Observations on the history of the cure of popliteal aneurism by compression / by the editor.

Date:: [1846?]

Credit: Observations on the history of the cure of popliteal aneurism by compression / by the editor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

11/35 page 111

$]\[ortification of the foot sot in, and Dr. Duggan, assistod by myself, Mr. Slickloton, Mr. Owen, Dr. Hayden, and Mr. M'Coy, performed amputation of tlie tliigh four inches abo-v'o the knee. In July 1824, that is, in six years after the amputa- tion, an aneurismal tumour appeared in the femoral artery, about the size of a hen's egg, situated at the distance of two inches below Poupart's ligament, in the femoral artery of the stump. There could not be a much more unpromising patient than this: he had already shewn his predisposition to aneu- rism, and both before and since his limb had been amputated, had led a most intemperate and dissipated life. When the femoral aneurism appeared in the stump, I frequently examined the tumour, which was situated exactly two inches below Pou- part's ligament; it had the usual signs of aneurism, and it is to be observed that it had a strong diastolic pulsation; it was gradually increasing when the treatment by compression was resorted to. Tliis case seemed a peculiarly appropriate one for such treatment, and unsuited for any other; the dissipated habits of the man, and the situation of the aneurismal tumoin*, were circumstances which would have rendered any operation peculiarly hazardous. Dr. Duggan therefore gladly adopted the proposal of Mr. Todd, contained in the Dublin Hospital Reports, and determined to give a trial to the aneurismal truss, which, says Mr. M'Coy, ' I was directed by Dr. Duggan to apply to the femoral artery, above the aneurismal tumour. Mr. Todd had the kindness to lend his own apparatus, and I put it on.' Mr. M'Coy tightened the screw until all pulsa- tion ceased. Next day, he adds, ' I found him easy, and there was no return of pulsation. The tumour in three weeks became solid, and diminished in size, and he was perfectly cured.' The man lived twenty years after the cure of the aneu- rism, and suffering much from the effects of the idle, dissipated mode of life he had adopted. During this period he lived oc- casionally with his brother, who resides near me, and I had fre- quent opportunities of seeing him; he complained occasionally of rheumatism in the right hip joint, as if it had suffered from$

Observations on the history of the cure of popliteal aneurism by compression / by the editor.

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