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Seymour, Edward James Anatomy
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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

Peter Welch , 40, Servant

Occupation or role: Servant
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 24 Sep 1844
Date of death: 25 Sep 1844
Disease (transcribed): Poisoning by opium and arsenic. Arsenic detected in the contents of the stomach.
Disease (standardised): Poisoning (Systemic)
Admitted under the care of: Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: Hewett, Prescott Gardner and Spitta, Robert John
Medical notes: The patient was brought to the Hospital after ingesting poison.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Cranium, thorax and abdomen
Type of incident: Suicide

Anne Hogg, 32, [Occupation not stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 32
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 15 Dec 1845
Date of death: 20 Dec 1845
Disease (transcribed): Fits of an epileptic character. Great congestion of the brain & its membranes. Pointed exostosis growing from the occipital
Disease (standardised): Epilepsy (Brain); Congestion (Brain); Exostoses (Skull)
Admitted under the care of: Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: Hewett, Prescott Gardner and Cowell, Thomas William
Post mortem examination performed by: Fuller, Henry William
Medical notes: 'This patient was admitted with fits of an epileptic character, occurring about every two minutes. It was reported that epilepsy was common in the family, and that one of her brothers, as also one of her sisters, had suffered severely from it. This patient was attacked for the first time three days before admission, and when first seen by the medical man, it was judged advisable to bleed her’
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Cranium (‘in consequence of the relations having called, late in the afternoon, to remove the body. The head was the only part examined’)

Type of incident: n/a

Elizabeth Geary, 18, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 18
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 4 Feb 1846
Date of death: 10 Apr 1846
Disease (transcribed): Encephaloid tumour in post-peritoneal cellular tissue. Red hepatisation of lungs. Encephaloid disease of mediastinal glands.
Disease (standardised): Cancer (Abdomen); Disease (Lung); Cancer (Lymph nodes)
Admitted under the care of: Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: Fuller, Henry William
Post mortem examination performed by: Hewett, Prescott Gardner
Medical notes: This patient stated that for last three or four months she had been gradually losing her health and strength without any very obvious cause.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Abdomen and thorax
Type of incident: n/a

Caroline Collins, 24, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 24
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 4 Feb 1846
Date of death: 7 Mar 1846
Disease (transcribed): Phthisis. Pleurisy. Pneumonia. Tubercular ulceration of intestines with small abscesses in sub mucous tissue. Liver nutmeg. Spleen studded with innumerable transparent corpuscles. Mottling degeneration of kidneys.
Disease (standardised): Tuberculosis (Lung); Pleurisy (Pleura); Pneumonia (Lung); Ulcer (Intestines); Abscess (Intestines); Disease (Liver);Disease (Spleen) ; Disease (Kidney)
Admitted under the care of: Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: Fuller, Henry William
Post mortem examination performed by: Hewett, Prescott Gardner
Medical notes: This patient was admitted complaining of diarrhoea of a long time standing.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

[No name] Meerjohn, 30, [Occupation not stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 30
Gender:
Date of admission: 2 Jun 1845
Date of death: 4 Jun 1845
Disease (transcribed): Disease of the lungs
Disease (standardised): Disease (Lungs)
Admitted under the care of: Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: Hewett, Prescott Gardner
Post mortem examination performed by: Fuller, Henry William
Medical notes: 'No examination, therefore no history is given’
Body parts examined in the post mortem: 'The body was not examined, at the request of the friends’

Type of incident: n/a

[No name], [No age stated], [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: [No age stated]
Gender: Female
Date of admission: Apr 1841
Date of death: Apr 1841
Disease (transcribed): Peritonitis. Strangulated hernia. Abortion. Uterine haemorrhage
Disease (standardised): Peritonitis (Abdomen); Hernia; Miscarriage; Haemorrhage (Uterus)
Admitted under the care of: Keate, Robert
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: n/a
Medical notes: 'This patient was three months gone in the family way when she was brought into the house for strangulated hernia. She was operated upon by Mr Cutler [Edward Cutler]; abortion came on after the operation and this was followed by uterine haemorrhage; she died the 2nd day after the operation’
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Abdomen ('The uterus was about the size of the egg of an ostrich; its tissue and the ovaries were apparently healthy. They were not examined as Dr Lee [Robert Lee] wished to have them so as to prepare the uterine nerves and vessels’)

