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FOREIGN BODIES IN THE EAR.
545
with the uates; and former periods, her mind was impressed with the fear of miscarriage of an imperfect child. Sexual differences also seemed to attach much to her imagination, as she believed she could miscarry more easily with agirl than a boy ; and she tllOughi, pcrhups, tbis might be a boy. Thus we may trace some connection between the accident she sustained, the reasoning which occupied her mind, and the abnormal appearances of
coming in juxta-position at this,
as
well
as
her offspring. In conclusion, Mr.
Editor, without entering on the practical observations which such a case might suggest in an obstetric view, I would take leave to inquire, where there is such a predisposition to miscarry amongst females, with whom it has once occurred, and where mental impressions exert such powerful influence, whether the former be not, in a great measure, the result of a pre-
had
lately used on a similar occasion. It consisted of a piece of twisted copper wire, making a handle with a loop at the end, which diverged at a right angle from the or less acutely. This loop, adapted to the size of the passage, and bent to a convenient angle, was insinuated, by a knack of the operator, beyond, as it were, the pea, and the extraction was easily effected. ’ I trouble you with this little communication because I feel that suggestions of a practical nature, however apparently trifling, may, at one time or another, prove of immense service in a profession so fraught with dimculties as is that of surgery. I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
handle,
’
LETTERS ON THE
NERVOUS SYSTEM OF THE GRAVID UTERUS, Addressed by Messrs. PAGET, LAWRENCE, STANLEY, and SKEY, Sir BENJAMIN BRODIE and Dr. GULLIVER, to Dr. ROBERT LEE, after examining his Dissections.
conceived notion that such will occur ? Should such be true it would be an important duty of any practitioner, in similar cases, to establish the confidence of his patient in the happy result of her pregnancy. In the hope that I do not intrude too much on your time and patience, I remain, Sir, your obe. dient servant, M. K. O’SHEA, M.R.C.S. O’SHEn,1LR.C.S. Lambeth, Jan. 8, 1844.
To the Editor
FOREIGN BODIES IN THE EAR. To the Editor of THE LANCET. on the extraction the external meatus of the ear, contained in the admirable practical lectures of Sir Benjamin Brodie, now adorning the pages of your excellent Journal (page 458), bring to my recollection a case which I witnessed some dozen years ago at one of the great metropolitan hospitals. A boy was brought into the operating theatre to have a pea removed from the meatus. The surgeon attempted to extract it with the forceps, and, in so doing, used no inconsiderable violence; indeed, he remarked to the students around him that " some degree of force was necessary in these cases." The force employed, however, did not avail ; the poor boy was removed from the theatre, with the pea still in his ear. Inflammation supervened, the brain became involved, and in a few days the boy died. Conversing about this case shortly afterwards with the late Mr. Alcock (to whose memory, as a most accomplished surgeon, I i would fain pay a tribute of respect), he showed me a little instrument* which he
SIR,-The observations of foreign substances from
CHIRURGICULUS.
Jam. 8, 1844.
of THE LANCET. I SIR,-May request of you the favour to print in your Journal the following letters, which have been sent to me by different eminent anatomists who have recently examined my dissections of the nerves of the gravid uterus. I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
ROBERT LEE.
Saville-row, Jan. 15, 1. from JAMES
1844.
PAGET, Esq.
St. Bartholomew’s
Hospital, Dec.. 19, 1843. Sir,-After the minute examina-
My dear tion of your preparations of the nervous system of the gravid uterus, which you permitted me to make, I examined your descriptions and Mr. Perry’s delineations of them. Both appear to me remarkable for their accuracy. With regard to any doubt whether the structures which you have dissected be, as you have described them, nerves and nervous ganglia, it is chiefly by the following facts that I feel convinced of the truth of your account :1. That there is
a
visible and
orderly
con.
tinuity between the well-known hypogastric and sacral nerves, and the most minute and nervous cords which you have
i remote of the displayed.
