An account of a case of partial double monstrosity : (ischiopage symelien of Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, heteradelphia of Vrolik) / by William Acton.

  • William Acton
Date:
[1846]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An account of a case of partial double monstrosity : (ischiopage symelien of Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, heteradelphia of Vrolik) / by William Acton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    have treated of monsters ; I need not therefore, dwell upon the subject further than to remind the Fellows that this form of monstrosity has given rise to the fabulous stories ot mermaids, and the webbed toes have given some further countenance to a supposed resemblance of this compound limb to the tail of a fish. The only other point to which I wish to call the atten- tion of the Society, is the question of removal of this com- pound limb. In cases bearing the nearest resemblance to the present one, death has followed so soon after birth, that an operation has not been necessary; in the cases of double monsters like the Siamese Twins, it has not been thought advisable to operate, as the surgeon would have probably divided the peritonaeum, which formed a common sac to both monsters; but in the present case, every cir- cumstance is in favour of an operation. The health of the child proves the existence at least of one entire set of healthy organs, capable of performing all their functions; the medium of communication is narrow, and contains pro- bably no important part; but what especially demands the attention of the parents, is the low vitality of the limb; with every precaution that can be taken, the toes have now a blueish appearance, and the history of partial double mon- strosities shows, that any, however slight, scratch or con- tusion heals slowly, and generally ends, at first, m the death of the part, and subsequently of the child. If the infant escapes this source of danger, its system is found incapable of supporting this additional limb, and the child perishes from debility. There can then, I think, be no doubt that an operation will be necessary, to give the child a chance of arriving at puberty ; and in the absence of any one counter indication, I think all will agree, the sooner this is performed the better, for the security of the child. [From Transactions of the Medico-Chirurgical Society, Vol. xxix.] JMUNTED BY RICHARD K1KDJ5R, GRliliN ARBOUR COURT, OLD BAILEY,