Illustrations of the great operations of surgery, trepan, hernia, amputation, aneurism, and lithotomy / By Charles Bell.

  • Charles Bell
Date:
1821
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Illustrations of the great operations of surgery, trepan, hernia, amputation, aneurism, and lithotomy / By Charles Bell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Another object of this dressing is to prevent the rising of the Dura Mater. For if it rise, it must press against the edge of the bone; and then, by the incessant pulsation of the brain, it will ulcerate, and give way. It will be necessary to moderate the pulsation of the brain by general bleeding, and to press down the flap of the integument on the Dura Mater. But this will not always be possible; and then against the pulsation of the brain the membranes must be supported by the mode of dressing*. Cut slips of fine lint of the exact size of the opening of the bone ; dip them in oil, and place them successively on the Dura Mater, until they be equal to the thickness of the bone, and rise a little above its level. Place a slip of the mildest dressing under the integuments and over the slips of dressing. It must lie loose, and not confine the matter. Over the integuments, and upon the edge of the flap, place lint. Over this a soft compress. [This compress is made by laying some soft tow, or lint, or cotton, on a square piece of lint, and folding the corners over.] The bandage for the head is made by a double-headed roller. Place the middle of the roller on the compress, and carry the ends on both sides to the temples. On one side turn the head of the roller, so that it encircle the forehead and occiput, and pass above the other part of the roller. An assistant holding fast the circular roller : that which hangs over the temple, is to be returned over the head. On the oppo¬ site side it is again to be held down by the finger of the assistant, until the circular roller be brought round to embrace it. And then, twisting the two rollers, make that which encircles the head pass over the head, and that which passed over the head encircle the head; and thus alternately, until the dressings on the wound be sufficiently supported, and the whole head be covered by a neat cap, made of the interlacings of the two extremities of the roller. See that on the whole the bandaging- of the head be not too firm — let it be light withal, for murh bandaging will keep the head too hot, and is, therefore, improper. Wet the bandages, if there be excess %