“Seven Ages” of a Black Eye
Object numberGC.14262
Title“Seven Ages” of a Black Eye
CreatorUnknown
DescriptionSeries of watercolour paintings showing healing stages following surgery after a traumatic injury.
1. A black eye result of fracture of left frontal bone (direct violence) sketched April 5th 1922 a few hours after the injury (six hours). The sketch illustrates well the “ballooning” of the two eyelids. There was free bleeding from hares and left ear. The patient suffering from extreme degree of cerebral irritation. On the sixth day a subjunctional haemorrhage showed in left eye. The changes in the tissues which followed were identical with those shown in figures No 2 to No 7 inclusive. The patient recovered. (NB This sketch was made at night by artificial light).
2. Compound depressed fracture of Right Frontal Bone with abrasions at root of nose and right upper eyelid. Patient did not come under treatment until ten hours after his injury caused by a fall down into the deck of a ship (20 feet). The wound was already septic. As much of it as possible was excised. A large piece of the vertical plate of the frontal bone was loose and was removed (temporarily). There was a wound of dura with escape of brain substance and much blood clot. Trimmed and cleaned up the bone fragment and replaced it and sutured wound “close”. (This sketch was made April 2nd 1922 3 days after injury). (Our artist could not be got!)
3. Sketched April 5th 1922 5 days after injury – 2 days after sketch No 2.
4. Sketched April 8th 1922 8 days after injury – 3 days after sketch No 3.
5. Sketched April 15th 1922 15 days after injury – 7 days after sketch No 4.
6. Sketched April 21st 1922 21 days after injury – 6 days after sketch No 5.
7. Sketched April 29th 1922 29 days after surgery – 8 days after sketch No 6.
Shows the depression of scalp over the region of the right frontal bone from which a loose fragment was removed, trimmed up and reimplanted and the practically “linear” scar resulting from the wound.
Clinic of J Hogarth Pringle, Glasgow Royal Infirmary
Production placeRoyal Infirmary, Glasgow
Production date accurate 1922-04-01 - 1922-04-29
Object nameEYE
Object categoryAnatomical, artwork
TechniqueArtwork
Dimensions
- Whole inc. frame Height: 75 cm
Width: 97 cm
Depth: 2 cm