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Pollock, George Anatomy
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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

William Cranbrook, 53, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 53
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 1 Apr 1846
Date of death: 23 Apr 1846
Disease (transcribed): Phthisis. Miliary tubercles. Ulceration of intestines.
Disease (standardised): Tuberculosis (Lung); Ulcer (Intestines)
Admitted under the care of: Wilson, James Arthur
Medical examination performed by: Fuller, Henry William
Post mortem examination performed by: Pollock, George
Medical notes: This patient reported that he had been ill about six months, suffering almost constantly from diarrhoea with gradual wasting and extreme debility. His illness began with a fistula in ano.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Mary Morris, 38, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 38
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 21 Apr 1852
Date of death: 24 Apr 1852
Disease (transcribed): Strangulated femoral hernia. Operation. Peritonitis. Partial gangrene of intestines
Disease (standardised): Hernia (Abdomen); Operation (Abdomen); Peritonitis (Abdomen); Gangrene (Intestines)
Admitted under the care of: Cutler, Edward
Medical examination performed by: Holmes, Timothy
Post mortem examination performed by: Pollock, George
Medical notes: Two days before admission she had begun to vomit and had continued to do so up to that time.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Catherine Weller, 31, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 31
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 14 Apr 1847
Date of death: 21 Apr 1847
Disease (transcribed): Anasarca. Disease (hypertrophy) of the heart? Mottled kidneys?
Disease (standardised): Oedema (Indeterminate); Disease (Heart); Disease (Kidney)
Admitted under the care of: Page, William Emanuel
Medical examination performed by: Fuller, Henry William
Post mortem examination performed by: Pollock, George
Medical notes: The body of the patient having been removed without examination, no history of the case is recorded.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: The body was not examined at the request of friends
Type of incident: n/a

Margaret Wilkins, [No age stated], [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: [No age stated]
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 17 May 1848
Date of death: 18 May 1848
Disease (transcribed): Large ovarian cyst with numerous growths from its lining membrane.
Disease (standardised): Cysts (Ovary)
Admitted under the care of: Bence Jones, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Barclay, Andrew Whyte
Post mortem examination performed by: Pollock, George
Medical notes: This patient was brought to the Hospital with the abdomen excessively distended with fluid, and the respiration impeded.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Mary Robinson, 32, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 32
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 13 Apr 1847
Date of death: 20 Apr 1847
Disease (transcribed): Recent pleurisy. Vomicae and tubercles of both lungs with pneumonia and condensation of pulmonary structure. Oedema of leg and thigh with inflammation of femoral and other veins.
Disease (standardised): Pleurisy (Pleura); Tuberculosis (Lung); Oedema (Leg); Inflammation (Veins); Pneumonia (Lung); Disease (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Nairne, Robert
Medical examination performed by: Fuller, Henry William
Post mortem examination performed by: Pollock, George
Medical notes: This patient was admitted in the last stage of Phthisis Pulmonalis.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen and right lower extremity
Type of incident: n/a

John Jones, 43, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 43
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 23 Apr 1848
Date of death: 17 May 1848
Disease (transcribed): Inguinal hernia. Operation. Peritonitis. Secondary abscesses of liver and lung.
Disease (standardised): Hernia (Abdomen); Operation (Abdomen); Peritonitis (Abdomen); Abscess (Liver); Abscess (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Tatum, Thomas
Medical examination performed by: Blagden, Robert
Post mortem examination performed by: Pollock, George
Medical notes: This patient was admitted with a congenital scrotal hernia which was in a state of strangulation.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

George Harrison, 53, Packer

Occupation or role: Packer
Age: 53
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 31 Mar 1876
Date of death: 1 Apr 1876
Disease (transcribed): Fracture of sternum. Pneumothorax and haemorrhage into the right pleural cavity
Disease (standardised): Fracture (Sternum); Pneumothorax (Lung); Haemorrhage (Pleura)
Admitted under the care of: Pollock, George
Medical examination performed by: Morgan, John Hammond
Post mortem examination performed by: Lee, Robert James
Medical notes: This patient was admitted having fallen down in a fit. He was epileptic.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Skull, sternum, lungs, heart, kidneys and liver
Type of incident: n/a

George Austin, 3 years 6 months, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 3 years 6 months
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 18 Dec 1842
Date of death: 20 Dec 1842
Disease (transcribed): Burn
Disease (standardised): Burn (Skin)
Admitted under the care of: Keate, Robert
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: Pollock, George
Medical notes: n/a
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Face, anterior part of abdomen and chest
Type of incident: Trauma/accident?

