A Caseof Aneurism of the Glutæal Artery, Cured by Tying the Internal Iliac

Abstract

UJNTIL very lately, surgeons were unacquainted with the use of the inosculating vessels, gnd dreaded to tie even the smaller arteries. So completely were they fettered by the fear of gangrene, that a person with aneurism of the brachial, or popliteal artery, had no alternative, but to submit to amputation, or die from hemorrhage; and those who had the disease in the larger vesselswere allowed to perish, without even an attempt being made to save them. CASE OF OLUTEAL ANEURISM. To the surgeons of the present day we are indebted for the improvements in thii part of the profession. Even the celebrated Cheselden doubted the surgeon who told him, that he had tied with success the brachial artery. Bromfield stigmatized the tying the femoral artery, as an ex. travagant proposition. Dr. Monro, who was an excellent anatomist, says, that it is " dangerous to trust to common anastomosis round the elbow :" and intimates, that the success in tying the brachial artery, was chiefly owing to a lusus nature. He little expected that, in a few years, surgeons, without any assistance from these irregularities of nature, would tie not only the brachial, btit the femoral, the axillary, the subclavian, the carotid, and the great iliac arteries. * A surgeon in attempting to extirpate the parotid gland, epened so mny vesels about the angle of the jaw, that the patient was in danger of expiring from hemorrhage. Mr. Lynn, who was present, prevented the bleeding, by tying the trunk of the carotid artery on the fore part of the neck. This occurred in the Westminster %spital 15 years ago. I am sorry to add, thAt tlie case was not succesful. The person died three wee'ks after the operatio. Mr. Abemetby tied this artery when accidentaUy wounded, but the patient died of inflammation of the brain. Mr. A. Cooper, was the first who ventured to tie the carotid arteiy for aneurini of this vesel. Mr. Travers was the second who tied