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Fantasy Surgery, 1880-1930
With Special Reference to Sir William Arbuthnot Lane
Series: - Clio Medica Online, Volume: 38
- Clio Medica, Volume: 38
Author:
In the late nineteenth century, for the first time in history, major surgery became reasonably safe. A mortality of up to 30% was considered reasonable. The living abdomen, hitherto a region as unexplored as darkest Africa, was opened up to light and to the knife in explorations not unlike those of Africa â bold, dramatic, often not too well thought out, and dangerous. Surgeons became enthusiastic â some of them wildly so. The subsequent period has been called 'the adolescence of surgery'. It included major surgery, often on the abdomen, done for psychiatric symptoms. Ovaries and wombs were removed and other organs hitched up higher inside the abdomen in an attempt to cure hysteria, neurasthenia or depression.
This book is about the development and effect of some of these operations and about one of the period's most distinguished surgeons, Sir William Arbuthnot Lane. He was internationally famous in three fields of surgery (facial, mastoid and abdominal), then became deeply involved in removing colons â thought to be the 'sink' of the body and the source of dangerous infection.
This book is about the development and effect of some of these operations and about one of the period's most distinguished surgeons, Sir William Arbuthnot Lane. He was internationally famous in three fields of surgery (facial, mastoid and abdominal), then became deeply involved in removing colons â thought to be the 'sink' of the body and the source of dangerous infection.
Acknowledgements
Introduction: Doubtful Diseases and Fantasy Surgery
1. Surgery and the Nineteenth Century
2. Dropped Organs
3. Autointoxication
4. Young Arbuthnot Lane
5. Chronic Intestinal Stasis: Surgery for Constipation
6. Metchnikoff
7. Success and Opposition: 1903-13
8. Alimentary Toxaemia: The Great Debate
9. Aftermath
10. Follow-up
11. Lane in Old Age
12. Conclusions
Selected Bibliography
Index
Appendix
- Arbuthnot Lane. Autobiography
- Unpublished Paper: Section 1
- Unpublished Paper: Section 2
Introduction: Doubtful Diseases and Fantasy Surgery
1. Surgery and the Nineteenth Century
2. Dropped Organs
3. Autointoxication
4. Young Arbuthnot Lane
5. Chronic Intestinal Stasis: Surgery for Constipation
6. Metchnikoff
7. Success and Opposition: 1903-13
8. Alimentary Toxaemia: The Great Debate
9. Aftermath
10. Follow-up
11. Lane in Old Age
12. Conclusions
Selected Bibliography
Index
Appendix
- Arbuthnot Lane. Autobiography
- Unpublished Paper: Section 1
- Unpublished Paper: Section 2