A late arrival
Charles Delucena Meigs (1792-1869) was an American obstetrician of some eminence. His textbook Obstetrics, the Science and Art was influential […]
An uncommon injury
It’s not often that a surgical emergency is caused by a lemon pip. OK, seeds and nuts of all kinds
Remarkable recoveries, Unfortunate predicaments
A cautionary tale
This case was reported in the Saint Bartholomew’s Hospital Reports – the in-house journal published by the London hospital of
Under the skin
There’s a good chance that you’ll be at the sharp end of a hypodermic needle over the next few months
Libel and lithotomy
In his textbook The Principles of Surgery (1801) the Scottish surgeon John Bell emphasised the importance of speed when operating
Difficult to swallow
Years ago, many leading hospitals had their own journals, with most or all of the articles produced by the institution’s
Remarkable recoveries
Moulded to the lid
The Victorian surgeon Sir Jonathan Hutchinson was ‘one of the great medical geniuses of his time’, according to his entry
Resuscitated by a Romanov
I came across this case quite by chance, drawn in by a striking headline. But after investigating a little further
Mysterious illnesses, Notable deaths
Death by onanism
Victorian society was famously paranoid about the dangers of masturbation. For teachers, priests and those with responsibility for young people,
Hidden dangers, Horrifying operations
The golden pin
This story has a delightful combination of youthful misadventure and surgical ingenuity. OK, so ‘delightful’ might be a bit of