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Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
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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

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

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

Alfred Davis, 31, Painter

Occupation or role: Painter
Age: 31
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 10 Jan 1866
Date of death: 17 Mar 1866
Disease (transcribed): Valvular disease of heart
Disease (standardised): Disease (Heart)
Admitted under the care of: Page, William Emanuel
Medical examination performed by: Thompson, Reginald Edward
Post mortem examination performed by: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer. Dickinson, William Howship
Medical notes: This man’s illness began with swelling of the feet accompanied by pain in the loins, vomiting and shivering.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Chest and abdomen
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Ann Phillips, 40, Milliner

Occupation or role: Milliner
Age: 40
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 21 Feb 1866
Date of death: 20 Mar 1866
Disease (transcribed): Malignant disease. Encephaloid
Disease (standardised): Cancer (Abdomen)
Admitted under the care of: Fuller, Henry William
Medical examination performed by: Thompson, Reginald Edward
Post mortem examination performed by: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer. Dickinson, William Howship
Medical notes: She had been ill for eight months before admission. At this date she suffered from vaginal discharge followed in a very short time by pain and swelling in the left iliac fossa.
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

John Hughes, 45, Painter

Occupation or role: Painter
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 31 Mar 1866
Date of death: 2 Apr 1866
Disease (transcribed): Erysipelas
Disease (standardised): Erysipelas (Skin)
Admitted under the care of: Page, William Emanuel
Medical examination performed by: Thompson, Reginald Edward
Post mortem examination performed by: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer. Dickinson, William Howship
Medical notes: The present illness was of two weeks duration. It began with the usual symptoms of erysipelas.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Chest and abdomen
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Anders Gustafson, [Occupation not stated]

Occupation or role: [Occupation not stated]
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 14 Oct 1871
Date of death: 2 Nov 1871
Disease (transcribed): Yellow atrophy of the liver
Disease (standardised): Atrophy (Liver)

Admitted under the care of: Wadham, William
Medical examination performed by: Laking, Francis Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
Medical notes: 'Had complained all the summer of pain in the epigastrium with occasional vomiting after food. Fourteen days before admission the pain got very much worse with sickness after every meal. Sleeping very soundly at night, with general depression of the spirits and the skin began to get yellow. For the last three weeks, the water has been very dark-coloured’
Post mortem notes: Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen, cranium
Illustrations or photographs: Yes (see PM/1871/154)
Type of incident: n/a

Joseph Sharp, 24, Machinist

Occupation or role: Machinist
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 21 Feb 1877
Date of death: 26 Mar 1877
Disease (transcribed): Leukaemia. Cancer of spleen and of liver. Pulmonary and cerebral congestion, from the formation of white blood clots.
Disease (standardised): Leukaemia (Blood, Bone Marrow); Cancer (Spleen); Cancer (Liver); Congestion (Lung, Brain); Thrombosis (Lung, Brain)
Admitted under the care of: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
Medical examination performed by: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: From August 1876 the patient had noticed a lump in the lower part of the right side of the abdomen, increasing in size, and from September a lump in the left side also. He suffered from nausea and vomiting, frontal headaches, cough, palpitations, anorexia and slight haematemesis.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, bronchi, pulmonary vessels, heart, vascular system, liver, kidneys, spleen, brain, bones, lymphatic system, thyroid and tonsils
Illustration or photograph: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Sarah Young, 67, Widow

Occupation or role: Widow
Age: 67
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 13 Jun 1877
Date of death: 19 July 1877
Disease (transcribed): Tubercular phthisis; granular kidneys
Disease (standardised): Tuberculosis (Lung); Disease (Kidney)
Admitted under the care of: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: This patient was not examined by the Registrar, as her extreme weakness precluded it.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, stomach, uterus and brain
Type of incident: n/a

James Williams, 39, Labourer

Occupation or role: Labourer
Age: 39
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 26 Dec 1877
Date of death: 26 Dec 1877
Disease (transcribed): Aneurism of the arch of aorta communicating with the left bronchus
Disease (standardised): Aneurysm (Arteries)
Admitted under the care of: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: Lowbrum, G H
Medical notes: This patient was admitted in a condition which precluded examination, and died before a history could be obtained.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, bronchi, pericardium, heart, liver, kidneys and spleen
Type of incident: n/a