Type of incident: n/a

William James, 47, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 23 Dec 1840
Date of death: 31 Dec 1840
Disease (transcribed): Valvular disease of the heart
Disease (standardised): Disease (Heart)
Admitted under the care of: Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: n/a
Medical notes: n/a
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

St George's Hospital Medical School, London

Eliza Redman, 33, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 33
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 30 May 1844
Date of death: 25 Jun 1844
Disease (transcribed): Burn. Pleurisy. Viscera nothing remarkable, with the exception of the spleen which was soft and pulpy.
Disease (standardised): Burn (Skin); Soft (Spleen)
Admitted under the care of: Keate, Robert. Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: Hewett, Prescott Gardner
Medical notes: The patient was admitted with a scald from boiling water extending over the left shoulder, the side of the chest, and back.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, larynx and trachea, and abdomen
Type of incident: Trauma/accident

Eliza Brown , 29, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 29
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 1 May 1844
Date of death: 8 May 1844
Disease (transcribed): Pleurisy. Partial pneumonia. Pericarditis. Calcareous deposit in mesenteric gland.
Disease (standardised): Pleurisy (Pleura); Pneumonia (Lung); Pericarditis (Heart); Calculus (Lymph nodes)
Admitted under the care of: Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: Hewett, Prescott Gardner
Medical notes: The patient was admitted in a very low and feeble state with symptoms of fever and no local complication.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Martin Walsh , 40, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 14 February 1844
Date of death: 7 May 1844
Disease (transcribed): Tubercular deposits in Lungs, Liver, Spleen and Intestines with extensive ulceration of the latter.
Disease (standardised): Tuberculosis (Lung, Liver, Spleen, Intestines); Ulcer (Intestines)
Admitted under the care of: Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: Hewett, Prescott Gardner
Medical notes: The patient was admitted in an emaciated and debilitated state with symptoms of pulmonary Phthisis of four months duration.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Isaac Betley, 23, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 17 Jan 1844
Date of death: 19 Jan 1844
Disease (transcribed): Excessive congestion of the Brain. Spleen very much enlarged and quite hard.
Disease (standardised): Congestion (Brain ); Enlarged (Spleen)
Admitted under the care of: Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: Hewett, Prescott Gardner
Medical notes: On the 13th January after exposure to wet and cold he was seized with the usual symptoms of fever of a rather low character.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Cranium, thorax and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Ellen Powers, 17, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 22 Oct 1842
Date of death: 23 Oct 1842
Disease (transcribed): Fever with enlarged glandulae aggregate.
Disease (standardised): Fever (Systemic); Enlarged (Lymph nodes)
Admitted under the care of: Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: Hewett, Prescott Gardner
Medical notes: n/a
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Cranium, thorax and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Lucy Sutton , 21, [Occupation not stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 21
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 12 Nov 1845
Date of death: 30 Nov 1845
Disease (transcribed): Chronic ulcer of the stomach, blocked up by the pancreas, the adhesions to which had partially given. Extensive peritonitis. Pleurisy. Pneumonia. Other viscera healthy
Disease (standardised): Ulcer (Stomach); Peritonitis (Abdomen); Pleurisy (Lungs); Pneumonia (Lungs)

Admitted under the care of: Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: Hewett, Prescott Gardner
Post mortem examination performed by: Fuller, Henry William
Medical notes: 'This patient was admitted complaining of pain in the left hypochondriac region, not increased on pressure, and not aggravated by the deepest inspiration. She stated that for many years she had been subject to pain on the left side, and occasionally also on the right, and that about four years ago, she had a violent attack of haematemesis’
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Abdomen, thorax

Type of incident: n/a

Ann Morgan, 17, [Occupation not stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 15 Oct 1845
Date of death: 12 Nov 1845
Disease (transcribed): Diffuse cellular inflammation & erysipelas. Circumscribed abscesses in anterior mediastinum and upon lumbar vertebrae. Extensive pleurisy. Chorea. Brain and spinal chord healthy
Disease (standardised): Inflammation; Erysipelas (Skin); Abscess (Chest, spine); Pleurisy (Lungs); Chorea (Central nervous system)
Admitted under the care of: Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: Pollock, George
Post mortem examination performed by: Fuller, Henry William
Medical notes: 'This patient was admitted with well-marked symptoms of chorea. Her mother gave the following history. At the age of 14, she began to menstruate and had enjoyed very good health up to April last, at which time she experienced a fright, which for about ten minutes rendered her incapable of either moving or speaking. In about a quarter of an hour she entirely regained her speech, but at the same time slight symptoms of chorea began to manifest themselves, both by the twitching of the muscles of the face and by some little involuntary movements in the upper extremities’
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen, cranium, spinal chord

