum has not been previously shaved, this is now done. + +The operator sits down on a low stool in front of the patient's +breech, his instruments being ready to his hand, and then steadying +the skin of the perineum with the fingers of his left hand, enters +the point of the knife in the raphe of the perineum, midway between +the anus and scrotum (one inch in front of anus--_Cheselden_, +_Crichton_; one and a quarter--_Gross_, _Skey_, and _Brodie_; one +and three-quarters--_Fergusson_; one inch behind the scrotum--_Liston_), +and carries the incision obliquely downwards and outwards, in a line +midway between the anus and tuberosity of the ischium. The length of the +incision must vary with the size of the perineum, and the supposed size +of the stone, but there is less risk in its being too large, so long as +the rectum is safe, than in its being too small. Its depth should be +greatest at its upper angle, where it has to divide the parts to the +depth of the transverse muscle of the perineum, and least at its lower +angle, where a deep incision is not required, and would be almost sure +to wound the rectum. + +The forefinger of the left hand is now to be deeply inserted into the +wound, and any remaining fibres of the levator ani in front are to be +divided, the edge of the knife being directed from above downwards. The +left forefinger being still used to push its way through the cellular +tissue, the groove in the staff is now felt in the membranous portion of +the urethra covered by the deep fascia of the perineum. Now comes the +deeper part of the incision. Guided by the finger-nail of the left hand, +the surgeon introduces the point of the knife into the groove of the +staff. He then takes hold of the staff for a moment to feel that it is +held up properly against the pubis, and in the middle line, and also +that the knife is fairly in the groove. Giving the staff back again to +the assistant, and keeping the rectum well out of the way by the left +hand, he now steadily directs the knife along the groove of the staff +till the bladder is fairly entered, and the ring at the base of the +prostate completely divided. When this is the case a gush of urine takes +place, following the withdrawal of the knife. + +When making the deep incision, and in the groove of the staff, the blade +of the knife should lie neither vertical nor horizontal, but midway +between the two, so as to make the section of the left lobe of the +prostate in its longest diameter, that is, in a direction downwards and +backwards (Fig. XXXIV. L). + +The knife is now withdrawn, and the left forefinger inserted. In most +cases it will be long enough to reach the bladder and touch the stone, +and may then be freely used by gradual pressure to dilate the wound; +this may be done very freely when necessary for a large stone, if only +the ring of fibrous tissue surrounding the urethra be first cut and the +bladder fairly entered. Whenever the stone is felt by the finger, the +assistant may withdraw the staff. + +When the operator has thus felt the stone and sufficiently dilated the +wound, the next step is to introduce the forceps; this should be done +under the guidance of the finger, and with the blades closed. When the +stone is felt the blades should be opened very widely, slightly +withdrawn, and then pushed in again, the lower one, if possible, being +insinuated under the stone. The blades must be made fairly to grasp and +contain the stone in their hollow, for if they only nibble at the end of +an oval stone, extraction is impossible. Extraction should then be +performed slowly, with alternate wrigglings of the forceps from side to +side, so as gradually to dilate, not to tear, the prostate, and the +operator must remember to pull in the axis of the pelvis, not against +the os pubis or the promontory of the sacrum. + +If there is much resistance, it may possibly be caused by the stone +having been caught in its longer axis, and this may be remedied by +careful manipulation by means of the finger and forceps. If the stone is +still too large to be extracted without greater force than is +warrantable, there are still various expedients (see _infra_, pp. 265, +270). + +In most cases, however, the stone is removed rapidly enough by the +single incision. The finger, or a sound, must then be introduced to feel +if any more stones are present. The closed forceps make a very effectual +instrument for this purpose. Much information may be gained from the +appearance of the first stone, the presence or absence of facets. Its +smoothness or roughness enables us to form a pretty certain opinion; yet +the bladder should always be carefully searched; and if the stone has +been friable or broken in extraction, should be washed out by a current +of water. Where the calculi are very numerous, or where many fragments +have separated, the scoop will be found useful, both for detecting and +removing them. All the stones being extracted, there is in most cases +little or no bleeding (see _infra_, Haemorrhage). The tube already +described may now be inserted and tied into the bladder. It may be +retained for forty-eight or seventy-two hours, according to +circumstances. Care must be taken lest it be closed up by coagula during +the first hour or two after the operation. In children the tube is not +necessary, and from their restlessness might possibly do harm, but in +adults (though neglected by some surgeons) experience shows it is a +valuable adjunct in the after-treatment. + +Having thus traced the course of an ordinary uncomplicated case of +lithotomy by the lateral operation, a brief notice is suitable of some +of the obstacles and difficulties, some of the dangers and bad results +which may be met with, and the best methods of overcoming them. + +1. _Large size of the stone_, as an obstacle to extraction. When, either +from the enormous size of the stone, generally to be made out before the +operation, or from some congenital or acquired deformity of the pelvis, +it is obvious beforehand that the calculus cannot pass through the bony +pelvis entire, a choice of two courses remains, either-- + +(1.) The high or supra-pubic operation (_q.v. infra_); or (2.) Crushing +of the calculus in the bladder, and removal piecemeal. Instruments of +great strength have been devised for this latter operation. The risk to +the bladder is very great, and fragments are apt to be left behind; +these are sure to form nuclei of new calculi. + +2. _Peculiarities in the position or relations of the stone_ in the +bladder:-- + +(1.) It may lie in a sort of pouch behind the prostate, and thus be out +of the reach of the forceps. This may be remedied by the use of curved +forceps, or, better still, by the finger in the rectum to tilt up the +stone into the bladder. + +(2.) It may lie above the pubis in the anterior wall of the bladder. +Pressure on the hypogastrium, or the use of a strong probe as a hook, +will generally suffice to dislodge it. + +(3.) The stone may be encysted. This is extremely rare, and, as +Fergusson says, we hear more of these from bunglers who have operated +only several times, than from those who have had large experience. + +3. _An enlarged prostate_ is at once a source of difficulty and of some +danger. + +The distance of the bladder from the surface may be so very much +increased by enlargement of the prostate as to render even the longest +forefinger too short to reach the stone or even the bladder. This +renders the introduction of the forceps more difficult and uncertain, +the dilatation more prolonged, and the extraction more dangerous. If +very large, the groove of the staff may not reach the bladder, and thus +the deep incision may fail of cutting the ring at the base of the gland, +and the urine may thus not escape, and all the dangers of laceration of +the ring may result. Such cases may be well managed by the insertion of +a straight deeply grooved staff into the insufficient incision, and +fairly into the bladder, and on this, pushing a cutting gorget through +the uncut portion of the gland. This insures a sufficient yet not +dangerous incision, which we cannot so safely perform with the knife, as +the parts are so far beyond the reach of the guiding forefinger. + +Under the head of risks after lithotomy we may class the following:-- + +1. Sinking, or shock. In the very aged or very young, or after a very +prolonged or painful operation, shock may now and then kill the patient +within a few hours. Since the days of chloroform this result is +extremely rare. + +2. Haemorrhage seems to be a very infrequent risk. The transverse +perineal artery, which is always cut in the operation, is small, and +rarely bleeds much. If the bulb is wounded, as no doubt frequently +occurs, the flow from it can easily be checked. The pudic is so well +protected from any ordinary incision as to be practically safe; and if +wounded by some frightfully extensive incision, it can be compressed +against the tuberosity of the ischium. + +There is an abnormal distribution of the dorsal artery of the penis, in +which, rising higher up than it ought, and coursing along the neck of +the bladder, and the lateral lobe of the prostate, it may be divided. +This may give trouble, and even result in fatal haemorrhage. Fortunately +it is rare. The author has met with one case in a boy of eleven, in whom +a very severe haemorrhage was not to be explained. The patient recovered +without another bad symptom. + +Again, a general oozing may often appear a few hours after the +operation, when the patient is warm in bed, apparently from the +substance of the prostate. If raising the breech and the application of +cold fail to arrest it, it may be necessary to plug the wound. This is +done by stuffing it with long strips of lint round the tube. Great care +must be then taken lest the tube become occluded. + +3. Infiltration of urine may occur as a result of a too free incision of +the vesical fascia (in adults), and still more frequently of a too small +external wound. + +Here it should be noticed that in children it is fortunately of very +little consequence to preserve the integrity of the prostatic sheath of +vesical fascia. In them the prostate is so exceedingly small and +undeveloped, that even the forefinger could not be introduced into the +bladder without a complete section of the prostate. Probably from the +blander nature of their urine, and the greater vitality of their +tissues, this is of less consequence, as it is rarely found that any bad +effects result from this section. + +Among other risks we find peritonitis, inflammation of neck of bladder, +inflammation of prostatic plexus of veins, resulting in pyaemia, +suppression of urine, and other kidney complications. For the symptoms +and treatment of these there is no place in a mere manual of surgical +operations. + +_Wound of rectum and recto-vesical fistula._--Such wounds were not +uncommon, and in many cases unavoidable, before the days of chloroform, +from the struggles of the patient; now they are comparatively rare, and +should be still rarer. They probably occur in more cases than the +surgeon is aware of, and heal up without his knowledge; we may arrive at +this conclusion from the fact that small wounds are found in +_post-mortem_ examinations of cases in which no such complication has +been thought of. + +They occasionally heal without giving any trouble, but, at other times, +as the external wound contracts, a communication forms between rectum +and the urethra, in which the contents are