Showing 825 results

Archival description
Anatomy
Print preview View:

676 results with digital objects Show results with digital objects

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.

For more information and updates about the project, see our project page

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 M Jackson, 4, Child

Occupation or role: Child
Age: 4
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 16 Apr 1861
Date of death: 17 Apr 1861
Disease (transcribed): Croup
Disease (standardised): Croup (Larynx)
Admitted under the care of: Page, William Emanuel
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: n/a
Medical notes: This case is not given
Body parts examined in the post mortem: The body was not examined
Type of incident: n/a

Richard Neale, 43, Carman

Occupation or role: Carman
Age: 43
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 9 Apr 1861
Date of death: 20 Apr 1861
Disease (transcribed): Tetanus
Disease (standardised): Tetanus (Systemic)
Admitted under the care of: Fuller, Henry William
Medical examination performed by: Dickinson, William Howship
Post mortem examination performed by: Holmes, Timothy
Medical notes: Two months before he was admitted he grazed his right elbow and the back of his thumb, but both places were quite healed in less than a week, and presented no symptoms afterwards. About a month afterwards he thought he caught cold, followed by shivering, sore throat and difficulty swallowing
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Cranium and spine, thorax and abdomen
Illustrations: yes
Type of incident: Trauma/accident

Thomas Nicholls, 23, Labourer

Occupation or role: Labourer
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 14 Feb 1862
Date of death: 14 Feb 1862
Disease (transcribed): Severe injury to the head
Disease (standardised): Injury (Head)
Admitted under the care of: Tatum, Thomas
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: n/a
Medical notes: This was a case of severe injury to the head.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Not examined
Type of incident: Trauma/accident

Isabella Toms, 25, Lady’s maid

Occupation or role: Lady’s maid
Age: 25
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 15 Feb 1862
Date of death: 21 Feb 1862
Disease (transcribed): Acute rheumatism. Endocarditis. Embolism of minute arteries of brain
Disease (standardised): Rheumatic diseases (Tissues); Endocarditis (Heart); Embolism (Brain)
Admitted under the care of: Page, William Emanuel
Medical examination performed by: Wadham, William
Post mortem examination performed by: Dickinson, William Howship
Medical notes: This girl had had several slight rigors, and a feeling generally being unwell until she became delirious.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Chest and abdomen
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Emma Loving, 17, Nursemaid

Occupation or role: Nursemaid
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 23 Dec 1863
Date of death: 12 Feb 1864
Disease (transcribed): Disease of heart. Consequent obstruction of cerebral and other vessels
Disease (standardised): Disease (Heart); Obstruction (Brain)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Dickinson, William Howship
Post mortem examination performed by: Sturges, Octavius
Medical notes: 'In this case the patient, the subject of an attack of sub-acute rheumatism with signs of aortic regurgitation, became suddenly unconscious the 10th day of the admission and hemiplegic soon after. Life was prolonged till the 12th of February […] She was an anxious, delicate girl with an anxious, sad expression’
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Head, heart, chest, lungs, abdomen
Illustrations or photographs: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Caroline Parker, 42, Married

Occupation or role: Married
Age: 42
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 13 Dec 1865
Date of death: 21 Dec 1865
Disease (transcribed): Aneurism of middle cerebral artery. Rupture
Disease (standardised): Aneurysm (Brain); Rupture (Brain)
Admitted under the care of: Page, William Emanuel
Medical examination performed by: Sturges, Octavius
Post mortem examination performed by: Dickinson, William Howship
Medical notes: This woman stated that her health had been good until nine weeks before admission when while engaged in washing clothes she had a fit.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Cranium, chest and abdomen
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

Agnes Way, 40, Cook

Occupation or role: Cook
Age: 40
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 22 Dec 1865
Date of death: 12 Jan 1866
Disease (transcribed): Lumbar abscess. Cirrhosis of liver
Disease (standardised): Abscess (Lumbar); Cirrhosis (Liver)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Thompson, Reginald Edward
Post mortem examination performed by: Dickinson, William Howship
Medical notes: The history of this case was obscure. Except for an attack of bronchitis she appeared to have had no illness up to four months before admission.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Chest and abdomen
Illustrations: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Joel Bonditch, 47, Wine cooper

Occupation or role: Wine cooper
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 18 Oct 1866
Date of death: 20 Dec 1866
Disease (transcribed): Softening of brain. Embolism
Disease (standardised): Softening (Brain); Embolism (Vessels)
Admitted under the care of: Page, William Emanuel
Medical examination performed by: Thompson, Reginald Edward
Post mortem examination performed by: Pick, Thomas Pickering
Medical notes: He was seized on the 16th with a sudden attack of hemiplegia of the right side with some pain in the left frontal region.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Cranium, thorax 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

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

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

George Hall, 39, Attendant

Occupation or role: Attendant
Age: 39
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 31 May 1869
Date of death: 3 Jun 1869
Disease (transcribed): Old dysentery. Amyloid degeneration. Phthisis. Ulceration
Disease (standardised): Dysentery (Intestines); Amyloidosis (Spleen); Amyloidosis (Kidney); Tuberculosis (Lung); Ulcer (Intestines)
Admitted under the care of: Wadham, William
Medical examination performed by: Thompson, Reginald Edward
Post mortem examination performed by: Pick, Thomas Pickering
Medical notes: This man had been in the army from 1852 to 1860 and had served in the Crimea.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Abdomen
Illustrations of photographs: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Mary Ann Madigan, 13, School girl

Occupation or role: School girl
Age: 13
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 28 Mar 1869
Date of death: 20 Jun 1869
Disease (transcribed): Morbus cordis. Pneumonia. Diseased hip
Disease (standardised): Disease (Heart); Pneumonia (Lung); Disease (Hip)
Admitted under the care of: Wadham, William. Holmes, Timothy
Medical examination performed by: Thompson, Reginald Edward
Post mortem examination performed by: n/a
Medical notes: This child was admitted under Mr Holme’s care in March with a congenital hare lip and in aspect disease of the left hip.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, lungs, heart, abdomen and hip joint
Illustrations or photographs: Yes
Type of incident: n/a

Results 1 to 25 of 825