John Merrick, 55, Shoemaker

Occupation or role: Shoemaker
Gender: Male
Age: 55
Date of admission: 1 Jan 1878
Date of death: 8 Apr 1878
Disease (transcribed): Scirrhous cancer of the head of the Pancreas; biliary obstruction
Disease (standardised): Cancer (Pancreas); Obstruction (Biliary tract);
Admitting doctor: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
Medical examination performed by: Owen, Herbert Isambard
PM performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: 'History. One brother died of cancer in the throat. Patient never robust: appetite moderate: digestion naturally sound: no idiosyncrasy. Diaphoresis profuse: very temperate man. Otherwise healthy. Costiveness of bowels, open only twice or thrice a week, for 15 yrs [years]: nausea accompanying constipation. Urine high coloured from Feb. [February] 1877: icterus and pale faeces from a fortnight later. Wasting since April or May. Bowels costive as usual : several attacks of diarrhoea for a day or two'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Lungs, heart, peritoneum, liver, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, stomach
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Bridget Shea, 60, Housekeeper

  • Occupation or role: Housekeeper
    Gender: Female
    Age: 60
    Date of admission: 17 Apr 1878
    Date of death: 8 Jun 1878
    Disease (transcribed): Calcifying tumour in the right iliac fossa, psoas abscess, perforation into caecum and into peritoneum
    Disease (standardised): Tumour (Hip); Psoas abscess (Psoas muscles); Perforation (Intestines); Perforation (Abdomen);
    Admitting doctor: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
    Medical examination performed by: Owen, Herbert Isambard
    PM performed by: Ewart, William
  • Wilson, E.
    Medical notes: 'History. No hereditary history. Previous history of good health: meat three times a day, disgust to fat: dislike to butter: bowels open about once in three days. Loss of appetite about 21 months. Tumour found in R. [Right] inguinal region for about 18 mo [months]. Pain about the tumour, and loss of flesh from May 1877. Much costiveness of bowels: hardly any action without purgations: vomiting seldom: (Woman unintelligent: account by no means clear)'
    Body parts examined in the post mortem: Lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, tumour
    Illustrations: Yes
    Type of incident: n/a

Lizzie Ruddy, 25, Housemaid

Occupation or role: Housemaid
Gender: Female
Age: 25
Date of admission: 28 May 1878
Date of death: 25 Jun 1878
Disease (transcribed): Anaemia. Fatty, slightly dilated heart. Inflammatory oedema of lungs
Disease (standardised): Anaemia (Systemic); Disease (Heart); Cardiomyopathy, dilated (Heart); Oedema (Lung);
Admitting doctor: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
Medical examination performed by: n/a
PM performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: 'History. No heritable disease. Previous history of good health: was unable to digest fat: which produced vomiting. She came from Ireland to England on Jan. [January] 20th: she grew pale from that time. Frontal headache for five weeks, commencing gradually and steadily increasing in severity. Vomiting after all food, wasting, and profuse sweating for nine days. Confined bowels for six: urine red coloured for five'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, brain, uterus
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

James Brodrick, 45, Tailor

Occupation or role: Tailor
Gender: Male
Age: 45
Date of admission: 10 Jul 1878
Date of death: 27 Oct 1878
Disease (transcribed): Aneurysm of the ascending aorta bursting into the pericardium
Disease (standardised): Aneurysm (Aorta);
Admitting doctor: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
Medical examination performed by: Owen, Herbert Isambard
PM performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: 'History. Previous history of good health and temperance. He had been a soldier, and spent the years 1857-1871 in India. About the middle of 1877 he began to be troubled with slight cough and dyspnoea, and a little shooting pain in the 2nd[?] L. [Left] intercostal space; all of which symptoms steadily increased till admission. About Oct [October] 1877 he first noticed a pulsating tumour in L. [Left] upper chest, which steadily enlarged. About Mar [March] 1878 he began to lose appetite and flesh. In Middlesex Hosp. [Hospital] from Ap. [April] 3rd: slight dysphagia about this time. Treated by 'starvation' till the end of June: grew very thin and weak. On full diet, he grew stronger and had less pain. Transferred to St Geo [St George's] on closure of Middlesex'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Lungs, heart, aneurysm, spinal column, liver, kidneys, spleen
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Richard Leppard, 24, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 27 Nov 1878
Date of death: 17 Mar 1879
Disease (transcribed): Pulmonary phthisis (tubercular. Numerous suppurating cavities)
Disease (standardised): Tuberculosis (Lung); Suppuration (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
Medical examination performed by: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: In November 1878 he spat up while coughing about three tablespoonfuls of blood.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Heart, liver, kidneys and spleen
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

George Shipman, 38, Policeman

Occupation or role: Policeman
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 1 Oct 1879
Date of death: 8 Nov 1879
Disease (transcribed): Atheroma. Cardiac hypertrophy and dilatation
Disease (standardised): Plaque, atherosclerotic (Arteries); Disease (Heart)
Admitted under the care of: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
Medical examination performed by: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: The patient was quite well till Christmas 1878. He was not certain whether or not he had a slight cough, when one day after standing in the wet, he felt the cold strike his stomach, producing chilliness and a sense of tightness in the abdomen.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen and intestines
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Elizabeth Ward, 40, Married

