Preserved for the sight of her daughter

Account of the case of Susan Brooks, of Axe-yard, King's-street Westminster.

This woman's feet lately dropped off, at the articulation of the ankle, by a gangrene. This natural amputation was as compleat as if performed by the most skilful operator, and the remaining wounds of her stumps continued to digest properly, and put on the appearance of a compleat recovery.

For some weeks preceding this event (after which she was carried to the Westminster Infirmary) she had complained of pain and weakness in the parts affected, which had disqualified her from walking, and her feet broke out and became ulcerous; upon which she was recommended to an hospital, but discharged thence for refusing to part with them, as the surgeons had no prospect of their preservation.

Accidents of this kind, although uncommon, are not without example, especially in the feet, where mortifications are most apt to commence, as the blood circulates the slowest there, and the returning venal blood has more resistance of gravity to overcome, than in any other extremity. There are not wanting many instances where where the legs, without the aid of art, have separated in the middle of the bone. Such accidents principally happen in cold weather, to persons in poverty, and to languid old age; all which circumstances waited on this unhappy object.

She did not much regret the loss of her feet, which, though black and putrid, she would not suffer to be buried, and particularly desired, if she did not survive the cure, that they might be preserved for the sight of her daughter, who is in service at Eton, and was sent to for that purpose.