apt to be interchanged in a +most disagreeable manner, flatus passing per urethram, and urine per +rectum. + +When it is evidently not going to heal spontaneously, the septum between +the external orifice of the wound and the communication with the gut +should be laid open, as in the operation for fistula _in ano_. + + There are certain modifications and varieties in the method of + operating for stone through the perineum, which deserve at least a + brief notice:-- + + 1. _The bilateral operation._--Though he was not the inventor, + Dupuytren's name is justly associated with this operation. The + principle of it is to divide both sides of the prostate equally, so + as to give more room for extraction of a large stone, without the + necessity of much laceration, or the risk of cutting through the + prostatic sheath of fascia. + + _The operation._--A semilunar incision is made transversely across + the perineum, extending from a point midway between the right tuber + ischii and the anus, upwards, crossing the raphe nearly an inch + above the anus, and then curving downwards to a corresponding point + on the opposite side. The skin, superficial fascia, and a few of + the anterior fibres of the external sphincter, are thus divided, + and the groove of the staff sought by the forefinger. The + membranous portion of the urethra is then laid open in the middle + line, and the beak of a double lithotome cache securely lodged in + the groove. It is then pushed into the bladder with its concavity + upwards, and when fairly in it is turned round, its blades + protruded to the required extent, and withdrawn with its concavity + downwards, thus dividing both lobes of the prostate in a direction + downwards and outwards (Fig. XXIV. D D). The operation is finished + in the usual manner. Though it is a comparatively easy operation, + and theoretically may be proved to have many advantages, experience + has shown that the results are not so favourable as those of the + ordinary lateral operation. + + 2. _Buchanan's medio-lateral operation_ on a rectangular + staff.--The staff is bent at a right angle three inches from the + end, and deeply grooved on its left side. This is introduced into + the urethra so that the angle projects the membranous portion of + the urethra close to the apex of the prostate and the terminal + straight portion enters the bladder parallel to the rectum. The + angle projects in the perineum, so that the operator with his left + forefinger in the rectum is enabled, by a stab with a long straight + bistoury (held horizontally and with the cutting edge to the left + side), at once to enter the groove, and, by following the groove, + the bladder. Whenever the escape of urine shows that the bladder is + fairly reached, the knife is withdrawn so as to make a lateral + section of the prostate, and then, with the finger still in the + rectum, to make an incision in the ischio-rectal fossa, of + sufficient size to allow the stone to be easily withdrawn. + + The inventor claims for this method that it is easier, that there + is less risk of haemorrhage, wound of the rectum, and infiltration + of urine. + + 3. _Allarton's operation of median lithotomy_ suits admirably for + stones known to be small, but is quite unsuitable for large ones. + Probably in most cases it should be superseded by lithotrity. + + _Operation._--A large curved staff with a central groove is to be + held firmly hooked up against the symphysis pubis, and then + steadied by the left forefinger in the rectum. The operator pierces + the raphe of the perineum with a long straight bistoury about half + an inch above the verge of the anus, enters the groove of the + staff, and cuts inwards, almost, but not quite, into the bladder. + In withdrawing the knife the wound in the urethra is enlarged + upwards towards the scrotum. A ball-pointed probe is then passed on + the staff into the bladder, the staff is withdrawn, and the finger, + guided by the probe, is used to dilate the neck of the bladder, to + an extent sufficient for the removal of the stone by a small pair + of forceps. + + In this operation the prostate is hardly incised at all. The + results are not better than those of the lateral operation. + +2. LITHOTOMY ABOVE THE PUBES, _or the High Operation_.--In cases where, +from the known size of the stone, or from the deformity of the bones of +the pelvis, it is impossible that the stone can be extracted entire in +the usual manner; in cases where the prostate is very much enlarged, or +where there is any real or supposed likelihood of inflammation of the +neck of the bladder, the supra-pubic operation _may_ be warrantable. Its +performance is easy, it does not involve any wound of the peritoneum if +properly performed, and there is no risk of haemorrhage. There are +certainly great risks attending it of peritonitis and urinary +infiltration. + +In more than one case this operation has been attended by wound of +peritoneum and subsequent escape of intestines through the wound, even +when dressed antiseptically and performed under spray. + +_Operation._--The patient lies on his back, with his head and shoulders +slightly raised, so as to relax the abdominal muscles, and his legs +hanging down over the edge of the table. If his bladder can bear it, it +should be fully distended, either by voluntary retention of the urine, +or by injection with tepid water. A vertical incision is then made in +the middle line, separating the recti muscles from below upwards, care +being taken to push the peritoneum well out of the way, which is easily +done by the finger in the loose cellular tissue of the part. The +anterior wall of the bladder is then exposed, uncovered by peritoneum; +it must be opened with great care, also in the middle line, while the +wound in the parietes is held aside by retractors. The wall of the +bladder should be transfixed by a curved needle, and thus held in +position before it is opened. The stone is then removed by a pair of +straight forceps, generally with great ease. Attempts used to be made to +leave a catheter or canula in the bladder wound to prevent infiltration. +Probably the safest method now will be to close the bladder wound at +once by metallic stitches, and stitching the abdominal wound carefully +with deeply entered wires, to leave the patient on his back. When +compared with the lateral operations the statistics of the supra-pubic +operation are discouraging, the mortality being one in three and a half +to one in four. But in cases where the stone is known to be very large +and of firm consistence, the risks are probably less from this method +than from lateral lithotomy, followed by efforts to crush the stone +through the wound prior to its removal. + +The late Mr. George Bell, a most successful lithotomist, proposed to +perform this operation in two stages. In a case of greatly enlarged +prostate, where the bladder had been punctured above the pubes by a +country surgeon for retention of urine, he dilated the track of the +canula by means of sponge-tents gradually increased in size, and then +succeeded in extracting through the dilated opening several large +calculi. The case recovered, and may encourage similar attempts. + +3. OPERATIONS THROUGH THE RECTUM.--(_a._) _Sanson's Recto-vesical +Operation._--The principle of this operation consisted in laying the two +canals, the rectum and the urethra, into one. A large staff, grooved on +its convexity, being inserted into the urethra, the operator, with the +forefinger of his left hand in the rectum as a guide to the knife, +pierces the anterior wall of the rectum, reaches the groove of the staff +just in front of the prostate, and cutting outwards divides the rectum, +the anterior fibres of levator ani, and the sphincter, as well as the +skin of the perineum in the middle line. Entering the knife again into +the groove of the staff, it is to be pushed right onwards into the +bladder, dividing the prostate, and avoiding if possible the seminal +vesicles and ducts; the stone is then very easily removed. + +Though this operation was supposed to lessen the risk of pelvic +infiltration it is _not_ found to do so, and it adds the additional +inconvenience of almost inevitable rectal fistula, through which the +urine escapes. It is certainly a very easy operation, but the mortality +is found to be greater than in the ordinary lateral operation. + +(_b._) _Lithotomy through the rectum above the prostate._--The presence +of a small portion of bladder beyond the prostate in close relation to +the rectum renders it possible, in cases where the prostate is not +enlarged, to enter the bladder and remove a stone of moderate size, +without interfering with the peritoneum, prostate, or neck of the +bladder. + +This ingenious but difficult operation was performed for the first time +by Drs. Sims and Bauer in 1859. + +I quote the brief notice of the operation by Dr. Sims from the _Lancet_ +of 1864 (vol. i. p. 111):-- + +"The patient was placed on the left side, and my speculum was introduced +into the rectum, exposing the anterior wall of the rectum, just as it +would the vagina in the female. A sound was passed into the bladder. The +doctor entered the blade of a bistoury in the triangular space bounded +by the prostate, the vesiculae seminales, and the peritoneal +reduplication. He passed the finger through this opening, felt the +stone, and removed it with the forceps without the least trouble. The +operation was done as quickly and as easily as it would have been in a +female through the vaginal septum. After the removal of the stone, Dr. +Bauer kindly asked me to close the wound with silver sutures, which I +did, introducing some five or six wires, with the same facility as in +the vagina. There was no leakage of urine. The patient recovered without +the least trouble of any sort. The wires were removed on the eighth day, +and on the ninth day the patient rode in a carriage with Dr. Bauer a +distance of four or five miles, to call on, and report himself to, our +distinguished countryman, Dr. Mott." + +The chief risks in this operation seem to be the chance of wounding the +peritoneal _cul-de-sac_, as the amount of free space between it and the +prostate seems to vary much in individuals and in races. Dr. Marion Sims +mentioned to me in conversation that he believed this operation +impossible in the negro race, from the greater projection downwards of +the peritoneal reduplication. An enlarged prostate would be an +insuperable objection. The use of silver wire, to close up the wound at +once, diminishes very much any risk of recto-vesical fistula. + + +LITHOTRITY OR LITHOTRIPSY.