Letitia Mawby, 5, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 5
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 23 Apr 1848
Date of death: 12 May 1848
Disease (transcribed): Hooping cough. Purulent bronchitis.
Disease (standardised): Whooping cough (Lung); Bronchitis (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Nairne, Robert
Medical examination performed by: Barclay, Andrew Whyte
Post mortem examination performed by: Pollock, George
Medical notes: As the body was not examined, the history of this case is not given.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: The body was not examined at the request of friends
Type of incident: n/a

Charlotte Haines, 33, Married

Occupation or role: Married
Age: 33
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 6 Apr 1863
Date of death: 12 Apr 1863
Disease (transcribed): Scalp wound. Erysipelas
Disease (standardised): Wound (Scalp); Erysipelas (Skin)
Admitted under the care of: Pollock, George
Medical examination performed by: Braine, Francis Woodhouse
Post mortem examination performed by: Dickinson, William Howship
Medical notes: This woman was of dissolute habits and was struck with a bar of iron on the head.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Head, chest and abdomen
Type of incident: Homicide/murder

Robert Holliday, 46, Labourer

Occupation or role: Labourer
Age: 46
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 11 Mar 1874
Date of death: 6 Apr 1874
Disease (transcribed): Lymphadenoma affecting lymphatic glands and abdominal viscera
Disease (standardised): Lymphadenoma (Lymph nodes); Lymphadenoma (Abdomen)
Admitted under the care of: Pollock, George
Medical examination performed by: Rowland, Edward Roger
Post mortem examination performed by: Haward, John Warrington
Medical notes: This patient first noticed about six weeks ago a small swelling situated just below the right ear which increased rapidly.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Cranium, brain, pleurae, lungs, heart, pericardium, liver, spleen, kidneys and lymphatic glands
Type of incident: n/a

Edward Dixon, 59, Butcher

Occupation or role: Butcher
Age: 59
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 22 Feb 1870
Date of death: 27 Mar 1870
Disease (transcribed): Hydatid cysts in the substance of the sacrum and deep muscles of the back. Pneumonia.
Disease (standardised): Echinococcosis (Spine); Pneumonia (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Pollock, George
Medical examination performed by: Haward, John Warrington
Post mortem examination performed by: Whipham, Thomas Tillyer
Medical notes: The patient had a swelling form over the back of the right thigh, which gradually increased without pain and burst three months before admission.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Pleurae, lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, bones and muscles
Type of incident: n/a

Andrew Panton, 65, Labourer

Occupation or role: Labourer
Gender: Male
Age: 65
Date of admission: 29 Mar 1878
Date of death: 3 Apr 1878
Disease (transcribed): Old stricture, cystitis; cirrhosis from Biliary obstructions, etc. [?] abscesses in the kidney
Disease (standardised): Constriction (Indeterminate); Cystitis (Bladder); Liver cirrhosis, biliary (Liver); Obstruction (Biliary tract); Abscess (Kidney);
Admitting doctor: Pollock, George
Medical examination performed by: Bennett, William Henry
PM performed by: Ewart, William
Medical notes: 'History. Stricture for many years – For 10 or 12 has been in Habit of passing an instrument – for 4 years, much pain about bladder and urine ill smelling, thick and often bloody – A fortnight before admission passed [?] catheter with difficulty and on withdrawing it found that the point had broken off – for 10 days urine had been dribbling from him. Bladder was aspirated by a Surgeon 2 days before admission'
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Liver, gall bladder, pancreas, intestine, spleen, kidneys
Type of incident: n/a

John Pendergast, 3, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 3
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 31 Mar 1847
Date of death: 12 Apr 1847
Disease (transcribed): Pleuro pneumonia. Convulsions previous to death. Grey hepatisation of lungs.
Disease (standardised): Pleuropneumonia (Pleura, Lung); Seizures (Brain); Disease (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Keate, Robert
Medical examination performed by: Gee, Adolphus John
Post mortem examination performed by: Pollock, George
Medical notes: The mother of this child stated that on the 29th she had reason to believe it fell backwards from a chair.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen and cranium
Type of incident: Trauma/accident?

John Sullivan, 58, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 58
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 10 May 1848
Date of death: 12 May 1848
Disease (transcribed): Pneumonia.
Disease (standardised): Pneumonia (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Page, William Emanuel
Medical examination performed by: Barclay, Andrew Whyte
Post mortem examination performed by: Pollock, George
Medical notes: As the body was not examined, the history of this case is not given.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: The body was not examined at the request of friends
Type of incident: n/a

Emma Watkins, 2, Child

Occupation or role: Child
Age: 2
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 7 Apr 1862
Date of death: 13 Apr 1862
Disease (transcribed): Burn
Disease (standardised): Burn (Skin)
Admitted under the care of: Pollock, George
Medical examination performed by: Pick, Thomas Pickering
Post mortem examination performed by: n/a
Medical notes: This was a severe burn.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Not examined
Type of incident: Trauma/accident

