1873 Guide to Post Mortem Examinations Embalming

1873 PRINTING -- Digitized and Presented on CD

Complete title of this scarce 19th Century work reads "Practical Guide for Making Post-Mortem Examinations and for the Study of Morbid Anatomy with Directions for Embalming the Dead, and for the Preservation of Specimens of Morbid Anatomy".  

This antiquarian medical book was written by A.R. Thomas, M.D. Impressive volume offered a wealth of information to the Medical practitioner of the 1800's who performed post-mortem examinations. The type of exam which is today routinely performed by the Medical Examiner and specially trained physician.

Among the many subjects receiving attention here include:   Method of opening the Abdomen, Abdominal dropsy, Poisoning by Alcohol, Diseases of Anus, Apoplexy, Examination of Arachnoid, Poisoning by Arsenic, Arthritis, Rupture of Arteries, Aneurism of Arteries, Cerebral Arteries, Method of Conducting a Legal Autopsy, Gall Bladder, Cancer, Morbid Growths, Tumors of the Brain, Bright's Disease, Bronchial Tubes, Removal of the Colon, Diptheria, Dropsy, Death from Drowning, Method of Embalming, Instruments required for Embalming, Removal of Eyes, Fractures, Gastritis, Gun-shot wounds, Death from Hanging, Removal of the Brain, Valves of the Heart, Malformations of the Heart, Heart Clots, Hepatitis, Hernia, Intestines, Joints, Kidneys, Larnyx, Removal of the Liver, Emphysema, Meningitis, Poisoning by Nitric Acid, Poisoning by Opium, Poisoning by Oxalic Acid, Pancreas, Parasites in Bladder/Brain/Heart/Intestines/Kidneys/Liver/Lungs/Spinal Cord, Cancer of the Penis, Tumors of the Penis, Warts on the Penis, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Death from Poisoning, Pregnancy, Preparation of Bones, Preservation of Specimins of Morbid Anatomy, Prostate Gland, Removal of the Rectum, Signs of Death, Fracture of the Skull, Spinal Cord, Spleen, Examination of the Stomach, Death from Suffocation, Examinations of Teeth, Tumors, Tumors in the Uterus, Gangrene of the Vagina, Heart Valves, White Swelling, Death from Wounds (see contents below for full scope of topics covered).

Again, volume covers a myriad of subjects relating to disease, causes of death, anatomy and post-mortem examination. Rare work will be of interest to the physician, embalmer, funeral home director and other related professionals.
 

Complete Title:

Practical Guide for Making Post-Mortem Examinations and for the Study of Morbid Anatomy with Directions for Embalming the Dead, and for the Preservation of Specimens of Morbid Anatomy

By A.R. Thomas, M.D., 1873, 335 Pages

Preface

The following work has been prepared with a view of supplying a want, the existence of which has long been felt by the author, both in his private practice and public teaching.  No pretension is made of offering a complete work on Morbid Anatomy, the object having been, merely to present the practitioner and student with a practical guide for making post-mortem examinations, to give them hints as to what they are to look for in such cases, and finally, to aid them in recognizing the various morbid appearances they are exposed to view.

The work is divided into four parts.  Parts, I II and III, corresponding to the three great divisions of the body-- the Head, Chest and Abdomen.  Part IV, is devoted to miscellaneous subjects, and contains chapters on the Bones; Joints; Tumors; Effects of Poisons; Medico-Legal Autopsies; On Embalming the Dead; and On the Preservation of Morbid Specimen.

A few illustrative cases have been introduced, and occasional reference made to morbid specimens in the Museum of the Hahnemann College.

The following works have been consulted in the preparation of the book, and as few references have been made, this general credit is felt to be due to the several sources of information:  Rokitansky's, Craigie's, Jones and Sievecking's, and Green's Pathological Anatomy; Rindfleish's Pathological Histology; Paget's Surgical Histology; Rau's Pathology; Murchison, on the Liver; Hope, on the Heart; Brinton, on the Stomach; Stewart, on the Kidney, Gross' Surgery, Christison on Poisons; Casper and Taylor's Medical Jurisprudence.

Acknowledgement should here be made of the valuable assistance rendered by Drs. W.H. Bigler and John N. Mitchell, in carrying the work through the press; and of the kindness of Mr. J.H. Gemrig, in the loan of the electrotype plates which embellish the preliminary chapter.

Conscious that the work is not without defects, it is still presented to the profession, with the hope that it may be found to answer the purpose for which it was designed.

A.R. Thomas,

937 Spruce Street

March, 1973

Table of Contents

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