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Bennett, William Henry
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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

Philadelphia Catt, 16, Servant

Occupation or role: Servant
Age: 16
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 17 May 1876
Date of death: 31 Dec 1876
Disease (transcribed): Diseased knee: amputation:thrombosis of veins
Disease (standardised): Disease (Knee); Amputation (Knee); Thrombosis (Veins)
Admitted under the care of: Rouse, James
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: The patient was admitted with a history of having had a diseased knee for eleven years. Eleven weeks before admission she fell down and injured the knee. The case was taken from Mr Morgan's notes.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, uterus and intestines
Type of incident: Trauma/accident

John Hagan, 40, Bricklayer

Occupation or role: Bricklayer
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 31 Mar 1877
Date of death: 31 Mar 1877
Disease (transcribed): Fractured spine, ribs and sternum. Haemothorax.
Disease (standardised): Fracture (Spine); Fracture (Ribs); Fracture (Sternum); Haemothorax (Thorax)
Admitted under the care of: Pollock, George
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: This patient fell from a scaffold about 16 feet high.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, heart, brain and injuries. The post mortem was from Mr Golding Collet's notes.
Type of incident: Trauma/accident

William Down, 64, Coachman

Occupation or role: Coachman
Age: 64
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 31 Mar 1877
Date of death: 2 Apr 1877
Disease (transcribed): Perineal section. Urinary infiltration. Amyloid liver.
Disease (standardised): Operation (Perineum); Amyloidosis (Liver)
Admitted under the care of: Pollock, George
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: The patient had had difficulty in passing water for many years.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, bronchi, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, pubic and perineal regions. The post mortem was from Mr Golding Collet's notes.
Type of incident: n/a

William Harris, 19, Shopman

Occupation or role: Shopman
Age: 19
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 2 Apr 1877
Date of death: 4 Apr 1877
Disease (transcribed): Hernia (operation). Perforation of the bowel. Peritonitis.
Disease (standardised): Hernia (Abdomen); Operation (Abdomen); Perforation (Intestines); Peritonitis (Abdomen)
Admitted under the care of: Pollock, George
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: The patient had had a rupture on the right side since he was four years old which had previously always been reduced with ease until the day of admission when it became larger and painful. The right testicle had never descended into the scrotum.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, peritoneum and right testicle. The post mortem was from Mr Golding Collet's notes.
Type of incident: n/a

Thomas E Houseley, 58, Tailor

Occupation or role: Tailor
Age: 58
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 7 Feb 1877
Date of death: 16 Apr 1877
Disease (transcribed): Fibroplastic tumour of back, granular kidney, fatty heart, endarteritis.
Disease (standardised): Tumour (Back); Disease (Kidney); Disease (Heart); Endarteritis (Arteries)
Admitted under the care of: Lee, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: This patient had been in the Hospital on four previous occasions, and had on each occasion had a tumour or portion of tumour removed from his back.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, bronchi, heart, liver, kidneys and spleen.
Type of incident: n/a

Henry West, 55, Stud Groom

Occupation or role: Stud Groom
Age: 55
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 6 Mar 1877
Date of death: 20 Apr 1877
Disease (transcribed): Scirrhus of Rectum. Colotomy. Peritonitis. Catarrhal pneumonia. Secondary cancerous deposits.
Disease (standardised): Cancer (Intestines); Operation (Intestines); Peritonitis (Abdomen); Pneumonia (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Rouse, James
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: In August last, the patient first noticed difficulty in passing motions and pain. He had been losing flesh.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, peritoneum, rectum, colon and urethra.
Type of incident: n/a

Jane Hannal , 60, Pew Opener

Occupation or role: Pew Opener
Age: 60
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 10 May 1877
Date of death: 11 May 1877
Disease (transcribed): Fractured skull. Laceration of Brain and haemorrhage. Granular kidneys. Emphysema.
Disease (standardised): Fracture (Skull); Laceration (Brain); Haemorrhage (Brain); Disease (Kidney); Emphysema (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Holmes, Timothy
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: This patient died a few hours after admission and was not seen by the Registrar.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, stomach, cranium, brain, fracture, spinal cord and ribs.
Type of incident: n/a

George White, 19, Carriage examiner

Occupation or role: Carriage examiner
Age: 19
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 2 May 1877
Date of death: 14 May 1877
Disease (transcribed): Retroperitoneal rupture of Duodenum. Subsequent rupture of peritoneum. Peritonitis.
Disease (standardised): Rupture (Intestines); Rupture (Abdomen); Peritonitis (Abdomen)
Admitted under the care of: Pollock, George
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: The patient's pelvis had been crushed between two railway buffers.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, abdomen and stomach.
Type of incident: Trauma/accident

