ST. HELENA 231 



fat, and on exposing the stomach the viscus was found the seat 

 of extensive disease. 



Strong adhesions connected the surface, particularly about the 

 pyloric extremity to the concave surface of the left lobe of the 

 liver ; and on separating these, an ulcer, which penetrated the 

 coat of the stomach, was discovered, one inch from the pylorus, 

 sufficient to allow the passage of the little finger. The internal 

 surface of the stomach to nearly its whole extent was a mass of 

 cancerous disease or schirrous portions advancing to cancer ; this 

 was particularly noticed in the pylorus. The cardiac extremity, 

 for a small place near the termination of the oesophagus, was the 

 only part appearing in a healthy state. The stomach was found 

 nearly filled with a large quantity of fluid resembling coffee grounds. 



The convex surface of the left lobe of the liver adhered to the 

 diaphragm. With the exception of the adhesions occasioned by 

 the disease hi the stomach, no unhealthy appearance presented 

 itself in the liver. 



The remainder of the abdominal viscera were in a healthy state. 



A slight peculiarity in the formation of the left lobe kidney was 

 observed. 



(Signed) THOMAS SHORT, M.D., and principal Medical Officer. 

 ARCH. ARNOTT, M.D., Surgeon 2Oth Regiment. 

 CHAS. MITCHELL, M.D., Surgeon of H.M.S. Vigo. 

 FRANCIS BURTON, M.D., Surgeon 66th Regiment. 

 MATTHEW LIVINGSTONE, Surgeon E.I.C. Service. 



At an exhibition held in the Mechanics' Hall, Dumfries, 

 some years since, there was shown by Major Young, of 

 Lincluden, a lock of hair, cut from the head of the great 

 Napoleon after death, together with a letter which is 

 of some historical value. Hitherto, French writers have 

 asserted that the post-mortem examination of Napoleon's 

 body was an unwarrantable liberty taken in opposition to 

 the deceased's wish. The letter, together with the lock of 

 hair, was discovered by Major Young in a secret drawer of 

 an old writing desk belonging to his father, to whom the 

 epistle had been written by Dr. Short (a native of Dum- 

 fries), who held the office of Principal Medical Officer of the 

 British Staff at St. Helena, and who superintended the 

 dissection, as stated in Sir Hudson Lowe's letter to Earl 

 Bathurst. 



ST. HELENA, 



May 7th, 1821. 



MY DEAR SIR, You will no doubt be much surprised to hear of 

 Buonaparte's death, who expired on the 5th of May after an illness 

 of some standing. 



His disease was cancer in the stomach that must have lasted 