--There exist cases of stone in the bladder, +which, under certain conditions, may be relieved without lithotomy, by +an operation which crushes the stone into fragments small enough to be +discharged through the urethra. + +To enter with any fulness into the history, literature, and varieties of +this operation, and the instruments required, would in itself require a +large volume. Suffice it here to describe the case suitable for the +operation, the essentials required in the instrument, and the method of +performance. + +1. _For a case to be suitable_ the _stone_ should not be too large, and +especially not too hard, also there should not be too many of them. + +The _urethra_ should be capacious enough to let the instrument pass +easily and painlessly. + +The _bladder_ should be large enough to contain four ounces of water at +least, should not be much inflamed, and, on the other hand, should not +be paralysed. Paralysis or want of tone in the bladder prevents the +thorough evacuation of its contents, and still more the expulsion of the +fragments of stone. + +2. _A good instrument_ should, as far as possible, combine strength with +lightness. The curved portion of the fixed blade should be fenestrated +to allow escape of the fragments and thorough closure of the +instrument. + +The movable blade must be so arranged as to combine perfect ease of +movement up and down in seeking for the stone, with a powerful, slow, +and gradual approximation in crushing it. This can be managed by an +ingenious arrangement, which leaves the movable blade under the control +only of the operator's thumb till the stone is found, and yet, by +touching a spring, gives him the advantage either of a fine screw or of +a rack and pinion movement for crushing the stone. + +3. _Operation._--The patient being prepared by a free evacuation of the +bowels, and the urethra having been previously fairly dilated, he is +asked to retain his urine as long as possible, or, if he cannot do so, a +few ounces of tepid water may be injected per urethram. + +He is then laid on a sofa or table, the breech being well raised by +pillows, the shoulders low, the thighs and knees bent up and separated. +The instrument, well warmed and oiled, is then introduced with the +blades closed. When fairly into the bladder the search for the stone +begins. + +There are differences of opinion regarding the best method of fishing +for the stone; great patience and gentleness, with a thorough previous +acquaintance with bladder manipulation, are required, whichever method +be chosen. + +The two chief methods may be described as the English and the French, +the latter, Civiale's, being now used by Sir Henry Thompson, and other +English operators. Briefly, the two are:-- + +(1.) _Heurteloup's and Sir B. C. Brodie's._--In this, after the +instrument is fairly entered, its handle is elevated, thus depressing +the curved extremity, the forceps are then opened, and, by being kept as +low as possible in the bladder, it is hoped that the calculus will fall +into the opened blades by its own weight. In this method the fundus is +the scene of crushing, and there is a risk of injuring the sensitive +neck of the bladder, especially at the moment of opening the blades. + +(2.) _Civiale's--Thompson's._--In this the pelvis is to be so elevated +that the centre of the bladder and space beneath it give plenty of room +for seizing the stone, and all contact with the wall of the bladder is +(as far as possible) avoided. + +The instrument is introduced closed, and carried fairly away in to the +posterior part of the bladder before it is opened at all. It probably +grazes the stone in passing, and, if so, is directed to the side of the +bladder in which the stone is _not_ lying. Then when nearly touching the +posterior wall, the movable blade is withdrawn, the instrument inclined +towards the stone lying unmoved in the most dependent part, and there +seizes it generally with ease. + +If not felt, the blades are again to be opened, turned a little to the +other side of the bladder, and then closed. Sir H. Thompson lays the +greatest stress on the importance of always having the blades fairly +opened before shifting their position, for if moved when closed, the +very opening of the movable blade is certain to drive the stone out of +the way and prevent its seizure. + +Certain rules are useful:--Move the axis of the instrument as little as +possible; it should be kept in the centre of the bladder, so far in, +that the movements of the male blade are quite free from the neck of the +bladder and prostate, and the blades only should be moved in the bladder +on the centre of the shaft as an axis. There should be no jerking once +the stone is caught, and the crushing should be done as far as possible +in the very centre of the bladder, the blades not touching any of the +walls. + +After the stone is seized, do not crush till, by a turn of the blades +from side to side, you discover that none of the mucous membrane of the +bladder is caught in the instrument. + +The lithotrite is not meant to extract stones, but to crush them, hence +never attempt to withdraw it unless the blades are in absolute +apposition. + +Never attempt too much at one time. Sir H. Thompson holds that five +minutes is the longest time that should be given, perhaps in most cases +three minutes being long enough. + +While many surgeons will still agree with the above advice, Dr. Bigelow +of Boston has lately been highly commending a method which he has called +Litholapaxy, in which, at one sitting under chloroform, the stone is +crushed and aspirated, or sucked out of the bladder at once.[152] + + Since the above was written the operation of Litholapaxy has made + great strides in the favour of surgeons, and many stones that would + have been removed by lithotomy are now broken down by powerful + instruments at a single sitting, and removed piecemeal by the + suction apparatus. + + S. W. Gross has collected 312 cases, of which 17 died or 5.45 per + cent., but of 180 done by experienced surgeons, Thompson, Bigelow, + Van Buren, Weir, and Stevenson only five died, or 3.33 per cent., + while of 1470 cases of lithotrity, as formerly practised, 159, or + 10.81, per cent. died.[153] + + +OPERATIONS FOR STRICTURE OF URETHRA.--Under this head many manipulations +and operations might be described; the very instruments devised being +exceedingly numerous and complicated. Enough here to detail a few of the +more simple and practical procedures under the different heads of--1. +_Dilatation_ gradual and forced. 2. _Internal Division._ 3. _External +Division._ + +1. DILATATION.--Under this head we have-- + +_a._ _Vital dilatation._--The passing of a succession of bougies, +gradually increasing in diameter, at intervals of three or four days, +for the purpose of exciting an amount of interstitial absorption in the +new material constituting the stricture, sufficient to remove it. +Passing a bougie, though certainly often very difficult, perhaps should +hardly come into the category of surgical operations, yet to preserve a +certain completeness in the account of stricture, a very brief +description may be here inserted. + +The recumbent posture is in most cases to be preferred. The patient +should lie flat on his back, with the knees slightly bent and separated, +and the head and shoulders slightly raised on a pillow. The operator +standing on the patient's left side, raises the penis in his left hand, +and with the right introduces the instrument, previously warmed and +oiled, into the meatus. He then pushes it very gently onwards, at the +same time stretching the penis with the left hand, just so far as to +efface any wrinkles in the mucous membrane, till the point reaches the +bulbous portion. The axis of the instrument, which at first for +convenience was over the left groin, has now gradually been approaching +the middle line. When this is reached, the instrument should be raised +from the abdomen, and the handle cautiously carried in the arc of a +circle first upwards and then downwards, till, when the instrument is +fairly into the bladder, the handle is depressed between the patient's +thighs. While this is being done the operator's left hand should be +withdrawn from the penis, and the points of the fingers applied to the +perineum. + +In cases of difficulty certain points may be remembered:-- + +(1.) That the point of the instrument may in the first inch or two be +occasionally entangled in a lacuna in the roof, especially when a small +instrument is used; hence the beak should be at first maintained against +the inferior wall of the canal.[154] + +(2.) That the handle should not be depressed too soon; if it is, there +is a risk of a false passage being made through the upper wall. + +(3.) The opposite error may force the point out of the urethra between +the membranous portion and the rectum, and onwards into the substance of +the prostate gland. + +And certain cautions may be given:-- + +(1.) In every exploration of an unknown urethra the surgeon should +commence with an instrument of medium size, certainly not less than No. +7 or 8. + +(2.) In cases of difficulty occurring in the urethra behind the scrotum, +invariably use the forefinger of the left hand in the rectum as a guide. + +(3.) Expression of pain on the part of the patient is no indication that +a false passage is being made, nor its absence that the instrument is in +the passage, for it is a remark of Mr. Syme, that passing an instrument +through a stricture is generally more painful than making a false +passage through the walls of the urethra. + + An instrument may be passed, while the patient is erect, with the + following precautions:--The patient should stand with his back + against a wall, his arms supported on the back of a chair on each + side, heels eight or ten inches apart, and four or five inches from + the wall; his clothes thoroughly down, not merely opened. The + bougie should then be held nearly horizontal, with its concavity + over the left groin of the patient, the penis being raised in the + surgeon's left hand. Introduced thus for four or five inches, the + handle is gradually raised into the middle line of the abdomen, and + to the perpendicular; it is then to be lightly depressed, and, as + the point enters the bladder, brought down towards the operator + until it sinks beneath the horizontal line. + +_b._ _Mechanical dilatation_ is of two kinds, both very rarely +used:--(1.) When an instrument cannot be passed, it consists of passing +down day after day the point of an instrument (sometimes armed with +caustic, sometimes not), and pressing it against the stricture till it +is overcome.[155] (2.) When an instrument is introduced through an +intractable stricture, and is left there either for some hours, or for +some days, to excite what is called "suppuration" of the stricture.[156] + +_c._ _Forced dilatation._--Under this head we might describe at great +length mechanical contrivances to force or rupture a stricture. A word +or two on a few of the most important:-- + +(1.) Conical bougies of steel or silver. + +(2.) Mr. Wakley's method, on which many others have been founded. He +passed a small bougie or wire into the bladder, over which were slipped +straight tubes of varying size, with perfect certainty that they could +not leave the urethra. + +(3.) Mr. Holt's method.