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Actions	Skeleton belonging to woman having undergone an early caesarian operation Remove from selection Add to selection Object numberGC.13689 TitleSkeleton belonging to woman having undergone an early caesarian operation DescriptionBONE, skeleton, belonging to a woman who came from Penicuik and died in Edinburgh. She was operated on by John and Charles Bell during pregnancy. The skeleton is articulated and mounted by a hanging wire from the top of the skull. The woman became pregnant six times with each succeeding pregnancy her pelvis showed increasing evidence of puerperal osteomalacia. The operation in which she died was performed on 29 January 1800. The child survived and was christened 'Caesar'. Initially she had been seen by a Dr James Renton but the operation but it appears that she moved to Edinburgh and was consulted by John and Charles Bell who carried out the final operation with Dr Renton in attendance. Bell's comments on the operation. 'Through I moved my hands, which were spread upon the belly of the woman, so as to make the walls of the abdomen glide on the smooth surface of the uterus. The very great distension of the integuments, and their consequent thinness, made this necessary, to inform those who looked on that the abdomen was actually cut into; and indeed the surface, which now presented of a pale rosy hue, was not even what an anatomical student might have expected. It was matter of wonder to me, that no small vessels were perceptible on the living surface of the uterus, and no sinuses tinged with blood, considering that those vessels make so great an exhibition in dissection. But it was more a matter of admiration to me to observe the effect of the first touch of the knife upon the uterus; for instead of the form of a cut remaining for a moment, the fibres were excited to retract what would otherwise have formed the edges of the incision, and instead of a cut being perceptible, there was, in its place, a circular space, with concentric circles of fibres. Another thing remarkable was, that although the integuments and rectus muscle and sub¬stances of the womb were cut, yet there was not as yet a drop of blood to flow over the edges of the wound, no large veins were to be seen in the substances of the womb; and in this we thought ourselves particularly fortunate. But presently it appeared how much we have been deceived; for the substance of the womb being cut through, the lobes of the placenta rolled out. The placenta was unfortunately attached to the fore and lower part of the womb, and now, notwithstanding that no blood jetted from the womb, I was convinced that the incision must be through the larger blood-vessels, and I already despaired of the woman's recovery. Mr Renton, Surgeon of Pennycuik (who had, in a manner deserving the highest praise, delivered the woman on former occasions with the crotchet, in very difficult circumstances), was prepared to break the membranes; to pass his naked arm into the uterus; to seize the child by the feet; and deliver it. This was done rapidly and dextrously by Mr Renton passing his hand in a conical form below the lower edge of the placenta: the child was delivered safely, and is now alive. After the delivery of the child, the placenta was thrown out by the action of the uterus. The instant the operation was performed, the mother was seized with violent vomiting; and now it required all my strength to compress the abdomen, and retain the parts against the operation of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles. For twenty minutes I continued pressing the belly, and compressing the uterus betwixt my hands. The wound of the integuments was dressed; stitches were introduced, and the intervals strengthened by adhesive straps; compresses were put on the abdomen, and the belly swathed. But what happened which I foresaw would be the consequence of ceasing to compress the uterus: the woman became more faint, and at last insensible; she lived only to the gratification of her wish, to become, at all hazards, the mother of a living child.' Production date 1800 Production periodNineteenth century, early Object nameBONE, skeleton Object categoryAnatomical, specimen Dimensions Height: 135 cm Width: 40 cm Depth: 25 cm

Object numberGC.13689

TitleSkeleton belonging to woman having undergone an early caesarian operation

DescriptionBONE, skeleton, belonging to a woman who came from Penicuik and died in Edinburgh. She was operated on by John and Charles Bell during pregnancy. The skeleton is articulated and mounted by a hanging wire from the top of the skull. The woman became pregnant six times with each succeeding pregnancy her pelvis showed increasing evidence of puerperal osteomalacia. The operation in which she died was performed on 29 January 1800. The child survived and was christened 'Caesar'. Initially she had been seen by a Dr James Renton but the operation but it appears that she moved to Edinburgh and was consulted by John and Charles Bell who carried out the final operation with Dr Renton in attendance. Bell's comments on the operation. 'Through I moved my hands, which were spread upon the belly of the woman, so as to make the walls of the abdomen glide on the smooth surface of the uterus. The very great distension of the integuments, and their consequent thinness, made this necessary, to inform those who looked on that the abdomen was actually cut into; and indeed the surface, which now presented of a pale rosy hue, was not even what an anatomical student might have expected. It was matter of wonder to me, that no small vessels were perceptible on the living surface of the uterus, and no sinuses tinged with blood, considering that those vessels make so great an exhibition in dissection. But it was more a matter of admiration to me to observe the effect of the first touch of the knife upon the uterus; for instead of the form of a cut remaining for a moment, the fibres were excited to retract what would otherwise have formed the edges of the incision, and instead of a cut being perceptible, there was, in its place, a circular space, with concentric circles of fibres. Another thing remarkable was, that although the integuments and rectus muscle and sub¬stances of the womb were cut, yet there was not as yet a drop of blood to flow over the edges of the wound, no large veins were to be seen in the substances of the womb; and in this we thought ourselves particularly fortunate. But presently it appeared how much we have been deceived; for the substance of the womb being cut through, the lobes of the placenta rolled out. The placenta was unfortunately attached to the fore and lower part of the womb, and now, notwithstanding that no blood jetted from the womb, I was convinced that the incision must be through the larger blood-vessels, and I already despaired of the woman's recovery. Mr Renton, Surgeon of Pennycuik (who had, in a manner deserving the highest praise, delivered the woman on former occasions with the crotchet, in very difficult circumstances), was prepared to break the membranes; to pass his naked arm into the uterus; to seize the child by the feet; and deliver it. This was done rapidly and dextrously by Mr Renton passing his hand in a conical form below the lower edge of the placenta: the child was delivered safely, and is now alive. After the delivery of the child, the placenta was thrown out by the action of the uterus. The instant the operation was performed, the mother was seized with violent vomiting; and now it required all my strength to compress the abdomen, and retain the parts against the operation of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles. For twenty minutes I continued pressing the belly, and compressing the uterus betwixt my hands. The wound of the integuments was dressed; stitches were introduced, and the intervals strengthened by adhesive straps; compresses were put on the abdomen, and the belly swathed. But what happened which I foresaw would be the consequence of ceasing to compress the uterus: the woman became more faint, and at last insensible; she lived only to the gratification of her wish, to become, at all hazards, the mother of a living child.'

Production date 1800

Production periodNineteenth century, early

Object nameBONE, skeleton

Object categoryAnatomical, specimen

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