A system of practical surgery / by William Fergusson.

  • William Fergusson
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A system of practical surgery / by William Fergusson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    40/878 (page 16)
    it will be highly proper to employ this instrument; and, on many oc- casions, it will be found serviceable, in permitting a tolerably free escape of matter through its groove, when it has been thought advisable to open an abscess by a puncture : indeed, some have recommended an instrument of a similar construction with a sharp point, called an ex- ploring needle,” to be thrust into Fig. 21. Fig. 22. I swellings of doubtful nature, so as to allow of blood or matter, if either be present, to flow along the groove. On such occasions, I am in the habit of passing a bistoury into the seat of disease, and by gently turning it half round on its long axis, an opening is made sufficient to permit the exit of a few drops of blood or matter; or, should there be any apparent obstruction, I then pass the common director along the flat surface of the blade, which is next withdrawn, whilst the matter, if any be present, is evacuated through the groove. This instru- ment is generally made of silver, of the shape and appearance here exhibited, and between four and five inches in length. The handle may either be flat, of a triangular shape, or in the resemblance of a small oblong spoon, like that in the sketch. Various shapes and sizes of directors have been recommend- ed, but for ordinary use I give the preference to such as is shown in the cut. Among those for special pur- poses, the staff for conducting cut- ting instruments into the bladder in lithotomy is one of the most remark- able, and due notice will be taken of it in a future part of this volume. It would be impossible, or, at all events, a useless proceeding,, to lay down any set of rules, to which the dissector or surgeon is to give a strict adherence, in practising disBections and operations on fup or living body. I cannot undertake to describe what may bef done on^uch1 occasions, but shall now, as in the after parts o this work, content myself with stating what I consider th« bes‘ of procedure, and from time to time referring to such modifications