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.

    232/336 (page 220)
    The proper kind of Knife to dut with in this Operation has been the Objed of much Attention ; and it is amazing what a Variety of them has been invented, and ftill continues to be employed by foreign Surgeons : Yet the requifites of a proper Knife feem to be very evident. The Blade ought to be convex to¬ wards the Extremity, otherwife the Operator will cut with the Point onlv, inftead of a large Portion of the Edge. The Handle ought to be neither large nor heavy, that the Refinance to the Knife may be more eafily Felt; and laftly, the Back of the Blade ought not to be very thin, that it may have a due Weight and a ftrong Edge; befides, that the Back being blunt is a Security againft wounding the Redtum, when we cut the Neck of the Bladder from below upwards. For thefe Reafons all ftraight-edged Knives, and all Knives with two Edges leem improper; though thefe laft are chiefly ufed abroad : How¬ ever, it muft be confefled that this kind of Knife feems befl: calculated for their manner of Cutting ; becaule inflead of making three or four different fucceflive Incifions down to the Neck of the Bladder, as we pradife in England, they firA divide the Skin, and then continue to pufh the Knife forwards, without _