Observations on the surgical anatomy of the head and neck : illustrated by cases and engravings / by Allan Burns.

  • Allan Burns
Date:
1811
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the surgical anatomy of the head and neck : illustrated by cases and engravings / by Allan Burns. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    form from them ah.iiscful and connected whole. I am afraid, that in planning operations, the surgeon, too frequently, proceeds on a limited view of the parts amongst which he has to cut. More than once, I have heard the propriety of an operation argued from the inspection of a mere blood vessel, and dried preparation;—a guide surely more liable to mislead, than to lead to a rational practice. The blood vessels are, no doubt, highly necessary to be perfectly un- derstood, but this knowledge, to. be practically useful, must be conjoined Avith a compre- hensive acquaintance with the neighbouring parts. On this account, I endeavour to connect the demonstrations of the arteries, with the local structure of the muscles, nervesj;^ and glands, and with the performance of surgical operations. That this is the most advisable plan of teaching the student the true value of anatomy, few will dispute; but I fear that the execution will not prove equal to the design. In attending to the general structure of the neck, the platysma myoides and the fliscia must be first considered, for both have a share in modifying disease. The platysma myoides lies immediately below the skin and cellular mem.-^ brane. It is often composed of a slender set of pale scattered fibres, but sometimes, and espe- cially in short thick-necked males, it forms a strong muscular defence to the throat. It covers