Arteria uterina ovarica : the utero-ovarian artery, or, the genital vascular circle, anatomy and physiology, with their application in diagnosis and surgical intervention / Byron Robinson.

  • Robinson, Byron (Fred Byron), 1857?-1910.
Date:
1903
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Licence: In copyright

Credit: Arteria uterina ovarica : the utero-ovarian artery, or, the genital vascular circle, anatomy and physiology, with their application in diagnosis and surgical intervention / Byron Robinson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    which subsequently hardened (as mercury) and then boiling the specimen until the tissues fall away from the metal form of the vessels (Bidloo) ; (6) by the X-ray (Roentgen). REGNERUS DE GRAEE (1641-1673). De Graef introduced the method of injecting the blood vessels with a syringe. He injected the spermatic vessels with mercury. He used colored water injections in order to demonstrate that the injected fluid could be forced from the arteries through the capillaries into the veins, thus confirming Harvey’s theory, which doubtless still had hard opponents. It can at once be seen what a great step in anatomic progress this proved. Unfortunately this noted worker and benefactor died at the age of 33, the same age at which the rarely gifted genius, M. Bichet. laid down his work. SWAMMERDAM (1637-1680). Johannes Swammerdam introduced wax injections for anatomic purposes. 1 his was the foundation of accurate modern anatomic dissections and a great step in anatomic progress. He was the founder of comparative anatomy. The most important work of Swammerdam, for our purpose, is his “Miraculum naturae S. uteri muliebris fabrica.” The miracle of nature or the structure of the uterus of woman, 1672. This book passed through four editions. Swammerdam was a physician in Eeyden. He cultivated anatomy not as a profession to make a living, but for the love of anatomical science. In skill he ex- ceeded his predecessors. Swammerdam claimed that the form of the cavity organs, especially that of the uterus or that of veins and arteries, could be accurately reproduced by wax injections. He speaks highly of the preparations of the uterine artery by this method. It is quite evident that Swammerdam knew the anastomosis of the ovarian artery with the uterine. Swammerdam’s own receipt is practically the following: ‘‘Take white wax and liquefy it. It may be red, yellow, green or any other color. Inject it into the spermatic or hypogastric artery. Also inject it into the uterine cavity. Allow no air to enter during the injection.” This introduction for the anatomy of vessels was a remarkable progressive step. The wax injections sufficed completely to demonstrate macroscopicallv the superficial vessels. For the deep vessels of the visceral parenchyma it was defective because tedious dis- sections were required to completely expose them. The classic Hyrtle claimed from an extensive research of old anatomic works that Swammerdam was also the father of corrosive anatomy. He became so engrossed in scientific medical study that he neglected his private medical practice. TlEs neglect angered his father, who cut off his support of his son. The father’s abandonment caused Swammer- dam to experience a- period of considerable privation, which unfortunately dis- turbed his health, both physically and mentally. In 1675 his father died, leaving him an adequate fortune, but it was too late to retrieve his health. Swammerdam became a hypochondriac and mentally disturbed. Fie joined a mystic religious sect, headed by Antoinette Bourigon. Becoming financially poor and mentally unbalanced, he died in poverty at Amsterdam in 1680.