The excision of joints / By Richard M. Hodges, M. D.

  • Richard Hodges
Date:
1861
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The excision of joints / By Richard M. Hodges, M. D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    excepting those of the head of the humerus and of the elbow, which seem to be especially privileged, are not operations liable to succeed under any circumstances in the hospitals of an army. Discussing this question, M. Scrive says: L'experience acquise en Crim£e sur les in- teressantes questions qui concernent les amputations a demontre que ces moyens d'extreme ressource doivent etre, a la guerre, largement appliquees. Si Ton hesite dans les cas paraissant douteux, ou si Ton se place un peu trop sur la terrain dite conservatrice, on ne tardent pas a s'en repentir, et a voir succomber aux suites de leur blessures des blesses que souvent l'amputation aurait pu sauver. Nous avons fait trop souvent cette triste experience. En- trained par un sentiment de cceur qui s'appuyait sur une espe*rance trompeuse, nous tentions pour le plus grand interet d'avenir d'un officier, par exemple de lui con- server un membre et de lui permettre de continuer par ce bienfait la brillante carriere des armes; le sort se jouait de nos efforts, et les conditions g^nerales mau- vaises de la sante publique, les difficulte's d'une hospitali- sation encombree et insalubre finissaient par conduire l'infortune' blessC au tombeau.x 2. Excision for Deformity. — With reference to its adaptation as a means of curing deformities, (and in this term, as here used, hardly anything but the varying forms of anchylosis is included,) apart from the great danger and the uncertainties belonging to the operation itself, questions of expediency arise having reference to the pa- tient's position in life, to the degree and nature of the deformity, and to the extent of its interference with ab- solutely necessary uses or pursuits, which are not always of easy decision, and which admit of discussion only in certain cases, and with regard to particular joints. Mr. Bryant speaks of a painter who desired anchylosis of his 1 Relation Medico-Chirurgicale de la Campagne d'Orient, par le Dr. G. Scrive, (Paris, 1857,) p. 461.
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