Type of incident: n/a

Abraham Kimpton, 56, [Occupation not stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 56
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 12 Nov 1845
Date of death: 15 Nov 1845
Disease (transcribed): Thoracic aorta enormously dilated and pressing upon the trachea and bronchi. Aneurysm opening into the left bronchus. Laryngotomy. Heart dilated. Valves healthy. Lungs loaded with red, frothy serum at back part
Disease (standardised): Disease (Aorta); Aneurysm (Aorta); Laryngotomy (Larynx); Disease (Heart, lungs)

Admitted under the care of: Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: Hewett, Prescott Gardner
Post mortem examination performed by: Fuller, Henry William
Medical notes: 'This patient, a stout, healthy-looking man, was admitted complaining of cough & dyspnoea of long duration. He stated that he had been subject to slight cough with occasional paroxysms of dyspnoea, during the last three years & a half, and that about three years ago, while labouring under one of these attacks, accompanied by severe pain in the lower part of the chest, he applied to the hospital for relief and was bled, cupped & blistered in consequence’
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, larynx, abdomen

Type of incident: n/a

John Shury, 39, [Occupation not stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 39
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 15 Oct 1845
Date of death: 3 Nov 1845
Disease (transcribed): Phthisis. Old adhesions. Tubercular ulcerations of the larynx and small intestine. Mesenteric glands enlarged
Disease (standardised): Tuberculosis (Lungs); Ulcer (Larynx, intestines); Enlargement (Mesenteric glands)
Admitted under the care of: Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: Hewett, Prescott Gardner
Post mortem examination performed by: Fuller, Henry William
Medical notes: 'This patient was admitted complaining of hoarseness, or almost total loss of voice, cough, & expectoration with great oppression of the breathing. He stated that ever since Christmas he had suffered more or less from cough with occasional pain in the chest, and during this period had lost flesh and had become extremely weak’
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Larynx, thorax, abdomen

Type of incident: n/a

John Day, 52, [Occupation not stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 52
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 25 Jun 1845
Date of death: 6 Oct 1845
Disease (transcribed): Anasarca & ascites. Dilatation & hypertrophy of the heart. Pleurisy. Peritonitis old and recent. Kidneys slightly granular
Disease (standardised): Edema (Systemic); Ascites (Peritoneum); Disease (Heart); Pleurisy (Lungs); Peritonitis (Abdomen); Disease (Kidneys)
Admitted under the care of: Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: Hewett, Prescott Gardner
Post mortem examination performed by: Fuller, Henry William
Medical notes: 'This patient was admitted complaining of dyspnoea and anasarca of six weeks’ duration. He stated that the symptoms had begun gradually, without pain or uneasiness of any kind until they were attended by shortness of breath, which within the last week had greatly distressed him’
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen

Type of incident: n/a

William Symons, 24, [Occupation not stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 20 Aug 1845
Date of death: 21 Aug 1845
Disease (transcribed): Universal anasarca. Dropsy. Fluid in pericardium and left pleura. Mottling degeneration of both kidneys. Heart healthy
Disease (standardised): Edema (Systemic); Disease (Pericardium, lungs, kidneys)

Admitted under the care of: Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: Hewett, Prescott Gardner
Post mortem examination performed by: Fuller, Henry William
Medical notes: 'This patient was admitted labouring under general anasarca reported to be of five months’ duration. For a month previous to the appearance of dropsical swellings he had suffered considerably from pain in the loin, but this had entirely subsided since the recurrence of anasarca’
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Abdomen, thorax

Type of incident: n/a

William May, 31, [Occupation not stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 31
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 23 Jul 1845
Date of death: 19 Aug 1845
Disease (transcribed): Encephaloid disease of mediastinum and lung, projecting into the left auricle. Grey hepatisation and suppuration of the lung, with pleurisy. Encephaloid deposit around, and in the left kidney, and around and in the pancreas
Disease (standardised): Encephaloid disease (Chest, lungs); Hepatisation (Lungs); Pleurisy (Lungs); Encephaloid disease (Kidneys, pancreas)