Stephen Burris, 59, Labourer

Occupation or role: Labourer
Age: 59
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 5 Feb 1862
Date of death: 26 Mar 1862
Disease (transcribed): Stricture of urethra. Perineal section
Disease (standardised): Constriction (Urethra); Section (Perineum)
Admitted under the care of: Pollock, George
Medical examination performed by: Pick, Thomas Pickering
Post mortem examination performed by: Dickinson, William Howship
Medical notes: This man was admitted with a stricture extending almost the whole length of the urethra and also a fistula in perineo.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Cranium, chest and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Sarah Waller, 12, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 12
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 16 Feb 1848
Date of death: 7 May 1848
Disease (transcribed): Extensive chronic ulceration of tongue, epiglottis and glottis. Pneumonia and grey hepatisation.
Disease (standardised): Ulcer (Tongue); Ulcer (Larynx); Pneumonia (Lung); Disease (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Cutler, Edward
Medical examination performed by: Blagden, Robert
Post mortem examination performed by: Pollock, George
Medical notes: This patient, who was apparently of a scrofulous habit, was admitted into the Hospital with extensive ulceration of the soft palate.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Mouth and thorax
Type of incident: n/a

Edward Maynan, 44, Jeweller

Occupation or role: Jeweller
Age: 44
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 6 Mar 1875
Date of death: 23 Mar 1875
Disease (transcribed): Cut throat. Suicide
Disease (standardised): Cut (Throat)
Admitted under the care of: Pollock, George
Medical examination performed by: n/a
Post mortem examination performed by: n/a
Medical notes: Not reported here
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Not examined
Type of incident: Suicide

James Francis, 2, Child

Occupation or role: Child
Age: 2
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 7 Apr 1862
Date of death: 10 Apr 1862
Disease (transcribed): Ulceration of cheek. Lobular pneumonia
Disease (standardised): Ulcer (Cheek); Pneumonia (Lung)
Admitted under the care of: Pollock, George
Medical examination performed by: Pick, Thomas Pickering
Post mortem examination performed by: Dickinson, William Howship
Medical notes: This child was admitted with extensive ulceration of the mouth and cheek.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Chest and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

William Jeffries, 36, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Date of admission: 17 Apr 1846
Date of death: 18 Apr 1846
Disease (transcribed): Hypertrophy of bones of skull. Congestion of veins of brain. Congestion of lungs. Heart dilated and atrophied. Two aortic valves only with calcareous deposit in their structure. Blood fluid. Abdominal organs, nothing remarkable.
Disease (standardised): Disease (Skull); Disease (Brain); Disease (Lung); Disease (Heart)
Admitted under the care of: Page, William Emanuel
Medical examination performed by: Fuller, Henry William
Post mortem examination performed by: Pollock, George
Medical notes: This patient was admitted with well marked symptoms of Delirium Tremens. No history of the case could be obtained.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Cranium, thorax and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Elizabeth Harrandine, 78, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 78
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 17 Mar 1847
Date of death: 07 Apr 1847
Disease (transcribed): Incarcerated femoral hernia. Peritonitis. Cyst containing hair and fat in ovary. Ossified coronary arteries. Blood fluid
Disease (standardised): Hernia (Abdomen); Peritonitis (Abdomen); Cysts (Ovary); Ossification (Arteries)
Admitted under the care of: Hawkins, Caesar Henry
Medical examination performed by: Gee, Adolphus John
Post mortem examination performed by: Pollock, George
Medical notes: The history stated that a hernial protrusion had existed for forty years and it had been incarcerated twice during that time, causing considerable suffering.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax and abdomen
Type of incident: n/a

Elizabeth Bissell, 17, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 24 Apr 1848
Date of death: 1 May 1848
Disease (transcribed): Fever. Extensive ulceration of bowels. Slight congestion of lungs. Calcareous substances in choroid plexus.
Disease (standardised): Fever (Systemic); Ulcer (Intestines); Congestion (Lung); Calcareous substances (Brain)
Admitted under the care of: Bence Jones, Henry
Medical examination performed by: Fuller, Henry William
Post mortem examination performed by: Pollock, George
Medical notes: This patient was admitted with fever of about three weeks duration. She had been seized in the first instance with rigors, headache and sickness, rapidly followed by complete muscular prostration.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Thorax, abdomen and cranium
Type of incident: n/a

Alice Harcourt, 5, [No occupation stated]

Occupation or role: [No occupation stated]
Age: 5
Gender: Female
Date of admission: 16 Apr 1872
Date of death: 19 Apr 1872
Disease (transcribed): Compound depressed fracture of skull
Disease (standardised): Fracture (Skull)
Admitted under the care of: Pollock, George
Medical examination performed by: Haward, John Warrington
Post mortem examination performed by: n/a
Medical notes: As the body was not examined the case is not herein reported.
Body parts examined in the post mortem: Not examined
Type of incident: Trauma/accident

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