Gastrotomy : large abdominal-uterine tumor, extirpated by John O'Reilly, M.D., F.R.C.S.I. / reported by Richard J. Halton.

  • Halton, Richard J.
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Gastrotomy : large abdominal-uterine tumor, extirpated by John O'Reilly, M.D., F.R.C.S.I. / reported by Richard J. Halton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    LAKGE ABDOMINAL-UTERINE TUMOR, EXTTRPAl'ED BY JOHN O'REILLY, M.D., F.R.C.S.L [Eeported by RICHAED J. HALTON, L.E.O.3.I.] Mrs. L., the subject of tlie present report, was a married woman about 55 years old, the mother of several children. Seven years ago the tumor first made its appearance, at that time causing little or no inconvenience; but as time passed it increased in size, and finally filled up the whole front of the abdomen, distending the parts so as to produce great deformity, while the pain became considerable, and latterly the constitu- tion began to give way altogether. There was a good deal of emaciation, and the lower extremities showed considerable oedema. On examination, the tumor was found to be firmly fixed, but the parietes were movable slightly upon it. There was no evidence of fluctuation, but it was supposed^ from its great elasticity before the operation, that it contained a num- ber of cysts. As the patient was evidently sinking. Dr. O'Reilly determined to give her the chance the operation affords, a middling one, according to the general opinion of the profession ; but by his theory of the physiological action of the organic nervous glands, and the effect of opium thereon, he calculated on being able to prevent peritonitis^ M'hich is so often fatal after these operations. With this intention, there- fore, he prepared the patient, and the night before the opera- tion gave her forty drops of laudanum to keep her bowels quiet and contracted during the operation. She slept well, and in the morning, just before the operation, her pulse was 144. She was cheerful, perfectly easy, and very hopeful as to the re- sult. On the first of July, at 12^ o'clock p.m., chloroform being