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Victor Bonney: The Gynaecological Surgeon of the Twentieth Century
Book Reviews
Book Review
Victor Bonney: The Gynaecological Surgeon of the Twentieth Century Geoffrey Chamberlain Lancaster, United Kingdom, Parthenon Publishing Group, 140 pages, $29.95, 2000
sonal operating scrub suit that was washed at home. Many of his surgical procedures were done in private homes as well as in private nursing homes. Most of his operations were confined to the pelvis but in the sample years reviewed by the author, records of 14 radical mastectomies, eight cholecystectomies and five resections of varicose veins were found. Bonney had two theater sisters, several sets of instruments and two portable operating tables. He probably had very poor dental care inasmuch as he removed his dentures and put them in a glass of water before operating. There are many other personal aspects described by the author including Bonney’s love of opera, classical music, fine cars, and his admiration of the poet Kipling. He was opposed to the creation of the British College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists because his main interest was in the Royal College of Surgeons believing that obstetrics and gynecology would best progress in a faculty of an existing college. This reviewer would question the thrust of the title of this book; namely that Bonney was the gynecologic surgeon of the twentieth century. Although Bonney made many contributions to his specialty during the 20th century, he would be the first to admit that he knew many other equally talented gynecologists.
In this brief biography by a British physician about Victor Bonney [1872–1953], the author describes one of the most prominent English gynecologic surgeons. Most gynecologists would associate Dr. Bonney with the performance of ovarian cystectomies, the development of the technique for multiple myomectomy, and his unusual clamp used to occlude the uterine vessels. It is of interest to note his wife unfortunately required a hysterectomy at a young age because of uncontrollable menorrhagia. The author intimated that the cause of the bleeding may have been a submucous myoma. In 1949 Bonney reported his results of 500 Wertheim procedures with a 40% cure rate. He believed that radiotherapy was indicated only for inoperable patients. Many of his early contributions to the medical literature were in obstetrics, including the causes of puerperal fever and the technique for Cesarean deliveries. At the turn of the 20th century, there were no antibiotics, no blood transfusions, and inadequate sterile techniques. The author included anecdotes that will cause the “modern” surgeon to shudder in disbelief. Such an example was Bonney’s request of a young physician to use his ungloved hands to retract an abdominal incision because the surgeon did not like metal retractors. The physician had just returned from examining a patient who had a contaminated wound. Bonney was known for his speed at operating. He used his per-
Alvin M. Siegler, M.D. Boca Raton, FL
318
Book Review
Victor Bonney: The Gynaecological Surgeon of the Twentieth Century Geoffrey Chamberlain Lancaster, United Kingdom, Parthenon Publishing Group, 140 pages, $29.95, 2000
sonal operating scrub suit that was washed at home. Many of his surgical procedures were done in private homes as well as in private nursing homes. Most of his operations were confined to the pelvis but in the sample years reviewed by the author, records of 14 radical mastectomies, eight cholecystectomies and five resections of varicose veins were found. Bonney had two theater sisters, several sets of instruments and two portable operating tables. He probably had very poor dental care inasmuch as he removed his dentures and put them in a glass of water before operating. There are many other personal aspects described by the author including Bonney’s love of opera, classical music, fine cars, and his admiration of the poet Kipling. He was opposed to the creation of the British College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists because his main interest was in the Royal College of Surgeons believing that obstetrics and gynecology would best progress in a faculty of an existing college. This reviewer would question the thrust of the title of this book; namely that Bonney was the gynecologic surgeon of the twentieth century. Although Bonney made many contributions to his specialty during the 20th century, he would be the first to admit that he knew many other equally talented gynecologists.
In this brief biography by a British physician about Victor Bonney [1872–1953], the author describes one of the most prominent English gynecologic surgeons. Most gynecologists would associate Dr. Bonney with the performance of ovarian cystectomies, the development of the technique for multiple myomectomy, and his unusual clamp used to occlude the uterine vessels. It is of interest to note his wife unfortunately required a hysterectomy at a young age because of uncontrollable menorrhagia. The author intimated that the cause of the bleeding may have been a submucous myoma. In 1949 Bonney reported his results of 500 Wertheim procedures with a 40% cure rate. He believed that radiotherapy was indicated only for inoperable patients. Many of his early contributions to the medical literature were in obstetrics, including the causes of puerperal fever and the technique for Cesarean deliveries. At the turn of the 20th century, there were no antibiotics, no blood transfusions, and inadequate sterile techniques. The author included anecdotes that will cause the “modern” surgeon to shudder in disbelief. Such an example was Bonney’s request of a young physician to use his ungloved hands to retract an abdominal incision because the surgeon did not like metal retractors. The physician had just returned from examining a patient who had a contaminated wound. Bonney was known for his speed at operating. He used his per-
Alvin M. Siegler, M.D. Boca Raton, FL
318