The history of the case, and a descriptive account of the operation performed upon William Forder, at the Norwich Free Hospital for 'Incurables' : together with indisputable evidence of the accuracy of the casts presented to the Hunterian Museum / by Mr. Webber.

  • Webber, William, 1800-1875.
Date:
[1854]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of the case, and a descriptive account of the operation performed upon William Forder, at the Norwich Free Hospital for 'Incurables' : together with indisputable evidence of the accuracy of the casts presented to the Hunterian Museum / by Mr. Webber. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    H / would not operate upon him. Circulars, as is usual at this Hospital, were sent on the following day (Tuesday) to the Medical Subscribers, requesting them to attend on the Friday, (August 5th) when the operation was performed; a descriptive account of which, by Mr. Spencer Freeman, I shall subjoin. I will only here add, that fortunate is the Surgeon who, at so anxious a time, has the co-operation of such able and practical Gentlemen, as the Surgeons who so kindly and efficiently assisted me in the case in question; and to whom I feel much indebted, as was the patient. Not a single thing had I to ask for during this most trying operation ; with heads clear, eyes open, and hands as steady as ready, each instrument, sponge, or what not, was at my finger’s end at the instant I required it. DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF THE OPERATION PERFORMED UPON WILLIAM FORDER, AT THE FREE HOSPITAL FOR “INCURABLES,” By which (humanly speaking,) his life was prolonged nine months! On the morning of the 5th of August, 1853, I attended at the Norwich Free Hospital for Incurables by special summons. I met there several other Surgeons, who, as well as myself, are Subscribers to the Institution. It is usual with the Medical Officer at that Hospital, to hold conferences prior to Opera- tions, with all the other medical gentlemen wTho may be present, relative to the cases about to be operated upon. Every circumstance connected with the history, and the treat- ment which has been pursued, is then explained and discussed, and future measures determined on. On the occasion in ques- tion, we were introduced to the case of William Forder, one of the most horrible and pitiable objects imaginable, labouring under a malignant growth occupying the nose, upper lip, and inside of the mouth; the loathsome and frightful character of which beggars all description by the pen. Some idea, however, of its extent and appearance may be formed from the woodcuts (on the opposite page,) taken from drawings by a clever artist, and casts (modelled by the Subcurator of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital Museum,) which have lately been made the subject of so much notoriety. Having carefully examined the case, and deliberately weighed