2. That these cords, like those of larger Mr. Alcock was an expert mechanic, size, have such an appearance of being and made many of his instruments with his nerves, as could not, I am sure, be imitated own hands ; he had, consequently, provided by dissections of any other known struchimself with a host of contrivances adapted tures. to all the more delicate operations of 3. That the ganglia which you have found *
surgery. No. 1064.
are
like those of other parts of the
g 0
sympathe.
with the uates; and former periods, her mind was impressed with the fear of miscarriage of an imperfect child. Sexual differences also seemed to attach much to her imagination, as she believed she could miscarry more easily with agirl than a boy ; and she tllOughi, pcrhups, tbis might be a boy. Thus we may trace some connection between the accident she sustained, the reasoning which occupied her mind, and the abnormal appearances of
coming in juxta-position at this,
as
well
as
her offspring. In conclusion, Mr.
Editor, without entering on the practical observations which such a case might suggest in an obstetric view, I would take leave to inquire, where there is such a predisposition to miscarry amongst females, with whom it has once occurred, and where mental impressions exert such powerful influence, whether the former be not, in a great measure, the result of a pre-
had
lately used on a similar occasion. It consisted of a piece of twisted copper wire, making a handle with a loop at the end, which diverged at a right angle from the or less acutely. This loop, adapted to the size of the passage, and bent to a convenient angle, was insinuated, by a knack of the operator, beyond, as it were, the pea, and the extraction was easily effected. ’ I trouble you with this little communication because I feel that suggestions of a practical nature, however apparently trifling, may, at one time or another, prove of immense service in a profession so fraught with dimculties as is that of surgery. I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
handle,
’
LETTERS ON THE
NERVOUS SYSTEM OF THE GRAVID UTERUS, Addressed by Messrs. PAGET, LAWRENCE, STANLEY, and SKEY, Sir BENJAMIN BRODIE and Dr. GULLIVER, to Dr. ROBERT LEE, after examining his Dissections.
conceived notion that such will occur ? Should such be true it would be an important duty of any practitioner, in similar cases, to establish the confidence of his patient in the happy result of her pregnancy. In the hope that I do not intrude too much on your time and patience, I remain, Sir, your obe. dient servant, M. K. O’SHEA, M.R.C.S. O’SHEn,1LR.C.S. Lambeth, Jan. 8, 1844.
To the Editor
FOREIGN BODIES IN THE EAR. To the Editor of THE LANCET. on the extraction the external meatus of the ear, contained in the admirable practical lectures of Sir Benjamin Brodie, now adorning the pages of your excellent Journal (page 458), bring to my recollection a case which I witnessed some dozen years ago at one of the great metropolitan hospitals. A boy was brought into the operating theatre to have a pea removed from the meatus. The surgeon attempted to extract it with the forceps, and, in so doing, used no inconsiderable violence; indeed, he remarked to the students around him that " some degree of force was necessary in these cases." The force employed, however, did not avail ; the poor boy was removed from the theatre, with the pea still in his ear. Inflammation supervened, the brain became involved, and in a few days the boy died. Conversing about this case shortly afterwards with the late Mr. Alcock (to whose memory, as a most accomplished surgeon, I i would fain pay a tribute of respect), he showed me a little instrument* which he
SIR,-The observations of foreign substances from
CHIRURGICULUS.
Jam. 8, 1844.
of THE LANCET. I SIR,-May request of you the favour to print in your Journal the following letters, which have been sent to me by different eminent anatomists who have recently examined my dissections of the nerves of the gravid uterus. I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
ROBERT LEE.
Saville-row, Jan. 15, 1. from JAMES
1844.
PAGET, Esq.
St. Bartholomew’s
Hospital, Dec.. 19, 1843. Sir,-After the minute examina-
My dear tion of your preparations of the nervous system of the gravid uterus, which you permitted me to make, I examined your descriptions and Mr. Perry’s delineations of them. Both appear to me remarkable for their accuracy. With regard to any doubt whether the structures which you have dissected be, as you have described them, nerves and nervous ganglia, it is chiefly by the following facts that I feel convinced of the truth of your account :1. That there is
a
visible and
orderly
con.
tinuity between the well-known hypogastric and sacral nerves, and the most minute and nervous cords which you have
i remote of the displayed.
2. That these cords, like those of larger Mr. Alcock was an expert mechanic, size, have such an appearance of being and made many of his instruments with his nerves, as could not, I am sure, be imitated own hands ; he had, consequently, provided by dissections of any other known struchimself with a host of contrivances adapted tures. to all the more delicate operations of 3. That the ganglia which you have found *
surgery. No. 1064.
are
like those of other parts of the
g 0
sympathe.