Observations on the advantages of exposing wounds to the air after capital operations; with some remarks upon the removal of scirrhus tumours from the breast / Communicated in a letter to Samuel Bard.
- David Hosack
- Date:
- 1813
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Observations on the advantages of exposing wounds to the air after capital operations; with some remarks upon the removal of scirrhus tumours from the breast / Communicated in a letter to Samuel Bard. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![J ( 5 ) y pense, to obtain relief, but has found none. On the l*2tir day of December last I visited him. At that time he was Under the care of Dr. Cook, of Bound Brook. We found the ulcer very large and deep, a great part of the tibia bare and carious, with a considerable hemorrhage from the capilla¬ ry vessels, together with the usual discharge from the ulcer, by which the General had become very much reduced. The course or channel of the tibia] artery lay exposed to view. We were of the opinion, that the artery would soon be destroyed, and advised every precaution to be taken, should it happen in our absence ; but very fortunately for him, when Dr. Cook was dressing the ulcer on the nineteenth day of December last, in my presence, the artery burst with such a violent hemorrhage, that with all our attention he lost at least twenty ounces of blood, which added much to his debility ; hut the artery was taken up and secured by a ligature. A considerable swelling of the leg and foot took place below the ligature, and continued for some time after, when the ulcer put on a more healthy appearance ; those parts which were not irritated by the carious bones soon began to heal, and the General to recover his strength- I was unable to attend him on account of a fracture of my arm. Doctor Cook attended as usual ; in about seven weeks I again visited him, found him in better health, and his strength greatly improved, the ulcer as when I left him, with the tibia almost destroyed. I then, for the first time, advised him to have his leg amputated, before w hich time the great debility of his body, by reason of the loss of so much blood, rendered the operation, in my opinion, very doubtful. I am, dear sir, with great regard, yours, &c. ISAAC MOUSE.” A consultation of the physicians of Elizabelli-Town and its vicinity being held, it wTas decided, that unless the leg](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30795564_0005.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
