Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Natural Causes of Dismemberment

  • Chapter
A History of Limb Amputation

  • 2029 Accesses

Summary

Natural causes of limb loss precede elective surgical amputation by many millennia and include congenital absence, arterial disease, frostbite, ergot and other toxins, wound infections, diabetes mellitus, dietary deficiencies and tumours. Most of these causes persist today, although reconstructive measures often avoid amputation. It is postulated that societies’ acceptance of naturally caused amputees was necessary before elective surgical amputation was approved.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 199.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Singer C, Underwood EA. A Short History of Medicine. Oxford: Clarendon, 1962:682.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Sigerist HE. A History of Medicine, vol 1. New York: Oxford University Press, 1951:216–217.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Leviticus. The Holy Bible. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1885: Chapter 21, v. 18-19.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Crenshaw AH. Campbell’s Operative Orthopaedics, vol 4. St. Louis: Mosby, 1987:2653.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Lloyd-Roberts GC. Orthopaedics in Infancy and Childhood. London: Butterworth, 1971:150, 325.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Eastcott HHG. Arterial Surgery. London: Pitman Medical, 1969:56.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Adams F. The Seven Books of Paulus Aegineta, vol 2. London: Sydenham Society, 1846:59.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Fabry W (Hildanus). De Gangraena et Sphacelo. Koln: Kerschedt, 1593.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Wiseman R. Several Chirurgical Treatises. London: Norton, 1686:443–444.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Heister L.Chirurgie, in welcher alles,was zur Wund-Artzney gehoret, nach der neuesten und besten Art. Nurnberg: Hoffmann, 1718; and first English translation from the Latin: Heister L. A General System of Surgery, part 1. London: Innys, 1743:212-213.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Quesnay Monsieur. Traite de la Gangrene. Paris: d’Houry, 1749:11–12.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Sharp S. A Critical Enquiry into the Present State of Surgery. London: Tonson, 1750:249.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Filer J. Disease: Egyptian Bookshelf. London: British Museum Press, 1995:21.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Woodall J. The Surgeons Mate. London: Bourne, 1639:391.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Macpherson WG, Horrocks WH, Beveridge WWO. History of the Great War: Medical Services, Surgery, vol I. London: HMSO, 1922:8.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Regnier C. Le pied des tranchees. Hist Sci Med 2004;38:315–332.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Hull AJ. Surgery in War. London: Churchill, 1918:148–162; and Memorandum on the Treatment of Injuries in War. London: HMSO, 1915:112-114.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Macpherson WG, Horrocks WH, Beveridge WWO. History of the Great War: Medical Services,Hygiene, vol 2. 295.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Richards RL, Blackwood W. Immersion foot. In: Cope Z (editor) Surgery. London: HMSO, 1953:688–696.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Garrison FH. An Introduction to the History of Medicine. Philadelphia: Saunders, 1929:187.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Biraben J-N. Les maladies en Europe: équilibres et ruptures de la pathocénose. In: Gremek MD (editor) Histoire de la Pensée Médicale en Orient, vol 1. Paris: Seuil, 1995:304.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Illingworth J. A Just Narrative, or Account of the Man whose Hands and Legs rotted off: in the Parish of Kings-Swinford in Staffordshire, where he died, June 21, 1677. London: A.C. for Brome, 1678.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Woolaston Dr. Letter. Philos Trans 1761; and Holmes T, Hulke JW. A System of Surgery, vol 1. London: Longmans, 1883:127.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Cameron ML. Anglo-Saxon Medicine. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993:170.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Fergusson WA. A System of Surgery. London: Churchill, 1852:116–120.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Lockwood CB. Erysipelas. In: Treves F (editor) A System of Surgery, vol 1. London: Cassel, 1895:159.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Wakely C. Rose and Carless Manual of Surgery. London: Bailliere, 1960:157.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Welch WH, Nuttall GHF. A gas-producing bacillus (Bacillus aerogenes capsulatus nov. spec.) capable of rapid development in the blood-vessels after death. Johns Hopkins Bull 1892;3:81–91.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Garrison FH.An Introduction to the History of Medicine. Philadelphia: Saunders, 1929:586.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Malgaine J-F. Sur la nature et la gravité de l’emphysème traumatique. Rev Medico-Chirurg 1845;3; and Peltier LF. Fractures: A History and Iconography of Their Treatment. San Francisco: Norman, 1990:45.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Cheyne WW. Gangrene. In: Treves F (editor) A System of Surgery. London: Cassel, 1895:147–148.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Stevenson WF. Wounds in War. London: Longmans, 1897.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Ricard A. Complications des traumatismes. In: Dentu AL, Delbe P (editors) Traité de Chirurgie, vol 1. Paris: Baillière, 1896:136.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Salleron, Monsier. Septicémie gazeuse. Arch Med Milit 1858;31:300.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Hull AJ. Surgery in War. London: Churchill, 1918: 32.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Kirkup J. Fracture care of friend and foe during World War One. A N Z J 2003;73:453–459.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Memorandum on the Treatment of Injuries in War. London: HMSO, 1915:12–13.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Butler AG. The Australian Medical Service in the War of 1914-1918, vol 2. Canberra: Australian War Memorial, 1940:926–930.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Hurley V, Weedon SH. Treatment of cases of fractured femurs at a base hospital in France. Br J Surg 1919;6:351–376.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Adams F. Seven Books of Paulus Aegineta, vol 1. London: Sydenham Society, 1844:556–558.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Willis T. The London Practice of Physic. London, 1689:29; and Willis T. The London Practice of Physick, contained in the First Part of the Pharmaceutice Rationalis, London: Basset and Crooke, 1689:29.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Banting FG, Best CH. The internal secretion of the pancreas. J Lab Clin Med 1922;7:265.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Lyot C. Gangrènes, ulcères, fistules et cicatrices. In: Dentu AL & Delbe P (editors) Traite de Chirurgie, vol 1, Paris: Baillière, 1896, 279 (author’s translation).

    Google Scholar 

  44. Treves F. Influence of constitutional conditions upon injuries. In: A System of Surgery, F. Treves (ed.) vol 1. London: Cassell, 1895:268–269.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Eastcott. Arterial Surgery. London: Pitman Medical, 1969:114–119.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Dunlop EE. The War Diaries of Weary Dunlop. Wheathampstead: Lennard, 1987:298, 309, 319.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Bell C. Surgical Observations. London: Longman, 1816:xix, pls. VIII, IX.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Sweetnam R. The diminishing role of amputation in the management of malignant tumours of bone. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 1991;73:165–169.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Spence J. Lectures on Surgery. Edinburgh: Black, 1875: vol 1, FIG. 12.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Gersdorff H. Feldtbuch der Wundartzney, Strassburg: Schott, 1517.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Peltier L. Orthopedics. San Francisco: Norman Publishing, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2007 Springer-Verlag London Limited

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

(2007). Natural Causes of Dismemberment. In: A History of Limb Amputation. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84628-509-7_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84628-509-7_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84628-443-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84628-509-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation