Copy 1

A critical enquiry into the present state of surgery.

  • Samuel Sharp
Date:
1761
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A critical enquiry into the present state of surgery. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    227/336 (page 215)
    manner in France, as dexteroufly as the nature of the Method would admit; but from feeine them am fo little perfuaded of the Propriety of this Practice, that was there fome doubt, that an Affiftant might through Ignorance move the Staff, I think the Hazard would be worth risking ; but the Fad: is, that in Hos¬ pitals and in great Towns, there are generally Affiflants of equal Abilities with the Operator himfelf; and confequently as capable of hold¬ ing the Staff; though indeed almoft any Sur¬ geon is equal to it ; fince no other Talent is requifite, than to keep the Staff in the very Pofition the Operator places it, till the Beak of the Gorget is admitted into the Groove ; when the Operator takes it into his left Hand, in order to accommodate its Motion to the In- trod udion of the Gorget. Another Difference in the Manner of Operating, is the Poflure of the Operator whilft he makes the Incifion : In England, we feat ourfelves in a Chair of a fuitable height to the Table on which the Patient lies; and in this Situation we are firm, having no Part of our Body on the Stretch. In France, the moft eminent Operators kneel on one Knee, which feems to be an unfteady, if not a pain¬ ful Pofture 5 and does not, as I conceive, P 4 . procure