Peter Parker Collection

Artist: Lam Qua (1801-1860)

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Case Summary from Peter Parker's Journal

(April 11, 1838) "Woo Kinshing, age 49, a fisherman ten years since had a small tumor just below the clavicle on the left side. The circumfrence at the base, at the time of operation, was 3 feet, 3 inches. Its perpendicular length was 2 feet, and its transverse diameter from the axilla to the sternum, 1 foot, 8 inches. The weight of it had become extremely burdensome, and several times a day the patient experienced severe paroxysms of pain, causing him to groan aloud, at which time he laid his tumor on the floor and reclined himself on it. In this position he spent the principal part of his time day and night. The dissection was almost as difficult as that of a skin on the bottom of a foot. The tumor was laid on the floor just 16 minutes from the commencement of the operation, and not a ligature was required. It weightd about 15 pounds avoirdupois. June 18, the old gentlemen was discharged in perfect health."