James Bidwell , 65, Carpenter

Occupation or role: Carpenter
Age: 65
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 15 May 1877
Date of death: 17 May 1877
Disease (transcribed): Fractured skull: laceration of the brain. Pneumonia. Granular Kidney.
Disease (standardised): Fracture (Skull); Laceration (Brain); Pneumonia (Lung); Disease (Kidney)
Admitted under the care of: Holmes, Timothy
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: The patient had fallen off a timber cart pitching on his head.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, skull, brain and ribs.
Type of incident: Trauma/accident

Ellen Russell, 56, Widow

Occupation or role: Widow
Age: 56
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 26 May 1877
Date of death: 3 Jun 1877
Disease (transcribed): Constriction of the descending colon by a fibrous band. Right and left colotomy. Large ovarian tumour.
Disease (standardised): Constriction (Intestines); Operation (Intestines); Tumour (Ovary)
Admitted under the care of: Pollock, George
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: The patient was transferred from Dr Barclay. For 18 months she had suffered from constipation and vomiting, and shortly after commencement of these symptoms had noticed a small lump in the abdomen near the navel.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, peritoneum, brain, utereus, ovaries, intestine and bowel
Type of incident: n/a

Robert Kirkland, 63, Stableman

Occupation or role: Stableman
Age: 63
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 22 Jun 1877
Date of death: 23 Jun 1877
Disease (transcribed): Fractured ribs. Pneumothorax. General emphysema. Depressed fracture of skull.
Disease (standardised): Fracture (Ribs); Pneumothorax (Lung); Emphysema (Lung); Fracture (Skull)
Admitted under the care of: Pollock, George
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: Patient was found lying in a stable, half conscious, with a horse standing over him.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Skull, ribs, sternum, pleurae, lungs, bronchi, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen and brain
Type of incident: Trauma/accident

James Manning, 43, Potman

Occupation or role: Potman
Age: 43
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 21 May 1877
Date of death: 27 Jun 1877
Disease (transcribed): Fractured skull: meningeal haemorrhage: softening of brain
Disease (standardised): Fracture (Skull); Haemorrhage (Meninges); Softening (Brain)
Admitted under the care of: Rouse, James
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: The patient fell off some steps four feet high on to the back of the head.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, meninges, fracture, brain
Type of incident: Trauma/accident

John Cooper, 41, Hairdresser

Occupation or role: Hairdresser
Age: 41
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 2 Jun 1877
Date of death: 29 Jun 1877
Disease (transcribed): Hip disease, with excessive formation of new bone. Pneumonia.
Disease (standardised): Disease (Hip); Pneumonia (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Rouse, James
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: Twelve months ago the patient had a small wound on the left foot beneath the little toe, which healed after about three weeks. The foot however swelled at times, but did not prevent him from getting about till nine months ago when the whole limb swelled, but did not become painful.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, hip, abscess and bones of pelvis
Type of incident: Trauma/accident

Henry Westlake, 38, Waiter

Occupation or role: Waiter
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 27 Jun 1877
Date of death: 30 Jun 1877
Disease (transcribed): Injury to ankle. Delirium Tremens. Cerebral and pulmonary congestion. Granular kidney. Fatty heart.
Disease (standardised): Injury (Ankle); Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium (Brain); Congestion (Brain); Disease (Kidney); Disease (Heart); Congestion (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Lee, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: On the day before admission the patient was kicked by another man on the right ankle.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, brain and spinal cord
Type of incident: Homicide/murder

Susan Davis, 76, Widow

Occupation or role: Widow
Age: 76
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 27 Mar 1877
Date of death: 30 Jun 1877
Disease (transcribed): Inguinal hernia, operated. Emphysema. Fatty heart. Granular kidney. Cerebral softening.
Disease (standardised): Hernia (Abdomen); Operation (Abdomen); Emphysema (Lung); Disease (Heart); Disease (Kidney); Softening (Brain)
Admitted under the care of: Rouse, James
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: The patient had had a rupture on both sides for ten years, the one on the left side always partially reducible, that on the right side completely so. Four hours before admission, the rupture on the left side became suddenly longer and very painful. In three hours vomiting set in.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Lungs, pericardium, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, intestine, hernia and brain
Type of incident: n/a

Timothy Sheffield, 66, Carpenter

Occupation or role: Carpenter
Age: 66
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 30 May 1877
Date of death: 7 July 1877
Disease (transcribed): Pyaemia
Disease (standardised): Sepsis (Systemic)
Admitted under the care of: Pollock, George
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: Three years ago the patient first noticed difficulty in passing water, frequent micturition and occasional passage of blood in the urine.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, urethra and right thigh
Type of incident: n/a

Edward Harold, 13, Schoolboy

Occupation or role: Schoolboy
Age: 13
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 21 Mar 1877
Date of death: 8 July 1877
Disease (transcribed): Hip Disease. Cerebral congestion and meningeal thromboses. Chronic tubular nephritis. Amyloid spleen.
Disease (standardised): Disease (Hip); Congestion (Brain); Thrombosis (Meninges); Nephritis (Kidney); Amyloidosis (Spleen)
Admitted under the care of: Rouse, James
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: The patient had suffered from abscesses about the left hip since three years of age and since that time always walked lame. A fortnight before admission the patient slipped and fell down, having stepped on some orange peel which caused the abscesses to discharge profusely.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, brain and cord
Type of incident: Trauma/accident

Thomas Hindley, 50, [No occupation]

Occupation or role: [No occupation]
Age: 50
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 18 Jan 1877
Date of death: 18 Jan 1877
Disease (transcribed): Fractured ribs. Haemothorax. Luxation of spine
Disease (standardised): Fracture (Ribs); Haemothorax (Thorax); Luxation (Spine)
Admitted under the care of: Holmes, Timothy
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: A Dray on which the patient was riding upset throwing his violently to the ground and one of the horses which had also fallen, then rolled on him.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Lungs, heart, liver, kidneys and thorax
Type of incident: Trauma/accident

Jasper Taylor, 65, Traveller

Occupation or role: Traveller
Age: 65
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 16 Dec 1876
Date of death: 8 July 1877
Disease (transcribed): Fatty Heart. Granular kidney.
Disease (standardised): Disease (Heart); Disease (Kidney)
Admitted under the care of: Holmes, Timothy
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: This patient was in the Hospital in September last under Mr Pollock and had a tumour removed from the neck. Since that time he had suffered from pain in the back of the tongue and swallowing causing much discomfort. Two days before admission he found blood coming from the tongue.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, pericardium, heart, liver, spleen and kidneys
Type of incident: n/a

George J Woodman, 21, Messenger

Occupation or role: Messenger
Age: 21
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 3 July 1877
Date of death: 15 July 1877
Disease (transcribed): Purulent Peritonitis (Hernia)
Disease (standardised): Peritonitis (Abdomen); Suppuration (Abdomen); Hernia (Abdomen)
Admitted under the care of: Lee, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: Five days before admission the patient exerted himself much in playing cricket. On the following day he felt some pain and stiffness across the lower part of the abdomen. Three days before admission he noticed that a rupture, which had troubled him for seven years, was down and much longer than usual.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, peritoneum and intestine
Type of incident: n/a

Thomas Collier, 42, Valet

Occupation or role: Valet
Age: 42
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 27 July 1877
Date of death: 30 July 1877
Disease (transcribed): Gun short wound of the lung
Disease (standardised): Wound (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Lee, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: The patient placed the muzzle of a rook rifle over his heart and shot himself.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Lungs, pericardium, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen and brain
Type of incident: Suicide

George Edmunds, 34, Waiter

Occupation or role: Waiter
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 1 Aug 1877
Date of death: 3 Aug 1877
Disease (transcribed): Stricture of the urethra close to the meatus. Cystic degeneration of the kidneys.
Disease (standardised): Constriction (Urethra); Disease (Kidney)
Admitted under the care of: Holmes, Timothy
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: The patient was transferred from the medical wards and was too ill to give any account of himself.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Lungs, heart, liver, kidneys and urethra. The post mortem was from Mr G.F. Barker's notes
Type of incident: n/a

Harry Timbrell, 70, [No occupation]

Occupation or role: [No occupation]
Age: 70
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 24 Nov 1876
Date of death: 6 Aug 1877
Disease (transcribed): Hip disease, excision. Tubercular meningitis with large ventricular effusion.
Disease (standardised): Disease (Hip); Excision (Hip); Tuberculosis, Meningitis (Brain); Effusion (Brain)
Admitted under the care of: Holmes, Timothy
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: The patient was admitted with Disease of the Right Hip of six months standing.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Lungs, heart, liver, spleen, brain and spinal cord
Type of incident: n/a

Benjamin Trendle, 57, Labourer

Occupation or role: Labourer
Age: 57
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 16 May 1877
Date of death: 5 Aug 1877
Disease (transcribed): Epithelioma of the antrum
Disease (standardised): Cancer (Head)
Admitted under the care of: Rouse, James
Medical examination performed by: Bennet, William Henry
Post mortem examination performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: A month ago the patient noticed some sores about the left upper gum. A swelling soon appeared and became very painful.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, heart, liver, kidneys and brain
Type of incident: n/a

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