The Sun.
London, England, 1828-12-12 00:00:00

GUY'S HOSPITAL.

THE OPERATION CP I.ITHOTONIV, BY MR. ERANSBY
COOPER, WHICH LASTED NEARLY ONE HOUR !*

We should be guilty of injustice towards the singularly
gifted operator, as well as towards our numerous readers,
if we were to omit a " full, true, and particular" account
of this case. It will doubtless be useful to the country
" draff," to learn how things are managed by one of the
privileged order—a Hospital surgeon—nephew and sur-
geon, and surgeon because he is " nephew."
The performance of this tragedy was nearly as fol-
lows
ACT 1. The patientt (a labouring man, from the
county of Sussex, thick set, ruddy and healthy in appear-
ance, and u 3 years of age), was placed on the operating
table, at a few minutes past one o'clock, on Tuesday the
13th. The only one of the surgical staff present, besides
the operator, was Mr. Gallaway. The ceremony of bind-
ing the patient we need not detail ; the straight staff was
introduced, and was hold by Mr. Gallaway. The first in-
cision, through the integuments, appeared to be freely and
fairly made ; and, after a little dissection, the point of the
knife was fixed (apparently) in the groove of the staff,
which was now taken hold of, and the knife carried on-
wards—somewhere. A small yeantity of fluid followed
the withdrawal of the knife ; the forceps were now handed
over, and for some time attempted to be introduced, but
without effect. " I must enlarge the opening," said the
operator ; " give me my uncle's knife ;" this instrument was
given, and a cut was inaile with it, without the staff being
se-introduced. The forceps were again used, but as un-
successfully as before ; they were pushed onwards to a con-
siderable distance, and with no small degree of force.. " It's
a very deep perineum," exclaimed the operator. " I can't
reach the bladder with any finger."
Act 2. The staff re-introduced, and a cutting gorget
passed along it—various forceps employed : a blunt gorget
—a scoop--sounds and staves introduced at the opening
in the perinetnn. " I really can't conceive the difficulty
—Hush ! Hush ! Don't you hear the stone !"—" Dodd
(turning to the Demonstrator), have you a long finger?
Give me another instrument—Now I have it ! Good
God ! 1 can hear the stone when I pass the sound from the
opening, but the forceps won't touch it—O dear ! 0 dear !"
Such were the hurried exclamations of the olierator.
Every now and then there was a cry of Hush ! which was
succeeded by the stillness of death, broken only by the hor-
rible squash, squash, of the forceps in the perineum.
" Oh ! let it go—pray let it keep in," was the constant
ery of the poor man.
This act lasted upwards of half an hour; the firmer up-
wards of twenty minutes. The stone was eventually laid
hold of, and never shall we forget the triumphant manner
in which the Assistant Surgeon raised his arm and flou-
rished the forceps over his head, with the stone in their
grasp. The operator turned to the students and said " I
really can't conceive the cause of the difficulty." The pa-
tient being upon the table, bound, while the operator was
6' err/trilling."
The man was put to bed much exhausted, but rallied a
few hours afterwards, and leeches were applied, in conse-
quence of tenderness of the abdomen. He passed a rest-
less night, was in• great pain, and was bled from the arm
on the followine morning. Leeches were applied in the
afternoon, and about seven o'clock in the evening, death
ended the poor fellow's sufferings, about 29 hours after the
operation.