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Post Mortem Examinations and Case Books

  • 406 PM
  • Collection
  • 1840-1946

The post mortem records contain manuscript case notes, with medical notes both pre and post mortem. These include details on patients’ admission to the hospital, treatments and medication administered to patients and the medical history of patients; the medical histories were copied into the volumes from hospital registers, which are no longer extant. The post mortem cases include detailed pathological findings made during the detailed examination of the body after death. From the 1880s onwards the case books contain original anatomical drawings and photographs.

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The following information is recorded for each case. The information is transcribed from the case notes and/or the relevant index and, where relevant, additionally standardised using MeSH (Medical Subject Headings)

• Name of the patient. If a name is not entered in the volume, it is noted in the catalogue as ‘[No name stated]’

• Gender of the patient (female / male / unknown)

• Age of the patient. Usually in numbers, following the original, with the following exceptions: 4/12 = 4 months, 4/52 = 4 weeks, 4/365 = 4 days. If no age is entered, it is noted in the catalogue as ‘[No age stated]’

• Occupation of the patient. Where no occupation is entered, it is noted in the catalogue as ‘[No occupation stated]’. Children are often designated according to their father’s or mother’s occupation and women by their husband’s occupation (e.g. ‘F / Horsekeeper’, ‘M. Charwoman’, ‘Hd Grocer’); these have been rendered in the catalogue as ‘[Child of] Horsekeeper’, ‘[Wife of] Grocer’

• Date of admission and date of death

• The names of the doctors treating or examining the patient. ‘Admitted under the care of’ denotes the senior doctor in charge of the case (usually entered at the top of the page and in the index); ‘Post mortem performed by’ denotes the doctor responsible for the post mortem examination (usually signed at the bottom of the page) and ‘Medical examination performed by’ denotes the doctor responsible for the medical examination prior to death (usually signed at the bottom of the page). The earliest records usually contain only one name, and some of the later ones may contain multiple names in each category. An authority record (name access point) with basic biographical details has been created for each doctor mentioned in the records; these can be used to explore all the cases related to a particular individual

• Disease(s) or cause of death of the patient. Transcribed from the medical case and/or the index and standardised, e.g. ‘Disease (transcribed): Phthisis. Fractured base. Disease (standardised): Tuberculosis (lungs). Fracture (skull)’

• Medical and post mortem notes. Brief summary description or transcription of the case notes relating to previous medical history (not a full transcription of the case notes)

• Note on whether the case includes illustrations or photographs; these can also be browsed via genre access points

• Note on whether the death was caused by trauma, accident or suicide

• Subject access points, using standardised terms from MeSH, with disease type (e.g. respiratory tract diseases, cardiovascular diseases) and anatomy type (e.g. cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system), which can be used for browsing all relevant cases

Note on transcriptions and abbreviations

Names have been silently expanded, e.g. Jas = James, Wm = William

Some common abbreviations and acronyms

AMCH = Atkinson Morley Convalescent Hospital, Wimbledon
BID = Brought in dead
COA = Condition on admission
F = Father
H or Hd = Husband
HP = House physician
HS = House surgeon
IP = In-patient
L = Left
M = Mother
MR or Med reg or Med r = Medical register or Medical registrar
MS = Museum specimen
OP = Out-patient
OPD = Out-patient department
OR = Obstetric register
PMH = Previous medical history
PH = Previous history
Pt or Pat = Patient
PM = Post mortem
R = Right
RF = Rheumatic fever
Ry = Railway
SR or Surg reg = Surgical register or Surgical registrar
TB = Tuberculosis
VD = Venereal disease

