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Post Mortem Examinations and Case Books Fenton, William James
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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

Abdul Gomez, [No age], [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: [No age]
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 29 Jun 1900
Date of death: 24 Jun 1900
Disease (transcribed): Bullet wound of brain and skull
Disease (standardised): Wound (Brain); Wound (Skull)
Admitted under the care of: Turner, George Robertson
Medical examination performed by: Pendlebury, Herbert Stringfellow
Post mortem examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Medical notes: Not seen by Surgical Registrar.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, lungs, heart, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, urinary tract, alimentary canal and cranial cavity
Type of incident: Suicide?

Alfred King, 66, Carpenter

Occupation or role: Carpenter
Age: 66
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 21 Jul 1900
Date of death: 27 Jul 1900
Disease (transcribed): Biliary obstruction. Carcinoma of ampulla of vater
Disease (standardised): Obstruction (Bile ducts); Cancer (Bile ducts)
Admitted under the care of: Rolleston, Humphry Davy
Medical examination performed by: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
Post mortem examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Medical notes: Ten weeks before admission the patient had pain in the abdomen after dinner. A week later he became jaundiced and the urine was a dark colour.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, heart, abdomen, liver, spleen, pancreas and duodenum, urinary tract, alimentary canal and kidneys. The post mortem contains a report by humphry davy rolleston ‘primary carcinoma of the ampulla of vater with report of a case presenting some features of interest’
Type of incident: n/a

Edward Layten, 81, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 81
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 8 Sep 1893
Date of death: 9 Sep 1893
Disease (transcribed): Rupture of small intestine
Disease (standardised): Rupture (Intestines)

Admitted under the care of: Pick, Thomas Pickering
Medical examination performed by: Ward, Arthur H.
Post mortem examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Medical notes: The patient was run over by a cab.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Liver, spleen, pancreas, suprarenals, bladder, kidneys, lungs, pleurae, heart, pericardium and brain
Type of incident: Trauma/accident

Alfred Danielli, [No age stated], [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Gender: Male
Age: [No age stated]
Date of admission: 19 Dec 1899
Date of death: 19 Dec 1899
Disease (transcribed): Cardiac hypertrophy. Pulmonary oedema. Slight aortic stenosis. Slight mitral stenosis
Disease (standardised): Hypertrophy (Heart); Oedema (Lung); Aortic valve stenosis (Heart); Mitral valve stenosis (Heart);
Admitted under the care of: Ewart, William
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Medical notes: 'Brought in dead'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Benjamin Thomas, 24, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Gender: Male
Age: 24
Date of admission: 22 Dec 1899
Date of death: 22 Dec 1899
Disease (transcribed): Pneumonia. Pleural effusion
Disease (standardised): Pneumonia (Lung); Pleural effusion (Lung);
Admitted under the care of: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Medical notes: n/a
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax
Type of incident: n/a

Eliza Bunker, 40, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Gender: Female
Age: 40
Date of admission: 15 Dec 1899
Date of death: 17 Dec 1899
Disease (transcribed): Malignant disease of liver
Disease (standardised): Disease (Liver);
Admitted under the care of: Ewart, William
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Medical notes: 'Not seen by Med: Reg: [Medical Registrar]'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

John Murray, 48, Coachman

Occupation or role: Coachman
Gender: Male
Age: 48
Date of admission: 9 Dec 1899
Date of death: 14 Dec 1899
Disease (transcribed): Pulmonary tuberculosis (old and recent)
Disease (standardised): Tuberculosis (Lung);
Admitted under the care of: Rolleston, Humphry Davy
Medical examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Post mortem examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Medical notes: 'This patient was admitted complaining of cough, dyspnoea and loss of flesh. He had had 'Influenza and Bronchitis' 12 months before admission and had not been well since. His 'current illness' began 2 months ago with rigors and vomiting, he took to his bed remaining there 3 days after which he returned to work until the day before his admission here tho' [though] the cough and dyspnoea continued. There was nothing noteworthy in his previous or family history'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

John Percival, 42, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Gender: Male
Age: 42
Date of admission: 11 Dec 1889
Date of death: 12 Dec 1889
Disease (transcribed): n/a
Disease (standardised):
Admitted under the care of: Turner, George Robertson
Medical examination performed by: Collard, Frederic Stuartson
Post mortem examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Medical notes: 'Not seen by S.R. [Surgical Registrar]'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen, cranial cavity
Type of incident: n/a

