A third and fourth series of fifty cases of ovariotomy : with remarks on the situation and length of the incision required in the operation / by T. Spencer Wells.

  • Thomas Spencer Wells
Date:
[1867]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A third and fourth series of fifty cases of ovariotomy : with remarks on the situation and length of the incision required in the operation / by T. Spencer Wells. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    umbilicus, and another four inches long at right angles ex¬ tending towards the spine. In this case no tumour could be found, and the patient recovered. In another case (‘ Lancet/ 1836, ’37), he made “ a division of about three inches through the integument and the linea semilunaris of the left side, a little above a line drawn across the abdomen from the umbilicus/'’ An incision nine inches long was made by Dr. Mercier,1 from the “ lower ribs to external edge of rectus muscle/'’ Dr. Haartmann3 made an incision five inches long, parallel with PouparPs ligament; and Dr. Dorsey3 met a vertical incision eight inches long, by a transverse incision in the left side six inches long. These are the principal examples on record of oblique or transverse incisions. Vertical incisions to one or other side of the linea alba have been less un¬ common. Dr. MfDowell4 in his first and second cases made his incisions nine inches long, three inches from and parallel to the left rectus. In his subsequent cases he seems to have selected the linea alba. Some writers, as Hamilton,5 who describes his incision as corresponding to the inner margin of the right rectus,” merely express in other words division of the linea alba. The object is to avoid either of the recti muscles. The only operator, so far as I know, who prefers division of one of the muscles is Dr. Storer, of Boston, who says, “ I differ from most operators in that I prefer making the section in the track of a rectus muscle rather than in the linea alba, being thus much more certain, from the nature of the tissue divided, of a primary reunion.”—-/ American Journal of Medical Science/ January, 1866.) As I do not believe it possible that a divided and reunited muscle, even when most complete union results, can form so 1 ‘New Orleans Medical and Surg. Journal/ January, 1855. 2 ‘ Monatschrift fur Geburtskunde/ 1856. 3 ‘Ohio Med. and Surg. Journal/ 1859. 4 ‘Eclectic Repertory/ 1817, 1819. 4 Ibid.
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