A contribution to the surgical pathology of sero-sanguineous cysts in the neck and axilla / by John Birkett.

  • Birkett, John, 1815-1904.
Date:
1868
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A contribution to the surgical pathology of sero-sanguineous cysts in the neck and axilla / by John Birkett. 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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    methodically. The growth seemed to slip away into the sub- scapular region, between the border of the latissimus dorsi and the ribs. When fixed, the integuments were irre- gular over its surface with elevations and depressions exactly resembling the appearances produced by a fatty growth. Such, indeed, was the diagnosis of the tumour given by all who examined it. The integuments were quite healthy. The man readily assented to its removal. I made a vertical incision over the centre of the tumour parallel with the anterior border of the latissimus dorsi muscle, and exposed, instead of fat, a mass of cysts with fluid serous contents. With the finger, the handle of the scalpel and now and then its cutting edge to divide the more re- sisting fibrous connections, I had isolated the larger part of the growth when a cyst burst, about three or four ounces of amber-coloured, clear serum escaped, and the walls collapsed. After this, the growth when removed looked like a mass of fibre tissue. One artery was secured which ran across the growth and accompanied an intercosto-humeral nerve which was divided. The bleeding was insignificant. The wound was dressed an hour after the operation, and it quickly healed, although more serous fluid ran from it than usually happens after ordinary wounds. The new growth consisted of a cyst with bulging sides, forming cystiform projections (see Plate IY). The ele- mentary fibre tissues were the contractile and filamentary. I attempted to distend the cysts by injecting spirit and water, but in consequence of the large quantity of the contractile fibre element they soon collapsed. Their cavity was lined with a smooth, bluish white serous membrane. The prepara- tion from which the drawing was made was obtained by stuffing the cysts and hardening the tissues in dilute spirit. Case 2.—A healthy boy, set 7, was brought to me in October, 1860, on account of a tumour which occupied the right axillary and subscapular regions. When he was a year old a small lump was accidentally felt on the right side of the chest, below the clavicle, midway