Remarks on cancer of the prostate and the selection of cases for suprapubic prostatectomy : delivered at the Medical Graduates' College and Polyclinic, June 3, 1903 / by Reginald Harrison.

  • Harrison, Reginald, 1837-1908.
Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Remarks on cancer of the prostate and the selection of cases for suprapubic prostatectomy : delivered at the Medical Graduates' College and Polyclinic, June 3, 1903 / by Reginald Harrison. 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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    IO included a complete section of the mass removed, unmistakably indicated its carcinomatous nature as in the previous case. Early in April, 1892, this patient sailed for the Cape in a professional capacity, apparently in excellent health, and passing urine quite naturally. About four months after operation he had one or two slight attacks of haema- turia, which were evidently connected with recurrence at the original site. He was able, however, to complete two more voyages out and home, when he returned to this country with the abdominal cicatrix and con- tiguous glands largely involved in carcinoma, and with the scrotum and legs much oedematous. This had all taken place within the course of sixteen months. During the last few months my attention has been called to several instances of prostatic enlargement, which should be included with those I have just men- tioned. They are not cases which should be submitted to prostatectomy. At all events, the prospect of re- currence should have full consideration. But though a deliberate prostatectomy may not be advisable in cases of this kind, there can be no doubt that carcinoma of the prostate often, sooner or later, leads to conditions where operative interference is called for ; I refer more particularly to the effects of obstruc- tion so caused upon the contents of the bladder. A suprapubic opening may give immense relief to the patient whose bladder is distended with clots or foul urine. This is a substitute for a catheter which may be advantageously utilised. I would like to say a few words in reference to some modern developments relative to the treatment of cer- tain inoperable forms of prostatic obstruction. I refer to those instances where the enlargement is presumably of a cancerous nature. It is a painful thing for a sur- geon to say to a patient, “ I cannot advise the removal of your enlarged prostate, for the reason that it is probably malignant.” “ Is there nothing you can offer ? ” is probably the rejoinder to this. Within the last few months my attention has been directed to the use of the Rontgen rays and high-frequency currents in some of these inoperable cases of prostatic carcinoma to