“Operation de la taille” was the the medical procedure for removing a bladder stone by cutting (taille = cutting in French). For a perineal lithotomy (removal of a bladder stone), the patient was tied into the position used in modern medicine for the gynecologic exam and still called the “lithotomy position.” Jacques Beaulieu (Frère Jacques) performed 4,500 perineal lithotomies including several in Paris and Versailles. He may have been the surgeon who did the operation to which Marais is referring. Because the operations were performed without anesthesia, speed was of the essence. William Cheselden, (1688-1752) considered the greatest lithotomist of all time, reportedly performed perineal lithotomies in 53 seconds. Given this, it’s possible that the operation in Marais suite is intended to depict the procedure in real time.
–Mai-Lan Broekman, MD, VdGSA News, Sept. 2006
| View of the surgical apparatus Trembling of the patient Resolution to climb the operating table Arrival at the top Lowering of the operating table Serious reflections Arms and legs are tied with silk ropes The incision is made The surgical forceps are inserted The stone is pulled The patient almost loses his voice Flow of blood The ropes are untied The patient is transported onto his bed The recovery |
L’aspect de l’appareil. Frémissement en le voyant. Résolution pour y monter. Parvenu jusqu’en haut. Descente dudit appareil. Réflexions sérieuses. Entrelacements des soies entre les bras et les jambes. Ici se fait l’incision. Introduction de la tenette. Ici l’on tire la pierre. Ici l’on perd quasi la voix. Écoulement du sang. Ici l’on ôte les soies. Ici l’on vous transporte dans le lit. Les relevailles. |