Ethel Watson, 21, Dressmaker

Occupation or role: Dressmaker
Gender: Female
Age: 21
Date of admission: 29 Nov 1899
Date of death: 13 Dec 1899
Disease (transcribed): Cylindrical bronchiectasis
Disease (standardised): Bronchiectasis (Lung);
Admitted under the care of: Ewart, William
Medical examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Post mortem examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Medical notes: 'This patient was first admitted in Oct [October] complaining of cough, dyspnoea and wasting. The symptoms first attracted attention about 1 month before and slight haemoptysis occurred about 2 days before this first admission. On admission she was found to have signs of consolidation at both post [posterior] bases, if greatest extent on the Rt [Right] however; whilst in the Hospital the signs for the most part cleared up at the Rt [Right] base and appeared more extensive at the left, the sputum was copious but not foul, and was occasionally streaked with blood. In this condition she was discharged to Wimbledon on Nov [November] 18th where she stayed a fortnight, being readmitted to St George's on Nov [November] 29th. She now complained chiefly of troublesome cough, copious expectoration, and great dyspnoea'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Thomas Smith, 48, Labourer

Occupation or role: Labourer
Gender: Male
Age: 48
Date of admission: 7 Dec 1899
Date of death: 14 Dec 1899
Disease (transcribed): Chronic peritonitis. 'Leather bottle' stomach
Disease (standardised): Peritonitis (Abdomen); Linitis plastica (Stomach);
Admitted under the care of: Rolleston, Humphry Davy
Medical examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Post mortem examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Medical notes: 'The patient was admitted complaining of abdominal swelling and loss of weight. The symptoms had been coming on for 2 months and beyond some swelling of the legs there was no other complaint made. He was a large drinker of beer'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Florence Manning, 14, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Gender: Female
Age: 14
Date of admission: 28 Oct 1899
Date of death: 10 Dec 1899
Disease (transcribed): Subacute nephritis – Pleural effusion – Ascites – General anasarca
Disease (standardised): Nephritis (Kidney); Pleural effusion (Lung); Ascites (Abdomen); Oedema (Systemic);
Admitted under the care of: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Medical notes: n/a
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Edward Buffin, 9, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Gender: Male
Age: 9
Date of admission: 22 Nov 1899
Date of death: 8 Dec 1899
Disease (transcribed): Cystitis. Consecutive nephritis. Dilated ureters and pelvis
Disease (standardised): Cystitis (Bladder); Nephritis (Kidney); Dilatation (Ureter, kidney);
Admitted under the care of: Bennett, William Henry
Medical examination performed by: Collard, Frederic Stuartson
Post mortem examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Medical notes: 'A meagre history of incontinence of urine for 6 years – was all that could be obtained. On adm [admission] child pale and delicate looking'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Annie Smith, 17, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Gender: Female
Age: 17
Date of admission: 21 Nov 1899
Date of death: 10 Dec 1899
Disease (transcribed): Chronic interstitial nephritis
Disease (standardised): Nephritis (Kidney);
Admitted under the care of: Ewart, William
Medical examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Post mortem examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Medical notes: 'The patient was admitted complaining of swelling of the legs, headache, dyspnoea, occasional vomiting and diarrhoea. She said she had been 'quite well' until 5 wks [weeks] before admission when cough and vomiting began and since then she had become progressively worse. She had been an I.P. [In-patient] at this Hospital in '98 [1898] for dropsy, but had had no other previous illness'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Edwin Martin, 35, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Gender: Male
Age: 35
Date of admission: 4 Dec 1899
Date of death: 7 Dec 1899
Disease (transcribed): Lobar pneumonia (grey hepatisation)
Disease (standardised): Pneumonia (Lung);
Admitted under the care of: Penrose, Francis George
Medical examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Post mortem examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Medical notes: 'This patient's illness set in suddenly on Nov [November] 30th with great weakness, giddiness and vomiting. No rigor occurred. Prev Hist [Previous History] He had had pneumonia, pleurisy in July '99 [1899]. Winter cough for 3 years preceding. His father was said to have died of consumption'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Elizabeth Burry, 70, Nurse

Occupation or role: Nurse
Gender: Female
Age: 70
Date of admission: 24 Nov 1899
Date of death: 10 Dec 1899
Disease (transcribed): Malignant disease (carcinoma) of sigmoid flexure
Disease (standardised): Carcinoma (Intestines);
Admitted under the care of: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Medical examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Post mortem examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Medical notes: 'The patient's illness began about 3 months before admission with pain in the lower abdomen and left iliac region, it lasted 7 hours and then passed off. An attack of diarrhoea occurred a fortnight before admission, but the bowels were regular before and since, until the last 3 days when constipation occurred, no blood or mucous had been noticed in the stools. She still complained of abdominal pains lasting 15 mins [minutes] and griping in character. There was nothing of importance in the prev: [previous] or family history'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

James Grounsell, 55, Labourer

Occupation or role: Labourer
Gender: Male
Age: 55
Date of admission: 27 Nov 1899
Date of death: 5 Dec 1899
Disease (transcribed): Pleural effusion. Cardiac hypertrophy. Bronchitis
Disease (standardised): Pleural effusion (Lung); Hypertrophy (Heart); Bronchitis (Lung);
Admitted under the care of: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Medical notes: n/a
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax
Type of incident: n/a