[157]--The principle of it is to rupture the +stricture at once, so that a No. 12 catheter can immediately be passed +into the bladder. + +He attains this object by means of an instrument composed of two grooved +blades, united about one inch from their apex, into a conical sound, +which at its apex is about the size of a No. 2 bougie. This is passed +into the bladder, and the grooved blades are separated to any extent +that is desired by passing down between them a straight rod equal in +size of a No. 8, 10, or 12, bougie. To guide this properly it is made +hollow, and it is passed down over a central wire which lies between the +grooved blades of the instrument and is welded to the apex. A great +improvement is effected on Mr. Holt's later instruments by this wire +being made hollow, and fitted with a stilette, for by this means we can +with certainty ascertain whether or not the instrument has been passed +into the bladder. This instrument, which is an improvement upon one +invented by Perreve nearly forty years ago, has been used on very many +occasions by Mr. Holt and others with success. The risk to life, if the +case be properly managed, is trifling, but, like every other means of +treating stricture, it has the objection that the stricture is liable to +recur, unless bougies be passed at intervals for months and years. + +Sir Henry Thompson has introduced and described another very ingenious +instrument for the same purpose, constructed on somewhat similar +principles. His account of it, to which I must refer, will be found in +Holmes's _System of Surgery_, 1st ed. vol. iv. p. 399. + +2. INTERNAL DIVISION OF STRICTURE is a mode of treatment which by many +surgeons is highly disapproved, yet of late years it has been more used +than formerly, especially in resilient strictures. It may be done in two +ways:-- + +(1.) _From before backwards._--This method, to be at all admissible, +requires a guide to be previously passed; a lancet-shaped blade may then +be slipped down a groove in this guide till the stricture is divided. +This is least objectionable in cases of stricture close to the meatus. + +(2.) _From behind forwards._--To make the incision thus, it is of course +necessary that the stricture should be so far dilatable as to admit an +instrument the point of which is large enough to contain the blade by +which the stricture is to be divided. This will be found to be at least +equal in size to a No. 3 or No. 4 catheter. In many instruments it is +much larger. + +_Civiale's_ instrument for internal incision of the urethra from behind +forwards has the very high recommendation of Sir H. Thompson.[158] It +consists of a sound with a bulbous extremity (as large as a No. 5 +bougie) which contains a small blade, which can be made to project for +such a distance as the operator wishes. It is passed through the +stricture with the blade concealed, till the bulb is carried about +one-third of an inch or more beyond the stricture; the blade is then +projected, and the incision made by drawing it slowly but firmly +outwards towards the meatus, with the blade towards the floor of the +urethra, till the stricture is divided in its whole extent. Sir H. +Thompson recommends this to be used in cases _where it is not that the +stricture is of very small calibre, but that it is undilatable_, that +prevents the cure. Many modifications of above have been devised by +Lund, Teevan, and other surgeons, on similar principles. + +3. MR. SYME'S OPERATION OF EXTERNAL DIVISION.--Mr. Syme held that no +stricture through which the water can escape should be called +_impermeable_, for by patience and care the surgeon should always be +able to pass a slender director through the stricture on which it may be +divided with ease and certainty. The old operation of "perineal section" +for so-called impermeable stricture is very different, being difficult, +dangerous, and uncertain in its results. + +_Operation._--A director is passed into the stricture. Mr. Syme's +directors are of different sizes, the smallest being in diameter less +than an ordinary surgical probe. They are made of steel, are grooved on +the convexity, and have this peculiarity, that while the lower half is +small, the upper is of full size (No. 8 or 10), the difference in +calibre occurring quite abruptly. The presence of this "shoulder" on the +staff enables the operator to ascertain exactly the position of the +stricture, and also to tell when it is fully divided without the +necessity of withdrawing the instrument. + +This being fairly in the stricture, the patient is put in the position +for lithotomy, an assistant holds the staff in his right hand, drawing +up the scrotum with his left. + +The surgeon then makes an incision in the middle line over the +stricture for the necessary distance, from above downwards, till he +exposes the urethra, and feels exactly the shoulder of the staff. Care +must be taken not to go past the urethra at either side. When he +distinctly feels the outline of the staff, he takes it in his left hand, +and a short sharp-pointed bistoury in his right. It should be held +firmly in the palm of the hand, with the back of the blade resting on +the forefinger, the pulp of which guides the point to the groove, and +guards it when making the incision; the knife is to be placed on the +groove beyond (_on the bladder side_) of the stricture, and brought +forwards, slowly cutting through _the whole_ stricture; till the +shoulder of the staff is reached. It requires strength and precision to +divide thoroughly the indurated stricture, which is apt to elude the +knife. + +The shoulder of the staff can now be passed through the stricture if the +operation is complete; if not, the incision must be extended, always in +the middle line, and guided by the groove. When thoroughly divided, the +staff is now to be withdrawn, and a full-sized catheter with a double +curve passed into the bladder. This should _not_ be furnished with a +stop-cock or plug, lest the bladder should by inadvertence be allowed to +be too full, and extravasation into the cellular tissue of the urethra +take place along the side of the instrument. + +The catheter should be tied in, and left for two, sometimes for three +days, when it can generally be removed with safety, and a bougie should +be passed at intervals of three or four, till the wound is healed. To +prevent recurrence of the stricture, it is a wise precaution to pass an +instrument at intervals for many months after the cure is apparently +complete. + +In certain cases, where the stricture is far back and the urinary +symptoms severe, Mr. Syme found advantage from the introduction of a +shorter double-curved catheter (only about nine inches long) through +the wound into the bladder, where it should be left for three days. +This seems to diminish the risk of rigors, and other symptoms of fever, +which are apt to occur when the urine is allowed for the first time to +pass over the wound. + +_Perineal Section_ is an operation both dangerous and difficult; as Sir +Astley Cooper used to say, "the surgeon who performs it requires to have +a long summer's day before him." + +No director or guide can be passed. A full-sized catheter must be passed +as far as possible _up_ to the stricture, and held firmly in the middle +line. The patient must be tied up in lithotomy position on a table in +the very best light that can be obtained. The perineum being shaved, an +incision must be made in the middle line from over the point of the +catheter to the verge of the anus, if the stricture extends far back. + +The urethra should then be opened over the catheter, the edges of the +mucous membrane held to each side by silk threads passed through them; +and the surgeon must endeavour to pass a fine probe into the opening of +the stricture; if this can be done, it is comparatively easy to slit the +stricture up. If not, the surgeon must simply seek for the remains of +the urethra by slow, cautious dissection in the middle line. If +successful, a catheter must be secured in the bladder in the usual way. + +A stricture near the orifice, or, as it is not uncommon, involving +merely the meatus, can be treated with great ease in the above manner by +division on a grooved probe. When quite close to the orifice, with a +well-defined hardness, as of a ring round the urethra, it may be divided +subcutaneously by a tenotomy knife or other narrow-bladed instrument. It +is not necessary to keep a catheter in the bladder in cases where the +stricture has been in front of the scrotum. + + +PUNCTURE OF THE BLADDER.--A patient and dexterous use of the catheter +prevents this operation from being often required; still, circumstances +may arise in which it is found impossible to enter the bladder _per vias +naturales_. In such a case the bladder may be punctured from the outside +by a curved trocar and canula, in either of two situations. + +1. _From above the pubis._--This operation is a very simple one, and +when the bladder is distended need not imply a wound of the peritoneum. + +_Operation._--A preliminary incision, varying in length according to the +amount of fat, should be made above the pubis exactly in the middle +line; the edges of the recti should be separated, the peritoneum pushed +out of the way and upwards by the finger, and a curved trocar plunged +into the distended bladder obliquely backwards. The canula should be +retained for a day or two, and then a flexible catheter with a shield +inserted instead. Such instruments have been worn for years. The +aspirateur pneumatique of Dr. Dieulafoy will be found an exceedingly +useful instrument for puncture of bladder and removal of urine. The +author has now used it very frequently with the best results. Its +advantage is that the urine is removed through an aperture so small as +to allow of the withdrawal and reintroduction of the canula as often as +is necessary. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXXVI.[159]] + +2. _From the Rectum._--Except in cases of enlargement of the prostate, +it is at once easier and safer to puncture the bladder from the rectum. +The well-known triangular space uncovered by peritoneum, with its apex +in front close to the prostate, and bounded on either side by the vasa +deferentia and vesiculae seminales, can be easily reached by a curved +trocar. This should be guided by one, or, still better, by two fingers, +into the rectum, with its concavity upwards, and the point should be +pushed upwards by depression of the handle, whenever it is fairly behind +the prostate. The trocar may then be withdrawn, and the canula retained +for at least forty-eight hours by a suitable bandage. Mr. Cock, of Guy's +Hospital, had a special canula for the purpose, which expands at its +extremity after its introduction, and thus is not apt to slip.[160] Some +surgeons insist that the surgeon should be able to ascertain the +existence of fluctuation between the finger in the rectum, and the other +hand above the pubes. This is exceedingly difficult to elicit when the +bladder is very much distended, and from the constrained position of the +finger in the bowel. + + +PHYMOSIS.--Elongation of the prepuce, with contraction of its orifice, +in most cases congenital, sometimes so extreme as to cause difficulty in +micturition, and frequently preventing the uncovering of the glans. + +_Operation._--In all well-marked cases, the following is required:--The +elongated prepuce should be pulled forwards by a pair of catch-forceps, +and a circle of skin and mucous membrane removed by a single stroke of a +bistoury, or by sharp scissors. Care should be taken lest the glans be +included in the incision, as has happened in _at least_ one instance. +The skin will then be found to retract very freely beyond the glans, but +the mucous membrane is found still to cover the glans, and its orifice +is still constricted. It must then be slit up (Fig. XXXVII. _b b_) on +the dorsum of the glans, with probe-pointed scissors, as far as the +corona, and the glans will then be thoroughly exposed. The edges of +mucous membrane and skin should then be stitched to each other by at +least five or six fine silk sutures, any bleeding points having been +first carefully secured. The angles will in time round off, and a +wonderfully seemly prepuce be obtained. This operation may be done as a +method of cure for obstinate enuresis in cases in which the prepuce is +very long and redundant, even when it is not too tight. The author has +done this in more than twenty cases with excellent results. