Vascular Pathology: Vascular Disease: Internal carotid artery: Aneurysm of the internal carotid artery treated by ligature of the common carotid artery

An 1872 autopsy specimen from a 69 year old woman. She had had a swelling in her neck for two years. About a year before entering hospital the patient had a fit followed by right hemiplegia and asphasia. Two months later she had a second attack. In March 1872, the patient had another seizure, speech was lost and both legs were paralysed. On examination there was an aneurysm under the angle of the lower jaw. On May 10th, 1872, the common cartoid artery was ligatured. This was followed by marked improvement in asphasia, but ten days later the patient became unconscious with stertorous breathing and died.