John Hookins, 47, Engine driver

Occupation or role: Engine driver
Gender: Male
Age: 47
Date of admission: 3 Dec 1899
Date of death: 5 Dec 1899
Disease (transcribed): Delirium tremens. ? Epilepsy. Fatty degeneration of heart
Disease (standardised): Alcohol withdrawal delirium (Brain); Epilepsy (Brain); Disease (Heart);
Admitted under the care of: Penrose, Francis George, Dent, Clinton Thomas
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Medical notes: n/a
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen, cranial cavity
Type of incident: n/a

Charles Yateman, 83, No occupation

Occupation or role: No occupation
Gender: Male
Age: 83
Date of admission: 8 Nov 1899
Date of death: 6 Dec 1899
Disease (transcribed): Intracapsular fracture of the neck of Rt [Right] femur
Disease (standardised): Fracture (Hip joint);
Admitted under the care of: Turner, George Robertson
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Medical notes: n/a
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Agnes Eltham, 19, Children's nurse

Occupation or role: Children's nurse
Gender: Female
Age: 19
Date of admission: 10 Nov 1899
Date of death: 4 Dec 1899
Disease (transcribed): Pericarditis. Aortic and mitral disease (Rheumatic). Fatty degeneration of the heart
Disease (standardised): Pericarditis (Heart); Rheumatic heart disease (Heart); Disease (Heart);
Admitted under the care of: Ogle, Cyril
Medical examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Post mortem examination performed by: Ogle, Cyril
Medical notes: 'This patient's illness set in on Nov [November] 8th with 'pains all over' and next day pain and swelling were noticed in the ankles and knees, which rather rapidly cleared up, leaving some stiffness in her knee joints and pain in the Rt [Right] hip for which she was admitted. She had had Rh. F. [Rheumatic Fever] three times, the first being when 13 years old. All her family appeared to have suffered with Rheumatism at some time'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

John Clogg, 55, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Gender: Male
Age: 55
Date of admission: 31 Oct 1899
Date of death: 2 Dec 1899
Disease (transcribed): Malignant disease of caecum
Disease (standardised): Disease (Intestines);
Admitted under the care of: Bennett, William Henry
Medical examination performed by: Collard, Frederic Stuartson
Post mortem examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Medical notes: 'Admitted under care of physician. 6 months before admon [admission] severe griping pains complained of across lower abdomen. These lasted 3 months and then improved for a time. Set in again more severely one month before admon [admission]. A tumour was observed a week before admon [admission]. Bowels formerly regular, off late diarrhoea on and off. No haemorrhage noted. Occasional vomiting 2 months before admon [admission]'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

George Hutchings, 1 month, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Gender: Male
Age: 1 month
Date of admission: 1 Dec 1899
Date of death: 3 Dec 1899
Disease (transcribed): Erysipelas
Disease (standardised): Erysipelas (Skin);
Admitted under the care of: Penrose, Francis George
Medical examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Post mortem examination performed by: n/a
Medical notes: 'The child was admitted with extensive erysipelatous rash upon the left side of the face and body, said to have followed two days after a sprain of the left shoulder'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Sidney Winwood, 23, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Gender: Male
Age: 23
Date of admission: 24 Nov 1899
Date of death: 4 Dec 1899
Disease (transcribed): Typhoid fever. Mitral stenosis
Disease (standardised): Typhoid fever (Systemic); Mitral valve stenosis (Heart);
Admitted under the care of: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Medical examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Post mortem examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Medical notes: 'The patient was admitted with diarrhoea and griping pain in the 'stomach'. The illness began on Nov [November] 17th with 'pains all over', slight diarrhoea, shivering and sweating. Epistaxis occurred twice on the 24th. The patient said he felt quite well on the day before the illness began (Nov [November] 18th). There was nothing of importance in the previous or family history'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

James Endean, 54, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Gender: Male
Age: 54
Date of admission: 14 Oct 1899
Date of death: 1 Dec 1899
Disease (transcribed): Phthisis
Disease (standardised): Tuberculosis (Lung);
Admitted under the care of: Rolleston, Humphry Davy
Medical examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Post mortem examination performed by: Powell, Llewellyn
Medical notes: 'This patient, a stableman, was admitted complaining of diarrhoea, sciatica (left) and loss of flesh. He had had diarrhoea on and off since Feb [February], but had noticed nothing remarkable in the motions – He vomited occasionally during the past 2 months – Cough had only been present for one month, and was at no time very severe – There had been loss of flesh for 8 wks [weeks]. There was nothing noteworthy in his prev: [previous] or fam: hist [family history]'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Jessie McLean, 38, Housemaid

Occupation or role: Housemaid
Gender: Female
Age: 38
Date of admission: 24 Nov 1899
Date of death: 1 Dec 1899
Disease (transcribed): Capillary bronchitis – Bronchopneumonia. Cardiac dilatation and failure
Disease (standardised): Bronchitis (Lung); Bronchopneumonia (Lung); Cardiomyopathy, dilated (Heart); Heart failure (Heart);
Admitted under the care of: Owen, Herbert Isambard
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: Fenton, William James
Medical notes: n/a
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

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