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXXVII.[161]] + + _Varieties._--When the prepuce is narrowed at its orifice without + being redundant in length, a milder operation will prove + sufficient. The principle is the same as in the former, but the + amount of incision is less, and nothing is removed. Two methods are + possible:-- + + 1. _By scissors._--The blunt point of a pair of scissors is + introduced through the preputial orifice, the other blade being + outside, and the skin and mucous membrane are divided for about + half an inch; the skin being then retracted, the mucous membrane is + still further divided by one or two additional snips, and then the + edges of skin and mucous membrane are stitched together by one or + two points of suture. + + 2. _By knife._--A director being introduced within the prepuce, a + narrow-bladed knife is guided along it, and pushed through the + prepuce from within, and then made to divide skin and mucous + membrane from within outwards. Stitches as before. + + _N.B._--Be careful lest the director pass into the meatus + urinarius, and the glans be split up. + + Again, some surgeons prefer two lateral incisions instead of one + dorsal one. In this case skin and mucous membrane should be divided + by scissors for about a quarter of an inch, and then a single + stitch inserted in the angle of junction. This has been further + modified by Cullerier, who proposed the division of the tight + mucous membrane only, in three or four points. He used a pair of + scissors with one sharp and one probe-pointed blade, the sharp one + thrust in between skin and mucous membrane, the blunt one between + the mucous membrane and the glans. + + +AMPUTATION OF THE PENIS.--This exceedingly simple operation is performed +by a single stroke of an amputating knife, drawn along from heel to +point, while the penis is stretched in the operator's left hand. As +there is more risk of redundancy than of deficiency of the skin, no +attempt is made to save it. Numerous vessels in the corpora cavernosa +require ligature. Amputation of the penis may be done bloodlessly by the +thermo-cautery even close to its root. Transfix the root of corpora +cavernosa by a needle; above this pass two or three turns of an elastic +ligature; then slowly divide at a low red heat the skin and corpora +cavernosa below the needles; split the urethra after dividing its mucous +membrane with a knife. The author has done this several times with ease +and rapid healing. + +[Illustration: FIG. XXXVIII.[162]] + +The chief risk is stricture of the orifice of the urethra. To prevent +this, several modifications of the operation have been introduced. + +1. _Ricord's method._[163]--After the amputation the surgeon seizes with +forceps the mucous membrane of the urethra, and with a pair of scissors +makes four slits in it, so as to form four equal flaps, and with a silk +ligature stitches each of these to the skin. Contraction of the +cicatrix will thus tend to open rather than close the urethral orifice. + +2. _Teale's method._[164]--He slits up, by a bistoury on a director, the +urethra and skin over it for about two-thirds of an inch, and then +stitches the one to the other, thus making it a long oval dependent +orifice (Fig. XXXVIII.). + +3. _Miller's proposed method._[165]--"A narrow-bladed knife is first +used to transfix the penis between the spongy and cavernous bodies close +to the root; the knife having been carried forwards for an inch and a +half, its edge is turned perpendicularly downwards, and the urethra and +skin flap are divided, the cavernous bodies and dorsal integument being +then cut perpendicularly upwards where the knife was originally entered +for transfixion. A button-hole is afterwards made in the lower flap, +though which the corpus spongiosum and urethra protrude, while the flap +itself is turned upwards, and attached dorsally and laterally, so as to +cover in the exposed cavernous structure." + + +HYDROCELE.--The very simple operation necessary for hydrocele is thus +performed:--The surgeon supports the tumour in his left hand so as to +project it forwards, and make the scrotum as tense as possible in front. +Having carefully ascertained the exact position of the testicle, which +can generally be easily enough done by a finger accustomed to +discriminate the difference between a soft solid, and a bag tensely +filled with fluid, aided by the peculiar sensation of the testicle when +squeezed, the surgeon enters a trocar and canula about an eighth of an +inch in diameter into the distended cavity of the tunica vaginalis, near +the fundus of the swelling. When it is evident the instrument is fairly +entered, and not till then, the trocar is withdrawn, and the fluid +allowed completely to drain off. When it ceases to flow the surgeon +places his forefinger over the end of the canula to prevent the entrance +of air, till he fits into its orifice a suitable syringe containing two +drachms of the tincture of iodine, made according to the Edinburgh +Pharmacopoeia: the tincture of the British Pharmacopoeia is not +sufficiently strong. Having injected this cautiously into the cavity, +the canula is withdrawn, and the surgeon, seizing the now flaccid +scrotum in his right hand, gives it a thorough shake, so as to spread +the iodine over as much as possible of the inner wall. When properly +performed this very simple procedure very rarely fails to produce a +radical cure; though less thorough operations, such as mere evacuation +of the fluid, less stimulating injections, unguents introduced on +probes, and the like, often fail of success, and thus give encouragement +to absurdities, such as wire-setons, or to more severe operations, such +as laying open the sac. + + +HAEMATOCELE.--When the contents of the sac of the tunica vaginalis are +found to be grumous instead of simply serous, or when, as often happens, +only pure blood escapes when the fluid is nearly evacuated, it is found +that simple evacuation and injection are very rarely sufficient to +effect a cure. + +After they have been fairly tried, the sac of the haematocele should be +laid open in its full extent; any large vessels which bleed should be +tied, and the cavity then stuffed with lint. When the lint can be +removed, which will be after two or three days, the edges of the wound +should be brought closely together, and the cavity will then rapidly +heal up from the bottom, and be obliterated by secondary union of +granulations. + +In cases where the walls of the cavity are enormously thickened, or +even, as sometimes happens, almost bony in consistence, an elliptical +portion may be removed with advantage. + + +EXCISION OF TESTICLE.--This operation is rarely required except for +tumours of the testicle. Hence the size of the incision necessary must +vary much with the size of the tumour; and the amount of skin to be +removed (if any) on the amount of adhesions it has formed to the tumour. + +One or two points must be attended to in every case of extirpation of a +testicle:-- + +1. The incision should commence over the cord just outside of the +external ring, and be continued fairly over the tumour to its base. + +2. As to removal of skin, some surgeons advise that none should be taken +away, others that a considerable quantity can be spared. There is +certainly less risk of secondary haemorrhage if a portion be removed, +than when a flaccid empty bag is left. The author invariably removes a +very large quantity of skin if the tumour is large, as there is much +more rapid healing, and the resulting scrotum is much more comfortable +for the patient. + +3. The cord should be exposed at the beginning of the operation, raised +from its bed and given to an assistant, who should compress it gently, +not from any fear of its escape into the abdomen, but to prevent +haemorrhage. If the tumour has been very large and heavy, the cord will +have been much stretched, and if divided too high up, may really give +trouble by its elasticity, unless the above precaution is taken. The +cord then having been divided close to the tumour, the latter is +removed, care being taken not to include the sound testicle in the +removal. All the vessels are then to be tied or twisted, and the +spermatic artery is to be secured alone, not, as used to be the case, +included in a common ligature with the other constituents of the cord. +Secondary haemorrhage is very apt to occur from small scrotal branches +which may have escaped notice during the operation. + + +OPERATIONS ON THE ANUS AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD.--FISTULA IN ANO.--While +much might be written on the pathology of fistula, and a good deal even +on its diagnosis, a very few words will suffice to describe the simple +and effectual operation for its relief. + +Dismissing at once all so-called palliatives, drugs, unguents, pressure, +and injections, as mere waste of time, and holding that the only method +of cure consists in laying the fistula fairly open, the question narrows +itself into this: What is the best method of laying it open? Prior to +the discovery by Ribes of the great principle that the internal orifice +of the sinus is always within an inch or an inch and a half of the +orifice of the anus, the operations for fistula were most unnecessarily +severe; the gut used to be divided as far up as the sinuses extended; +and large portions of the anus used to be excised bodily along with the +sinuses. It is now a much simpler and more satisfactory operation. + +_Operation._--A common silver probe bent to the required shape is passed +into the external opening, or, if there are more than one, into the +largest and oldest one. The forefinger of the left hand being introduced +into the rectum, the probe is passed through the internal orifice, and +its point brought out by the anus. The portion of tissue raised by the +probe can then be easily divided with the certainty that the fistula is +laid fully open. Anal fistulae have been divided by the elastic ligature, +but it seems slower in action and more painful, with no counterbalancing +advantages. + + The author has for last few years operated almost exclusively by a + long knife which is continued into a steel probe. The probe is + passed up the fistula, then into the bowel, and is hooked out at + the anus, and in being simply pushed on the knife cuts the + fistula--tuto, cito, et jucunde, the patient rarely knowing that + more has been done than an exploration. + + In cases where, from the hardness and density of the parts it is + impossible to pass the probe and bring it out at the anus, a strong + probe-pointed bistoury may be passed in by the external orifice + till its probe-point can be felt by the finger in the bowel at the + internal opening. Supported by the finger it can then be made to + cut outwards till the whole septum is divided. + + +FISSURE OF THE ANUS, ULCER OF THE ANUS, resemble each other alike in the +exceeding annoyance which they give to the sufferer, and in the +simplicity of the treatment needed. + +_Operation._--Once the presence of either is determined by the finger in +the anus, a sharp-pointed curved bistoury should be introduced, +transfixing the base of the fissure or ulcer, and then guided on the +finger, completely dividing it, so as to change the ragged ulceration +into a simple wound which will rapidly heal. + + +PROLAPSUS ANI, _Operation for_.