William Cowper to William Cowper – August 23, 1707
Item info
Date: August 23, 1707 Author: William Cowper Recipient: William CowperLibrary: British Library, London Manuscript: Sloane MS 4075 Folio: ff. 35-36
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Language
English
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Library
British Library, London
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Categories
Medical, Scientific
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Subjects
Medical Curiosities
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Date (as written)
August 23, 1707
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Standardised date
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Origin (as written)
Maidenhead
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Others mentioned
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Patients mentioned
Steven
Original Page
Transcription
This case was published in the Philosophical Transactions, vol. 26 (1708-9): “A Letter from Mr. Ra. Calep, to Mr. William Cowper, F. R. S. concerning a Woman 62 Years of Age (Who is Still Living) That Lost Her Leg and Greatest Part of Her Thigh by a Gangrene”. Cowper was a surgeon and an anatomist, elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1699. He became embroiled in a plagiarism scandal in 1698 when he was accused of copying Govard Bidloos anatomical work (Monique Kornell, Cowper , William (1666/71710), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/6510, accessed 4 July 2013]).
Patient Details
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Patient info
Name: Mrs. Steven
Gender:
Age:62, "Case of ye old Woman which I told you of" -
Description
Wife of Thomas Steven of Maidenhead seized with fever in late November 1697.
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Diagnosis
Leg tumour
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Treatment
Previous Treatment:
Physician at the time used various remedies (unspecified), which resulted in a tumour and numbness in her left foot in two weeks. This crept up her leg and thigh. Ordered a fomentation (centaur: absinth: hyperic: &c.). Applied also a plaster of terebinth and galbanum. Method was used daily for a month before Calep saw her. Knee was swollen and had black spots, which pitted when pressed. Had pains, especially at night. Fever increased, with some delirium.
Ongoing Treatment:"She begg'd heartily of me for help, but Alass! what cou'd I propose to releive her? Nothing but ye taking of her Thigh; wch she wou'd not consent to. I was not sorry for her not admiting of ye operation, because I cou'd not expect any success in ye performing it, by reason of her Age, weakness &c." Calep advised her friends to apply fomentations.
Response:Had left patient for dead and was surprised to find her still alive a month later. Black fetid matter discharging from leg. Enlarged orifice on thigh to aid it. Again, left her for dead and was surprised five weeks later to find her alive: tumour seperated of its own accord. At this point, he decided to remove her leg.
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More information
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Medical problem reference
Tumour, Amputation, Age, Fevers