Observations on aneurism : and its treatment by compression / O'Bryen Bellingham.

  • Bellingham, O'Bryen, 1805-1877.
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on aneurism : and its treatment by compression / O'Bryen Bellingham. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    sac, not by the formation of a coagulum, that the cure was ultimately accomplished.* From what I have now said, it would appear that the mode in which pressure upon the artery at the cardiac side of the aneurism effects the consolidation of an aneurism, and that by which nature effects this object, are identical; in both cases the fibrine of the blood is gradually depo- sited in the sac, which continues until the sac becomes filled, and no longer permits of the entrance of blood. I have next to show that the ulterior changes which take place are the same in both. When the sac of an aneurism has been completely filled by fibrine, deposited as already mentioned, the disease is cured; it can neither increase in size, nor can rupture take place. If the aneurism was seated in the arch of the aorta, however, the calibre of the artery at the part from which it springs will still be preserved, and the circulation will continue through it as before, because the anastomos- ing branches are not sufficiently numerous or large here to carry on the circulation if this vessel was suddenly * I have often been compelled, much against my -will, to digress, in order to correct the misrepresentations and errors contained ina History of the Cure of Popliteal Aneurism by Compression, put forward in the shape of an editorial article by Mr. Wilde, in the Dublin Quarterly Journal of Medicine for August, 1846 (which has been also reprinted separately, and distributed extensively,). In noticing this curious production for I hope the last time, I shall merely observe, that his remarks upon the mode in which compres- sion effects the cure of aneurism will be read with surprise by every one who has seen this method employed; and cannot fail of leading to the conclusion that the writer must be utterly ignorant respecting both its theory and practice. It is quite apparent (he says, the italics also are his own,) that its [pressure] removal at a particular time, even for a few minutes, and allowing the flow of blood through the sac again to take place, will undo all that had been before effectedV'—Vide Bub. Quart. Jour, for Aug, 1846, p. 131.