--Complete prolapsus in which the whole +gut is involved, as seen in the very young and the very aged, is suited +for palliative rather than radical treatment. + +Cases of prolapsus of the mucous membrane only, as is not uncommon in +connection with or as a result of haemorrhoids in adults, give +opportunity for operative interference. + +We may act on either the skin or mucous membrane, or both at once. + +1. _The skin_ is often found loose, and arranged in radiating folds +round the anus. In such cases, as recommended first by Dupuytren, some +of these projecting folds may be removed. Again it may be prolapsed in a +great loose ring or circular fold round the margin, forming an +exaggerated external pile; in such a case the loose fold may be fairly +excised with curved scissors, as recommended by Hey of Leeds. + +The first of these methods is apt to be insufficient, the second again +has the risk of removing too much. + +2. If the protrusion is chiefly mucous membrane exposed in folds, or a +ring, which is generally outside, one of two methods of treatment may be +tried:-- + +_a._ By ligature, as recommended by Mr. Copeland. Raising a longitudinal +fold of the mucous membrane, he passed a ligature round it as if it were +a pile. There is less chance of the ligature slipping if a double thread +be used and its base thus transfixed. Three, four, or even more folds +may be thus treated. + +_b._ When the mucous membrane has been so long exposed as to have lost +many of its characters, and to resemble leather in its toughness, +excision will be found less painful and much more rapid than ligature. + +A longitudinal fold at each side of the anus should be pinched up and +excised by a pair of probe-pointed curved scissors. There is always a +certain amount of risk of haemorrhage following such an operation. The +risk is lessened and the result improved by stitching up the wound in +the mucous membrane before the protruded portion of bowel is returned. + + +POLYPI OF THE RECTUM.--Pedunculated growths varying in consistence, +shape, and size, but resembling each other in having a distinct stalk, +and in frequently being protruded at stool. + +_Operation._--Invariably by ligature, which may be single round the +stalk, if the tumour be globular and with a distinct narrow stalk, or by +transfixion, if (as sometimes happens) the tumour be of uniform +thickness throughout, like a worm. + + +HAEMORRHOIDS OR PILES.--In the treatment of piles it is the differential +diagnosis that is troublesome and occasionally difficult; the operative +interference required is generally very simple, if the nature of the +case be rightly determined. + +_External piles._--_Operation._--The apex of the soft flabby excrescence +should be seized by a pair of catch-forceps, and it should be cut off +close to its base with a knife, or, what is better, a pair of curved +scissors. Any little vessel which jets may then be secured. If, instead +of numerous individual tumours, a ring of skin round the anus be +involved, the whole of it should be shaved off, but not very close to +its base, lest too great contraction of the anal orifice should ensue. + + If the surgeon, after excising a pile or piles, will take the + trouble to stitch up the wound with catgut, he will find the cure + much more rapid and less painful than when this is omitted. + +_Internal piles._--Incision is extremely dangerous, from the vascularity +of the parts, and their being so inaccessible from their position within +the sphincter ani. Hence ligature is safer and equally effectual. The +patient should be directed to sit over hot water, and strain till the +whole of his piles are fairly protruded. The surgeon should then +transfix the base of each separately with a curved needle bearing a +strong double thread. The needle being cut off, the threads should be +very firmly tied, each isolating its own half of the pile. The tying +should be exceedingly tight, so as to cause instant and complete +strangulation and death of the tumours. All the piles should be tied at +the same sitting. If the piles are very small they may be secured +without transfixion in a single noose after being seized by a hook or +forceps. There is greater risk of the noose slipping than when the base +has been transfixed. + +The strangulated masses must then be returned into the bowel, and the +patient kept in bed or on a sofa till the ligatures separate, which is +generally not till the fourth or fifth day. A certain amount of urinary +irritation, showing itself sometimes in strangury, sometimes in complete +retention, occasionally follows this operation. + +Mr. Smith of King's College, and many other surgeons, treat internal +piles by means of an ivory clamp to hold them tight, while they are +burned off by the actual cautery or the thermo-cautery at a low red +heat. They claim that pyaemia more rarely follows this mode. + + There are certain cases in which the lower inch or two of the + rectum are found red and congested, and in which every stool is + followed by the loss of a certain quantity of florid arterial + blood, and yet no distinct haemorrhoidal tumour is to be seen. In + such cases the ligature is not applicable, and relief is obtained + by the application of pure nitric acid, or other potential caustics + to the bleeding surface, as recommended by Houston, Lee, Smith, + Ashton, and others. These cases are comparatively rare, and + whenever they can be applied, the ligature is much simpler, safer, + and more certain. + +_Venous piles._--When a sudden effusion of blood has occurred into one +of the varicose veins or sinuses of a congested anus, an oval or rounded +tumour is felt, very tense, shining, and painful. To slit it freely up +with an abscess lancet, and evert the clot inside, at once relieves all +the symptoms. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[150] Diagram of section of prostate seen from the inside:--PF, pelvic +fascia or prostatic sheath; RR, ring which must be cut; L, position of +incision in the lateral operation; DD, position of incisions in the +bilateral operation. + +[151] Diagram of muscles of membranous portion of urethra seen from the +inside:--SS, section of os pubis; U, urethra; G, Guthrie's muscle, +compressor urethrae; W, Wilson's muscle, levator urethrae. + +[152] _Boston Medical and Surgical Journal_, May 29, 1879. + +[153] Gross, _Surgery_, 6th ed. vol. ii. p. 736. + +[154] Holmes's _Surgery_, vol. iv. p. 392. + +[155] See Miller's _Practice of Surgery_, p. 212. + +[156] Solly's _Surgical Experiences_, pp. 537, 538, etc. + +[157] _The Immediate Treatment of Stricture._ By Bernard Holt, F.R.C.S. +London. Third Edition, 1868. + +[158] Holmes's _System of Surgery_, 1st ed. vol. iv. p. 403. + +[159] Diagram of puncture of the bladder:--B, bladder; SP, symphysis +pubis; SC, scrotum; _b_, bulb; _pr_, peritoneum; P, prostate; R, rectum; +S, sacrum and coccyx. + +[160] _Med. Chir. Trans._, vol. XXXV. + +[161] Diagram of operation for phymosis:--_a_, glans penis; _b b_, +mucous membrane exposed by retraction of the skin, and slit up; _c d_, +sutures introduced and ready to be tied, uniting the skin and mucous +membrane. + +[162] To illustrate Teale's operation:--_c_, section of penis _b_, +thread inserted uniting mucous membrane and skin; _a_, thread tied. + +[163] _Med. Times and Gazette_, vol. xix. p. 354. + +[164] Miller's _System of Surgery_, p. 1255. + +[165] Miller's _System of Surgery_, p. 1256. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +TENOTOMY. + + +For convenience' sake I group under this one head certain operations +used for the relief of distortion, in which muscles or tendons are +divided subcutaneously. Since the discovery of the principle by Delpech, +and the application of it by Stromeyer, Dieffenbach, Little, and +countless successors, it has been used for very many cases for which it +is totally inapplicable, _e.g._ for the division of the muscles of the +back in spinal curvature. Still there remain several deformities for the +relief of which subcutaneous tenotomy is a most important remedy; chief +among these are Wry Neck and Club-foot. + + +OPERATION FOR WRY NECK.--_Subcutaneous section of the +sterno-mastoid._--In what cases of wry neck is this operation suitable? +In those only in which the muscles are the starting-point of the +mischief. These are sometimes congenital, more frequently they commence +in childhood. In cases where the distortion depends on disease of the +cervical vertebrae, or is secondary to curvature of the spine, division +of the muscle is worse than useless. + +_Operation._--A tenotomy knife, which should be sharp-pointed, narrow in +the blade, with a blunt back, should be introduced through the skin a +little to one side of the sternal portion of the affected muscle, passed +along with its flat edge between the skin and the tendon, till it has +fairly crossed the tendon; the blade should then be turned so that by a +gradual sawing motion the edge may be made to divide the tendon about an +inch above the sternum. A distinct snap will then be felt or heard, and +the position of the head will be at once much improved. Exercise, warm +bathing, and rubbing, will generally suffice to complete the cure, +without it being necessary to call in the aid of the instrument-maker +with his expensive apparatus.[166] + + +OPERATIONS FOR CLUB-FOOT.--The following are the tendons which _may_ +require division in the cure of club-foot, and the operations for their +division. + +1. _The tendo Achillis._--There are very few cases of true club-foot +which can be successfully treated without division of the tendo +Achillis. While in talipes equinis it is generally the only disturbing +agent, in talipes varus and valgus it invariably increases and maintains +the deformity, which the tibiales or peronei seem to originate. + +_Operation._--The foot being held at about a right angle with the leg, +the operator should pinch up the skin over the tendon, introduce the +knife flatwise, a little to one side of the tendon, till its point is +nearly projecting at the other, then turn the edge on the tendon and cut +inwards with a sawing motion till the tendon gives way with a distinct +snap, and the foot can be completely flexed with ease. + + Dr. Little[167] recommends that the tendon should be divided from + before backwards. There is more risk by this method of wounding the + skin, and thus losing the subcutaneous character of the operation. + + Professor Pancoast[168] divides the inferior portion of the soleus + muscle instead of the tendo Achillis. + +2. _Tibialis posticus._--Next in frequency and importance to that of the +tendo Achillis, division of this tendon is much more difficult to +perform. It may be performed either above or below the ankle. + +(_a._) _Above the ankle._--The blade of a tenotomy knife should be +entered perpendicularly at the posterior margin of the tibia, half an +inch or an inch above the internal malleolus, so as to pass between the +bone and the tendon of the tibialis posticus, the blade directed towards +the latter; the assistant should now evert the foot, the operator +pressing the blade against the tendon.