Reproduction
Object numberRCSHC/P 1120
Scientific nameHomo sapiens
CollectionHunterian
CategoryWet preparations
Object namegallbladder, Cholelithiasis, Morbid Anatomy of the Liver and Gall-bladder, Mounted wet tissue
DescriptionA gall bladder showing two large calculi in the portion above the cystic duct, distending the walls, as a result of cholelithiasis.
The internal surface of the gall bladder has lost its reticulated structure, showing strongly developed fasciculated muscular fibres beneath it. Other areas of the gall bladder are thin although not distended. The preparation was probably the one described by Hunter as an incidental finding in the body of an old woman dissected at St George's Hospital in 1759.
Production date probable 1759
Preparator
Owner/user
Associated institution
presented
Related objectsRCSHC/P 171
Physical Location
LocationOn display in the Hunterian Museum, Room 4: The Long Gallery
Physical Information
Physical descriptionWet preparation of tissue mounted in a circular glass jar with glass lid.
Materialglass (material)
Dimensions
whole height: 120 mm
whole diameter: 59 mm
whole weight: 368 g
whole diameter: 59 mm
whole weight: 368 g
Bibliography
SourceProger 1966-1972
Vol. 2, page 141.
TranscriptA gall-bladder, with two large calculi distending it just above the cystic duct. In other parts its walls are thin, though not distended; its inner surface is not reticular, but fasciculated by muscular fibres strongly developed beneath it. The cystic duct is of natural size.
SourceHunter Casebooks
NotesDissections of Morbid Bodies, No. 54. This specimen relates to the gallbladder, as mentioned briefly at the end of the case.
TranscriptIn 1759, I stripped the bones of an old Woman that died in St George's Hospital. I knew nothing of her history.
In the stripping, I observed many exostoses, especially upon the vertebrae. In taking off the flesh about the knee, and cutting into the Capsula, there came out a Stone or bone about the bigness of a nut, flattened. I opened the joint more, and extracted three more, lying under one of the heads of the Gastroc-nemius muscle at its origin. On turning down the patella, I saw that the cartilage was almost eroded off both it and the end of [the] femur, in parallel grooves; and upon the upper edge of the Patella close to the cartilaginous surface, there was an exostosis which was broad and thin, shooting up under the tendon ofthe rectus &c. This was partly divided into two, and both seemed to have been broken from the Patella, and closely united by a ligamentous substance. The inner surface of the joint was ragged, and the Synovia thick; and in some parts seemed to be mixed with matter.
I examined the joint of the Ankle, and observed a piece of bone about the bigness of a Pea within the Cavity of the joint, but attached to the ligament of the joint, by a strong ligment: however, it was loose, so as to be moved from side to side. Both these I have prepared. The other knee was much in the same condition; besides which there were three small ones on the inside of the tendon of the Poplitaeus muscle, just like maggots, and were attached to the tendon by membrane. This last I have likewise prepared, and have put one of the bones with it into the Spirits. These explain those cases in Surgery where we find a moveable cartilage or bone in the joint of the knee. She had two stones in the Gall-bladder; one very large, the other smaller, which was at the fundus, and had two smooth sides, which had rubbed upon the end of the great one, for it had a similar smooth end.
SourceClift 1830 Part 1
NotesCatalogue number 915
TranscriptA diseased gall-bladder. [It has two calculi impacted in its cervix. Below these, the cystic duct is not enlarged. The gall-bladder, though not of great dimensions, is very thin in its coats, and has lost its natural reticulated structure, apparently in consequence of distension.]
NotesIn the notes relating to Case 54 in Hunter's 'Dissections of Morbid Bodies' Clift includes Hunter's note that as well as preparing preparations of the knee he also prepared 'Two calculi in gall bladder'.
