Print preview Close

Showing 470 results

Archival description
Pitman, Henry
Print preview View:

465 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

Edward Foy, 50, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 50
Gender: Male
Date of admission: Out patient
Date of death: 7 Nov 1846
Disease (transcribed): Aneurism of the arch of the aorta. Atheromatous deposit in arteries. Absorption of bodies of vertebra and intervertebral cartilages
Disease (standardised): Aneurysm (Arteries); Plaque, Atherosclerotic (Arteries); Absorption (Spine)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Fuller, Henry William
Post mortem examination performed by: Pollock, George
Medical notes: This patient reported that three months ago he began to suffer from Dyspnoea.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Henry Pearse, 23, [Occupation not stated]

Occupation or role: [Occupation not stated]
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 16 May 1849
Date of death: 22 May 1849
Disease (transcribed): Brain congested, serous effusion in the ventricles. Tubercles in the cerebellum, the lungs, liver & kidneys
Disease (standardised): Congestion (Brain); Tuberculosis (Brain, lungs, liver, kidneys)
Admitted under the care of: Bence Jones, Henry and Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Barclay, Andrew Whyte
Post mortem examination performed by: Gray, Henry
Medical notes: 'This man, who have a very obscure account of his symptoms, stated that he had been constantly exposed to cold in his work while perspiring and that without any particular cause of illness he had been so weak as to be unable to return to work after the 3rd inst. He had been OP [out-patient for some time under Dr Pitman [Henry Pitman], and had been confined to bed for 3 or 4 days before his admission’
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Cranium, thorax, abdomen

Type of incident: n/a

John Bussy, 35, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 29 Oct 1851
Date of death: 31 Oct 1851
Disease (transcribed): Old pleural adhesions on both sides. Tubercular deposits in both lungs. Vomicae in the right one posteriorly. Fatty liver. Cysts in the kidneys
Disease (standardised): Adhesion (Lungs); Tuberculosis (Lungs); Suppuration (Lungs); Disease (Liver); Cyst (Kidneys)
Admitted under the care of: Bence Jones, Henry and Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Barclay, Andrew Whyte
Post mortem examination performed by: Ogle, John William
Medical notes: 'This man was first seen by Dr Pitman [Henry Pitman] as an out-patient on the 10th Oct when he said that he had been ill 7 days. The tongue was furred, bowels confined. He was complaining of cough & pain in the chest and shortness of breath’
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen

Type of incident: n/a

Elizabeth Wilson, 23, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 23
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 2 May 1857
Date of death: 5 May 1857
Disease (transcribed): Cystic tumour of the mesentery. Twisting of the intestine. Peritonitis
Disease (standardised): Tumour (Mesentery); Twisting (Intestines); Peritonitis (Abdomen)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Post mortem examination performed by: Holmes, Timothy
Medical notes: This woman was confined four months before her admission.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen and pelvis
Type of incident: n/a

Matilda Neads, 20, Servant

Occupation or role: Servant
Age: 20
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 29 Apr 1857
Date of death: 8 May 1857
Disease (transcribed): Phthisis
Disease (standardised): Tuberculosis (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Post mortem examination performed by: Holmes, Timothy
Medical notes: The friends of this patient stated that she had been weak and languid for some little time, and that a fortnight ago she engaged herself as a servant but had to give up work in less than a week.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen, pelvis and larynx
Type of incident: n/a

Pauline Walter, 46, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 46
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 29 Apr 1857
Date of death: 12 May 1857
Disease (transcribed): Serous apoplexy. Fatty heart
Disease (standardised): Apoplexy (Brain); Disease (Heart)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Post mortem examination performed by: Holmes, Timothy
Medical notes: This Frenchwoman was to exhausted and deaf that nothing could be learnt from her. It appeared that within the last three months she had had two fits which had left her with pain and weakness in the left arm.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Cranium, thorax, abdomen and pelvis
Type of incident: n/a

Charles Glasspoole, 18, Footman

Occupation or role: Footman
Age: 18
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 4 Apr 1857
Date of death: 16 May 1857
Disease (transcribed): Malignant tumours of chest and loins. Similar deposit in various organs
Disease (standardised): Tumour (Thorax); Tumour (Abdomen); Deposits (Viscera)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Post mortem examination performed by: Holmes, Timothy
Medical notes: He had been ill for a month with pain in his back which was for a long time supposed to be rheumatism brought on by sleeping in a damp bed.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Neck, thorax and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Patrick Welch, 21, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 21
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 14 Jan 1857
Date of death: 23 May 1857
Disease (transcribed): Phthisis. Vomica laying open a blood vessel. Strumous disease of the knee
Disease (standardised): Tuberculosis (Lung); Tuberculosis (Leg)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Post mortem examination performed by: Holmes, Timothy
Medical notes: This man came into the hospital at the commencement of the present year as a Surgeon’s patient with supposed scrofulous synovitis of the knee joint.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Right knee, thorax, larynx and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

James Moore, [No age stated], Pensioner

Occupation or role: Pensioner
Age: [No age stated]
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 30 May 1857
Date of death: 30 May 1857
Disease (transcribed): Granular kidneys. Pleurisy
Disease (standardised): Disease (Kidney); Pleurisy (Pleura)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Post mortem examination performed by: Holmes, Timothy
Medical notes: This man had been out at drill the day before his admission and appeared, according to his wife’s account, to have been tolerably well on his return home.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Martin Tierney, 53, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 53
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 1 Apr 1857
Date of death: 1 Jun 1857
Disease (transcribed): Phthisis. Bronchitis
Disease (standardised): Tuberculosis (Lung); Bronchitis (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Post mortem examination performed by: Holmes, Timothy
Medical notes: An emaciated and anaemic individual who came to the hospital complaining of rheumatic pains in his lower extremities, and cough with colourless expectoration.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen and larynx
Type of incident: n/a

George Earle, 49, Valet

Occupation or role: Valet
Age: 49
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 1 Jun 1857
Date of death: 2 Jun 1857
Disease (transcribed): Delirium tremens
Disease (standardised): Alcohol withdrawal delirium (Brain)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Post mortem examination performed by: Holmes, Timothy
Medical notes: He had been tippling for some time, and was first attacked with delirium tremens four days before admission.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Cranium, spine, thorax and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Charlotte Banfield, 12, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 12
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 27 May 1857
Date of death: 7 Jun 1857
Disease (transcribed): Anasarca. Pleuro-pneumonia. Peritonitis
Disease (standardised): Oedema (Leg); Oedema (Abdomen); Pleuropneumonia (Pleura, Lung); Peritonitis (Abdomen)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Post mortem examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Medical notes: She was quite well until three months since when she had a severe fall on her back, and it was thought that her dropsical symptoms first appeared immediately after the accident.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Abdomen and thorax
Type of incident: Trauma/accident

Caroline Swaine, 41, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 41
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 1 Jun 1857
Date of death: 21 Jun 1857
Disease (transcribed): Scirrhus of thyroid. Death from apnoea
Disease (standardised): Cancer (Thyroid gland); Apnoea (Respiratory tract)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Post mortem examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Medical notes: This woman stated that she had been quite healthy until three weeks ago when she began to suffer from pain in the throat and dyspnoea.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thyroid body, trachea, thorax and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Henry Russell, 66, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 66
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 29 Apr 1857
Date of death: 22 Jun 1857
Disease (transcribed): Phthisis
Disease (standardised): Tuberculosis (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Post mortem examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Medical notes: This man had been for a little time under the care of the surgeons for fistula, but the disease in the lungs being very extensive he was quickly transferred to the medical wards.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Edward Burke, 60, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 60
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 29 Apr 1857
Date of death: 27 Jun 1857
Disease (transcribed): Phthisis
Disease (standardised): Tuberculosis (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Post mortem examination performed by: Hastings, Cecil William
Medical notes: This man was admitted with bronchitis symptoms and after he had been in the house a short time he was found to be phthisical.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Elizabeth Sylvester, 43, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 43
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 27 May 1857
Date of death: 4 Jul 1857
Disease (transcribed): Pleurisy. Peritonitis. Deposit (? malignant) beneath the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestine. Diseased ovaries
Disease (standardised): Pleurisy (Pleura); Peritonitis (Abdomen); Cancer (Stomach); Cancer (Intestines); Disease (Ovary)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Post mortem examination performed by: Hastings, Cecil William
Medical notes: This woman had been ailing for some three years with pain in the abdomen, frequent constipation and loss of appetite.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Mary Hamblin, 41, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 41
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 1 Apr 1857
Date of death: 9 Jul 1857
Disease (transcribed): Stricture of the rectum. Phthisis
Disease (standardised): Constriction (Rectum); Tuberculosis (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Post mortem examination performed by: Hastings, Cecil William
Medical notes: This woman had been for many weeks under the care of the surgeon for stricture and incurable disease of the rectum.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen and pelvis
Type of incident: n/a

George Jackson, 44, Tailor

Occupation or role: Tailor
Age: 44
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 27 May 1857
Date of death: 16 Jul 1857
Disease (transcribed): Pericarditis. Fluid in pericardium. Hydrothorax
Disease (standardised): Pericarditis (Heart); Hydrothorax (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Post mortem examination performed by: Holmes, Timothy
Medical notes: This man stated that the first symptoms of ill health in his case were violent pain in the head, and occasional offensive discharge from both ears.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Cranium, thorax, abdomen and veins of lower extremity
Type of incident: n/a

Charles Ford, 37, Wheelwright

Occupation or role: Wheelwright
Age: 37
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 27 May 1857
Date of death: 23 Jul 1857
Disease (transcribed): Malignant disease of the liver
Disease (standardised): Cancer (Liver)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Post mortem examination performed by: n/a
Medical notes: This man had been very unsteady all his life. A year ago he was in the hospital for jaundice and ague.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Cranium, thorax, larynx, abdomen and pelvis
Type of incident: n/a

William Thompson, 33, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 22 Jul 1857
Date of death: 25 Jul 1857
Disease (transcribed): Delirium tremens
Disease (standardised): Alcohol withdrawal delirium (Brain)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Post mortem examination performed by: Holmes, Timothy
Medical notes: This man had been drinking hard ever since Christmas but symptoms of delirium tremens did not show themselves until four days before his admission.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Cranium, spine, thorax, abdomen and pelvis
Type of incident: n/a

Sarah Price, 25, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 25
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 28 May 1857
Date of death: 4 Aug 1857
Disease (transcribed): Hypertrophy of the heart. Pericarditis. Inflammation of all the large serous cavities
Disease (standardised): Disease (Heart); Pericarditis (Heart); Inflammation (Systemic)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Post mortem examination performed by: Holmes, Timothy
Medical notes: This girl had been in the hospital during the early part of the Spring for haemoptysis and supposed hypertrophy of the heart.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Cranium, thorax, abdomen and pelvis
Type of incident: n/a

Thomas Colville, 42, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 42
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 19 Aug 1857
Date of death: 22 Aug 1858
Disease (transcribed): Delirium tremens
Disease (standardised): Alcohol withdrawal delirium (Brain)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Post mortem examination performed by: n/a
Medical notes: As the body was not examined the case is not given.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: The body was not examined
Type of incident: n/a

Arthur Blanchard, 15, Blacksmith’s apprentice

Occupation or role: Blacksmith’s apprentice
Age: 15
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 29 Apr 1857
Date of death: 24 Aug 1857
Disease (transcribed): Softening of brain. Distended ventricles. Phthisis
Disease (standardised): Softening (Brain); Disease (Brain); Tuberculosis (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Post mortem examination performed by: Holmes, Timothy
Medical notes: He had been ill nearly eight weeks with what his medical attendant designated as low fever.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Cranium, thorax and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

John Williams, 36, Soldier

Occupation or role: Soldier
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 19 Aug 1857
Date of death: 25 Aug 1857
Disease (transcribed): Diseased kidneys
Disease (standardised): Disease (Kidney)
Admitted under the care of: Pitman, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Rogers, George Goddard
Post mortem examination performed by: Holmes, Timothy
Medical notes: This man had been engaged in the army for nineteen years until three years ago. His habits had of late been steady and his health was always good except three years since when he had Maltese Fever.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Cranium, thorax and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Results 1 to 25 of 470