[169] + +(_b._) _Below the ankle, close to the attachment to the scaphoid._ This +is the better position of the two when the position of the tendon can be +made out, which is not always the case, especially in cases of old +standing. + +Raising the skin just over the astragalo-scaphoid joint, the knife +should be entered with its blade downwards, and across the tendon, and +should be made to cut on the bone, while an assistant everts the foot +till the tendon gives way with a distinct snap. + +3. _Tibialis anticus_ may in like manner be divided either just above +the ankle, or at its insertion. When it requires division it can +generally be made so prominent as to render its division comparatively +easy. + +4. _Peronei._--These do not often require division, cases of talipes +valgus being usually paralytic in character. If necessary they can be +cut as they cross the fibula. + +5. _The plantar fascia_, may require division; when this is the case, it +is so prominent as to render the operation very easy, if conducted on +the principles mentioned above. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[166] Syme's _Pathology and Practice of Surgery_, p. 220. + +[167] Holmes's _Surgery_, vol. iii. p. 573. + +[168] Cross's _Surgery_, vol. ii. p. 273, 3d ed. + +[169] Miller's _System of Surgery_, p. 1339; Holmes's _Surgery_, vol. +iii. p. 571. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +OPERATIONS ON NERVES. + + +NERVE-STRETCHING.--Surgical literature in last ten years is full of +cases in which nerves have been stretched for all manner of diseases +with varying success: an example of the operative procedure may +suffice:-- + +1. Stretching of the great sciatic either for sciatica, sclerosis, or +locomotor ataxia. + +_Operation._--A line drawn from the centre of the space between the +tuberosity of the ischium or the great trochanter to a corresponding +point between the condyles of the femur will give the direction. A free +incision in this line three or four inches in length--the nerve lies +just below the the femoral aponeurosis, beneath the edge of gluteal +fold, requiring no muscular fibres to be divided. It must be raised from +its bed and boldly stretched or elongated into a loop. Symington's +experiments have shown that in the average adult 130 lb. are required to +break the nerve. + +2. The facial has been stretched for spasm. The trunk is easily reached +by an incision extending from near the external auditory meatus to the +angle of the jaw, which enables the parotid to be pushed forward and the +edge of the sterno-mastoid pulled backwards. + + +NEUROTOMY AND NEURECTOMY.--Chiefly performed for neuralgia of the fifth +nerve. + +_a._ This is a very easy operation if directed at the terminal branches +only of the nerve, where they make their exit from the frontal, +supraorbital, and mental foramina. The author has done it in very +numerous cases, and with great relief, if care be taken to destroy the +nerve in the foramen to some extent--a sharp-pointed thermo-cautery does +this easily and safely. + +_b._ The more severe and radical operation of cutting out a portion of +the trunk of the fifth nerve just after it has left the skull, and +destroying Meckel's ganglion, has been done pretty frequently, chiefly +by American surgeons--in various ways. + +1. _Carnochan's Operation._--Exposing the whole front wall of antrum, +its cavity is opened into from the front by a large trephine. The lower +wall of the infra-orbital canal is cut away by a chisel, the posterior +wall of the antrum by a smaller trephine, the nerve thus isolated is +traced up to and past Meckel's ganglion, which is removed close to the +foramen rotundum by cutting the nerve by curved blunt-pointed scissors. + +2. _Pancoast's Operation._--Expose the coronoid process by a free +incision, divide it at its root and throw it up, then expose and tie +internal maxillary artery, after which the upper portion of the external +pterygoid is to be detached from the sphenoid, thus exposing the nerve +leaving foramen ovale; the second portion is deeper and not so easily +got at. + +3. The spinal accessory occasionally may be divided before it enters the +sterno-mastoid in cases of spasmodic wry neck, with great advantage. +This operation is an easy one; the sterno-mastoid edge being once fairly +exposed, the nerve is easily seen, and a piece should be cut out at +least half an inch in length. + + +NERVE SUTURE is occasionally practised with great advantage in cases +where nerves have been divided either by accident or in operation. +Catgut seems to be the best medium, and cases are on record in which, +even after months of separation and subsequent paralysis, improvement +has followed an operation for refreshing and joining the divided ends. + + + + +ADDENDUM TO CHAPTER IX. + + +DR. SOLIS COHEN has recently (in a paper read before the Philadelphia +College of Physicians, April 4, 1883) collected the notes of sixty-five +cases of excision of the entire larynx. Fifty-six of these were done for +cancer, and the remainder for sarcomata, papillomata, etc. Of the +fifty-six done for cancer, forty are reported as having died, either +shortly after the operation from shock or pneumonia, or a few months +later from recurrence of the disease. In two instances the disease had +recurred, but death had not been reported when the paper was read. +Fourteen remain in which neither death nor recurrence had been reported. +Dr. Cohen's conclusion is that laryngectomy does not tend to the +prolongation of life, and thinks that the greatest good to the greater +number appears better secured by dependence on the palliative operation +of tracheotomy. + + + + +INDEX. + + +Abdomen, operations on, 222. + +Abernethy on ligature of external iliac, 8. + +Adams on anatomy of common iliac, 4. + on hip deformity, 133. + +AEgineta, Paulus, on excision of joints, 108. + +Allarton on median lithotomy, 269. + +Amputation and excision contrasted, 113. + +Amputation at ankle-joint (Syme's), 78. + of anterior portion of foot (Hey's), 73. + of arm, 62. + at elbow-joint, 61. + through femur, condyles of, 92. + of fingers, 51-54. + of fore-arm, 58. + at hip-joint, 102. + at knee-joint, 92. + of penis, 286. + at shoulder-joint, 63. + at tarsus (Chopart's), 75. + at thigh, 94. + double primary of thigh, 106. + of toes, 69. + at wrist-joint, 56. + +Amussat's operation, 252. + +Anchylosis of elbow, excision for, 122. + +Ankle-joint, excision of, 137. + +Annandale on staphyloraphy, 203. + +Anus, artificial, operation for, 252. + artificial, removal of, 254. + +Arendt, ligature of external iliac, 12. + +Astragalus, excision of, 145. + +Auchincloss on ligature of subclavian, 36. + +Avery, hard palate, fissures of, 203. + + +Barwell on excision of ankle-joint, 139. + on excision of tongue, 199. + +Baudens on amputation at elbow-joint, 61. + on amputation of anterior portion of foot, 75. + on amputation at knee-joint, 92. + +Bauer on recto-vesical lithotomy, 272. + +Begbie, Dr. Warburton, on paracentesis thoracis, 220. + +Bell, Benjamin, on amputation, 49. + on amputation of ankle, 86. + on amputation of thigh, 96. + +Bell, Sir Charles, on ligature of femoral, 22. + +Bell, George, on supra-pubic lithotomy, 271. + +Bell, John, on ligature of gluteal, 14. + +Bey, Gaetani, on amputation above the shoulder-joint, 70. + +Bigelow, Dr., on litholapaxy, 276. + +Billroth, Dr., on fissure of palate, 200. + +Bladder, puncture of, 284. + +Bonnet on radical cure of hernia, 245. + +Botal on amputation, 47. + +Bowditch on paracentesis thoracis, 221. + +Bowman's operation, lachrymal canal, 153. + +Brachial, ligature of, 242. + +Brodie, Sir B. C., on lithotomy, 262. + on lithotrity, 274. + +Bromfield, amputation of leg, 86. + +Brown, Baker, ovariotomy, 231. + +Bryant, on excision of joints, 112. + +Buchanan, Dr. A., on lithotomy, 269. + +Buchanan, Dr. G., on excision of tongue, 198. + +Buchanan, Dr. M., on excision of ankle, 140. + +Buck's operation for anchylosis, 136. + +Butcher, ligature of subclavian, 35. + excision of joints, 110. + excision of wrist-joint, 128. + excision of knee-joint, 135. + excision of metacarpals. 142. + + +Campbell, Professor, on ligature of gluteal, 15. + +Carden's amputation at condyles of femur, 50, 94. + +Carmichael on ligature of gluteal, 14. + +Carnochan on neurectomy, 300. + +Carotid, ligature of common, 28. + ligature of external, 32. + +Cataract operations, 160. + +Celsus on amputation, 48. + on excision of joints, 108. + +Chamberlaine, on ligature of axillary, 40. + +Chassaignac on tracheotomy, 206. + +Cheiloplastics, Syme on, 178. + +Cheselden on amputation, 49. + on lithotomy, 260. + +Chopart's amputation, 75. + +Civiale on lithotrity, 275. + +Club-foot, operations for, 297. + +Cock on oesophagotomy, 216. + paracentesis thoracis, 220. + on puncture of bladder, 285. + +Colles on ligature of brachial, 44. + +Cooper, Sir Astley, on ligature of aorta and iliacs, 3, 10. + on perineal section. 276. + +Cornea, puncture of, 159. + staphylomatous, excision of a, 168. + +Corelysis, 170. + +Crampton, Sir Philip, on excision, 119. + +Crichton on lithotomy, 262. + +Critchett's operation of iridesis, 169. + operation for staphyloma, 172. + +Croft, Mr., on hip disease, 132. + +Culbertson on excision of hip, 132. + +Cullerier on phymosis, 287. + +Curling on operation for artificial anus, 253. + +Cusack on treatment of brachial aneurism, 43. + + +Davies, Redfern, on radical cure of hernia, 244. + +Davy's (Mr. Richard), lever, 105. + +Desault on ligature of axillary, 40. + +Dieffenbach on excision of upper jaw, 191. + +Dieulafoy's aspirateur, 284. + +Dionis' amputation of leg, 87. + +Dubrueil, amputation at wrist, 57. + +Duncan, Mr. J., on artificial anus, 254. + +Dupuytren on ligature of iliac, 11. + on ligature of subclavian, 36. + amputation at elbow-joint, 62. + removal of artificial anus, 254. + on bilateral lithotomy, 268. + +Durand, case of haemorrhage from iliac, 12. + +Durham on thyrotomy, 215. + +Dzondi on radical cure of hernia, 246. + + +Elbow-Joint, amputation at, 62. + +Ellis on anatomy of iliac arteries, 6. + +Ectropium, 152. + +Entropium, 151. + +Erichsen on excision of hip, 130. + +Esmarch on excision of joints, 110. + +Excision and amputation contrasted, 112. + +Excision of ankle-joint, 138. + of astragalus, 145. + of elbow-joint, 118. + of hip-joint, 128. + of jaw, upper, 188. + of jaw, lower, 191. + of knee-joint, 133. + of mamma, 216. + of scapula, 139. + of shoulder-joint, 115. + of testicle, 290. + of tongue, 197. + of tonsils, 203. + of wrist-joint, 125. + +Eye, operations on, 151. + +Eyeball, extirpation of the, 173. + +Eyelid, tumours on the, 152. + + +Fayrer, Sir J., on tracheotomy, 212. + on radical cure of hernia, 248. + +Femoral, ligature of, 18. + superficial, ligature of, in Scarpa's space, 19. + in Hunter's canal, 21. + +Femur, amputation through condyles of, 92. + +Fergusson, Sir W., on ligature of subclavian, 38. + on amputation at shoulder-joint, 70. + on excision of joints, 110. + on excision of upper jaw, 191. + on excision of lower jaw, 195. + on fissures of palate, 201. + on lithotomy, 262. + +Filkin on excision of joints, 110. + +Fingers, amputation of, 51. + +Fissures in the palate, soft, 200. + in the palate, hard, 202. + of anus, 292. + +Fistula, salivary, operations for, 192. + in ano, operation for, 291. + +Fore-arm, amputation through the, 58. + ligature of vessels in, 44. + +Forster, Mr. Cooper, on gastrotomy, 224. + +Furner, ligature of both subclavians, 38. + + +Gastrectomy, 224. + +Gastrostomy, 223. + +Gastrotomy, 223. + +Gersdorf, Hans de, on amputation, 48. + +Gerdy on radical cure of hernia, 246. + +Gilbert, amputation above the shoulder-joint, 68. + +Gillespie on excision of wrist-joint, 128. + +Gluteal, ligature of, 12. + +Gosselin on colotomy, 253. + +Graefe on strabismus, 158. + on cataract operations, 166. + or iridectomy, 171. + +Green on ligature of subclavian, 38. + +Greenhow on excision of os calcis, 144. + +Greenslade on Bowman's operation, 156. + +Gritti's amputation, 93 + +Gross on amputation at elbow-joint, 