St George's Hospital, London

Thomas Plank, 2, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 2
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 11 May 1873
Date of death: 20 May 1873
Disease (transcribed): Foreign-body in right bronchus. Tracheotomy. Bronchopneumonia
Disease (standardised): Foreign body (Lung); Tracheotomy (Trachea); Bronchopneumonia (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Pollock, George
Medical examination performed by: Rowland, Edward Roger
Post mortem examination performed by: Haward, John Warrington
Medical notes: The child was supposed to have swallowed a piece of tobacco pipe about an inch in length.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, larynx, trachea, bronchus, lungs, heart and abdomen
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Frederick Weaver, 34, Horse keeper

Occupation or role: Horse keeper
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 14 Feb 1866
Date of death: 20 Feb 1866
Disease (transcribed): Pericarditis. Pus
Disease (standardised): Pericarditis (Heart); Suppuration (Heart)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Thompson, Reginald Edward
Post mortem examination performed by: Dickinson, William Howship
Medical notes: He had been ill five weeks before admission, the first symptoms being marked rigors and pain chiefly referred to the lower ribs on the left side.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Chest, lungs and abdomen
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

George Ford, 49, Shunter

Occupation or role: Shunter
Age: 49
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 12 Mar 1866
Date of death: 12 Mar 1866
Disease (transcribed): Compound fracture of thigh
Disease (standardised): Fracture (Leg)
Admitted under the care of: Tatum, Thomas
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: n/a
Medical notes: Not given
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Not examined
Type of incident: Trauma/accident

George Brickenshaw, 59, Coachman

Occupation or role: Coachman
Age: 59
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 28 Feb 1866
Date of death: 10 Mar 1866
Disease (transcribed): Disease of heart. Pulmonary apoplexy. Granular kidneys
Disease (standardised): Disease (Heart); Haemorrhage (Lung); Disease (Kidney)
Admitted under the care of: Barclay, Andrew Whyte
Medical examination performed by: Thompson, Reginald Edward
Post mortem examination performed by: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer. Dickinson, William Howship
Medical notes: He had suffered from dyspnoea for one month before admission.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Chest and abdomen
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Major John Ridley, 23, Footman

Occupation or role: Footman
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 5 Mar 1866
Date of death: 24 Mar 1866
Disease (transcribed): Albuminuria. Typhoid fever. Scarlatina. Acute nephritis
Disease (standardised): Albuminuria (Kidney); Typhoid fever (Systemic); Scarlet fever (Systemic); Nephritis (Kidney)
Admitted under the care of: Barclay, Andrew Whyte
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer. Dickinson, William Howship
Medical notes: This man was admitted first into the hospital in December with albuminuria and dropsy. Ten days before this admission he was seized with symptoms of typhoid fever.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Chest and abdomen
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Ann Allen, 33, Cook

Occupation or role: Cook
Age: 33
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 28 Dec 1865
Date of death: 2 May 1866
Disease (transcribed): Fibro-plastic tumours in liver, lungs, lumbar vertebrae and left ileum
Disease (standardised): Tumour (Liver); Tumour (Lung); Tumour (Spine); Tumour (Intestines)
Admitted under the care of: Tatum, Thomas
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
Medical notes: This woman was first admitted in November 1864 with a large tumour at the back of the thigh.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax and abdomen
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Henry Hockley, 24, Groom

Occupation or role: Groom
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 24 Jan 1870
Date of death: 24 Jan 1870
Disease (transcribed): Fractured bone of skull.
Disease (standardised): Fracture (Skull)
Admitted under the care of: Pollock, George
Medical examination performed by: Haward, John Warrington
Post mortem examination performed by: n/a
Medical notes: The patient had been thrown from a horse in Hyde Park and was brought into the Hospital insensible.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: The body was not examined
Type of incident: Trauma/accident

Stephen Norris, 48, Stableman

Occupation or role: Stableman
Age: 48
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 2 Mar 1868
Date of death: 19 Mar 1868
Disease (transcribed): Broncho-pleuro-pneumonia. Granular degeneration of right kidney. Congenital deficiency of right renal artery.
Disease (standardised): Bronchopleuropneumonia (Lung); Disease (Kidney); Congenital deficiency (Kidney)
Admitted under the care of: Ogle, John William
Medical examination performed by: Thompson, Reginald Edward
Post mortem examination performed by: Pick, Thomas Pickering
Medical notes: This man had been long accustomed to a winter cough, and was seized on the 26th of February with headache, rigors and pain in the right side.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax and abdomen
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Charlotte Stowe, 17, Laundry maid

