Observations on aneurism, selected from the works of the principal writers on that disease from the earliest periods to the close of the last century / translated and edited by J.E. Erichsen.

  • Sydenham Society.
Date:
1844
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on aneurism, selected from the works of the principal writers on that disease from the earliest periods to the close of the last century / translated and edited by J.E. Erichsen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    GUILLEMEAU.J ON ANEURISM, AND THE MEANS OF TYING AND CUTTING IT. The tumour called aneurism is usually considered to be a dilatation of the artery, which can only apply to small aneu- risms, as it is impossible that the artery can really he dilated and enlarged to the size of the large aneurisms that are often met with. Following, therefore, the opinion of the ancients, we will say that an aneurism is occasioned when the blood and spirits pass out of the vessels, in consequence of their orifices being opened, which is said to he by anastomosis; or when the coats of the artery are divided or ruptured, either from a wound or any other cause; which is seen when a surgeon, wishing to open a vein at the bend of the arm, wounds the artery which is below, or sometimes above the vein; and the skin covering it cicatrizing, the wound in the artery remains, in consequence of the continued movement of the vessel, without being glued to- gether, or blocked up or filled with flesh; and as it cannot he compressed or ligatured so tightly as at the temple, the blood and spirits escape little by little and accumulate under the skin, and give rise to the aneurismal tumour. People are sometimes mistaken about this; for being of opinion that some slimy or pituitous matter is contained within, they make an opening into the tumour, in consequence of which the patient quickly dies from the great effusion of blood and spirits that takes place, without it being possible to arrest them. The signs by which this disease may be known and distin- guished from others are a pulsating tumour of the natural colour of the skin, which, whilst it is of small or moderate size, is soft to the touch and yields to the pressure of the fingers, so as almost entirely to disappear, the blood and spirits being driven hack into the artery, and on account of their passing forcibly through a small opening, they occasion a noise. The fingers being then removed, the tumour returns immediately, and the blood and spirits re-entering by a small opening, give rise to a ' Les ffiuvres de Chirurgie de Jacques Guillemeau; Paris, 1612; fol. p. 698.