Admitted under the care of: Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: Hewett, Prescott Gardner
Post mortem examination performed by: Fuller, Henry William
Medical notes: 'It appeared that this patient about two months before admission, was attacked with pleurisy on the left side, for which he was largely bled, both generally and topically, & otherwise actively treated. This treatment left him in an extremely weak state, and during the last fortnight he has suffered greatly from pain & palpitation of the heart, and pain across the loins. These symptoms have induced him to apply to the hospital for relief’
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen

Type of incident: n/a

Evan Evans, 22, [Occupation not stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 22
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 23 Jul 1845
Date of death: 15 Aug 1845
Disease (transcribed): Pleurisy on both sides. Red hepatisation of left lung, upper lobe. Grey hepatisation of the lower lobe, right lung, with suppuration & several irregular cavities containing cheesy-looking substance. Heart dilated, walls thin. Atheroma at root of the aorta
Disease (standardised): Pleurisy (Lungs); Hepatisation (Lungs); Suppuration (Lungs); Disease (Heart); Plaque, atheroscelerotic (Aorta)
Admitted under the care of: Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: Hewett, Prescott Gardner
Post mortem examination performed by: Fuller, Henry William
Medical notes: 'This patient was admitted stating that he had had a slight hacking cough for many weeks, but that it had never troubled him till a fortnight ago, when it became suddenly worse, accompanied by pain in the chest, and attended by vomiting on lying down’
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen

Type of incident: n/a

John Evans, 45, [Occupation not stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 23 Jul 1845
Date of death: 9 Aug 1845
Disease (transcribed): Old and recent pleurisy. Phthisis. Heart dilated. Atheroma in aortic valves and in aorta. Old adhesions between liver & diaphragm. Spleen large & much congested. Kidneys studded with transparent cysts and miliary tubercles
Disease (standardised): Pleurisy (Lungs); Tuberculosis (Lungs); Disease (Heart); Plaque, atherosclerotic (Aorta); Adhesions (Liver, diaphragm); Disease (Spleen, kidneys)
Admitted under the care of: Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: Hewett, Prescott Gardner
Post mortem examination performed by: Fuller, Henry William
Medical notes: 'This patient was admitted complaining of weakness, some dyspnoea, a slight hacking cough and acute pain about the scrobiculus cordis. He stated that he was in perfect health till about six weeks before admission, when he caught cold’
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen

Type of incident: n/a

Elizabeth Stoner, 24, [Occupation not stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 24
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 24 Jul 1845
Date of death: 28 Jul 1845
Disease (transcribed): Jaundice, without any obstruction of any of the gall ducts. Intense inflammation of the mucous membrane of the large intestine. Spleen large and very hard
Disease (standardised): Jaundice (Skin); Inflammation (Intestines); Disease (Spleen)
Admitted under the care of: Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: Pollock, George
Post mortem examination performed by: Fuller, Henry William
Medical notes: 'It appeared from this patient’s statement that she was in perfect health up to five weeks ago, at which time she had slight rigors and headache, throbbing in the epigastrium and some little sickness. In the course of a few days these symptoms subsided, but she became slightly jaundiced, & out of spirits, but not so as to prevent her following her vocation’
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen, lower extremity

Type of incident: n/a

John Knowles, 50, [Occupation not stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 50
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 23 Jul 1845
Date of death: 23 Jul 1845
Disease (transcribed): Apoplexy of the pons, of the right crus and right corpus striatum. Arteries atheromatous. Hypertrophy of left ventricle
Disease (standardised): Stroke (Brain); Plaque, atheroscelerotic (Aorta); Disease (Heart)
Admitted under the care of: Seymour, Edward James
Medical examination performed by: Hewett, Prescott Gardner
Post mortem examination performed by: Fuller, Henry William
Medical notes: 'It appeared that the patient, who was riding in a van from Kensington to London, was seized, when about half-way, with giddiness & great confusion of his head, and told a friend who was with him that he felt very unwell. Just as they reached Hyde Park Corner, he was seized with a fit of an apoplectic character and was immediately conveyed into the hospital’
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Cranium, thorax, abdomen

Type of incident: n/a

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