Occupation or role: Laundry maid
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 30 Sep 1874
Date of death: 24 Nov 1874
Disease (transcribed): Ulcerative endocarditis. Embolism of axillary artery. Apoplexy
Disease (standardised): Ulcer (Heart); Endocarditis (Heart); Embolism (Arteries); Stroke (Brain)
Admitted under the care of: Wadham, William
Medical examination performed by: Fenwick, John Charles James
Post mortem examination performed by: Haward, John Warrington
Medical notes: About a month before admission this girl had an attack of acute Rheumatism.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Brain, pleurae, lungs, heart, axillary artery, liver, spleen, kidneys and organs of generation
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Henry Jux, 40, Labourer

Occupation or role: Labourer
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 1 Oct 1880
Date of death: 20 Oct 1880
Disease (transcribed): Hypertrophy of the heart. Changes in liver. Displacement of and change in the thoracic organs from old pleurisy
Disease (standardised): Disease (Heart); Disease (Liver); Displacement (Viscera); Pleurisy (Pleura)
Admitted under the care of: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
Medical examination performed by: Dunbar, James John Macwhirter
Post mortem examination performed by: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Medical notes: The patient had been suffering from palpitations, cough, expectoration and orthopnoea.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, diaphragm, lungs, heart, liver, spleen and kidneys
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

George Fone, 8 months, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 8 months
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 20 Oct 1880
Date of death: 25 Oct 1800
Disease (transcribed): Impaction of a foreign body in the oesophagus. Laryngotomy. Pneumonia
Disease (standardised): Foreign body (Oesophagus); Laryngotomy (Larynx); Pneumonia (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Pick, Thomas Pickering
Medical examination performed by: Turner, George Robertson
Post mortem examination performed by: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Medical notes: Eight hours previous to admission whilst eating apples and beans, the child suddenly became black in the face and had urgent dyspnoea.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Air passages, oesophagus, lungs, heart, liver, spleen and kidneys
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

William Baverstock, 45, Coachman

Occupation or role: Coachman
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 6 Oct 1880
Date of death: 25 Oct 1880
Disease (transcribed): Phthisis (with tubercles)
Disease (standardised): Tuberculosis (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Barclay, Andrew Whyte
Medical examination performed by: Dunbar, James John Macwhirter
Post mortem examination performed by: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Medical notes: While working in a draughty shop he ‘caught cold’ and was laid up at home with pain in the left axilla, shortness of breath and cough.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Lungs, heart, liver, spleen and kidneys
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Edward Ely, 56, Potman

Occupation or role: Potman
Age: 56
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 29 Oct 1880
Date of death: 5 Nov 1880
Disease (transcribed): Serous apoplexy, after fracture of the tibia and fibula
Disease (standardised): Stroke (Brain); Fracture (Leg)
Admitted under the care of: Haward, John Warrington
Medical examination performed by: Turner, George Robertson
Post mortem examination performed by: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Medical notes: As he was going up stairs he slipped and fell, striking the right leg against a large hammer and twisting it under him.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Right leg, lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, brain and bladder
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: Trauma/accident

John Morris, 28, Quarryman

Occupation or role: Quarryman
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 21 Oct 1880
Date of death: 2 Dec 1880
Disease (transcribed): Rupture of a sacculated bladder
Disease (standardised): Rupture (Bladder); Sacculated (Bladder)
Admitted under the care of: Pick, Thomas Pickering
Medical examination performed by: Turner, George Robertson
Post mortem examination performed by: n/a
Medical notes: This man was a welshman and the notes were taken by means of an interpreter. For seven years before his admission he had suffered from symptoms of stone.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, peritoneum and bladder
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

