Reproduction
Object numberRCSHC/P 364
Scientific nameHomo sapiens
CollectionHunterian
CategoryWet preparations
Object nameLarynx and trachea, Tuberculosis, Cases of Scrofula, Mounted wet tissue
DescriptionA larynx and trachea showing changes consistent with tuberculosis.
The mucous membrane of the larynx has ulcerated, being diffuse and irregular around the vocal chords. The ulcerations are in places deep enough to have exposed ossified arytenoid cartilage.
The patient in this case was Marianne Dorothy Dalrymple, née Harland (1756-1785), who had married The Hon. William Dalrymple in 1783. Hunter remarked that Harland was known for her musical talents and singing voice. This is reflected in a portrait of her by Richard Cosway (1742-1821) now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum in New York, which shows her playing a harp and surrounded by other musical instruments. Her death from a disease of the throat therefore carried with it even greater poignancy, a quality that was probably not lost on the visitors to Hunter's museum who included many of the regular guests to Anne Hunter's musical and literary salons.
Production date Estimated 1760 - Estimated 1793
Preparator
Owner/user
Patient/subject
presented
Related objectsRCSHC/P 997
Physical Location
LocationOn display in the Hunterian Museum, Room 7: St George's Hospital
Physical Information
Physical descriptionWet preparation of tissue mounted in a circular glass jar with glass lid.
Materialglass (material), alcohol (70%), silicone
Dimensions
whole height: 131 mm
whole diameter: 66 mm
whole weight: 610 g
whole diameter: 66 mm
whole weight: 610 g
Bibliography
SourceProger 1966-1972
Vol .1, page 246-7.
NotesText taken from Stanley & Paget (1846-9), and Paget (1882-5).
TranscriptA larynx, with a part of the trachea, exhibiting ulceration of the mucous membrane. Immediately around the vocal cords the ulceration is diffuse and irregular, but symmetrical; it penetrates, at some parts, the whole thickness of the membrane, and has exposed, on each side, a similar small portion of ossified arytenoid cartilage. It is probable that this ulceration was of tuberculous origin: but around its margins, at some distance from the vocal cord, and on the posterior surface of the epiglottis, there are several ulcers of different character. These are distinct, circular, or oval, about a line in diameter, quite superficial, and just like the ulcers of aphthae; they are irregular in their arrangement.
SourceHunter Casebooks
Cases and Dissections, No. 82, pages 617-8.
NotesAlso in Proger 1966-72.
TranscriptThe Hon'ble Mrs Dalrymple, aged Twenty-eight when she died. She was remarkable for her talents in music, especially vocal. She had been always of a Scrofulous habit; having the glands of the neck often swelling to a considerable size, from the ear to the clavicle.
She caught cold, which fell upon her lungs, and not considering it to be serious, she regarded it but little, 'till it became very violent.
The consumptive Symptoms increased, producing all the common Symptoms, excepting [that] what she spit [spat?] was more like the common mucus of the nose, than matter; although a yellowish substance was often mixed with it.
Some months before she died, she lost her voice; could hardly articulate; could not get the sound above what is called her breath, or rough Whisper, which was extremely hoarse. There was also a difficulty is swallowing, but she could not swallow a solid much better than a fluid.
The appearances upon opening her body.
On opening the Chest, I found the cartilages of the ribs considerably ossified in their centres. We found the Pericardium filled with water, in quantity above four ounces. The lungs were full of tubercles, many come to suppuration; and the Trachea filled with the matter, as also mucus from the inside of the Cells. The lungs adhered to the pleura. The glottis, and root of the Epiglottis was [were?] ulcerated (which we find sometimes to be the case in complaints of the lungs,) and the tips of the arytaenoid cartilages were laid bare: and upon examining those cartilages, they were found to be intirely bony. Both the Thyroid and cricoid cartilages were in part ossified.
The lymphatic glands in the Mesentery were much enlarged; which in some degree night obstruct the nourishment [from] getting into the Constitution. The lacteals were in many places filled with Chyle, although what she had eaten for some time before death must have been very trifling. Probably the Chyle being found in the lacteals was owing to the glands being diseased. These vessels - appeared also to be diseased in many places; especially where they run upon the intestines; there they were thick in their coats; as also impervious in many parts.
This Case was similar to General Amherst's, as also the appearances after death, especially the larynx; but as the General lived longer under the disease, the Cartilages were more ossified, and became anchylosed. "Vide his Case and Dissection".