61. + on amputation, 81-87. + on excision of hip, 132. + on lithotomy, 262. + on rhinoplastic operation, 178. + on excision of lower jaw, 192. + +Guerin, Jules, on amputation of toes, 76. + on operation for strabismus, 158. + +Guersant on excision of tonsils, 205. + +Guillemeau on amputation at knee-joint, 91. + +Gurlt's statistics, 118, 124. + + +Haemorrhoids, operations for, 294. + +Haematocele, operation for, 289. + +Hamilton on rhinoplastic operations, 177. + +Hancock on excision of hip, 130. + on excision of ankle, 138. + on excision of os calcis, 144. + +Harelip, operations for, 183. + +Harrison on anatomy of iliac, 6. + on brachial aneurism, 44. + +Hart, Mr. Ernest, on flexion of limbs, 24. + +Heath's case of aneurism of innominate, 28. + +Heine on excision of hip, 130. + +Hernia, strangulated inguinal, 232. + strangulated femoral, 237. + strangulated umbilical, 242. + strangulated obturator, 243. + radical cure of, 244. + +Heurtloup on lithotrity, 274. + +Hey on amputation, 48, 73. + +Heyfelder on excisions, 110, 130. + +Hildanus, Fabricius, on amputation, 47, 91. + +Hip-joint, amputation at the, 102. + excision of, 128. + +Hippocrates on excision of joints, 108. + +Hodgson, statistics of aneurism, 12. + ligature of axillary, 40. + +Hodge on excisions 112, 132. + +Hoin on amputation at knee-joint, 92. + +Holmes on excision of hip, 130, 132, 144. + +Holt's operation for stricture, 279. + +Howse, Mr., on gastrotomy, 224. + +Hughes, Dr. on paracentesis thoracis, 220. + +Huguier on colotomy, 253. + +Hunter on ligature of femoral, 21. + +Hutchinson's statistics, 20. + +Hydrocele, operation for, 288. + + +Iliac, ligature of common, 3. + ligature of external, 7. + +Iliac, ligature of internal, 6. + +Innominate, ligature of the, 26. + +Iridectomy, 171. + +Iridesis, 169. + + +Jacobson on cataract operations, 166. + +Jaeger on excision of hip, 130. + +James, Mr., on ligature of aorta, 3. + +Jameson on radical cure of hernia, 246. + +Jaw, excision of upper, 188. + excision of lower, 191. + +Johnston, Dr., on amputation at ankle-joint, 84. + +Joints, excision of, 108. + +Jones on excision of joints, 110, 134, 136. + +Jordan, Mr. F., on amputation, 106; + on excision of tongue, 199. + + +Keith, Dr. Thomas, on ovariotomy, 224-227. + +Kirby, Mr., on ligature of iliac, 12. + +Knife, Beer's description of, 164. + +Knee, amputation below and above, 90, 91. + amputation at, 91. + joint, excision of, 132. + + +Lachrymal organs, operations on the, 153. + +Lane, Mr., on amputation at knee-joint, 91. + +Langenbeck on excision of joints, 110, 140. + on fissure in hard palate, 203. + on radical cure of hernia, 245. + +Larrey on amputation at shoulder, 64. + on excision of joints, 109. + +Larynx, operations on the, 206. + +Laryngectomy, 216. + Dr. Solis Cohen on, 302. + +Laryngotomy, 214. + +Laryngo-tracheotomy, 215. + +Layraud, Dr., case of haemorrhage from iliac, 12. + +Lee, Mr. Henry, amputation of leg, 88. + +Ligature of the aorta, 2. + of the axillary, 38, 39, 40. + of the brachial, 42. + of the carotid, common, 29, 30. + of the carotid, external, 32. + of the femoral, 18, 21. + of the gluteal, 12. + of the iliac, 3. + of the iliac, external, 7. + of the iliac, internal, 6. + of the innominate, 26. + of the lingual, 32. + of the popliteal, 22. + of the subclavian, 33-37. + of the vessels in fore-arm, 45. + +Lips, operations on the, 180. + +Lisfranc on amputation, 52, 74. + +Lister, Professor, on Syme's amputation, 87. + on excision of wrist, 125. + +Liston, Mr., on ligature of subclavian, 36, 37. + on rhinoplastic operations, 177. + on excision of upper jaw, 186. + tracheotomy, 213. + on femoral hernia, 240. + on lithotomy, 262. + +Litholapaxy, Dr. Bigelow on, 276. + +Lithotomy, 255. + +Lithotrity, 278. + +Little on club-foot, 297. + +Lloyd on harelip, 187. + +Lorinzer on obturator hernia, 244. + +Louis on amputation, 48. + +Lower extremity, amputations of, 68. + +Lupus, operative treatment of, 179. + + +Macilwain on tracheotomy, 208. + +Mackenzie, Dr. Morell, on thyrotomy, 215. + +Mackenzie, Dr. R., on modification of Syme's amputation, 83. + on excision of joints, 110, 134. + +Malgaigne on Chopart's amputation, 77. + on harelip, 187. + +Mamma, excision of, 218. + +Manec on ligature of axillary, 40. + +Maunder on excision of the elbow-joint, 122. + +Maclennan, Dr. G., on amputation above the shoulder-joint, 69. + +Metacarpals, amputation of, 54. + excision of, 141. + +Metatarsals, amputation of, 72. + +Miller on amputation of penis, 288. + +Monteiro, Dr., on ligature of aorta, 3. + +Mooren on cataract operations, 166. + +Moreaus, the, on excision of joints, 109, 114, 120, 132, 134. + +Morel, tourniquet invented by, 47. + +Morton, Dr., on radical cure of hernia, 245. + +Murray, Dr., on ligature of aorta, 3. + +Mussey, case of amputation, 70. + +Mynors on amputation, 48. + + +Nasal polypi, removal of, 179. + +Needle operation for cataract, 160. + +Nelaton on harelip, 184. + +Nerve-stretching, 299. + +Nerve suture, 300. + +Neurectomy, 299. + +Neurotomy, 299. + +Norris's statistics, 12, 20, 31. + +Nunneley on excision of tongue, 198. + + +Oesophagotomy, 216. + +Ollier on excision of joints, 110. + +Os calcis, excision of, 143. + +Ovariotomy, 224. + + +Paget on excision of tongue, 198. + +Palate, fissures in soft, 200. + fissures in hard, 202. + +Pancoast, Professor, on rhinoplastic operations, 178. + on radical cure of hernia, 245. + on neurectomy, 300. + on club-foot, 297. + +Paracentesis thoracis, 219. + abdominis, 222. + +Pare, Ambrose, on amputation, 47. + on amputation at elbow-joint, 60. + +Park on excision of joints, 110. + +Peixotto, Dr., on ligature of innominate, 27. + +Penis, amputation of, 287. + +Perineal section, operation of, 273. + +Percy on excision of joints, 109. + +Phymosis, operation for, 285. + +Pirogoff's modification of Syme's amputation, 80, 84. + +Pollock on excision of lower jaw, 193. + +Polypi, nasal, removal of, 179. + anal, removal of, 293. + +Popliteal, ligature of, 22. + +Porta's statistics, 20. + +Porter, Professor, on ligature of innominate, 27. + on ligature of common carotid, 28. + statistics of amputation, 122. + +Post on ligature of iliac, 10. + +Pritchard, Mr., radical cure of hernia, 248. + +Prolapsus ani, 292. + +Pterygium, operation for, 156. + +Puncture of bladder, 284. + +Pupil, operations for artificial, 168. + +Purmannus on amputation, 48. + + +Quain on anatomy of iliac, 4. + on anatomy of brachial, 43. + + +Regnoli on excision of tongue, 199. + +Rhinoplastic operations, 175. + +Richter on radical cure of hernia, 245. + +Ricord on amputation of penis, 287. + +Rigaud on amputation above the shoulder-joint, 67. + +Ritchie, Dr. Charles, on ovariotomy, 224. + +Rodgers, Dr., on ligature of subclavian, 36. + +Rothmund on radical cure of hernia, 247. + +Roux on ligature of subclavian, 38. + on ligature of axillary, 40, + on Chopart's amputation, 77, 78. + + +Sabatier on excision of joints, 109. + +Salivary fistula, operation for, 196. + +Sanson on recto-vesical lithotomy, 271. + +Scalp, tumours of the, removal of 149. + +Scapula, excision of (Syme), 140. + +Schuh on radical cure of hernia, 245. + +Schmucker on radical cure of hernia, 246. + +Scultetus on amputation, 46. + +Sedillot's operation for ligature of carotid, 30. + on excision of hip, 132. + +Shoulder-joint, amputation at the, 66. + excision of, 115. + +Signoroni on radical cure of hernia, 247. + +Sims, Dr. M., on lithotomy, 272. + +Smith, Dr. Nathan, on amputation at knee-joint, 91. + +Smith, Thomas, on staphyloraphy, 200. + +Smith, Dr. Tyler, on ovariotomy, 231. + +Smyth on subclavian aneurism, 27. + +Skey on ligature of subclavian, 38. + on amputation, 74, 91. + on excision of wrist, 127. + on rhinoplastic operation, 178. + on lithotomy, 262. + +Solis Cohen, Dr., on laryngectomy, 302. + +Solomon on strabismus, 158. + +South on ligature of aorta, 3. + +Spence, Professor, on amputation, 50, 66, 89, 100. + on excision of shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints, 118, 124, 128, 136. + +Sperino on puncture of cornea, 159. + +Stanley on excision of shoulder, 117. + +Steven, Professor, on ligature of internal iliac, 15. + +Strabismus, convergent, 156. + divergent, 157. + +Streatfeild on entropium, 151. + on corelysis, 170. + +Stricture, operation for, 276. + +Stokes's amputation, 94. + +Stromeyer on excision of joints, 110. + +Subclavian, ligature of right, 34. + ligature of left, 35. + +Surgeon-General, United States, statistical report by, 82. + +Syme, Mr., on amputation at ankle-joint, 78. + on amputation through condyles of femur, 92. + on amputation at hip-joint, 106. + on amputation above the shoulder-joint, 73. + on modified circular amputation, 101. + on axillary aneurism, operation for, 41. + on cheiloplastic operation, 181. + Chopart's amputation introduced by, 77. + on excision of lower jaw, 191. + on excision of joints, 111-120. + on excision of scapula, 140. + on excision of tongue, 197. + on ligature of femoral, 20. + on ligature of gluteal, 14, 15. + on radical cure of hernia, 247. + on Hey's operation, 73. + on oesophagotomy, 216. + on removal of polypi, 180. + on rhinoplastic operation, 175. + on stricture, 278-282. + + +Tait on ligature of iliac, 10, 12. + +Taliacotian operation, 178. + +Tarso-metatarsal joint, amputation at, 72. + +Tarsus, amputation through the, 75. + +Teale on amputation, 50. + on amputation of fore-arm, 59. + on amputation of arm, 63. + on amputation of leg, 89. + on amputation of thigh, 98. + on amputation of penis, 288. + +Teale, T. P., on cataract, 163. + +Tenotomy, 296. + +Testicle, excision of, 290. + +Textor on amputation at elbow-joint, 60. + +Thigh, amputations of, 96. + +Thompson on lithotrity, 275. + on stricture, 277. + +Thorax, operations on the, 218. + +Thyrotomy, 215. + +Toes, amputations of, 68. + +Tongue, excision of, 197. + +Tonsils, excision of, 203. + +Tracheotomy, 206-214. + +Trephining and trepanning, 147. + +Trichiasis, 151. + +Tripier's amputation, 78. + +Trocar of Sir S. Wells described, 227. + +Tumours of scalp, removal of, 149. + of eyelids, removal of, 152. + +Tyrrell on treatment of brachial aneurism, 43. + + +Upper extremity, amputation of, 50. + +Urethra, stricture of, 276. + + +Velpeau on ligature of iliac, 12. + on ligature of subclavian, 38. + on amputation at elbow-joint, 60. + on amputation at knee-joint, 91. + on radical cure of hernia, 245. + +Vermale on amputation of thigh, 102. + +Verneuil on Chopart's amputation, 78. + +Vessels of fore-arm, ligature of, 44. + + +Wakley on stricture, 279. + +Warren on fissure of hard palate, 203. + +Watson, Dr. P. H., on excision, 135. + on excision of elbow-joint, 123. + on laryngectomy, 216. + +Wells, Sir Spencer, on ovariotomy, 224-229. + trocar, 227. + hernia, radical cure of, 247. + +White on amputation of leg, 86. + on excision of joints, 110. + +Whitehead, Mr. W., on excision of tongue, 199. + +Willet on oesophagotomy, 216. + +Wood's statistics, 30. + on joints, 134. + on radical cure of hernia, 248-251. + +Wry neck, operation for, 296. + +Wrist-joint, amputation at, 55. + excision of, 124. + +Wuetzer on radical cure of hernia, 247. + +Wyeth, Dr., statistics, 36, 38. + + +Young, James, tourniquet introduced by, 47. + + +Zehender's statistics, 30. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A MANUAL OF THE OPERATIONS OF +SURGERY*** + + +******* This file should be named 24564.txt or 24564.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/5/6/24564 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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