Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Extrophy of the bladder / by C.B. King. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.
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![distended the bladder and prevented the free escape of urine. No pain or inflammation was caused by the urine, which was allowed to flow over the exposed testicles and raw surface of the perineum, but it appeared to hasten cicatrization. The boy at this date (April 25, 1875) is doing well. He is able to walk erect; he runs and jumps with ease; and by the use of a shield, the urine is collected in a bottle fastened to the inside of his boot, thus preventing his clothing from becoming soiled. [Extracted from the Minutes of the Section on Surgery and Anatomy.] The next was a paper read by Dr. C. B. King, of Pennsylvania. Title, Ope- ration for Extrophy of the Bladder. Dr. Andrews, of Illinois. I would like to ask the gentleman, what is to become of this boy when he arrives at the age of puberty, and this integument which has been taken from the pubes and placed so as to serve for the inner lin- ing of the bladder is covered with hair? In my opinion it may give him a great deal more trouble in the future than would his former condition. It may do very well for the boy, but I think not one here would be willing to perform such an operation. Dr. King, of Pennsylvania. The trouble which Dr. Andrews thinks is liable to follow this operation, i. e., irritation of the bladder, is obviated by the urine acting as a depilatory. Dr. Pancoast, of Philadelphia, to whom belongs the honor of firs.t performing this operation, and Dr. Wood, of London, both hold this view. Dr. James R. Wood, of New York. I am delighted with the result which my friend Dr. King has reported I have seen the cases of my namesake in London, and they are not more favorable than this. As far as the accumulation of hair is concerned, there is no trouble to be feared. I know objections have been made by many surgeons to the operation, but the comfort accruing to the patient is beyond description, and this, together with previous successes, should warrant its being performed. An operation which I performed some time ago resulted very favorably, and in every case where the operation has been performed by intelligent surgeons it has proven successful; the result being hailed both by surgeon and patient with delight. You all know the success of the somewhat similar operation for vesico-vaginal fistula as performed by Dr. Sims, of New York, to whom womankind is so much indebted, and it is to the young men of our profession, Mr. Chairman, we must look to perform these operations. They require study, thought, and labor, which the older men of the profession have either not the time, or are not willing to bestow. There are poor wretches to- day travelling over this country with protruding bladders, exhibiting themselves to the medical classes and eking out a most miserable existence; and these men are not operated upon, simply because you and I, and others, have not the time or inclination to qualify ourselves to do it. Mr. Wood, of London, is doing all of this kind of work iu England, and I hope my young friend, Dr. King, will do it all in this country. On motion the paper was referred to the Committee of Publication.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b22458219_0008.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
