Agnews surgical clinic, 1889
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Agnews surgical clinic, 1889
Agnews surgical clinic. At left, holding a scalpel, is US surgeon David Hayes Agnew (1818-1892), supervising a partial breast removal operation (mastectomy, right) in an amphitheatre of medical students. The location is the University of Pennsylvania, USA, where Agnew worked and taught for 26 years from 1863 to 1889. The three carrying out the operation (left to right) are Ellwood R. Kirby, J. William White, and Joseph Leidy. This photogravure is based on the 1889 oil painting by US artist Thomas Eakins (1844-1916). Titled The Agnew Clinic, it was commissioned by Agnews students to mark his retirement
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 9196085
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1880s 1889 Anaesthetist Art History Audience Breast Cancer Cancer Treatment Cancerous Clinic Demonstrate Demonstrating Demonstration Doctor Doctors Elderly Learn Learning Malignancy Malignant North American Nurse Oncology Operating Operating Theatre Operation Patient Philadelphia Physician Physicians Portrait Pupil Pupils Removing Retirement Scientist Seventies Student Students Surgeon Surgeons Surgery Surgical Teach Teaching Treat Treating Treatment Tumour Watch Watching Amphitheater Amphitheatre Excise Operate Photogravure Remove Retiring Thomas Eakins University Of Pennsylvania William White
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a significant moment in medical history, showcasing the Agnews surgical clinic at the University of Pennsylvania in 1889. In this remarkable image, renowned US surgeon David Hayes Agnew can be seen holding a scalpel while supervising a partial breast removal operation, known as a mastectomy. Surrounding him are an attentive audience of medical students eagerly observing and learning from this groundbreaking procedure. The painting on which this photogravure is based, titled "The Agnew Clinic" was commissioned by Agnew's students to commemorate his retirement after 26 years of dedicated service at the university. The three surgeons carrying out the operation alongside Agnew are Ellwood R. Kirby, J. William White, and Joseph Leidy. This historical illustration not only highlights the advancements made in surgery during the late 19th century but also pays tribute to the tireless efforts of these pioneering physicians who paved the way for modern medicine. It serves as a testament to their commitment to education and patient care. As we gaze upon this snapshot from history, we witness an extraordinary blend of artistry and science coming together—a fusion that encapsulates both technical precision and human compassion within one frame. This photograph stands as a reminder of how far we have come in our understanding and treatment of diseases like breast cancer while honoring those who dedicated their lives to its study and eradication.
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