George Edney, 44, Carman

Occupation or role: Carman
Age: 44
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 1 Dec 1880
Date of death: 22 Jan 1881
Disease (transcribed): Aneurism of the aorta. Rupture
Disease (standardised): Aneurysm (Aorta); Rupture (Aorta)
Admitted under the care of: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
Medical examination performed by: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Post mortem examination performed by: Harper, Gerald Samuel and Myers, Arthur Thomas
Medical notes: 'No disease known of amongst relations. Ague 29 years ago, never since. Sharp pain in left side, worse with deep breathing, & some cough, 15 years ago. Did not last long. Has for several past years been engaged in heavy lifting work. Used to drink beer to excess for many years. Bowels habitually confined. No syphilis'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Heart, aorta, pleura, bronchi, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys
Illustrations: Yes (see PM/1881/1)
Type of incident: n/a

Joseph Inwood, 34, Cook

Occupation or role: Cook
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 6 Apr 1881
Date of death: 26 Apr 1881
Disease (transcribed): Aneurism of the descending aorta
Disease (standardised): Aneurysm (Aorta)
Admitted under the care of: Barclay, Andrew Whyte
Medical examination performed by: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Post mortem examination performed by: Myers, Arthur Thomas
Medical notes: 'For the last 20 years he has been in continued work as a clerk, playing often as a professional cricketer up to 3 years ago: he never when in hard exercise felt any palpitation or discomfort. He had primary syphilis 8 years ago followed by secondaries. Has drunk moderately of beer & spirits. About a year ago began to feel shifting abdominal pain'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Lungs, heart, aorta, liver, spleen, kidneys
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Mary Brady, 50, Hawker

Occupation or role: Hawker
Age: 50
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 6 Jul 1881
Date of death: 8 Aug 1881
Disease (transcribed): Ovarian tumour. Lungs compressed. Aortic disease
Disease (standardised): Tumour (Ovaries); Compression (Lungs); Disease (Aorta)
Admitted under the care of: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
Medical examination performed by: Willis, Arthur Keith
Post mortem examination performed by: Zimmermann, Benjamin Frazier and Myers, Arthur Thomas
Medical notes: 'No heritable disease; 7 children; 3 died of cramp. Menstruation ceased 13 years ago: no vaginal discharge. Since Xmas 1880 has felt pain on right side of abdomen which has increased since. Gave up work two months ago: felt pain in right hypochondrium on carrying a basket'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, abdomen
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Robert Steptoe, 29, Groom

Occupation or role: Groom
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 15 Oct 1881
Date of death: 16 Oct 1881
Disease (transcribed): Fracture of skull. Laceration of brain
Disease (standardised): Fracture (Skull); Laceration (Brain)
Admitted under the care of: Rouse, James
Medical examination performed by: Zimmermann, Benjamin Frazier
Post mortem examination performed by: Turner, George Robertson
Medical notes: 'This man was thrown from his horse, picked up insensible and brought to St George's'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Cranium
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: Trauma / accident

John Carpenter, 28, Labourer

Occupation or role: Labourer
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 12 Apr 1877
Date of death: 15 May 1877
Disease (transcribed): Cardiac hypertrophy and dilatation. Dilatation of aorta. Granular kidney
Disease (standardised): Disease (Heart); Dilatation (Arteries); Disease (Kidney)
Admitted under the care of: Dickinson, William Howship
Medical examination performed by: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: On admission he was seen to be emaciated, but healthy of aspect. The abdomen was greatly distended, and dull through nearly all its extent. The legs were highly oedematous.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, pericardium, heart, liver, kidneys and spleen.
Illustration or photograph: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Thomas Preston, 35, Signwriter