Occupation or role: Married
Age: 40
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 6 Oct 1879
Date of death: 1 Dec 1879
Disease (transcribed): Scirrhous disease of head of pancreas. Biliary obstruction. Gall stones. Bronchopneumonia. Pleurisy
Disease (standardised): Cancer (Pancreas); Obstruction (Bile ducts); Gall stone (Gall bladder); Bronchopneumonia (Lung); Pleurisy (Pleura)
Admitted under the care of: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
Medical examination performed by: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: She was quite well till sixty six days before admission, when she began to suffer from heaviness of the head and eyes. On the following day icterus appeared.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, heart, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, duodenum, spleen, kidneys, peritoneum, ovaries, uterus, mamma, skin, suprarenals, portal glands and stomach
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Charles Steward, [No age stated], Shoemaker

Occupation or role: Shoemaker
Age: [No age stated]
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 26 Dec 1879
Date of death: 26 Dec 1879
Disease (transcribed): Fracture of skull
Disease (standardised): Fracture (Skull)
Admitted under the care of: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Medical notes: The patient was admitted in a state of coma.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Skull, brain, lungs, heart, liver, spleen and kidneys
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: Trauma/accident

Thomas Wildock, 42, Seaman

Occupation or role: Seaman
Age: 42
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 23 Mar 1880
Date of death: 17 Apr 1880
Disease (transcribed): n/a
Disease (standardised): n/a
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: He was admitted in 1876 stating that for four years he had been suffering from chronic rheumatic pains, for which he was invalided from Bombay. He complained of general pains in the shoulder, head and legs, he lost some power in the arms, his speech became indistinct he had headaches and was losing flesh.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Peritoneum, lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, intestines and accessory spleen
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Annie Stiles, 33, Nurse

Occupation or role: Nurse
Age: 33
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 24 Apr 1880
Date of death: 27 Apr 1880
Disease (transcribed): Diphtheria
Disease (standardised): Diphtheria (Pharynx)
Admitted under the care of: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: n/a
Medical notes: n/a
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Not examined
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Clara Gifford, 18, Needlewoman

Occupation or role: Needlewoman
Age: 18
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 19 Mar 1880
Date of death: 19 May 1880
Disease (transcribed): Fibroid phthisis – cavities. Ulceration of the intestines – tubercles
Disease (standardised): Tuberculosis (Lung); Fibrosis (Lung); Cavities (Lung); Ulcer (Intestines); Tuberculosis (Intestines)
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: Her illness commenced about October 1879, she had a slight cough, at first without sputum, latterly with a very little.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys and intestines
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

John Green, 40, Messenger

Occupation or role: Messenger
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 9 Aug 1880
Date of death: 19 Sep 1880
Disease (transcribed): Hydro-pericardium. Valvular disease. Aortic dilatation
Disease (standardised): Hydropericardium (Heart); Disease (Heart)
Admitted under the care of: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
Medical examination performed by: Dunbar, James John Macwhirter
Post mortem examination performed by: Evans, Arthur Owen
Medical notes: The patient had up until 1870 been a mason’s labourer and had many weights to carry. For twenty years he had been subject to ‘epileptic fits’. He was in the habit of drinking seven to eight half quarters of rum per day besides beer.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Heart, lungs, liver and kidneys
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Thomas Jennings, 45, Bottle dealer

Occupation or role: Bottle dealer
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 6 Sep 1880
Date of death: 25 Sep 1880
Disease (transcribed): Scirrhus of stomach, liver, pancreas and a few glands
Disease (standardised): Cancer (Stomach); Cancer (Liver); Cancer (Pancreas); Cancer (Lymph nodes)
Admitted under the care of: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
Medical examination performed by: Dunbar, James John Macwhirter
Post mortem examination performed by: Evans, Arthur Owen
Medical notes: The patient was addicted to great alcoholic excess for many years. The only symptoms he had was an inability to eat any breakfast. For several months he had been getting thinner but dated his symptoms to a fall from a pony cart twelve weeks before admission.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, stomach, mesentery, peritoneum, spleen and kidneys
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Jane West, 65, Governess

Occupation or role: Governess
Age: 65
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 1 Oct 1880
Date of death: 3 Oct 1880
Disease (transcribed): Scirrhus of the pancreas and stomach. Pyaemia. Suppurative disease of the internal ear
Disease (standardised): Cancer (Pancreas); Cancer (Stomach); Sepsis (Systemic); Suppuration (Ear); Disease (Ear)
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: For the last twelve months she had been growing weaker, losing flesh and appetite.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: , lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, stomach, pancreas
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

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