Observations on lithotomy : being a republication of Dr. James Douglas' appendix to his History of the lateral operation for the stone, and of other original papers relative to Mr. Cheselden's invention and improvement of that operation ; to which is added, a proposal for a new manner of cutting for the stone / by John Thomson.

Date:
1808
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on lithotomy : being a republication of Dr. James Douglas' appendix to his History of the lateral operation for the stone, and of other original papers relative to Mr. Cheselden's invention and improvement of that operation ; to which is added, a proposal for a new manner of cutting for the stone / by John Thomson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    bei^ig thus doubled, the ligature is but a foot long. A slip knot, made of such another tape, brings to-. gether and joins the two sides of. this ligature, which then forms a sort of figure of eight. This jviiot is not fixed, but may be moved towards either end of the ligature. Each of the assistants passes one of the patient’s hands into one end of the liga- ture, and fastens it with the slip knot at the bend- ing of the wrists, which done, he passes the other end of the ligature under the foot like a stirrup. He then puts one of his diands between the pa- tient’s aim and his ham to bear it up, while with the other he holds his .foot, The ligatures being thus applied, I introduce the .staff into the bladder in the same manner as was before directed, and feel for the stone. The two assistants before-mentioned keep open the pa- -tient’s knees, whilst a third stands on one side of him upon a chair. I then raise up the scrotum, and directing the last assistant to support it with both hands, so as to avoid bruising it by pressing it either against the staff or the os pubis, I place his two fore-fingers on each side of the pa^’t where the incision is to be made; one of the fingers being ' laid exactly along that branch of the ischium which rises towards the ])ubis, and the other pressed upon : the raphe, that the skin may be kept fixed and I tight. Whilst I thus place the fingers of the assis- tant who supports the scrotum, I still keep hold of ' the handle of the staff, and direct it so as to form a right angle with the patient’s body; at the same time taking care that the end of it is in the bladder.