Occupation or role: Signwriter
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 6 July 1877
Date of death: 11 Aug 1877
Disease (transcribed): Cirrhosis of liver
Disease (standardised): Cirrhosis (Liver)
Admitted under the care of: Dickinson, William Howship
Medical examination performed by: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Post mortem examination performed by: Wilson, Edward
Medical notes: The patient had an average consumption of eight pints of beer daily or an equivalent amount of rum in winter. He was suffering from loss of flesh and strength, giddiness and occipital headaches. He had lost his appetite, vomited after food and noticed a swelling of the abdomen.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, heart, liver, kidneys and spleen.
Illustration or photograph: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Samuel Piper, 32, Tailor

Occupation or role: Tailor
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 21 Nov 1877
Date of death: 24 Dec 1877
Disease (transcribed): Purulent peritonitis from suppurating hydatid of liver. Subperitoneal hydatids of pelvis.
Disease (standardised): Peritonitis (Abdomen); Echinococcosis (Liver); Echinococcosis (Pelvis)
Admitted under the care of: Dickinson, William Howship
Medical examination performed by: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Post mortem examination performed by: Lowbrum, G H
Medical notes: For seven or eight years he had been subject to pains in the hepatic region. A lump had been noticed in the right hypochondriac region for six years. A year before admission he suffered from pain in the loin, and three or four months before admission he found a swelling in the hypogastrium.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, heart, kidneys and peritoneum
Illustration or photograph: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Elizabeth Joyce, 41, Married

  • Occupation or role: Married
    Gender: Female
    Age: 41
    Date of admission: 13 Feb 1878
    Date of death: 12 Apr 1878
    Disease (transcribed): Mitral stenosis: pulmonary oedema
    Disease (standardised): Mitral valve stenosis (Heart); Oedema (Lung);
    Admitting doctor: Dickinson, William Howship
    Medical examination performed by: Owen, Herbert Isambard
    PM performed by: Ewart, William
  • Byam, W.
    Medical notes: 'History. Rheumatic fever 16 yrs. [years] before admission: four attacks in the following 12 years, all following parturitn [Parturition]. Subject to diarrhoea: very subject to sick headaches: had lived badly from 23 to 36: had a strong disgust to fat: diaphoresis habitually profuse. The last attacks of rheumatic fever began about Xmas 1873: she was in bed till the middle of March 1874: From that time she suffered from palpitation on the least exertion. The pains lasted till Mar. [March] 1875, and returned every time she tried to work. At the end of Oct. [October] 1877 she was suddenly ceased [sic] with cardiac pain, increased on movement: hepatic and epigastric pains occurring at irregular intervals and persistent vomiting. The skin became yellow, the bowels costive. A week later the legs swelled and the perspiration[?] increased. Vomiting continued every five minutes for five weeks: after that about twice or thrice a day after meals, pain being increased by the ingestion of food'
    Body parts examined in the post mortem: Lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, ascites
    Illustrations: Yes
    Type of incident: n/a

Kate Neville, 28, Married

Occupation or role: Married
Age: 28
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 29 Sep 1879
Date of death: 8 Oct 1879
Disease (transcribed): Mitral stenosis. Pneumonia. Tubal nephritis
Disease (standardised): Disease (Heart); Pneumonia (Lung); Nephritis (Kidney)
Admitted under the care of: Dickinson, William Howship
Medical examination performed by: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: About the end of November cough commenced gradually and increased steadily, being accompanied from the first by pain in the epigastrium and cardiac region. Her child was born February 28th 1879.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pericardium, liver and uterus
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Emily Punton, 60, Married

Occupation or role: Married
Age: 60
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 4 Jun 1879
Date of death: 2 Nov 1879
Disease (transcribed): Cancer of the ovary and of the peritoneum
Disease (standardised): Cancer (Ovary); Cancer (Abdomen)
Admitted under the care of: Wadham, William
Medical examination performed by: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: Early in march, severe pains in the hypogastrium, resembling labour pains, set in and were very acute for some three weeks.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen and abdomen
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

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