DOI: 10.7925/drs1.ucdlib_280166
title: Pendulous tumour removed from the labium

description: Watercolour medical illustration depicting labial tumour in a woman. It has the alternative reference number 1590 and P6B on the front. The Richmond Hospital Museum reference is A.c.18. The entry for this in P263/1 pg. 9 reads 'Labial tumour. Anne O'Brien aet 21. Dr Fleming'. The artist's name is in the top right corner 'J. Connolly fec.t'. The typescript notes on the back begins 'Pendulous tumour removed from the labium'.
description: Users are advised that this item contains graphic images which may cause upset or distress.
description: Scope and content: The typescript and handwritten notes on the back read 'Pendulous tumour removed from the labium. Dr Fleming exhibited a tumour removed from the right labium of a female aged 20, who was admitted into the Richmond Hospital on the 7th of last month. The history she gave of her disease was, that about four months previously she felt a small tumour at the upper end of the labium; that within a period of three months it acquired the magnitude represented in the plate; but that for a month previous to her admission it did not appear to have increased in size. It was extremely distressing to her in walking, and had caused considerable irritability of the bladder. The catamenia were irregular and uncertain. The tumour was pyriform, but constricted near centre, the upper portion being about the size of a hen's egg, while the lower part was as large as a goose-egg. The integuments were natural in colour, and not adherent to the tumour, a portion of which projected into the vagina, and appeared almost semi-transparent. It had the feel almost everywhere of a firm, solid tumour; but the lower portions of it in one situation gave an obscure sensation of fluctuation. Into this portion a puncture was made, but nothing flowed except a few drops of serum tinged with blood. The woman being exceedingly anxious to have the tumour removed, the operation was performed soon after her admission into the hospital. A longitudinal division of the integuments was made, when the tumour was found to be contained in a capsule, surrounded by much loose cellular tissue. It was easily separated from the wall of the vagina on the inside, and from the labium on the outside, but a considerable portion of it was then found passing up towards the sacro-sciatic ligament; this was separated chiefly by traction. The wound healed favourably. A section of the morbid growth showed that it belonged to the class of fibro-cellular tumours; it presented a uniform appearance throughout, and was very vascular; it was of rather loose texture, but it did not contain any cavity. Mr Lawrence has described this form of tumour of the labium in the Medico-Chirurgical Transactions; and Mr Paget, in his recently published work on Surgical Pathology, has given a good account of it. When recent, it had very much the aspect of an immense gelatinous polypus, and resembled the gelatinous sarcoma of Rokitansky. December 10, 1853. Mr Fleming's Case. Ann O'Brien age 21 unmarried. In hospital 1854. Labial tumour extending up rectum[?], and projecting into vagina. Removed by operation. Structure gelatinous (Rokitansky). Recovery perfect. Particulars detailed to Pathological Society (Session 1854). Ch.F.'.
description: Numbering/sequence: Original reference number: 1590.