Peter Parker Collection

Artist: Lam Qua (1801-1860)

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Case Summary from Peter Parker's Journal.

"Tumor one foot in circumference surrounding the middle finger"

July 2, 1849 "Kwang Su, aged 41, a farmer of the district of Sinhwui, had a tumor surrounding the middle finger of the left hand. It formed a perfect sphere, and measured just 1 foot. There existed a varicose state of the veins of the arm. The venous arch on the back of the hand was twice its natural size. Under the influence of chloroform, the tumor was removed by disarticulating the finger at the metacarpal joint. On dissection the tumor was found to be of hard, glandular, or semicartilaginous structure, quite homogeneous throughout, and adherent to the bone. The tip of the finger and its nail were just discernible. One artery, and the principal vein, both required a ligature. In about one month, the would healed, leaving him a useful hand."