from the Human Bladder. 305 
being stopped by a solid mass ; and on further examination, 
I was thoroughly convinced that there was a stone of suffi- 
cient size to fill the bladder. 
He said he came to England with a determination to have 
it extracted, if it were possible, and desired my opinion as to 
its practicability. On such an extraordinary and important case 
I declined an immediate answer, but requested a consultation ; 
and Mr. Cline was appointed to meet me. After mature con- 
sideration of every circumstance, we were of opinion that the 
possibility of extraction must depend on the consistence of the 
stone ; if it proved soft, as is well known to be frequently the 
case, it might be taken away ; but if too hard to be broken, 
it would be too large to be extracted whole, and must be 
left. 
The operation of extracting it above the os pubis was tho- 
roughly considered, and concluded to be uncertain and dan- 
gerous, because the bladder, thickened and exquisitely irritable, 
could not bear to be further distended with fluid, and the 
stone, although so large, had not raised it sufficiently high to 
obviate the danger of wounding the peritoneum, and pene- 
trating into the cavity of the abdomen : the usual lateral 
operation was therefore judged to be the only safe and pro- 
bable means to be attempted. 
After some days consideration, Sir Walter, thoroughly 
and perfectly aware of the difficulties which might reasonably 
be apprehended in the extraction, from the magnitude, and 
also from the uncertainty of the structure and consistence of 
the stone, determined to submit to the operation, and Mr. 
Cline was requested to perform it. 
On Thursday, August 11th, he was placed in the usual 
