Volume 1

Catalogue of the Pathological Museum of St. George's Hospital / edited by John W. Ogle and Timothy Holmes.

  • St George's Hospital (London, England). Pathological Museum.
Date:
1866
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Catalogue of the Pathological Museum of St. George's Hospital / edited by John W. Ogle and Timothy Holmes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

    30/896 (page 24)
    of sloughs formed ia various parts of both limbs, till he died. On December 22ud, a large solid tumour appeared in the loins by the side of the spine, but was absorbed again in a few days. The patient died, worn out, February 27th, 1830, nearly five mouliis after the accident. Presented by C^sar Hawkins, Esq. 50. Oblique fracture of the body of the sixth dorsal vertebra, with displacement of the fragments, producing a considerable an- gular curvature of the spine. The upper fragment, with the spinal column above, projects backwards, so as to encroach upon the spinal caual. The lower fragment, with the spine below, appears to be thrown somewhat forwards. The liga- ments in fi'out had either not been torn across, or had united again with some thickening. The union between the broken portions of bone was strong. The spinal marrow presented no marks of injury upon its outer surface, nor had any blood been effused within its texture ; it was softened for about tAvo inches opposite to the fracture, but without any discolouration. The bladder was inflamed, dark-coloured, and softened upon its inner surface, and incrusted with phosphates, especially about the neck ; but, on careful examination, the incrustation seemed to be on a sound mucous membrane. Both kidneys were inflamed, and contained purulent secretion ; the right was highly vascular, and with phosphates in the pelvis and infundibula ; the left not very vascular, but very soft and brittle. There was immense loss of substance over the nates, laying bare the sacrum and coccyx; and even the ligaments between the sacrum and vertebras were destroyed, so as to open the canal of the vertebral column. Within the canal of the sacrum and lower lumbar vertebras was a good deal of purulent matter on both surfaces of the theca, and on the arachnoid membrane cover- ing the spinal marrow and cauda equina there was a good deal of lymph, slightly purulent in colour, but not fluid. This was in greatest quantity low down among the nerves of the Cauda equina, but extended up to the seat of the injury, though not there in great quantity. The posterior longi- tudinal ligament was ruptured, but without any projection of bone into the spinal canal. The patient, Henry W., aged 27, was admitted into the Hospital on October 22nd, 1834, having fallen from the second story of a house upon a beam, and thence to the ground, a height of probably thirty feet. There was complete paralysis of motion and sensation in the lower part of the body and bladder, with priapism. Profuse perspiration came on on the 25th, with rapid emaciation. The urine was acid, as indicated by litmus paper, till November 6th, but ammoniacal in smell from the 27th of October. Vesication, followed by extensive sloughing, began on the sacrum on the 27th, vesication on the right ankle on tlic